Doug Fister will start over Anibal Sanchez on Sunday, Felix Hernandez throws a perfect game, and Melky Cabrera gets suspended for failing a drug test. These stories and more Bruce Rondon love in today's Morning Prowl.
Struggling Anibal Sanchez has next start bumped back; Detroit Tigers to start Doug Fister on Sunday - MLive, James Schmehl
I think this has more to do with Fister being on fire at the moment than it does with Sanchez struggling. If he doesn't start Sunday, Fister would be looking at 6 days rest between starts.
Low-key Bruce Rondon could be relief for Tigers - The Detroit News, Lynn Henning
"Rondon is auditioning for Jose Valverde's job in Detroit. He is probably too green to inherit it next season, which would otherwise be tempting for the Tigers as Valverde moves into the waning weeks of a three-year contract that expires at the end of this year."
Good things - Roar of the Tigers, Samara Pearlstein
Lots of good things.
Ernie Harwell Play Is A Must-See - Motor City Bengals, Garret Craig
"Both personally and professionally, you would be hard-pressed to find anyone better (though Harwell, of course, left that for everyone else to point out and was bashful when they did). The stage play bearing his name, 'Ernie,' which released last April, is a touching tribute to both aspects of its inspirer."
.gif | Darin Mastroianni Dives, Misses Horribly; Gerald Laird Triples - Walkoff Woodward, Rob Rogacki
In case you missed this from Tuesday's game, here's Mastroianni's flop in all its glory.
Around the AL Central:
Game 118: Angels 8, Indians 4 - Let's Go Tribe
The artist formerly known as Fausto Carmona "debuted" yesterday in not-so-spectacular fashion.
Royals Come Back Late for a 3-2 Win - Royals Review, Jeff Zimmerman
Best comment: "I think the Royals should adopt acronyms for 'Before Sanchez' and 'After Sanchez.' Conveniently, Before Sanchez is BS."
Twins 1, Tigers 5: Minnesota Offense Can't Save DeVries as Twins Fall to Tigers Again - Twinkie Town
"As has been seen all season, the greatest problem with today's game was the pitching. If the team had better pitching this season...well, who knows what the AL Central standings would look like right now." Probably about the same.
White Sox 9, Blue Jays 5: Sic semper Toronto - South Side Sox, Jim Margalus
"This game had the makings of a comfortable victory from the start, but the original plans were interrupted."
Elsewhere in Baseball:
John Henry -- No one on Boston Red Sox called for Bobby Valentine's firing - ESPN Boston
"Pedroia on Tuesday night denied he called for Valentine's firing at the meeting and laid blame for the team's struggles this season primarily on the players, a sentiment echoed by Gonzalez on Wednesday."
Melky Cabrera suspended for 50 games for positive testosterone test - HardballTalk, Craig Calcaterra
This is horrible timing for Cabrera, who was having a career year and, prior to this, was heading for a huge payday this offseason.
Perfect game! Felix Hernandez finally gets his moment with masterpiece against Rays - Big League Stew, Kevin Kaduk
Cue the Kate Upton and Felix Hernandez rumors.