OGT: Toronto Blue Jays @ Detroit Tigers (Lakeland Finale) 4/2/2012

[SportsFromA2]

1PM, No radio/TV.

Smyly starting.

TIGERS

Austin Jackson, CF
Brennan Boesch, RF
Miguel Cabrera, 3B
Prince Fielder, 1B
Delmon Young, LF
Ryan Raburn, DH
Jhonny Peralta, SS
Alex Avila, C
Ramon Santiago, 2B

P: Drew Smyly

Monday: Tigers vs. Jays

The Tigers are fielding what looks awfully close to an everyday lineup, with one possible exception: Jays have lefty Brett Cecil on the mound, but Tigers have Ramon Santiago starting at second base. That might just be a reaction to Brandon Inge still being out, or maybe it isn’t.

For what it’s worth, there’s no news on Inge this morning. He was in the clubhouse and went to get treatment on his sore groin. As Tom Gage of the Detroit News pointed out, he is not on the lineup card, but that’s usually common with injured players.

I’ve written this already, but it bears repeating for those waiting for roster moves: If Inge opens the season on the DL, and the Tigers use Drew Smyly’s roster spot to carry an extra position player until they need Smyly on April 12, then Detroit does not have to cut another player.

Interesting quote yesterday from Drew Smyly when asked if this start becomes lower-pressure now that he knows he’s in the rotation:

“Maybe [there's] almost more pressure, just to make sure you do well,” he said, “but I don’t know. You just go out there and continue to throw, I guess.”

http://beck.mlblogs.com/2012/04/02/m...igers-vs-jays/

[ChrisBrown]

Watch Smyly completely **** the bed now.

[FastFreddie]

1PM, No radio/TV.

I hate that a majority of these games are not on radio. I can understand them not being on TV, but radio seems like a no-brainer.

Doesn't it seem like they used to broadcast a lot more spring training games over the radio, in years past?

[ChrisBrown]

The bats are ready - 8-0 in the bottom of the 2nd.

[SportsFromA2]

9-0 in the 2nd inning lol.

[SportsFromA2]

I hate that a majority of these games are not on radio. I can understand them not being on TV, but radio seems like a no-brainer.

Doesn't it seem like they used to broadcast a lot more spring training games over the radio, in years past?

I can't say I remember paying attention to ST too much in the past, BUT maybe they did that recently (last 3 years or so?) because they had AM1270 sitting there "empty" for the Tigers- now that 1270 has its own programming, that's not available anymore.

[SportsFromA2]

What kind of restrictions does Smyly have?

The other starters have all gone 6-7innings this turn through the rotation, right? Smyly's longest outing was 4.667 last time around- think they'll stretch him out to a "regular"-type outing?

[ChrisBrown]

What kind of restrictions does Smyly have?

The other starters have all gone 6-7innings this turn through the rotation, right? Smyly's longest outing was 4.667 last time around- think they'll stretch him out to a "regular"-type outing?

I haven't heard about any restrictions, so my guess is he'll get in about 5-6 innings, depending on how he's pitching.

Funny think about the bottom of the second - Peralta began it with a ground out, and ended it by grounding into a double play. Bummer to make all three outs in one inning.

[SportsFromA2]

Smyly gives up 4 in the top of the 5th....

[ChrisBrown]

Smyly with very nice numbers through 4 innings, but then hit a bump in the 5th - walked Jeff Mathis, who may be the worst hitter in the Majors, then gave up a couple of hits to non-prospects before surrendering a homer to old man Omar Vizquel. His day is done after 5.1 IP.

This is sort of what we should expect from him this year though. He has enough pitching ability to get through a lineup once, and maybe twice on a good day, but he doesn't really have the stuff to consistently shut down hitters 2-3 times. I imagine his first few starts will look like this, but once the film gets around, he could be in trouble.