Detroit Tigers News

Johnny Damon continues to settle in with Tigers
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March 13
Michigan Live
 
"He was born in 1973, the year the designated hitter was invented. So Johnny Damon, a self-described "throw-back old-school" guy who likes wearing his socks high, can't remember when pitchers batted. "No I do not," he said. "But I do remember when Milwaukee was in the American League and I remember playing at old Tiger Stadium, bumping my head a few times coming in and out of the dugout there, and taking batting practice right-handed and going deep." In fact, if he could go back and change anything, Damon would have become a switch hitter a long time ago. "I feel like I can do it to this day," he said Friday after the Tigers' exhibition game against the Philadelphia Phillies was rained out. ..."
Anyone For Jermaine Dye?
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March 13
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
 
"Jermaine Dye hit 27 HR last season. That's tied for 37th most home runs among players in either league last year, one less than Joe Mauer and one more than Justin Upton. And he has no job. Joe Pawlikowski did a good job breaking down why Dye doesn't have a job on FanGraphs . To recap for the lazy, he had a terrible second half and his defense is utter excrement. Basically, Dye's a DH or nothing. Problem is, AL teams have generally sorted out their DH slots. It seems like everyone has some version of the big dude with bad knees and a boppin' bat. Dye's on his last legs, so he's probably best used on a one-year contract for a team that needs just a little more offense to contend. Sure, he'd ..."
All eyes on Tigers pitchers Dontrelle Willis, Jeremy Bonderman and Nate Robertson today
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March 13
Detroit Free Press
 
"Jeremy Bonderman, Nate Robertson and Dontrelle Willis are scheduled to pitch today against the New York Yankees at Joker Marchant Stadium. Bonderman and Robertson were supposed to go Friday, but the exhibition game against the Phillies was canceled by rain. Meanwhile, Max Scherzer and Ryan Perry are among those expected to pitch in Port St. Lucie today in a split-squad game against the Mets. Tigers manager Jim Leyland and president/general manager Dave Dombrowski will be in Lakeland. "My plan is to have Bonderman, Robertson, Willis -- not necessarily in that order -- pitch three innings apiece here tomorrow," Leyland said Friday. "For obvious reasons those guys are going to be here. I'm ..."
Returning Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge eager to 'be little kid again'
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March 13
Detroit Free Press
 
"Brandon Inge was smiling Friday as he prepared to take indoor batting practice. Inge, recovering from surgery on both knees, will make his exhibition season debut today when he plays three innings at third base against the New York Yankees. "I'm excited. I can't wait," Inge said. "Like a little kid again." Inge said he isn't fully recovered from surgery. "I get the aches and pains, but nothing at all on the same scale as towards the end of the year last year," he said. "As long as I don't have that sharp, stabbing pain, everything will be fine. The pains I'm having now, I wouldn't even classify as pains. The uncomforts I'm having now are the final stage of getting over surgery." Inge said ..."
Jim Leyland lays down expectations for Tigers pitchers
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March 12
Detroit News
 
"Five inches of rain across the Tampa Bay-Orlando region made Friday's call easy. The Tigers-Phillies game scheduled for water-logged Marchant Stadium was called off when there weren't enough rowboats for both teams. Tigers manager Jim Leyland instead convened an indoor workout after he had a morning chat with his pitchers, during which the skipper repeated a message he had been delivering all week to media members. "I told them how critical the next 10 days would be, what I expected, and how I went about my judgments, so they're very aware of my feelings on what good pitchers do," said Leyland, who has been hammering home the point that any pitcher who expects to make his staff must throw ..."
Tigers' Scott Sizemore has good day at bat and in field, but left ankle still a concern
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March 12
Michigan Live
 
"Detroit Tigers second baseman Scott Sizemore played for the second consecutive day Thursday and said his left ankle was fine. He skipped rope to avoid getting hit by a pitch in the dirt that could've caught the ankle. "It was pretty close," Sizemore said, "and (catcher Brian) Schneider said, 'I don't know how you got out of the way of that.' " Sizemore had a single and a walk in two plate appearances, but got doubled off on a pop foul down the first base line. Tigers manager Jim Leyland said he had no problem with what he termed a "freak" play. Sizemore said he'll be cautious next time. Sizemore made his best play of the spring, robbing Schneider of a single in the fourth by diving in the ..."
Leyland will reward rotation spots to strike-throwers
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March 12
Detroit Free Press
 
"If you're wondering how Leyland will decide who gets the two open spots in the rotation, keep an eye on the strike zone. "This manager judges people on how they get people out when they throw strikes," Leyland said. "At the major league level, you don't get people out by throwing balls unless you've got a nasty split-finger pitch or you have Verlander-type stuff once in a while where they might swing at a 98-m.p.h. fastball up high."
Brandon Inge slated to join Tigers' lineup Saturday
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March 12
Detroit Free Press
 
"Brandon Inge will make his exhibition-season debut by playing three innings at third base on Saturday against the Yankees, Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland said today. "I have it plotted out beyond Saturday, but your plan is dictated by how (he) feels the next day," Leyland said. Leyland said the team's medical staff "will decide how much he can push it or not push it." Inge is recovering from surgery on both knees. By debuting Saturday, Inge will be approximately one week ahead of the original schedule for his return to the field. Inge is one of two players who must certify this spring that he's mobile enough to hold an everyday job on the Tigers' infield. The other is rookie second ..."
Tigers three-hit in exhibition loss
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March 12
Detroit Free Press
 
"Joe Blanton used a mix of fastballs and change-ups to shut down the Detroit Tigers, leading the Philadelphia Phillies to a 4-0 exhibition victory today. Blanton has focused solely on the fastball/change-up combination in his first two spring starts before he incorporates breaking pitches into his repertoire. So far, the results have been promising: Blanton held the Tigers to three singles in four innings of work. "I've never really done it this way, but my change-up was so big for me last year that I really want to get good command of it on both sides of the plate to both righties and lefties before I move on," Blanton said. "I'm still throwing the other stuff on the side. I just figure if ..."
New Phillie Placido Polanco cherished 'family' years with Tigers
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March 12
Detroit Free Press
 
"Sitting at his locker in the Philadelphia clubhouse, Placido Polanco talked Thursday about the Phillies having a lot of the same people they did during his first tour with them. That group includes manager Charlie Manuel, hitting coach Milt Thompson, and all three of Polanco's MVP-caliber teammates on the infield: first baseman Ryan Howard, second baseman Chase Utley and shortstop Jimmy Rollins. In that sense, his first Philadelphia stint wasn't that long ago. Yet it had to have been some time ago. Look at all Polanco accomplished in Detroit after the Phillies traded him for reliever Ugueth Urbina in June 2005: MVP of the 2006 American League Championship Series. Two Gold Gloves. An entire ..."
Tigers manage just three hits in loss to Phillies
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March 12
Detroit News
 
"On a gray day where it seemed as if it would starting pouring rain any minute, the Tigers got their game in Thursday against the Philadelphia Phillies at Bright House Field. And they probably wished they'd stayed at Lakeland. The Phillies beat them, 4-0, getting 11 hits to three by the Tigers, who never got much of anything going except double plays: They hit into five of them as a balmy wind blew everything but rain across Bright House Field. Justin Verlander became the first Tigers pitcher to last four innings. The Tigers right-hander was fairly underwhelming, allowing six hits, two runs, two strikeouts."
Jim Leyland: Ex-Tiger Placido Polanco 'a peach'
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March 12
Detroit News
 
"A day after they greeted Curtis Granderson, the Tigers said hello Thursday to another of their former trademark players: Placido Polanco. He's with his new team, the Phillies, and at a new position, third base. But not much else has changed. He was 1-for-3 with a single and a line-out in the Phillies' 4-0 victory over the Tigers at Bright House Field. Polanco and his former employers all but had a love-in as they paid compliments."
Cabrera Tries to Eliminate Damaging Behavior
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March 12
New York Times
 
"Miguel Cabrera's locker in the Tigers' spring training clubhouse is a few feet from the office of Manager Jim Leyland and directly in Leyland's view. Above it is a large television. These coincidental juxtapositions suggest symbolically how eyes and ears will turn toward Cabrera this season for many reasons. "I know people are going to say a lot about me," Cabrera said this week before an exhibition game at Joker Marchant Stadium. Last year, Cabrera finished fourth in the voting for most valuable player in the American League. But his regular season concluded with a public pratfall and a team collapse. During the final weekend of the regular season, Cabrera was taken into police custody ..."
Tigers' Brandon Inge will get first start on Saturday
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March 11
Detroit News
 
"Brandon Inge, who is one-half of some deep concerns about the Tigers' infield health, will get his first start of the Grapefruit League season Saturday. Inge has not played in a spring game while he recovers from last November's surgery for tendinitis in his knees. Tigers manager Jim Leyland said before Thursday's scheduled game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Bright House Field that Inge would likely play three innings in a split-squad game against the New York Yankees at Marchant Stadium. Leyland said he had a "plan" on breaking in Inge, who will be the Tigers' regular third baseman in 2010 -- if he's healthy. "The plan is to watch and see, and listen to the trainers," Leyland said. ..."
A Tiger in new (pin)stripes
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March 11
Detroit Free Press
 
"Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter weren't on the Yankees' traveling squad Wednesday for Curtis Granderson's first game against the Tigers. So Granderson lost one option for getting back to the Yankees' base. After a recent exhibition road game, he rode back with them to camp in Jeter's car. "At first glance, you think, 'Do I call home and tell my friends who I got a ride with?' " Granderson said. Granderson had his own day to call home about Wednesday. Granderson went 2-for-3 with a walk and made an excellent, retreating, run-saving catch in centerfield on Miguel Cabrera. He played 5 1/2 innings in the Yankees' 9-8 victory. When he came to bat to lead off the game, he received a nice ovation."
Ernie's first call with Tigers hits 50
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March 11
Detroit Free Press
 
"Fifty years ago Friday -- it was a wintry day in Detroit, with temperatures in the 20s -- fans for the first time heard Ernie Harwell describe Tigers baseball in his soft Southern drawl. At 1:25 p.m. on March 12, 1960, if you tuned to WWJ-AM (950) or WKMH-AM (1310), you would have caught the opening game of the Grapefruit League season from Lakeland, Fla. In the broadcast booth at Henley Field that day were Harwell, partner George Kell and engineer Howard Stitzel. The Tigers, coming off a 76-78 fourth-place season, were playing the perennial cellar-dweller Washington Senators. The Tigers rallied to win, 8-6, thanks to the hitting of Al Kaline and Steve Bilko and strong relief pitching from ..."
Granderson says Johnny Damon will help
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March 11
Detroit Free Press
 
"Dave Dombrowski of the Tigers called this past off-season the most complicated of his long career as a general manager. Nothing symbolizes that complexity more than the greeting outside the clubhouse Wednesday morning: Curtis Granderson, in a Yankees uniform, gave a handshake and embrace to Johnny Damon, in a Tigers uniform. They weren't traded for each other, but they in effect have traded starting outfield jobs. "Getting Johnny Damon to any team is going to be an added help," Granderson said Wednesday. "He gets on base; he steals bases; he hits home runs, and he hits for average. So any team would have wanted to get him."
Cost of a Tigers '84 World Series ring? $5,000
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March 11
Detroit News
 
"How much would you pay for a piece of the Tigers' 1984 World Series championship? Would you pay $5,000? That's the asking price on eBay for the World Series ring of former Tigers' infielder Doug Baker. As of Wednesday night, there were no bids on the ring, but the auction ends on Friday -- so there's time. If you have $5,000 to spend, that is. Or more if that's not the highest bid. Who was Doug Baker? He was a rookie role player on the 1984 Tigers, but role players were important. On that team, everyone was important."
Anxious Jim Leyland has 'no clue' who will fill out Tiger rotation
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March 11
Detroit News
 
"An anxious Jim Leyland said Wednesday he has spent sleepless hours pondering the Tigers' starting pitching and "has no clue" who will grab the final two spots in the team's rotation. Leyland said, however, that it's "98.8 percent" certain that left-hander Phil Coke will begin the year in the Tigers' bullpen. Coke came to the Tigers in December's big trade with the New York Yankees and Arizona Diamondbacks. "I talked with three people I very much respect and asked them, if we left today, to give me your starting rotations, and all three had different answers," said Leyland, who acknowledged that his March 10 starting five was different from the other three men, whom he wouldn't identify. ..."
ankees Curtis Granderson, Johnny Damon take trip down nostalgia road
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March 11
New York Daily News
 
"Kind of a bittersweet reunion day at Tigertown Wednesday with Curtis Granderson returning to the only spring home he had known over his first 10 years of professional ball and Johnny Damon , Austin Jackson and Phil Coke exchanging warm hugs with their former Yankee teammates. Here they were, all maintaining how truly happy they are in their new digs, but still privately wondering how and why it all came to this. For what it's worth, most of the fans in the Bronx and Detroit are probably wondering the same thing: Why would Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski trade away the 28-year-old Granderson, one of the most popular and productive players in Detroit, for a package of largely ..."
Before Yankees-Tigers, Old Teammates to See
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March 11
New York Times
 
"Curtis Granderson was jogging toward the Yankees' clubhouse after batting practice Wednesday when he felt a tug on his left arm. Johnny Damon wanted to say hi. "It threw me off," Granderson said. "I wasn't expecting him to be right there." They shook hands and shared a brief embrace, wishing each other well, before parting ways. They had other people to see. This nook of Joker Marchant Stadium, situated behind picnic tables and palm trees along the right-field line, served as the prime gathering spot for Granderson, Damon and the three other players - Marcus Thames, Austin Jackson and Phil Coke - who switched teams during the off-season to reunite with old friends and teammates."
Tigers expect Phil Coke to open season in bullpen
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March 10
Detroit Free Press
 
"Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland said today that it's "99.8% certain" that left-hander Phil Coke will open the season as a reliever. When camp began, Leyland had left open the possibility that Coke could be moved to the rotation if the Tigers felt he was needed more there."
It's looking like Phil Coke will stay in the bullpen and Alex Avila will be the backup catcher for the Detroit Tigers
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March 10
Michigan Live
 
"Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland said Phil Coke will almost certainly be in the bullpen after previously reserving the right to put him in the rotation. "You can write that it's 99.8 percent that Coke will be in the bullpen and you will be safe," Leyland said prior to Coke pitching today against the New York Yankees. And he also said something that was easy to read between the lines on in regard to catcher Alex Avila, who appears to be all but settled upon as the No. 2 catcher."
Jim Leyland says Joe Nathan's injury a crying shame
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March 10
Detroit Free Press
 
"As the Tigers were en route Tuesday morning to their game with Washington, the Minnesota Twins were announcing news that might alter the season in the American League Central. Right-hander Joe Nathan, the Twins' formidable ninth-inning closer for the past six years, has a torn ligament in his pitching elbow. He might need surgery that would end his season. No opponent would notice his absence as much as the Tigers, against whom Nathan is 30-for-30 lifetime in saves. But in misfortunes like this, opponents don't recalculate the pennant-race odds. Instead, they commiserate. "That's a shame," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said of the Nathan news. "We're all friends, we're all peers, we're all ..."
Magglio Ordonez hitting well, but he's not alone
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March 10
Detroit News
 
"Magglio Ordonez's new muscle, which came courtesy of a hard winter in the gym, was evident Tuesday when he slammed a three-run home run beyond the right-center field fence at Space Coast Stadium. But that hardly surprised Tigers manager Jim Leyland. "With Magglio, all you have to do is listen and you can tell by the sound of the bat," Leyland said, speaking of the difference in his 36-year-old right fielder compared with 2009, which was mostly a nightmare for a one-time American League batting champion. Ordonez's three-run home run, his second of the Grapefruit League season, was part of a 14-hit Tigers assault as the Tigers bashed the Nationals, 9-4. Ordonez is batting .500 in five ..."
Tigers' fans can see Curtis Granderson, Placido Polanco, Stephen Strasburg this week
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March 9
Michigan Live
 
"If you picked this week to have a baseball vacation and follow the Detroit Tigers, you could not have done better. On Tuesday, Detroit faces Washington Nationals phenom Stephen Strasburg in Viera. Rick Porcello starts for the Tigers. The New York Yankees visit Lakeland on Wednesday, and so it will be the first chance for Johnny Damon to face his old teammates while Curtis Granderson does likewise. Detroit center fielder Austin Jackson was one of the Yankees' top prospects at this time last year, and also gets to face his old organization. And as an added bonus, Tigers phenom Jacob Turner, 18, will make his Grapefruit League debut."
Tigers fans cheer Dontrelle Willis, jeer Max Scherzer
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March 9
Michigan Live
 
"The two most telling images from Monday's game both occurred in and around the home team dugout at Joker Marchant Stadium. One was of Dontrelle Willis getting a standing ovation from appreciative Detroit Tigers fans. He pitched two scoreless innings for the second consecutive outing, and his persevering through two years of failure resonated with the crowd. "They are rooting for me and I appreciate it," Willis said. "I think people relate to someone struggling and trying to bounce back. I wanted to pick it up for Maxie." Max Scherzer, ineffective once again in his first inning of a start, threw his glove as he entered the dugout after getting just one out in a 12-4 loss to the Atlanta ..."
Tigers' Miguel Cabrera eager to face Stephen Strasburg
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March 9
Detroit Free Press
 
"Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera is fired up about facing Washington's Stephen Strasburg today in the acclaimed right-hander's first outing in a pro game. "It's going to be exciting facing him," Cabrera said Monday. "Everybody is talking about him. He's the future for Washington. Let's see what he's got. I'm excited to face him." Strasburg, the top pick in last year's draft, signed for $15.1 million -- the most any drafted player has received to turn pro in baseball. With San Diego State last year, Strasburg went 13-1 and struck out 195 in 109 innings. "I'm going to swing the bat," Cabrera said. "I'm sure he throws hard. I'm going to be ready." Strasburg, 21, is due to start today's ..."
Tigers GM says they can be 'pretty good for a while'
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March 9
Detroit Free Press
 columnist Michael Rosenberg
"Dave Dombrowski is entering his ninth season in charge of the Tigers, and people still don't know what to make of him. He turned one of the worst franchises in baseball in the 1990s into the 2006 American League champions. But … in his first eight years, Dombrowski's Tigers have made one playoff appearance. But … they have won at least 86 games and contended in three of the past four seasons. But … they have spent far more than their AL Central counterparts during that time. You can go on and on. Dombrowski foolishly spent almost $30 million on Dontrelle Willis, but it was a small price to pay for Miguel Cabrera … on and on."
Ouch! Tigers' Scherzer blasted in first inning of Tigers' loss
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March 9
Detroit News
 
"For the second consecutive day a Tigers' starting pitcher has failed to get out of the first inning of an exhibition game. On Sunday, it was Jeremy Bonderman. On Monday, it was newcomer Max Scherzer in his second start as a Tiger."
New Tigers pitcher plans to dial up intensity
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March 9
Detroit News
 
"Newcomer Max Scherzer -- with good reason -- is frustrated. In his first two spring outings as a Tiger, he's gone from bad to worse, rough to rougher, scored against to mauled. Is it significant that he lasted less than one inning of a 12-4 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Monday? Is it meaningful that he's allowed eight runs on 10 hits and four walks so far in 2 1/3 innings? Yes and no. Rather, no and yes. It doesn't mean he's lost his spot in the starting rotation. It might not be possible for Scherzer to do that. It also doesn't mean this is the way he'll pitch the rest of the spring."
Tigers closer Jose Valverde is no lightweight
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March 9
Detroit News
 
"Something doesn't click after studying Jose Valverde's first two weeks in Tigers camp. He's listed as 6-foot-4, 280 pounds. The 6-4 digits add up, but the 280? Valverde shook his head and smiled. "Two-sixty-eight this year," the Tigers' new closer said, sitting at a table in the team's Tigertown clubhouse. "Last year, 285." Stunningly, he was 15 pounds from hitting the not-so-magical 300-pound mark, which works a lot better on an NFL field than on a baseball diamond. "I'm not the same guy I was a couple years ago," Valverde explained, meaning that his 17-poundwas common sense for a pitcher entering big league twilight (he turns 32 later this month)."
Tigers' Seay improving but may miss Opening Day
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March 8
Detroit News
 
"He's getting better, but slowly. Bobby Seay is more encouraged about the diminishing soreness in his left shoulder than he is about being ready for Opening Day. He'll play catch on Wednesday. In fact, he'll play catch for a full week if all goes well with his initial session. But when asked if there's enough time remaining in spring training for him to be ready for the Tigers' April 5 opener in Kansas City, he said "I hope so. "That's a tough question right now. I can't predict that." A mainstay as a left-hander in the Tigers' bullpen, Seay has fallen behind this spring because of bursitis and rotator-cuff tendonitis in his shoulder. It's not hurt him to throw, but warming-up to throw and ..."
Bonderman is shelled in first; Robertson throws three shutout innings in relief
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March 8
Detroit Free Press
 
"Jeremy Bonderman gave up two homers, including a grand slam, and five runs before he got an out Sunday. He gave up six runs and didn't survive the inning. Nate Robertson threw three innings of relief and allowed no runs and one baserunner. For each, it was the opposite of his one previous spring appearance, which also came against the host Blue Jays. Last Wednesday, in the exhibition opener, Bonderman didn't allow a run in his two innings, but Robertson gave up two runs in his second inning and didn't get through it. And it's still nearly four weeks until Tigers manager Jim Leyland has to decide if either Bonderman or Robertson gets a spot in the rotation, which has two vacancies. "Bondo ..."
Austin Jackson's performance? Grand
Comment
March 8
Detroit Free Press
 
"You want patience from your leadoff hitter? On Sunday, Austin Jackson drew his fifth walk in his five exhibition games. You want hits from your leadoff hitter? Jackson is 5-for-9 this spring. You want speed from your leadoff hitter? Jackson stole third Sunday, and he almost beat out a grounder for an infield hit. You want confidence in your leadoff hitter? You should have seen Jackson smile as he talked about what's coming up in the next few days."
Jeremy Bonderman bid to secure spot in Tigers' rotation hits a snag
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March 8
Detroit News
 
"Good outing or bad -- and make no mistake, this one was bad -- he's just facing facts. "I don't have a job," Jeremy Bonderman said Sunday after getting rocked for six runs, including a grand slam, in the first inning of an 8-5 Tigers' loss to the Blue Jays. Bonderman was yanked with one out to go in the inning. "There are five guys fighting for two (starting) jobs. Maybe six guys," he said. "There's nothing in stone in my spot. Until (manager Jim Leyland) comes up to me and says, 'It's yours,' I don't think I have a job. "Just because you're under contract doesn't mean anything." Bonderman's first start of the spring resulted in two scoreless innings against the Blue Jays."
Jeremy Bonderman pulled in first inning of Tigers' exhibition loss
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March 8
Detroit News
 
"Tigers starting pitcher Jeremy Bonderman didn't get out of the first inning of a 8-5 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday. Making his second start of the spring, and taking the mound with a 3-0 lead against the Blue Jays, Bonderman gave up a leadoff home run to Jose Bautista. That was followed by two singles, a walk -- then a grand slam by Randy Ruiz on a 2-0 count, just after pitching coach Rick Knapp visited the mound."
Ex-Tigers reliever Casey Fien a Blue Jay after three days with Red Sox
Comment
March 7
Michigan Live
 
"Reliever Casey Fien spent last week with three different teams. The Boston Red Sox claimed him off waivers from the Detroit Tigers on March 1, and the Toronto Blue Jays claimed him off waivers on Thursday. "I lead the league in physicals," Fien said before today's game with the Tigers. "No words can describe what last week was like. I was frustrated. I was happy. But I just want to play baseball. I just want to find a place." The Tigers liked Fien, but took him off the 40-man roster when Johnny Damon was signed and had to expose him to waivers. Boston claimed him, but he never got on the mound for the Red Sox. "I don't think they knew about the physical therapy I had for the slip tear in ..."
Tigers' Bonderman pulled in first inning of exhibition
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March 7
Detroit News
 
"Tigers starting pitcher Jeremy Bonderman didn't get out of the first inning on Sunday. Making his second start of the spring, and taking the mound with a 3-0 lead against the Toronto Blue Jays, Bonderman gave up a leadoff home run to Jose Bautista. That was followed by two singles, a walk -- then a grand slam by Randy Ruiz on a 2-0 count, just after pitching coach Rick Knapp visited the mound. Bonderman's struggles were not over, though."
Luxury of lefty relievers give Tigers edge over champion Twins
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March 7
Detroit Free Press
 
"Jim Leyland said two things about his bullpen Saturday that Twins manager Ron Gardenhire could not: • "I can't remember being in spring training with a potential surplus of left-handed relief," said Leyland, the Tigers' manager. "Most of the time you're searching all over -- going to the drive-in -- looking for (a lefty reliever). We've got a bunch of them, and they're good, too." Leyland could talk about this surplus even though there's uncertainty whether Bobby Seay, the top left-handed reliever the past few years, will be ready for Opening Day. Seay is sidelined with a sore arm. Left-hander Phil Coke will be in the bullpen unless he joins the rotation. The Tigers' other left-handed ..."
Tigers have new approach to 2-strike hitting
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March 7
Detroit Free Press
 
"What's a good way for a hitter to irk his manager? Strike out with a runner at third base and fewer than two outs. In that spot, a hitter doesn't need a hit to drive in a run. He needs to make contact -- hit a sacrifice fly or a ground ball. For these opportunities in particular, Jim Leyland wants the Tigers to improve their two-strike hitting this season. "Early in games, with the infield back, if you hit a ground ball to second or short, you get the guy home from third," Leyland said. "We did a poor job of taking advantage of cheap RBIs last year. We have to do a much better job of that.""
Spring forecast for Tigers: Mostly sunny with chance of success
Comment
March 7
Detroit Free Press
 columnist Michael Rosenberg
"I am starting to think this year's Tigers will win at least 130 games, which is a pretty good sign that it's time to go home. Spring training, like graduation days and weddings, is a time for optimism. Nobody gets married and says, "Remember that time I cheated on you and we broke up for six months?" And nobody at spring training says, "Man, have you ever seen a lineup with so many holes? Yikes!" There are a few things you won't hear from the Tigers this spring, no matter how much time you spend around them: "You know, we were actually outscored by our opponents last year. We made up for it largely by winning every time we led in the ninth inning and by coming back from ninth-inning ..."
Ex-Tiger Richie Hebner discusses grave-digging roots
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March 7
Detroit News
 
"The one, the only, Richie Hebner. There aren't many people in baseball who greet you this way: "I've dug 1,000 graves since I last saw you. How's it going?" A long time ago, Riche Hebner was a Tiger -- and a good one. In 1980, his first season in Detroit, he was headed toward a career year, had knocked in 82 runs in his first 333 at-bats, but he got hurt in August on a slide into second, batting only eight more times after that. Eventually, in 1982, he was sold to Pittsburgh, retired as a player in 1985, and he has had a long after-life as a minor-league manager and hitting instructor. He was in Lakeland Saturday with the Baltimore Orioles because, at 62, he'll be their Triple-A hitting ..."
Al Kaline says these Tigers have talent
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March 7
Detroit News
 
"He's been through many springs with the Tigers. For that matter, many summers. But as he looked around the clubhouse Friday morning, Tigers Hall of Famer Al Kaline made a stunning observation. "This is the best I've seen," he said. "The best talent.""
Clete Thomas, Casper Wells homer, Tigers rout Orioles
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March 7
Detroit News
 
"Even by the standards of those lazy, crazy Grapefruit League games, the Tigers' 9-5 victory Saturday over the Baltimore Orioles at Marchant Stadium was impressive. Clete Thomas and Casper Wells hit home runs, Ryan Strieby smacked a long RBI-triple to left-center, Don Kelly kept up his stove-burner hitting with a double and a single, while Magglio Ordonez and rookie Austin Jackson also had a pair of hits, in sending the Tigers to their third victory in four Grapefruit League games. The Tigers sent 11 batters to the play in the first inning when they opened up a 6-0 lead against Orioles starter Kevin Millwood. The Tigers' pitching was, with the exception of the ninth inning, equally ..."
Granderson looking for at-bats against lefties
Comment
March 6
The Journal News
 
"Before he can make adjustments against left-handed pitchers, Yankees outfielder Curtis Granderson needs to see pitches from left-handed pitchers. He's been working in the batting cage with hitting coach Kevin Long, but at this point he needs in-game at-bats to determine his progress and his short-comings. "Everybody is working on stuff right now just trying to get themselves ready to go," Granderson said. "Once we get enough at-bats in and they get enough innings in, then we'll be able to have a little better evaluation." Granderson hit just .183 against lefties last season, but the Yankees see him as an everyday player, not a platoon player. He went into Friday's game against Tampa Bay ..."
Tigers faithful snatch up individual game tickets
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March 6
Detroit News
 
"Hundreds of die-hard Detroit Tigers fans huddled together in the cold Saturday morning to get first crack at individual game tickets for the upcoming season, including coveted admission to the team's April 9 home opener. The Comerica Park box office did not open until 10 a.m., but hundreds showed up early, including three fans who came at 4 a.m. to get tickets for high-profile games such as ones against the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. Wristbands were given away on Friday that denoted what place a person would have in line on Saturday. There were 500 wristbands, but about 100 were left early Saturday. Buddies Terry King, Tiffany Upton and James Shows were able to get some at 4 ..."
Tigers batters focusing on 2-strike count
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March 6
USA Today
 
"Outfielder Austin Jackson has never played in a big-league game, but the Detroit Tigers don't mind heaping responsibility on him.Jackson, acquired from the New York Yankees in an offseason trade, will be the Tigers' center fielder this season, and if all goes well during the Grapefruit League, he'll be their leadoff batter when they open the season April 5 in Kansas City. "I've batted leadoff before, so I know I can do it," said Jackson, 23. "There could be some pressure if I let it happen, but if I put pressure on myself, then I won't get the job done. I'm looking at it as an opportunity to get to play every day." Jackson is part a lineup that is focusing this spring on improving its ..."
Leyland: Zumaya must mix in curve, change
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March 6
Detroit Free Press
 
"During Friday's game, as Joel Zumaya pitched for the Tigers, Dave Clark stood nearby on the field, coaching third base for Houston. It made Tigers manager Jim Leyland think of another time he saw Clark in the proximity of a hard thrower. On May 26, 1996, Leyland -- managing the Pirates -- sent up Clark as a ninth-inning pinch-hitter against Atlanta fireballer Mark Wohlers. Clark ripped a game-tying homer on a pitch Leyland says was clocked at 102 m.p.h. Leyland brought up that Clark-Wohlers homer after Friday's game to emphasize that Zumaya, now that hitters have gotten used to him, needs more than his triple-digit fastball -- which he rode to epic success as a rookie in 2006. "The days of ..."
Jacob Turner pitches beyond his 18 years in 'B' game vs. Astros
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March 6
Detroit Free Press
 
"There wasn't a paid crowd for Jacob Turner's start Friday morning. All he had was a Pearl Bailey audience. It included Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski, assistant general manager Al Avila, manager Jim Leyland, pitching coach Rick Knapp and many scouts. As Bailey would say, "That ain't no bad crowd." Turner produced an impeccable outing that raised anew the question of how long it will be before he reaches baseball's version of Broadway. As Turner worked in this 10 a.m. "B" game on a backfield against Houston minor leaguers, it seemed the right-hander could reach the big leagues at the same age Rick Porcello did: 20. Turner doesn't turn 20 until May 21 -- of 2011. "I was anxiously ..."