Posts Tagged ‘Detroit Tigers Baseball’
Baseball is here!
Posted by Joe in Detroit Tigers Baseball on April 11th, 2009
For us folks who live in Michigan, baseball is a welcome sign in the spring. It means we can say hello to Spring and Summer and goodbye to the long winter. The Detroit Tigers held their home opener yesterday and un-ceremoniously bashed Texas Rangers’ pitching on the way to a 15-2 slaughter.
The win was their second of the season and after a few questionable moves by Tigers’ Manager Jim Leyland in the season’s opening series in Toronto, the win was welcomed by Tigers’ fans at Comerica Park. The highlight of the game was an early Grand Slam by First Baseman and Slugger Miguel Cabrera. Cabrera is off to a fast start and he had a career high 6 RBI.
On the mound was Armando Galarraga and he pitched outstanding. He is looking more like the Tigers Ace and a real find via Trade from the Rangers (they could use him) 14 months ago. Today its the Rangers at home again at 1:05 for Easter Saturday. Justin Verlander takes the mound and lets hope he gets his early season jitters out of the way and starts pitching the old Verlander of 2006. He was absolutely shelled in the season opener in Toronto.
Detroit Tigers sign closer Brandon Lyon, releiver Scott Williamson
Posted by Joe in Detroit Tigers Baseball on January 24th, 2009
The Tigers have signed a closer for the 2009-10 season – a need that had to be addressed from last year’s bullpen woes. Ex-Arizona Diamondbacks righty closer, Brandon Lyon has agreed to undisclosed terms – 1 year contract. He had a great first half of the season last year, posting 19 saves and a 2.43 ERA. Oddly, he had an awful second half. He finished the year with 26 saves to go with a 3-5 record and 4.70 ERA in 61 appearances.
I’m not sure Brandon Lyon is the answer to the closer issue, but he is a solid pitcher. He’s a clear upgrade from what they had before the signing for possible closer’s. It’s not clear that he will win or be handed the closer’s job, but I can’t see anyone else claiming the role at this point. Let’s hope he pitches like he did in the first half of the 2008 season.
With closer Todd Jones’ retirement from last year, the Tigers had a gaping hole in the bullpen closer’s role. They dabbled with Fernando Rodney last year at the position, but it was clear he could not cut it. Ideally, fireballer Joel Zumaya would have inherited this role, but with erratic behaviour and constant injuries, Zumaya is a question mark to even throw pitches every year.
They also signed right handed middle-late releiver Scott Willimason; a pitcher with decent career numbers, but has had issues with injuries. Williamson has 510 strikeouts, a 3.36 ERA, and 55 saves in 439.3 innings pitched. He once had a 98 mph power fastball, but underwent Tommy John Surgery in 2001. In his rookie season, Williamson went 12-7 with 107 strikeouts, a 2.41 ERA and 19 saves; made the All-Star team, and earned Rookie of TheYear honors.
