Pettite and Bonderman. Good matchup. Marcus Thames just homered off Pettite in the top of 5 to give the Tigers a 3-2 lead. Now if Bondo can just hang onto the lead for a couple more innings and get to the bullpen. Held them 1-2-3 in bottom of 5. Good Job!

Beat the streak: A LOT of big number streaks ended today. I may actually start catching up here!!

Sheff is starting to hit. HARD line drive single in top of 6. Best looking drive I've seen from him in a couple weeks. Gotta love the every day line up for the Tigers.

The one thing I will concede here, these are NOT the best of the Yankees. How can it be when A-Rod and Posada are both on the DL? While we did see Pettite, we didn't see Wang this time around. Makes you wonder what that will be like..

I knew the Tigers were going to have to make a roster move this week for Cruceta coming up to the pen. I had expected that Rapada or someone else would be sent down. I wasn't expecting Jason Grilli to be traded to Colorado. Thats the beauty of this great sport. You can think you can predict what the team is going to do and then they turn around and surprise the heck out of you!

Bondo made it thru 7 with less than 85 pitches.. Will Skip let him come back for the 8th and possibly the 9th? I would LOVE to see a complete game. Ah well.. 7-2/3. Damn good job tonite Bondo!! Now that goes down as a Quality start!

The Tigers win their final series in old Yankee Stadium. Not bad!

A win for Kenny? That would be good. Its 6-3 Tigers going into bottom 9. Mr Rollercoaster coming in to close it. Jonesy can handle it I am sure.

What surprised me is Sheff actually got a hit. Will he finally get past his shoulder and start hitting regularly?

Jonesy being his usual cardiac self. But he got the job done. And its a win for Kenny!

Is it me or is Grandy actually more confident than he was last year? 2 for 3 with a homer and a double plus 2 walks and 3 runs scored tonite. Me thinks he's gonna get some SERIOUS voted for the All Star team this year. My 25 votes included!

Worked night shift last night so had to pass making an entry last night. Last night it was the Angels pitchers working out of jams. Today. WOW. Mr Galarraga has been on FIRE. No hitter thru 5-2/3rds and still stranded the lone hit at third.

This is really going to make things hard for Leyland and Dombrowski. When Dontrelle comes back, what will they do with Mr. G? Put him in the pen and send someone else down? Send him down? Maybe (real big IF here) send Bondo or Robertson or even Kenny Rogers, to the pen as the long relief? Mr G. to the pen as long relief?

Ok.. knew his luck couldn't hold for ever. Angels tied it up in top 7 Mr. Galarraga is out for the win. But Mr Lopez will pick him up after Sheff drives in a couple here in bottom 7. LOL! My bad.. he only drove in one with bouncer over the mound. Maggs comes thru!! double to left center. Wow Weird inning. Tigers score 3 on only 2 well hit balls. 2 walks and couple infield singles. Sent 8 to the dish.

I think it's safe to say that the Tigers are where they should have been the first week of the year. Bats are alive, Pitching is coming around, defense as good as ever. THESE are the Tigers we were all hoping to see. The one thing thats different than expected; its the starters having trouble NOT the bullpen. Thank Gawd!

Are Texas pitchers really this bad? 2 walks in the 1st inning?

Pitchers duel. Who's going to win? The guy who walks the least. Bondo has 6 k's thru 4 but the pitch count is up there. Already above 80 in the 4th.

Inconsistency is KILLING me! Bondo has lost any semblence of consistent locations. What is it? Wish I had access to Tigers videos from his earlier years and today. See if it's mechanical or all mental.

Tigers offense is definitely back 5 HRs in this game... so far!

I knew it call: The Big Hurt signed with Oakland. Look for a serious jump start in their offense here soon!

Okay folks. Tigers win 8-2 with 5 hr's in the game. Was this a real test of the Tigers? I'd say no. Rangers pitching just gave up WAY too many walks. It made the Tigers feel better and let them regain some confidence and their strokes. But the real test will be in 2 weeks when for 7 games they face Boston and the Yankees at home. Gawd I'd love to make one of those games!

I like blowouts on occasion but tonite was just BAD. 10 walks 2 hit batters 18 earned runs on 15 hits. Ron Washington has to be screaming mad about his staff tonite. If Detroits offense is as good as it was tonite for the rest of the year? Gonna be a record year for antacid sales to teams with only so-so pitching.

Bonderman: ESPN baseball tonite the other night after Smoltz got his 3000th strikeout asked what young pitchers stand the chance of reaching that level in their careers. One name that did NOT pop up was Bondo. He's only 25 with 5 full seasons plus and he already has 778 k's. Why oh overpaid weenies of ESPN baseball did you over look him?

Cabrera: This kid scares me. Of his 5 homers so far not one has he truly gotten under with full power. I watched his BP here in Houston at the last Spring training game; One of his shots Hit the windows or the Citgo sign in left center ABOVE the second deck of Minute Maid park. He ever gets hold of one in a game? Wow.

Wow. Coming into this in the bottom of the 4th. Unfortunately I am in the blackout of MLBtv, but listening to it on Detroit radio. I guess all the boys needed was a little home cooking. 3 HRs in the bottom of 3? Sweet! Justins feeling good tonight. Little rocky start but has come back just fine. May even get a quality start out of this.

Justin made it thru 6 with 110 pitches. Time for the bullpen to do their job!

Bullpen done their job thru 8. Jonesy's turn in the 9th. Just hope the boys can add a little insult to injury tomorrow night.

Insert: Tigers just padded their lead with 3 runs on 1 hit in the bottom of 8. Littleton of the Rangers could not even find the strike zone. Walked 2, hit 1, 2 fielders choices. Adding new definitions to UGLY wins. But a W is a W!

I need to check my Beat the Streak for tomorrow night. I had Renteria tonite. 4 for 4! Sometimes you're good, sometimes you're lucky; Gimme luck any day of the week.

Why I like Jason Grilli: My son and I went to the last spring training game against the Astros down here in Houston. During BP Jason was shagging flies in right right in front of us. There was a Mom and Dad with their little 3 yr old son there. One hit the wall right in front of us and rolled under Jasons feet. He picked it up, and found the little guy and his parents and handed the ball to the little guy. Nice gesture

Goes to show you just how off line these blogs can be. 1 Day after wondering if Pudge is feeling okay and having issues seeing the ball (after 3 k's) he turns around and goes 4 for 5.

Now the story lines this morning on the Tigers website are that Polanco can be back today with no major issues with his back other than being sore; and Grandy can be back tomorrow (Wednesday). Now we just have to wait and see what the Doc says about Sheff.

Due for a rain out? If anything the Tigers NEED one. They haven't had an off day in 2 weeks, and arent due to have one until next Monday. I am sure there has been some grumbling around the park against the genius that has ANY team playing for 20 straight days.

I am looking forward to next month. Plans in the works for myself, the daughter and the future son in law to get tickets to the game against Seattle on the 18th. Front row on the 1st base side. pretty close to where the tarp sits. Gotta be there for BP tho. Its actually kinda fun trying to catch balls in the stands along the lines!

Scenario: If Sheff is unable to play for a while (doc says SIT NOW) What if Dombrowski calls up the Big Hurt? He's had his typical slow start already. Plus he's pissed at his treatment by Toronto management. Does anyone beside me think that he'd come in and just go on a rampage at the plate? Regardless of where Thomas ends up, someone is going to get a bargain of an offensive weapon.

I'll be back tonite when the Rangers and Tigers start

I hate Mondays.

Hmm early hope. Raburn actually drove in 2 with bases loaded and none out. Now THAT was a more Tiger like inning. 10 men to the plate, 4 runs across. Mr. Marcum for the Jays is working a little too hard.

On the Tigers side, I LIKE this kid Galarraga. We may have given up a lot this past winter but there are still some gems in the farm system.

Thru 5 now. Galarraga pitched himself in and out of trouble twice, Marcum has settled down, Tigers need another spark here.

Renteria came thru!!

Watching the dugout.. Cabrera is having way too much fun. you'd think he was at a ballgame or something..

End of 6. The Tigers bullpen is a lot better than some people think. the young guns have been coming thru. Now if the starters can come around. The one player whom I think is seriously overdue for a big game is Mags. He hasn't had a serious offensive game in a long time.

If you couldn't tell, I am a lot more relaxed when the Tigers are winning. This one is better because they aren't having to come from behind late.

Leave it to Jonesy to make it interesting in the end. But 3 flys and Tigers go home at .500 for the road trip. Shoulda been 5-1. But considering the way the season started.. I'll take it.

Am actually off today so watching from the house.

In the 4th Tigers got to Burnett and Clete Thomas drove in 2. 2-1 Tigers. Nates looking good guess his lats aren't bothering him that badly.

Clete Thomas. Great baseball name. Good bat. Defense is shaky tho. Wonder who is going to get sent down when Grandy gets back. I'd be willing to bet it'll be Clete. Too bad..

Spoke too soon about Nate looking good. David Eckstein just homered off of him. His 31st of his career. Talk about insult to injury 5-2 Jays after 4.

No real problems with the Jays bullpen. struck out the 3 big guns in the 7th.

Either the Jays pitching staff is better than people give them credit for or the Tigers bats have gone to sleep again. I vote sleep! 

Final 5-3 Jays. The frustrations continue.

Some observations: Pudge, not trying to be insulting or derogatory, but seriously, when was the last time you had your eyes checked? 3 k's is unusual for you. and after last year, wondering if your eye health is what it should be. Someone who knows Pudge and actually reads this, ask him!

The Jays let the Big Hurt go. With most teams set in the A.L. at the DH position, wonder if he'll end up somewhere else or join Bonds, Sosa, etc. as another big bat sitting and watching this year. He's complaining about how the Jays did it but really folks, How else do you do it? Is there a nice way of saying to someone of Thomas's size and history that he has lost his touch (at least for now) and his services were no longer being justified?

Sheffs shoulder: I said yesterday or Friday that Sheff needed to rest his shoulder but the report on the team website that he's going back to the Doctors again really has me concerned. More time on the DL for Sheff? If so, who gets called up? Grandy says he's not sure he's ready but it was more his throwing strength than hitting he was concerned about. If Sheff hits the DL, go ahead and bring Grandy back. Let him DH if he's concerned about his defense. We need offense right now!

Thats what I get for not reading the news before making my Beat the Streak pick. Picked Fukodome of the Cubs today. And he's sitting out.. Oh well back tomorrow for more fun!! 

Coming into it late in the bottom of 2. Way it looks, Bondo can't find the plate right now. Lots of pitches in the dirt. Walked the bases full after an infield single. Now he walks in a run. Toronto doesn't need to swing the bat today. Whew. Got outa that inning with minimal damage. Time for the Tigers bats to wake up again.

Top 3. Pudge fisted one, Raburn just missed. 2nd and 3rd no one out and they can only manage 1 run. I am sorry but if Sheff's shoulder is hurting that much, take a break!

Lotta swings on the first pitch again.. Patience Grasshoppers!!

Pitching duel after 4. Bondo settled down finally. I think he's past last years 1st inning issues, but I think it just moved to the second! 

Now in the 5th. Bondo's hit the 100 pitch plateau. He's done after this. 3-1 Jays after 5. Me thinks that mcGowan for the Jays is gonna win this one.

3-2 Jays Final. But the Tiogers are living up to the tag of the Cardiac kids still. Putting the tying run on 3rd with 2 out in the top of the 9th. Leaving men on base has become a bad habit of the Tigers. Back to work! 

Tigers scored in the top of the first. Rookie pitcher for the Jays tonite. Cabrera drove in another run.. May have to keep him as my Beat the streak player for a while!

Looking on the backstop.. The Keg Steakhouse and bar? Sounds pretty damn good about now..

Is it me, or does Cabrera remind anyone else of a big Cat? With his size and reflexes he reminds me of a young lion. Lion of course being a bad word in the Detroit area!

Left the bases loaded in the top of 2. Purcey (Toronto rookie pitcher) threw one hell of a pitch and got Sheff looking. Would it be sacriligous if I thought Leyland should (when Grandy comes back) Sit Sheff for a bit to rest his shoulder, Move Cabrera to DH and play Brandon at 3rd for a while?

Kenny, quit hanging them over the plate like that! 1-1 end of 2

Rogers just doesn't have it tonite. Bottom of 5 and things have just come apart.

Wrote last night that the Tigers just might be this years cardiac kids. Top of 6 and here they come back against the Jays...

Top of 7 now. The Tigers have taken the lead. Kenny is off the hook for the loss. Now if he and the bullpen can hold it together thru 9 more outs.

ALRIGHT! 8-4 going into the bottom of the 9th. Time for Mr. Jones to slam the door

Like I said, Cardiac kids for 2008. Your Detroit Tigers!!

After 2 innings Tigers have 3 hits, stranded 4, but pushing Carmona's pitch count up. My concern is Justins pitching. no hits but walked the bases full (1 intentional) in the 1st Now he hits Garko. Gonna be a long night... 

Justin's second. Just cannot find the strike zone. 3 runs, 3 hits, couple walks, hit a guy. sheesh..

I am getting pessimistic tonite. 1-2-3 in the Tigers 3rd. Cle puts 2 more on.. Justin settling down tho.. Out of 3rd. 3-0 Cle.

5-1 after 6. Traded a couple of HBP. Justr trying to set up some bad blood down the road.

Giving up on this game.. Tigers pitching is gone again.

Sitting at work on a slow afternoon: Was happy to see the REAL Tigers show up last night in Cleveland. I appreciate the boys taking it to C.C. Sabathia, but still, that to me was not the real C.C. last night. We'll see when the next series comes around.

 Then again, when will the real Dontrelle show up? I am sincerly hoping that when Dontrelle starts his rehab on his knee, the one thing Chuck Hernandez presses into D-trains brain is he no longer has to carry the entire team like he had to in Florida. Maybe then he can relax, and be the pitcher he was in 2003-2006.

 Will be watching tonite online when the boys take on Carmona in Cleveland. Justin, if you read this, just keeping throwing like you have been, the boys will pick you up tonite!

Wild