The Spot Starters

Opening Week Thoughts

I’m back.  It feels good.  As  you have probably gathered, I have been a bit too busy to keep up with the site.  However, I’m going to try and do my best from this point on out.

As I write here on early Sunday afternoon, OUR Detroit Tigers sit at the top of the AL Central standings (with those pesky Twins) with a record of 4-1.  I have only been able to watch a little bit so far, but here are some of my thoughts after going through the ol’ rotation once…

• I think Justin Verlander will be fine.  Sure, that opening start left plenty to be desired, but it was the same sort of issues Verlander has struggled with his entire career.  He labored early in the game and threw a few too many pitches and as a consequence, ran out of gas a bit too soon.  No pitcher in the game is perfect and this just maybe the thing Verlander struggles with.
• I am still not impressed with Dontrelle Willis.  He was OKAY in his first start and I’ll avoid any further comment until we see a bit more out of the guy.
• Seriously, how nice was it to see Bonderman on the hill yesterday?  I didn’t realize how excited I would be to see him back in action.  However, I feel like a Dontrelle Willis level of skepticism is appropriate for a guy who hasn’t played a full season since the Bush administration.  Nice game for Bondo though yesterday.
• Is Magglio Ordonez back?  Boy, the dude has been great so far.  Magglio is hitting a robust .476 with a couple of long balls in the first five games.  If Magglio can get back to the .300 hitter with at least 20+ homers, this line up is a MUCH better.
• Miguel Cabrera is a beast.  Enough said.
• Austin Jackson and Scott Sizemore have struggled in the ways you would expect most rookies to struggle.  Both guys have trouble with the strike zone and Jackson seems like a lock for 150 Ks if he plays all year.  That being said, Jackson has been good in other ways at the dish and looks pretty comfortable in center.
• I still like Jose Valverde.  Dude adds flare.

While the club is 4-1, it’s probably worth pointing out that they’ve played Kansas City and Cleveland, probably two of the weaker teams in the American League.  Hopefully they’ll keep this level of play up as the schedule moves forward and they face some tougher competition.

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