See what happens when the Tigers get their true leadoff hitter back? Curtis Granderson gets activated right before he helped his team hang 19 on the Rangers. Clete Thomas was optioned back to Toledo to create the roster spot for Granderson. Curtis did what a leadoff hitter is supposed to do - get on base and let the 'heavy-lifters' do the work. He was on base four times last night and scored 3 runs in his season debut. You may be thinking that wasn't a big accomplishment. Well, it is a big accomplishment when you consider that all the leadoff replacements for Granderson scored just three runs in the Tigers' first 21 games!
Heck, he scored twice in the 6th inning alone! That's what he does. He even worked two walks last night. Working counts was something Curtis told me was one of his main focusses in Lakeland two months ago. Having Granderson back at the top of that lineup just flat out feels right. It allows Jim Leyland to manage differently as well. Now it sounds like both Gary Sheffield and Placido Polanco will be back Friday. If those two guys can return, Friday's game will be the Tigers' first gane this season with all the pieces in place. Think about that for a minute. The Tigers will virtually play the first month of the season short-handed. Once they become 'whole', look out.
The Tigers' bullpen could be getting a huge lift very soon. Francisco Cruceta pitched in relief against the Columbus Clippers, who beat Toledo, 5-3, and did not allow a hit or a run in a 41-pitch outing, featuring command of three impressive pitches.
He struck out the side on 10 pitches in the sixth and retired the Clippers 1-2-3 in the seventh on two ground balls and a fourth strikeout. In the seventh, he added two more strikeouts.
Cruceta will likely be added to the Tigers' 25-man roster well ahead of the May 10 deadline the team faces in deciding Cruceta's future. He's out of big-league options and cannot be returned to the minors without being exposed to waivers. He was granted a 30-day extension on Major League Baseball's restricted list because of his visa holdup.
I hope when Cruceta is added, Zach Miner will be sent down. Miner still has talent. He proved that in 2006 when he was fairly effective in spot starts and in long relief scenarios, but this season he has nothing. Cruceta was the guy Leyland and Dombrowski raved about in Lakeland two months ago but couldn't get into the country due to visa problems.
All that's solved now and the Tigers will be monitoring his minor league appearances very, very closely over the course of the next week or so.
Kenny Rogers concerns me a bit. He may just no longer have it. Maybe at 43 he's just spent. He barely pitched past the 3rd inning last night.
Wednesday's 19-6 outburst is a sign of things to come.