Brent's Sports Blog

I guess when Jim Leyland screams, people listen.. and teams win. Perhaps the skipper should've offered up his screaming tirade a week ago. It took the Tigers six innings last night for Leyland's rant to sink in, but it finally did. Tigers scored four runs in the 6th inning with two outs. Then exploded for six runs in the 8th inning to take the 11-9 lead, which they wouldn't give back.

Tigers appeared lifeless again for the first five innings again, as the Twins took a 5-0 lead. I thought the team was going to quit again.

Couple of big errors led to several unearned runs for the Twins. There were two outs in the second inning when Minnesota's Brendan Harris hit a pop fly behind home plate. All Pudge Rodriguez had to do was make the catch to end the inning, but the 13-time Gold Glover dropped the ball. That gave Harris new life and, on the very next pitch from Jeremy Bonderman, he ripped a base hit to left field scoring the game's first run. Pudge's error extended the inning and allowed the next hitter, Mike Lamb, to double off the right field wall, plating Harris. Pudge's error put the Tigers in an early 2-0 hole. Later in the game, rookie Clete Thomas had his head in the stars while charging a ball in centerfield. He scooped down to get the ball, but it scooted under his glove. Clete's embarrassing error allowed another unearned run to score. Tigers committed three errors behind Bonderman in this game, causing me to have gut-rot by the end of the 5th inning. The good news about Bonderman was even though he got a no-decision in this game, he pitched into the 7th inning. That's what the Tigers need from their starters every game so the bullpen doesn't get exposed. Verlander, Willis, Robertson and Rogers please take note.

Then the bats came alive. Magglio Ordonez was 3/4, Carlos Guillen was 3/4, Pudge made up for his costly error by having a great night at the plate. He went 2/4 with 2 runs scored and 3 RBI, including his first home run of the season.

Watching the Tigers these past two weeks has been like looking after a sick child. They've been lethargic, tired, lifeless, no strength... then the fever breaks and the child feels better again. The first half of Monday's game the Tigers were still "sick" but in the 6th inning, their fever broke and the team started to resemble it's preseason expectations.

Maybe the sickness is over. Then again, maybe they'll respond by getting shutout in tonight's game for the 5th time this season. It was a nice way for the Tigers to win their first home game of the season.

Just before I went on the air last night, reports started surfacing that Curtis Granderson will take batting practice for the first time before Tonight's game. This is excellent news and means Granderson is closer to returning. Clete Thomas, start cleaning out your locker in the clubhouse because you're gonna be sent down when Granderson is activated.

Now, some bad news. It appears Fernando Rodney has had another setback. According to reports, he felt something wrong while pitching. The Tigers are concerned enough now that they are sending Rodney to famed orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews to have his injured right shoulder examined Wednesday. Don't be surprised if Rodney is placed on the 60-day DL before this weekend, meaning we'll be without both he & Zumaya for most of the season, if they even become available at all.

Enjoy this win, but don't put too much stock into it. The Tigers need to maintain this for people to start believing in them again.