GDT: 4/9/09 - DET (1-2) AT TOR (2-1) - 12:37 p.m. ET

It's a special day for a special situation.

That's the terminology the Tigers have used to describe Rick Porcello and the decision the Tigers faced with him. It's a description team president/general manager Dave Dombrowski estimates he has used for five or six players in his three decades in baseball.

Josh Beckett, to whom Porcello is so often compared, was one. Miguel Cabrera, the guy who homered off the restaurant at Rogers Centre on Wednesday, was another.

"We don't throw that out very easily," Dombrowski said.

It's the terminology team officials used to explain their decision to jump at Porcello when he was still available with the 27th pick of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft and then sign him to a lucrative Major League contract despite concerns over salary.

"There are cases we think are special talents and circumstances where you make a decision that you think is best for our organization," Dombrowski said when they announced the signing two years ago.

"A lot of times with high school players, you're looking at five or six years down the road. I don't think that's the case here."

In Porcello's case, it ended up being little more than a year.

It's certainly a special case for the Porcello family, many members of which were trying to catch a flight from their New Jersey home to Toronto on Thursday evening. It's special enough that older brother Zach, an assistant coach with Seton Hall University, was excused from the Pirates' doubleheader against Villanova on Thursday afternoon to make the trip. Friends and other family members were planning to make the long drive across the state of New York to get here.

It's a special case for the record books, too. With Porcello pitching for Detroit and Ricky Romero taking the hill for Toronto, it'll mark the first time in Major League history that two first-round Draft picks have made their big league debuts as starting pitchers against each other, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

For the 20-year-old Porcello, though, he's trying to make it as normal as he can.

"Obviously, my first time out there, I'm sure it's going to be special," he said. "It's going to be hard for me to calm down and relax. But I think once the first pitch gets out of the way, I'll be fine. I think I was probably more nervous in Spring Training."

Porcello didn't come off as particularly nervous in Spring Training, though. He never has, which is part of the reason the Tigers believed he could make the jump.

"He's confident and mature beyond his years," Dombrowski said during Spring Training. "He's very mature. He's very talented."

And Porcello has stayed that way since breaking camp with the club. If he was getting jittery, reliever Bobby Seay would probably know, having the locker next to him in the visitors' clubhouse at Rogers Centre. He hasn't seen it.

"He's a real cool cat," Seay said. "It does amaze me. You would never think he's 20."

How cool is Porcello? At one point, manager Jim Leyland said, the Tigers briefly considered starting him in Friday's home opener. They didn't want to do it, and they were able to avoid it by putting Armando Galarraga on turn for the assignment. But they wouldn't automatically rule it out.

Nonetheless, Leyland expects Porcello to be nervous once game time approaches.

"I hope so," Leyland said. "I think that's good. But I think nervous and scared are two different things."

Whether Porcello gets nervous remains to be seen. But he's a special situation because he doesn't pitch scared.

"I feel confident that if I go out there and execute my pitches, I can go out there and be successful and keep us in the game to win," Porcello said Wednesday. "That's my main objective: to make sure when I come out of the game that we're in the game. I feel like I can do that, and I'm looking forward to it."

Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Rick Porcello (MLB debut)
Less than two years after Porcello graduated from high school, he formally graduates to the big leagues. The Tigers' first-round Draft pick from 2007 accelerated his timetable dramatically and earned a rotation job with a consistent, solid spring and a bunch of nasty sinkers for quick groundouts, not to mention a maturity well beyond his tender age of 20. He was on a 75-pitch limit last year at Class A ball, but the Tigers appear inclined to let him stretch out as the season goes along.

TOR: LHP Ricky Romero (MLB debut)
Romero, who was the first pitcher selected (sixth overall) in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, beat out fellow left-handed prospects Brett Cecil and Brad Mills for a spot in the rotation this spring. Romero, 24, was considered out of the race after a handful of spring outings, but pitching coach Brad Arnsberg went to work on retooling the lefty's delivery and results came fast. Romero impressed the Jays in his final two Spring Training starts and convinced the club to take him north. Last season, Romero was 8-8 with a 4.55 ERA in 28 Minor League starts between Double-A and Triple-A.

Tidbits
Take away the first-round distinction, and the Porcello-Romero matchup will mark the 19th time since 1901 that both starting pitchers are making their Major League debuts.
... Look for Ramon Santiago to get another start Thursday, this time in place of second baseman Placido Polanco to keep him off the artificial turf in a day game after a night game. Marcus Thames will start in left field, with Carlos Guillen the designated hitter. ... Miguel Cabrera has reached base safely nine times in 12 plate appearances so far this series.

To track MLB play-by-play: http://m.mlb.com/scores/

On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• FS-D

On radio
• WXYT 1270

Up next
• Friday: Tigers (Armando Galarraga, 13-7, 3.73 in 2008) vs. Rangers (Kris Benson, 11-12, 4.82 in 2006), 1:05 p.m. ET
• Saturday: Tigers (Justin Verlander, 0-1, 19.64 ERA) vs. Rangers (Matt Harrison, 9-3, 5.49 ERA in 2008), 1:05 p.m. ET
• Sunday: Tigers (Edwin Jackson, 0-0, 1.23 ERA) vs. Rangers (Kevin Millwood, 1-0, 1.29 ERA), 1:05 p.m. ET
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Starting Lineups:

Detroit AVG
Granderson, CF .273
Thames, LF .250
Ordonez, RF .273
Cabrera, M, 1B .700
Guillen, DH .100
Inge, 3B .364
Treanor, C .000
Santiago, 2B .250
Everett, SS .000

Toronto AVG
Scutaro, SS .333
Hill, 2B .250
Rios, RF .300
Wells, V, CF .364
Lind, DH .333
Bautista, J, 3B .000
Overbay, 1B .083
Barrett, C .000
Snider, LF .200

Current Conditions

Outside Rogers Centre

Sunny 46 F

Humidity: 40 %

Wind: from the W at 15 mph

Barometer: 29.78 in

last updated: 4/9/09 11:00 AM Local Time

Roof will be closed

This is the first time 2 former first round draft pick pitchers will be making their major league debut in the same game.

I can't believe baseball-reference doesn't have any information on Ricky Romero and that they haven't updated any of the 2009 games yet.

Inning 1
Top Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson flies out to right fielder Alex Rios.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Marcus Thames pops out to first baseman Lyle Overbay in foul territory.

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Magglio Ordonez strikes out swinging.
Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Marco Scutaro reaches on fielding error by first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:2 S:2 O:1 - Aaron Hill grounds into a force out,
third baseman Brandon Inge to second baseman Ramon Santiago. Marco
Scutaro out at 2nd. Aaron Hill to 1st.

B:1 S:0 O:3 - Alex Rios grounds into double play,
pitcher Rick Porcello to second baseman Ramon Santiago to first baseman
Miguel Cabrera. Aaron Hill out at 2nd.

0-0

I forgot my radio, so I can't even listen to the game.

Inning 2
Top Half

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Miguel Cabrera walks.

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Carlos Guillen singles on a soft line drive to center fielder Vernon Wells. Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.

B:0 S:2 O:2 - Brandon Inge grounds into double play,
shortstop Marco Scutaro to first baseman Lyle Overbay. Miguel Cabrera
to 3rd. Carlos Guillen out at 2nd.

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Matt Treanor strikes out swinging.

Bottom Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Vernon Wells grounds out, pitcher Rick Porcello to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Adam Lind singles on a sharp ground ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Jose Bautista lines out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Lyle Overbay singles on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Adam Lind to 3rd.

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Michael Barrett called out on strikes.

0-0

bobrob2004 wrote:

I forgot my radio, so I can't even listen to the game.

I will update you then.

Home run!

bobrob2004 wrote:

This is the first time 2 former first round draft pick pitchers will be making their major league debut in the same game.

I can't believe baseball-reference doesn't have any information on Ricky Romero and that they haven't updated any of the 2009 games yet.

Baseball-reference.com says they're behind with all the new updates and working on catching up. It shows all stats other than yesterday from what I can see.

Thames with a Granderson.

Too bad it wasn't Granderson with a Granderson and Thames with a HR but oh well.

Rick's looking okay!

catbox_9 wrote:

bobrob2004 wrote:

This is the first time 2 former first round draft pick pitchers will be making their major league debut in the same game.

I can't believe baseball-reference doesn't have any information on Ricky Romero and that they haven't updated any of the 2009 games yet.

Baseball-reference.com says they're behind with all the new updates and working on catching up. It shows all stats other than yesterday from what I can see.

Did they put in 2009 stats then? Last time I checked, they weren't there.

Rios hurt. He may or may not stay in the game.

For those that didn't see it, he didn't catch the ball, and it hit him in the side of the head (after hitting the wall first)

bobrob2004 wrote:

catbox_9 wrote:

bobrob2004 wrote:

This is the first time 2 former first round draft pick pitchers will be making their major league debut in the same game.

I can't believe baseball-reference doesn't have any information on Ricky Romero and that they haven't updated any of the 2009 games yet.

Baseball-reference.com says they're behind with all the new updates and working on catching up. It shows all stats other than yesterday from what I can see.

Did they put in 2009 stats then? Last time I checked, they weren't there.

I just looked at Cabrera's and it shows 2 games for him.

Gameday say's "injury delay." Anybody know who?

Run scores!

Either an infield hit or an error...waiting on the scorer.

bobrob2004 wrote:

Gameday say's "injury delay." Anybody know who?

Alex Rios got hit in the head with a ball.

Inning 3
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Ramon Santiago grounds out, shortstop Marco Scutaro to first baseman Lyle Overbay.

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Adam Everett grounds out, third baseman Jose Bautista to first baseman Lyle Overbay.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson homers (2) on a fly ball to left center field


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Marcus Thames triples (1) on a fly ball to right fielder Alex Rios.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Injury Delay.Rios hit on side of the head by the ball.

1-0

catbox_9 wrote:

bobrob2004 wrote:

catbox_9 wrote:

bobrob2004 wrote:

This is the first time 2 former first round draft pick pitchers will be making their major league debut in the same game.

I can't believe baseball-reference doesn't have any information on Ricky Romero and that they haven't updated any of the 2009 games yet.

Baseball-reference.com says they're behind with all the new updates and working on catching up. It shows all stats other than yesterday from what I can see.

Did they put in 2009 stats then? Last time I checked, they weren't there.

I just looked at Cabrera's and it shows 2 games for him.

That's good. Hopefully they'll keep it updated.

Base hit for Cabrera. It's about time he does something

bobrob2004 wrote:

catbox_9 wrote:

bobrob2004 wrote:

catbox_9 wrote:

bobrob2004 wrote:

This is the first time 2 former first round draft pick pitchers will be making their major league debut in the same game.

I can't believe baseball-reference doesn't have any information on Ricky Romero and that they haven't updated any of the 2009 games yet.

Baseball-reference.com says they're behind with all the new updates and working on catching up. It shows all stats other than yesterday from what I can see.

Did they put in 2009 stats then? Last time I checked, they weren't there.

I just looked at Cabrera's and it shows 2 games for him.

That's good. Hopefully they'll keep it updated.

Somewhere they had a thing apologizing for the delay and blamed all their new updates. I like the new features but not at the expense of daily updates.

catbox_9 wrote:

bobrob2004 wrote:

Gameday say's "injury delay." Anybody know who?

Alex Rios got hit in the head with a ball.

He must've stayed in the game as gameday still has him in.

2-0!!

Cabrera is batting .727 for those keeping track.

If he keeps that up he'll likely win the batting title.

bobrob2004 wrote:

catbox_9 wrote:

bobrob2004 wrote:

Gameday say's "injury delay." Anybody know who?

Alex Rios got hit in the head with a ball.

He must've stayed in the game as gameday still has him in.

2-0!!

He did.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez singles on a ground ball to shortstop Marco Scutaro. Marcus Thames scores.

2-0

HBP. Bases loaded for Inge.

Come on keep that HR streak alive

catbox_9 wrote:

Cabrera is batting .727 for those keeping track.

If he keeps that up he'll likely win the batting title.

I predicted a .335 AVG for him this year. I wonder if I went too low?

bobrob2004 wrote:

catbox_9 wrote:

Cabrera is batting .727 for those keeping track.

If he keeps that up he'll likely win the batting title.

I predicted a .335 AVG for him this year. I wonder if I went too low?

I like .727 better :haha: