GDT: 4/10/09 - DET (1-3) VS Tex (3-0) - 1:05 p.m. ET

TORONTO -- The pageantry will be nice. The ceremonies will probably be touching. But just as important for many of the Tigers on Opening Day, the weather will be warm, relatively speaking.

The Tigers opened last season at Comerica Park and went 0-6 for the homestand. Their experience with the cold Midwestern weather in April left some of their key bats cold and their offense inconsistent, at best, until the weather and the Tigers warmed up in May. Saving their season, on the other hand, was too much.

This year, the Tigers come home after losing three of four in Toronto. But to many players, they arrive in Detroit better prepared for performing at Comerica Park. They've had four games at regular-season speed in moderate conditions under a dome, allowing them to ramp up their intensity after Spring Training without dealing with the elements. And key hitters such as Miguel Cabrera have had a chance to heat up their bats before they have to put on cold-weather gear.

"Yeah, a lot of difference," Cabrera said after reaching base safely in 11 of his 15 plate appearances at Rogers Centre. "We played with good weather. There's no wind, no nothing. It's not cold. It's not hot. So it helps a lot [to get ready]."

The key factor manager Jim Leyland pointed out was that the Tigers knew the games were going to be played without delays or postponements. He was able to get all of his relievers some work, and every position player made at least one start, except for Jeff Larish, who Leyland said could end up as the designated hitter on Friday.

"I'm really glad we came here, because we got our games," Leyland said. "We weren't sitting out in the cold weather waiting for rain delays and snow delays and everything. We got in a little bit of a routine. Now, we may have to go through some of that [weather], but I think it's good that we got off and going. We didn't have to worry about our pitchers getting backed up, or all of a sudden getting snowed out the first two days. We've got our rotation going a little bit. I like that a lot."

If they had opened the season at home, they would've been snowed out on Monday. Instead, they'll open Friday under forecasted partly cloudy skies, with high temperatures in the low 50s. In fact, there's no rain in the forecast until Tuesday, the next-to-last day of the six-game homestand, with temperatures staying in the same range.

That should make for a much more comfortable opener for many players, as well as the fans. A win, of course, would make it more enjoyable.

While several new Tigers will be introduced, Armando Galarraga will get a reunion with his former teammates on the Texas Rangers after beating them last August. His outing will be another reminder of what Texas gave up in its Minor League trade with Detroit just before Spring Training last year, but Leyland meant it to be a reward for all Galarraga accomplished last season.

Galarraga led the Tigers with 13 wins last year, filling the gap left by the injuries and struggles of Dontrelle Willis.

Friday's pregame festivities will give thanks to many of their fans who work in the auto industry, and Leyland is looking forward to it.

"The thing with the automakers [using the center-field fountain as a show of support] is an unbelievable gesture," Leyland said. "Hopefully that'll lighten some spirits a little bit. Hopefully we'll give them a good show. We'll be playing a team that's obviously swinging the bats extremely well right out of the chute. They can hit. So can we."

The key for many Tigers is that, unlike last year, they already have been hitting.

While fans get a look at the fountain showing the Tigers' support for the Big Three auto companies, each of the automakers will be represented on the field, as Michigan native and noted Tigers fan Kid Rock delivers baseballs for the ceremonial first pitches. Instead of celebrities or politicians, auto workers from each company will be taking the mound.

The ceremonies will begin at 12:35 p.m. ET with an on-field tribute to Hall of Famer George Kell, who passed away last month. The traditional Opening Day happenings will follow, from player introductions to the national anthem, performed by members of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. A military flyover will accompany the anthem, featuring four F-15C aircraft from the 95th Fighter Squadron based out of Tyndall Air Force Base.

Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Armando Galarraga (13-7, 3.73 ERA in 2008)
Galarraga was awarded the home-opener assignment partly as a reward for his breakout 2008 season, having led the Tigers in victories for the year. Just as important, though, is the fact that Galarraga never seems to get hyped up, a key advantage for a game that's an unofficial holiday in Detroit with an intense atmosphere. If his makeup gets him ready for it, his challenge before then is to make sure he's physically ready after having to catch up on innings following the World Baseball Classic. The fact that he'll face his old squad with a former Rangers catcher, Gerald Laird, possibly working with him is a nice bonus. He beat the Rangers last August with a quality start at Arlington.

TEX: RHP Kris Benson (Did not play in 2008)
Benson will be making his first start in a Major League game since Sept. 27, 2006, when he was with the Orioles. The right-hander was signed by the Rangers at the beginning of Spring Training and ended up winning a spot in the starting rotation. He missed much of the past two seasons with a torn rotator cuff and is 2-1 with a 2.38 ERA in three career starts against the Tigers.

Tidbits
Laird spent his career in Texas before being dealt to Detroit for two prospects last December.
... Brandon Inge's next home run will be the 100th of his career. His 55 home runs at Comerica Park are the most by any player.
... Galarraga made the Tigers' Opening Day roster for the first time this year. He went 5-3 with a 4.18 ERA at Comerica Park last season, compared with 8-4 with a 3.36 ERA on the road.

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 HD/FOX 2

On radio
• WXYT 1270

Up next
• 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
• Monday: Tigers (TBD) vs. White Sox (Gavin Floyd, 0-1, 2.57 ERA), 1:05 p.m. ET

Starting Lineup:

Texas AVG
Kinsler, 2B .500
Young, 3B .417
Hamilton, CF .273
Blalock, DH .286
Cruz, N, RF .364
Byrd, LF .333
Davis, C, 1B .091
Saltalamacchia, C .429
Andrus, El, SS .375


Detroit AVG
Granderson, CF .313
Polanco, 2B .154
Ordonez, RF .267
Cabrera, M, 1B .615
Guillen, LF .231
Larish, DH .000
Laird, C .182
Inge, 3B .286
Everett, SS .100

Whoo-hoo! It's the Home Opener. My first in 11 years!

Time is now 9.45am. The kids are wrapped up warm and we are headed to Comerica in 10 minutes to hopefully catch a bit of BP and bathe in the magic waters of baseball.

Have fun on the thread y'all, and fingers crossed for a 2-3 record by tonight.

Go Tigers!

Can't watch any of this one either but will be checking in.
GO BOYZ

WXYZ was doing a pregame post (great helicopter views circling the stadium!) and the pilot says, "I always like that blurp about the voice of the turtle that Ernie does to start the season..."

laprimamirala wrote:

WXYZ was doing a pregame post (great helicopter views circling the stadium!) and the pilot says, "I always like that blurp about the voice of the turtle that Ernie does to start the season..."

Click

I got my radio handy this time! Home opener and I'm stuck at work

tigerbob wrote:

Whoo-hoo! It's the Home Opener. My first in 11 years!

Time is now 9.45am. The kids are wrapped up warm and we are headed to Comerica in 10 minutes to hopefully catch a bit of BP and bathe in the magic waters of baseball.

Have fun on the thread y'all, and fingers crossed for a 2-3 record by tonight.

Go Tigers!

Have a lot of fun!! Enjoy the experience of the Home Opener! I am jealous! I'll watch it live at home on TV as you have all the years i guess.

Current Conditions

Comerica Park

Partly Cloudy 48 F

Humidity: 50 %

Wind: from the NE at 15 mph

Barometer: 29.95 in

last updated: 4/10/09 12:25 PM EDT

Here we go! First pitch, low.

Jim Price: A sinker doesn't have a lot of sink when you leave it up.

Words of wisdom right there.

1 out.

Young , 2 out.

Brandon Inge apparently makes a great catch, 3 out.

Awesome catch by Inge! He can play defence, OMG!
Go Brandon!

Granderson out.

Polanco out, 2 out.

Magglio walks.

Cabrera out, 3 out.

1-0 Tigers

Inge just missed a HR there....by about 330 feet.

Everett hit it to the outfield!!!

It was foul though.

Inning over. Everett's average drops to .091.

You know what's really annoying? People calling Brandon Lyon "Lyons." There's only one of him...

1 pitch, 1 out.

Another for Galarraga.

bobrob2004 wrote:

You know what's really annoying? People calling Brandon Lyon "Lyons." There's only one of him...

There's a K by Galarragas.

I hope Leylands lets him pitch and doesn't bring in Robertsons or Lyons.

You know what else is annoying....trying to shave without water.

My mother thinks she's going to be a plumber and turned off the water and then left to go do something.

catbox_9 wrote:

bobrob2004 wrote:

You know what's really annoying? People calling Brandon Lyon "Lyons." There's only one of him...

There's a K by Galarragas.

I hope Leylands lets him pitch and doesn't bring in Robertsons or Lyons.

The 2nd half of that sentence actually makes sense if you substitute "Robertson" for any bad pitcher. "The bullpen is full of Robertsons."

Another !