GDT: 7/18/09 - DET (48-40) at NYY (52-37) - 1:05 p.m. ET

NEW YORK -- His batterymate, Gerald Laird, had a chance to survey the lay of the land from behind the plate at Yankee Stadium on Friday night, and right-hander Justin Verlander is eager to give the new stadium a quick onceover before taking the mound to face New York on Saturday afternoon.

Verlander won't be surveying the dimensions of the outfield fences, the height of the mound, the wind currents or the overhangs of the decks in left and right fields.

It's depth perception that enables Verlander to gain an element of comfort when he pitches in new surroundings.

"The first thing I notice now when I pitch in a new ballpark is how home plate looks to me," Verlander said before the Tigers opened their weekend series in the Bronx on Friday night. "Everywhere is a little bit different. Some places you look at the catcher and you feel like you're right on top of him, and in other places you feel like you are a mile away."

The backdrop in the new Yankee Stadium is closer than it was in the park across the street.

"It's funny how it works," he said. "It just has something to do with the backdrop. It's kind of the way the backdrop is set that gives you the perception that you are really close or very far away. You can't really tell until you are out there to see it."

Though Verlander doesn't have a particularly outstanding record against either Minnesota (4-4 overall) or Oakland (3-2), he likes the depth perception in those parks. He's not overly fond Camden Yards in Baltimore, yet he's 4-0 lifetime against the Orioles.

"I prefer close," he said without batting an eye. "It makes you feel like you can just reach out there and put [the ball] right where you want it."

As for homer-friendly Yankee Stadium, Verlander said that he doesn't concern himself with the longballs.

"It jumps for both sides the same way," he said. "Just pitch your game. Go right at them."

Verlander's catcher, Laird, first familiarizes himself with the backstops and backdrops, how the ball rolls down the line, the consistency of the dirt, and "how the ball spins hands and the lighting."

When it comes to catching Verlander, Laird lets the veteran do his thing on the mound.

"I just prepare myself and do the best I can for him back there," Laird said. "Justin is a professional. He knows what he's doing. He has a good routine."

And the fact that Verlander is a good pitcher has nothing to do with depth perception. The Yankees know that.

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Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Justin Verlander (10-4, 3.38 ERA)
Since Verlander did not pitch in Tuesday's All-Star Game, instead throwing a side session, the Tigers will have him start on Saturday instead of Sunday. That still gives him an extra day beyond normal rest after he started Detroit's last game before the All-Star break, last Sunday against Cleveland. He needed 116 pitches to blank the Indians for seven innings with eight strikeouts. The American League leader in strikeouts could use a few swings and misses or called strikes to keep the ball inside Yankee Stadium. He tossed seven scoreless innings against the Bombers, with nine strikeouts, on April 27 at Comerica Park.

NYY: LHP CC Sabathia (8-6, 3.86 ERA)
Sabathia begins the second half looking to bounce back from a defeat in his last outing, on July 12 at Anaheim. He went 6 2/3 innings in that start against the Angels but allowed five runs on nine hits, walking three and striking out six. He faced the Tigers on April 27 at Detroit and threw his first complete game as a Yankee, allowing four runs on six hits in a 4-2 loss. He is 1-2 with a 5.59 ERA in three July starts.

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Tidbits

... Outfielder Carlos Guillen, on the disabled list since May 5 with inflammation in his right shoulder, may move up from Class A Lakeland, where he has been on a rehab assignment, to Triple-A Toledo on July 20.
... The Tigers chose to flip-flop Verlander and Edwin Jackson in the rotation because Verlander didn't pitch in the Midsummer Classic and Jackson did.
... Infielder Ramon Santiago looked a little sleepy when he arrived in the clubhouse on Friday. He arrived in New York at 1 p.m. ET because his wife, Andreana, delivered the couple's first child on Thursday. Raymond David, born in West Bloomfield, Mich., weighed 8 pounds and 7 ounces.
... Manager Jim Leyland said after Friday's 5-3 loss that even though Curtis Granderson hit a double and a homer, the center fielder might sit on Saturday against Sabathia. Leyland reasoned that Granderson is starting to get in a groove but that he has struggled facing left-handers, with a .194 average against southpaws.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Sunday: Tigers (Edwin Jackson, 7-4, 2.52 ERA) at Yankees (Joba Chamberlain, 4.2, 4.25 ERA), 2:05 p.m. ET
• Monday: Off-day
• Tuesday: Tigers (Armando Galarraga, 5-8, 5.09 ERA) vs. Mariners (Garrett Olson, 3-3, 4.53 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

Detroit AVG
Granderson, CF .257
Polanco, 2B .259
Cabrera, M, 1B .322
Thames, DH .279
Ordonez, RF .260
Raburn, LF .269
Inge, 3B .264
Laird, C .241
Everett, SS .258

NY Yankees AVG
Jeter, SS .323
Damon, LF .278
Teixeira, 1B .280
Rodriguez, A, 3B .250
Matsui, H, DH .269
Posada, C .286
Cano, 2B .310
Swisher, RF .235
Cabrera, Me, CF .284

Inning 1
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson flies out to right fielder Nick Swisher.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Placido Polanco doubles (21) on a line drive to center fielder Melky Cabrera.

B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera walks.

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Marcus Thames swinging.

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Magglio Ordonez flies out to center fielder Melky Cabrera.

0-0

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Derek Jeter singles on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson.


B:2 S:1 O:1 -
With Johnny Damon batting, Derek Jeter caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Gerald Laird to shortstop Adam Everett.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Johnny Damon lines out to pitcher Justin Verlander.

B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Mark Teixeira swinging.

0-0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Ryan Raburn swinging.

B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Brandon Inge walks.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Gerald Laird singles on a ground ball to left fielder Johnny Damon. Brandon Inge to 2nd.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Adam Everett flies out to center fielder Melky Cabrera.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
With Curtis Granderson batting, wild pitch by CC Sabathia, Brandon Inge to 3rd. Gerald Laird to 2nd.

B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Curtis Granderson strikes out swinging.

0-0 after 1.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Alex Rodriguez grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Hideki Matsui grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Jorge Posada called out on .

0-0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Placido Polanco grounds out softly, second baseman Robinson Cano to first baseman Mark Teixeira.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera singles on a line drive to right fielder Nick Swisher.

B:0 S:0 O:3 - Marcus Thames grounds into double play,
shortstop Derek Jeter to second baseman Robinson Cano to first baseman
Mark Teixeira. Miguel Cabrera out at 2nd.

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Robinson Cano grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Nick Swisher swinging.

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Melky Cabrera pops out to shortstop Adam Everett.

0-0 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Magglio Ordonez walks.

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
With Ryan Raburn batting, passed ball by Jorge Posada, Magglio Ordonez to 2nd.

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Ryan Raburn grounds out, pitcher CC Sabathia to first baseman Mark Teixeira.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Brandon Inge hit by pitch.

B:1 S:0 O:3 - Gerald Laird grounds into double play,
shortstop Derek Jeter to second baseman Robinson Cano to first baseman
Mark Teixeira. Brandon Inge out at 2nd.

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Derek Jeter singles on a line drive to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Johnny Damon flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Mark Teixeira walks. Derek Jeter to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Alex Rodriguez flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:3 S:1 O:3 -
Hideki Matsui pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge in foul territory.

0-0 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Adam Everett swinging.

B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson flies out to left fielder Johnny Damon.

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, third baseman Alex Rodriguez to first baseman Mark Teixeira.

0-0 after 4.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Jorge Posada pops out softly to shortstop Adam Everett.

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Robinson Cano swinging.

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Nick Swisher flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

0-0 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera pops out to second baseman Robinson Cano.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Marcus Thames singles on a ground ball to shortstop Derek Jeter.

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez doubles (11) on a line drive to right fielder Nick Swisher. Marcus Thames to 3rd.

We need some runs

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Ryan Raburn flies out to left fielder Johnny Damon.


B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Brandon Inge pops out to second baseman Robinson Cano.

0-0 after 5.5 innings

gs78 wrote:

We need some runs

Isn't that the truth!

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Melky Cabrera grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

Tigers are gonna have to make a deal and get someone


They ain't gonna win the division if their bats don't produce some offense

B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Derek Jeter swinging, catcher Gerald Laird to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

Double

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Johnny Damon doubles (21) on a fly ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

Get em out