GDT: 5/11/08 - DET (16-22) VS. NYY (19-19), 1:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- The Tigers' new $153.3 million man has not lived up to expectations. But that's not to say he won't eventually.

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera, a four-time All-Star who was acquired in a December trade with the Marlins, sports a .252 average with six home runs and 22 RBIs this season. He is 6-for-35 in his past nine games, and he hasn't recorded a home run or RBI since May 1.

So what does Tigers manager Jim Leyland think about Cabrera these days?

"I think he's going to relax here shortly and go on a tear is what I think," Leyland said. "I think he's getting ready, close, and I don't know if I'm right or not, but I just kind of smell like he's getting close to going on a tear."

That tear could begin on Sunday afternoon as the Tigers look to continue their recent success against the Yankees and take this weekend's three-game series at Comerica Park.

The Yankees will go with left-hander Andy Pettitte, against whom Cabrera is 4-for-12 with two home runs. Detroit will counter with Nate Robertson.

Leyland tried to pinpoint reasons for Cabrera's slow start. He feels the slugger might be putting too much pressure on himself while trying to live up to his new eight-year deal -- the biggest in team history and the fourth-richest contract in Major League history.

"I've seen it happen before, where guys go to new teams and sign big contracts and they put a little pressure on themselves for a while," Leyland said. "I can understand that. Cabrera wants to compete. He knows he was signed to be 'the guy,' but sometimes, you got to let that play out a little bit and not get too excited. Sometimes, guys want to live up to their entire contract in two weeks or one week, and that's not going to happen."

Leyland believes once Cabrera settles down, he will return to being the player that averaged 31 homers and 115 RBIs while batting .318 the past four seasons in Florida.

"I think Miguel Cabrera will be the first baseman for the Tigers for a long time," Leyland said. "I think he'll be a great first baseman and very productive. If he's not, that means everybody in baseball is wrong. Everybody in baseball that I've talked to says he's one of the top five, premier offensive forces in baseball -- not just people with the Tigers, everybody in baseball. It's not like they're speculating. They can read the numbers.

"When he relaxes and takes a little bit of pressure off himself, he'll be fine."

Pitching matchup

DET: LHP Nate Robertson (1-4, 6.64 ERA)
Robertson doesn't have a quality start in seven outings so far this year, and he has been inefficient with his pitches in his past two outings. Still, if he can repeat the last five innings of his victory over the Yankees on May 1, he'd be pretty happy, considering he gave up a three-run home run to Bobby Abreu three batters into his outing that night.

NYY: LHP Andy Pettitte (3-3, 3.77 ERA)
Pettitte started and recorded a no-decision in his 400th career start on Tuesday, despite limiting the Indians to two earned runs in 6 1/3 innings and striking out a season-high six batters. His only blemish was a two-run homer to Jhonny Peralta on a sinker that did not cut quite enough, a problem that Pettitte continues to fight in his bullpen sessions. He lost to the Tigers on April 30 in New York, allowing five earned runs in six innings for his third loss.


Tidbits

Matt Joyce's home run in the second inning of Saturday's game ended a seven-game homerless streak for the Tigers. ... Ivan Rodriguez is batting .500 (7-for-14) in his past four games. ... Saturday's sellout crowd at Comerica Park was the largest non-Opening Day game in the ballpark's history, and it marked only the second time that Comerica has had 44,000-plus fans in back-to-back games.

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

On television
• FSN-HD, TBS

On radio
• 97.1FM/1270AM

Up next

• Monday: Off-day

• Tue., May 13: Tigers (RHP Justin Verlander (1-6, 6.43 ERA)) at Royals (RHP Zack Greinke (4-1, 1.80) ERA)), 8:10 p.m. ET

• Wed., May 14: Tigers (LHP Kenny Rogers (3-3, 5.82 ERA)) at Royals (RHP Luke Hochevar, 2-2, 4.94 ERA), 8:10 p.m. ET

SUNDAY'S STARTING LINEUPS:

NEW YORK:



DETROIT:

59 degrees at Game Time with rain likely.


Hope we can get the game in.

And a Tigers Win!

GO TIGERS

If it don't get rained out, Tigers gonna win big on Sunday

LET'S GO GUYS!!!

Rain delay...

Rain delay so far....really coming down!

Well this sucks. I get a Tigers game on live TV in the UK, and at a time when I don't have to stay up til 3am to see it....and there's a rain delay!

What's the weather doing? I'm watching TBS and they're showing some nonsense about the Royals for some reason. Is it really raining, or are we maybe close to start time?

laprimamirala wrote:

Rain delay so far....really coming down!

Oh.

Bugger.

tigerbob wrote:

laprimamirala wrote:

Rain delay so far....really coming down!

Oh.

Bugger.

I'd be very surprised if they got this game in today.

bobrob2004 wrote:

tigerbob wrote:

laprimamirala wrote:

Rain delay so far....really coming down!

Oh.

Bugger.

I'd be very surprised if they got this game in today.

Noooooo!!!!

It's VERY wet outside!!! I think it's going to get canceled today.

TigersGirl wrote:

It's VERY wet outside!!! I think it's going to get canceled today.

And they were suppose to use pink bats today too...

bobrob2004 wrote:

And they were suppose to use pink bats today too...

AND I have missed the last 3 (or 4?) games. I was excited about seeing it....

Tigers site says the game is postponed due to rain.

Sorry guys, no game today.

awww.

Buh.buh.buh....buuwwwaaaaahhhh!

bobrob2004 wrote:

And they were suppose to use pink bats today too...

Pink caps too, maybe?

Maybe it was a good omen. They need a break.

So is this just delayed or done? Sorry I just got up, everyone in this house seems to think Mother's day means let mommy sleep all damn day

It's canceled. and no game tomorrow. Grr...

Damn.. no Tigers and the fish are losing... yay happy day

SoulRat wrote:

Damn.. no Tigers and the fish are losing... yay happy day

at least it's mothers day.... HAPPY MOTHERS DAY, btw.

TigersGirl wrote:

SoulRat wrote:

Damn.. no Tigers and the fish are losing... yay happy day

at least it's mothers day.... HAPPY MOTHERS DAY, btw.

awww thanks! So far they have let me sleep until 3 and cleaned up the garbage the cats got into while I was sleeping :haha:

Hmm, here was my mom's mother/birth day:

Got up at 6:00
Went out to watch a regatta, but didn't get to because it was raining
Drove for 4 1/2 hours to get home
Went to lunch....


So you aren't the only one who has had a not so awesome day..

Wow that sucks Give her a big hug. I'm not having a bad day, Just not enough coffee yet :haha:

haha. I had lots of coffee! And then my brother stole it, and then he had to get his own because his rowing friends wanted it

anyway, have a good rest of the day

LOL I will thanks! I'll have some more coffee in honor of you

haha cool!