GDT: 9/1/08 - DET (66-70) VS NYY (72-64) - 1:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- Pudge is coming back to town.

After four All-Star years with the Tigers, Ivan Rodriguez was traded to the Yankees before the Trade Deadline this season. He will make his first return to Comerica Park on Monday, as the two teams make up a game that was postponed on May 11.

Instead of facing the Yankees as he would have that day, Rodriguez will be wearing Yankees blue.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland is looking forward to a visit with his former backstop.

"I'll be happy to see him," Leyland said. "I'm sure the fans will be glad to see him, and they should be.

"I think it might be [an emotional moment] for Pudge. I'm sure the fans are certainly very grateful, because the organization is very grateful for what he's done.

"Pudge came in here every day ready to play, [he] wanted to play. Played hard. Played hurt. Obviously, he was a big sign and big news for the city. He was outstanding."

Rodriguez was an integral member of the 2006 Tigers team that lost to the Cardinals in the World Series.

He's struggled in the 21 games he's played so far with the Yankees, batting .203 with a .254 on-base percentage and two home runs that accounted for both of his RBIs.

He's in his 18th season as a big league catcher, an accomplishment that astounds Leyland.

"To see his physical status at this point in his career after catching that much is mind-boggling to me," Leyland said. "All the beatings he's taken over the years, to look at the shape he's in is really unbelievable. And not to have some form of arthritic knees or arthritic shoulder or something -- it's unbelievable.

"Those guys' knees blow out catching less than him. It's unbelievable that he's still going pretty good."



Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Justin Verlander (10-14, 4.53 ERA)
A couple of broken-bat line drives and an ill-placed fastball that resulted in a Kelly Shoppach two-run homer sent Verlander to defeat in his previous start on Wednesday against Cleveland. The loss prompted Leyland to talk about the need for Verlander to shore up the command on his fastball, which has been inconsistent all season. Whether Verlander takes that to heart in his remaining starts this season remains to be seen. He beat the Yankees in both of his meetings with them last year, scattering three runs over 12 1/3 innings.

NYY: RHP Sidney Ponson (7-5, 4.80 ERA)
Ponson couldn't bounce back from a rough first inning on Wednesday night against the Red Sox. He gave up two early runs and four runs total to lose his third straight decision. He exited after 4 2/3 innings, having allowed seven runs with four walks. It marked the second game in a row that Ponson did not complete five innings. He racked up 28 pitches in the first inning alone and threw 89 overall in his short night. Ponson has not faced Detroit this season.


Tidbits

Injured infielder Carlos Guillen remained day-to-day, and Leyland didn't sound particularly enthused when asked if he'd be ready to play soon. "I'm not a doctor, and I don't know when to expect him to be able to play," Leyland said. "The update is, he's not ready to play." ...

Miguel Cabrera, who accounted for all four Tigers runs on Sunday, snapped an 0-for-8 hitless streak on Saturday with a double off Brandon Duckworth. He has 17 doubles, a triple, 21 home runs and 68 RBIs over his last 72 games....

The Tigers will unveil a customized replica Statue of Liberty sculpture, decorated in a blue-and-orange motif, on Monday. The statue will be located at Gate A, near the Comerica Big Cat Food Court. Gates open at 11:00 a.m. and fans are encouraged to take photos of the unique piece of art. Every Major League team will be represented by a Statue of Liberty replica, and 41 of them have been auctioned off already. Profits will be donated to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the official charity of Major League Baseball.

On the Internet

MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• FSN-HD, TBS

On radio
• 97.1FM/1270AM

Up next

• Tue., Sept 2: Tigers (RHP Chris Lambert (0-1, 6.75 ERA)) vs. Angels (LHP Joe Saunders (14-7, 3.67 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET

• Wed., Sept 3: Tigers (RHP Zach Miner (8-4, 3.46 ERA)) vs. Angels (RHP Jon Garland (12-8, 4.54 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET

• Thurs., Sept 4: Tigers (LHP Kenny Rogers (9-12, 5.23 ERA) vs. Angels (RHP Ervin Santana (14-5, 3.31 ERA), 1:05 p.m. ET

82 degrees at Game Time

ESE Winds at 5-15

Sunny; High 88 degrees on Labor Day

GO TIGERS

BEAT THE YANKEES

I don't want to see Pudge play for another team It's going to seem strange to see him at Comerica.... but wanting us to lose.

home Pudge!

It will be nice to give you a proper goodbye. We're not the same since you left and I will be your fan no matter what uniform you grace in the future.

You will be a forever in my heart.

I am curious if people will cheer him or not... I guess we'll have to wait and see. He did a great job when he was here, but he was the one who wanted to leave. We haven't been the same since, and if he wouldn't have demanded a trade maybe we would be doing a bit better right now.

Since the Pudge trade...

Yankees' record: 13-16
Tigers' record: 11-17

Pudge's stats: 21 games - 2 HR - 2 RBI - .203 AVG - .254 OBP - .322 SLG - 52 OPS+

Farnsworth's stats: 11 1/3 IP - 17 hits - 2 BB - 11 K - 4.76 ERA - 91 ERA+

The trade sucked for both teams, Yankees really needed a catcher, so maybe the win the trade results on that issue.

Monday, September 1, 2008
Tigers game, Labor Day parade could turn Woodward into nightmare
Tom Greenwood / The Detroit News

DETROIT -- Hey Tiger fans, Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez and the Yankees are returning to Comerica Park today for a makeup game with our Tigers.

It's a busy day downtown. The annual Labor Day Parade began at 9:30 a.m. at Michigan and Woodward and snaked its way past Comerica Park to Hart Plaza. The parade is slated to end at 11 a.m., the same time that Comerica Park opens its gates for early bird fans.

But even after 11 a.m., downtown will likely be very crowded because Democratic presidential nominee Barrack Obama is slated to speak at the plaza. The combination of Obama and baseball will probably turn Woodward into a nightmare for drivers.

Consider taking Interstate 75 or the Lodge to downtown Detroit. Woodward should be back to normal by the time the first pitch is thrown out at 1:05 p.m.

You can reach Tom Greenwood at (313) 222-2023 or tgreenwood@detnews.com

And now we are losing 2-0 so it really IS a nightmare

4 - 0
It's only the first inning!

Granderson on third with one out.

Maggs gets a double! Grandy scores. 4 - 1 Yankees.

2 outs. Maggs on third with Matt at bat.

Matt out at first.

Pudge got cheered more than the tigers do...

Pudge

I might have imagined it but I think Pudge might have just been crying

Spoiler:

Homerun.

5 - 1 yankees.

Jeter Singles. 1 out 1 on.

Runners on first and third with 1 out.

runner at first steals 2nd.

6 - 1 with runners on 2nd and 1st.

Wasn't Verlander good once?

2 outs runners on first and third.

He did throw that no-hitter... once.

TG wrote:

I might have imagined it but I think Pudge might have just been crying

Spoiler:

I wish he hadn't gone! WTF was he wanting to be traded anyway???? He could've closed out a great career here....the Yankees aren't going to do much better than us, so why leave?

catbox_9 wrote:

Wasn't Verlander good once?

See my "Can Justin lose 20 games?"post...he's just really rubbed my fur the wrong way this year!

7 - 1. SEAY PITCHING IN THE 2nd INNING.