2009 Spring Training Schedule

DETROIT TIGERS 2009 SPRING TRAINING SCHEDULE

ALL GAMES = WIN - 17, LOSE - 18
SPRING TRAINING = WIN - 15, LOSE - 17, Tie - 1
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If the game is not on radio or video, check out the following:
http://m.mlb.com/scores/
Click on Tigers game inning and go from there.
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click on game result to see box score

G a m e
Day _Date__ Opponent - Site - Time*
Wed. Feb. 25 Atlanta Lakeland 1:05 PM - WIN 5-4
Thur. Feb. 26 Washington Viera 1:05 PM - Lose 1-2
Fri. Feb. 27 Toronto Dunedin 1:05 PM - Lose 4-6
Sat. Feb. 28 NY Mets Lakeland 1:05 PM - WIN 7-2
Sun. March 1 Pittsburgh Bradenton 1:05 PM - Lose 4-6
Mon. March 2 FL Southern College Lakeland - Win 7-1 (does not count in wins/loses)
Tues. March 3 Venezuela WBC Lakeland - WIN 7-5 (Does not count in wins / loses)
Wed. March 4 Panama WBC Lakeland Lose 3-9 (does not count in wins / loses)
Thur. March 5 Washington Lakeland - WIN 10-2
Fri. March 6 NY Yankees Tampa 7:15 PM - Lose 3-7
Sat. March 7 Philadelphia Clearwater 1:05 PM - Lose 2-8
Sun. March 8 NY Yankees Lakeland 1:05 PM* - Lose 3-12
Mon. March 9 Florida Jupiter 1:05 PM - Lose 0-1
Tues. March 10 St. Louis Jupiter 1:05 PM - Lose 2-5
Wed. March 11 NY Yankees Lakeland 1:05 PM - WIN 7-4
Thur. March 12 - - - - - - - - - - -NO GAME- - - - - - - - - - -
Fri. March 13 NY Mets Lakeland 1:05 PM - Lose 3-9
Sat. March 14 Toronto Lakeland 1:05 PM - WIN 10-4
Sun. March 15 Washington Viera 1:05 PM - WIN 3-0
Mon. March 16 St. Louis Lakeland 1:05 PM - WIN 7-6
Tues. March 17 Houston Lakeland 1:05 PM - Tie 1-1
Wed. March 18 - - - - - - - - - - -NO GAME- - - - - - - - - - -
Thur. March 19 Atlanta Disney World 7:05 PM - Lose 2-5
Fri. March 20 Washington Lakeland 1:05 PM - WIN 5-2
Sat. March 21 NY Yankees Tampa 1:15 PM - Lose 3-4
Sun. March 22 Florida Lakeland 1:05 PM - Lose 0-2
Mon. March 23 Boston Fort Myers 1:05 PM - Lose 6-7
Tues. March 24 - - - - - - - - - - -NO GAME- - - - - - - - - - -
Wed. March 25 NY Mets Port St. Lucie 1:10 PM WIN 10-6
Thur. March 26 Tampa Bay Lakeland 6:05 PM MLB Audio WIN 6-3
Fri. March 27 Atlanta Disney World 1:05 PM MLB.TV, MLBN - Lose 2-3
Sat. March 28 Toronto Dunedin 1:05 PM WXYT 1270 - WIN 5-1
Sun. March 29 Atlanta Lakeland 1:05 PM - FSN-D, WIN 5-4
Mon. March 30 Washington Viera 1:05 PM - WIN 3-2
Tues. March 31 Washington Lakeland 1:05 PM - Lose 2-7
Wed. April 1 Atlanta Lakeland 1:05 PM Lose 3-9
Thur. April 2 Toronto Lakeland 1:05 PM WIN 8-5
Fri. April 3 Atlanta Turner Field 7:05 PM MLB Audio Lose 1-3
Sat. April 4 Atlanta Turner Field 1:05 PM MLB.TV WXYT 1270 WIN 8-4

All time is Eastern (Detroit) Time * Daylight Savings Time begins March 8

Schedule as of FEB 28, 2009 (subject to change)

NORMALLY IF A GAME IS BROADCAST BY ANY NETWORK, IT WILL BE ON MLB.TV ALSO.

Hopefully we will have the complete Spring Training schedule soon. I will post the listing here.

I heard that Grady Sizemore is gonna play. Will that hurt or affect Granderson's chances?

So WHO is all coming down for Spring Training this year??

Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers Home | If You Go ... | More Photos | 2009 Schedule | Minor League Schedule

JOKER MARCHANT STADIUM

Capacity	8,000
Year Opened	1966; renovated in 2003
Dimensions	340L, 420C, 340R
Surface	Grass
Ticket Prices	The Tigers have two tiers. The Premium Tier includes games against the Atlanta Braves, New York Mets, New York Yankees and all Friday, Saturday and Sunday games. The second price is for the remainder of the schedule. Field Box Seats, $21/$19; Box Seats, $20/$18; Reserved Seats, $18/$16; Wheelchair Accessible, $18/$16; Left Field Reserved, $15/$13; General Admission, $12/$10; Berm, $10/$8.
Tickets on Sale	Saturday, January 10, 10 a.m. ET.
Ticket Lines	866/66-TIGER.
Season Tickets on Sale	To be announced.
Local Airport	Orlando or Tampa
Address	Al Kaline Dr., 2301 Lake Hills Blvd., Lakeland.
Directions	Take exit 33 off I-4 onto Hwy. 33 South. Tiger Town and the ballpark are approximately 2 miles on the left. There is signage pointing out two parking areas next to the stadium.

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There is now a single greatest institution in Florida spring training: Tiger Town in Lakeland. The Tigers have been training in Lakeland since 1934 and have been playing in Joker Marchant Stadium since 1966. In those many years Tiger Town has evolved into a complete training complex that includes the ballpark, other training fields, dorm, training facilities and team clubhouses.


Team offices are located down the right-field line.

The 2004 season was the first year the Tigers played in a renovated Joker Marchant Stadium, the latest renovation of the venerable spring-training base. The $11-million renovation, designed by HKS, brought about new faux red-tile roofs that create lofty shaded, covered concourses and bright stucco towers, arches, columns, and walls that anchor the exterior. The concourses provide much needed shelter from the unwanted rain spells during the grand opening weekend while the lush landscaping makes an immediate impression all over Tiger Town. The concourse features new and renovated restrooms, re-themed concessions, and vibrant graphics and signage. Ornamental fencing and natural wood trellises accent the perimeter and entry gates to create an open plaza.

Just beyond left field rests the new 45-foot slope to 16-foot high, above grade grass seating berm and trellised patio lined with mature palms. On the backside of the berm a fifth, full-size practice field has been added. The berm ends as it stretches toward centerfield. The dark windscreen tarp that forms the batter's eye in center hides the new maintenance building built to service the whole complex. Between the batter's eye and the scoreboard, in right field, the relocated bullpens nest behind padded chain link fencing. The exposed dual, three-pack mounds allow full view from the stands and dugouts. Additional batting cages have been added near the practice fields to double the number of covered cages to eight.


The left-field stands feature both box seats and bleachers.

Inside the ballpark, new "ballpark green" individual armchair seats with cup holders replace the old orange seats and metal bleachers in the main stadium and fill the first base seating porch. Three new rows have been added along the backstop, bringing fans within 50 feet of home plate. A new vertical backstop screen replaces the old canopy screen. This allows fans a chance to grab a few foul balls. Past first base, the seating bowl was angled toward the infield and extended down the right field line 94 feet. This created an intimate area where fans are closer to the action.

Accessible seating platforms now accommodate guests with special needs in five areas throughout the ballpark. Combined with the existing 2,863 seats in the third base grandstand, the new capacity has increased to 8,000. The addition of 900 seats does not include an estimated 500 lawn seats out on the berm where fans are expecting to soak up the sun, relax, and catch a few home run balls.


The left-field berm features picnic tables and some shade.

An elevator, hidden inside a stucco marquee tower of Joker Marchant Stadium, transports fans to a covered balcony that connects the newest elements of the ballpark. Behind home plate, the new expanded press box features a two-tiered writing press platform with an attached workroom lounge, four broadcast booths for radio and television, and a scoreboard/PA booth. The addition of six new furnished suites, themed after Tiger all-time greats Ty Cobb, Charlie Gehringer, Hank Greenberg, Willie Horton, Al Kaline, and Hal Newhouser, provide a comfortable perch to watch the game. Flanking the suites on either side of the press box and suites are two open-air covered patio lounges, four new restrooms, and a food service catering pantry.

Players, coaches, and staff will notice the renovations to the clubhouses. The new visiting clubhouse located adjacent to the existing weight room has doubled in size. Visitors, who were in tight quarters, have more locker room and shower space, a separate trainers room and separate coaches office, lockers and showers. The home clubhouse recaptured the vacated visitor's area but was not fully renovated in this construction phase. Relocated and demolished walls have opened up the east corner for more storage and an office. More than 32,000 square feet have been added with 21,000 square feet of renovations throughout Tiger Town.

Tiger Town is one of the more historically interesting sites in the Grapefruit League. It was built on the site of a World War II flight school, the Lodwick School. Between 1940 and 1945 more than 8,000 cadets, including British Royal Air Force cadets, attended the Lodwick School of Aeronautics and more than 6000 graduated. Some of the remnants of that school still exist, including several hangars that have been renovated and used for various purposes. Sadly, the most recent renovations to Tiger Town included the removal of a runway beyond the outfield wall.

Spring Training History

The Detroit Tigers have trained in Lakeland since 1934. Other spring-training homes of the Tigers: Detroit (1901); Ypsilanti, Mich. (1902); Shreveport (1903-1904); Augusta, Ga. (1905-1907); Hot Springs, Ark. (1908); San Antonio (1909-1910); Monroe, La. (1911-1912); Gulfport, Miss. (1913-1915); Waxahachie, Texas (1916-1918); Macon, Ga. (1919-1920); San Antonio (1921); Augusta, Ga. (1922-1926); San Antonio (1927-1928); Phoenix (1929); Tampa (1930); Sacramento (1931); Palo Alto, Cal. (1932); San Antonio (1933); Lakeland (1934-1942); Evansville (1943-1945); Lakeland (1946-present).

Ballpark History

Joker Marchant Stadium was built in 1966 and named after the city's popular parks and rec director, Joker Marchant.

The 800-seat Henley Field, the former spring-training home of the Tigers, still exists and was used by the Lakeland Tigers for the 2002 season. The Cleveland Indians used Henley Field for spring training from 1924 to 1927, and the Tigers used it for spring training between 1934 and 1966. Florida Southern University calls Henley Field home.

2009 Spring Training Schedule Desktop Wallpaper

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02/09/09 9:13 AM EST
Tigers ready to put 2008 in the past
Pitchers and catchers to report Friday; first workout Saturday

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

DETROIT -- The end to the long, frigid Michigan winter is now in sight. The Tigers are about to warm up for the season.

And as players and coaches file in for Spring Training this week, they have plenty to address if they're going to get back into the heat of the American League Central race come summer.

If the early attendees are any indication, there's no shortage of determination toward that. Many Tigers have already filed into Lakeland, Fla., over the last week or two. Some, like Jeremy Bonderman, Dontrelle Willis and Joel Zumaya, came to town soon after the holidays to try to work their way back into game shape following injuries and inconsistency last year. New pitching coach Rick Knapp, too, has been in town, driving up from his home in Port Charlotte, Fla., along with third-base coach Gene Lamont, to get a look at many of his new pupils and provide some guidance.

This is the week, however, that it becomes official. The first formal workout for pitchers and catchers takes place Saturday, with reporting day Friday. The full squad reports on Sunday ahead of the first full workout Feb. 17. The trucks carrying Spring Training gear and team equipment arrives early this week after leaving the chilly confines of Comerica Park and hitting Interstate 75 last Friday.

With a relatively veteran squad and so many players already in town, reporting day becomes mostly a formality. Those who haven't checked in can report with manager Jim Leyland or the coaching staff at any point during the day. For others, it's another day to work out at the complex along with teammates.

The workouts are still informal at this point, but the motivation behind them is pretty similar: The Tigers are looking for redemption after a 2008 season that proved humbling.

"I think we're all embarrassed about last year," Leyland said last month during a stop on the Tigers Winter Caravan. "Now, what that means for this year, I don't know, but I definitely think we were all embarrassed about what went on last year. Some of it was our fault. Some of it wasn't our fault. But I definitely think we were all embarrassed."

The effects of a last-place finish are all over, making this a vastly different camp than last year. Compared to last year, when the Tigers went to Spring Training viewed as an American League favorite, they arrive this year with far fewer expectations from others. Some pundits have picked them as a sleeper team that could bounce back, but they'll need some things to go right for them, from injury comebacks like Bonderman and Zumaya to rebounds from Justin Verlander, Fernando Rodney and Gary Sheffield, to contributions from new Tigers Brandon Lyon, Adam Everett and Gerald Laird.

Leyland has set up his Spring Training and his squad to address some of the weaknesses that emerged out of camp last year. He has emphasized fundamentals for early workouts after Detroit had the second-highest error total and second-lowest fielding percentage in the AL in 2008. Position stability will be another emphasis -- so many players were trying different roles last spring.

On the pitching side, Leyland plans to set up video work for players and coaches to study the main hitters they'll face in the AL Central and formulate a game plan. That takes on extra importance with two new catchers, Laird and Matt Treanor, who come in from other divisions.

"I'm going to have them look at film and maybe pick two or three guys a day to go in there and look [at], and have Rick in there and get some ideas," Leyland said during the Winter Meetings. "We just have to do better within [the division], there's no question about it. I think that's important. If you're dealing with a lot of younger pitchers, you have to also be very careful with that, because you can't give them too much, but we'll see. But we have to do better within the division, there's no question about it."

Youth will be another subplot for this camp. Ryan Perry will try to make his case to go from the first round of last summer's First-Year Player Draft to Detroit's bullpen for Opening Day. Rick Porcello has not been eliminated from consideration for a starting role, though the competition for the fifth spot centers on Willis, Nate Robertson and Zach Miner. Cale Iorg has a chance to make an impression this spring and cement his role as the shortstop of the future and a leading candidate for 2010.

Other prospects, such as Wilkin Ramirez, Scott Sizemore and Will Rhymes, will get looks when several Tigers stars leave camp in early March for the World Baseball Classic. Miguel Cabrera, Magglio Ordonez, Carlos Guillen and Armando Galarraga will head across the street for the Venezuelan team, which will work out at Tigertown. Curtis Granderson and possibly Verlander will head to Clearwater, Fla., to join Team USA, while Iorg joins Team Canada.

Venezuela and the U.S. will be a driving trip away for many Detroiters for their opening-round Classic games in Toronto starting March 7.

The Tigers' Spring Training schedule will continue during that time. It begins Wednesday, Feb. 25, against the Braves at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, and runs through Thursday, April 2, when the Tigers host the Jays before heading to Atlanta for exhibition games April 3-4 against the Braves at Turner Field.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

1st post updated with radio and tv broadcasts

02/25/09 3:50 PM EST

Box >

Laird strong as Tigers win opener
Santiago ties it in seventh, beats Braves in eighth

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

TIGERS 5, BRAVES 4
at Lakeland, Fla.
Wednesday, Feb. 25

Braves at the plate: Brian McCann's sacrifice fly and Freddie Freeman's two-run single fueled a three-run fifth inning to tie the game before Jordan Schaefer's leadoff homer in the seventh pulled Atlanta ahead. Schafer scored twice on the afternoon.

Tigers at the plate: Gerald Laird tripled and doubled in his first two at-bats, scoring on a wild pitch in the second inning and an Adam Everett sacrifice fly in the fourth. Miguel Cabrera's first-inning sac fly opened the scoring by driving in Curtis Granderson. Brandon Inge went 2-for-2 with a pair of singles. Ramon Santiago tied the game by scoring on Casper Wells' seventh-inning single, then put Detroit ahead with an RBI single in the eighth.

Braves on the mound: Jair Jurrjens faced his former organization, the one that traded him to Atlanta after the 2007 season in the Edgar Renteria deal, and gave up two runs on four hits in two innings. He escaped a potential disastrous spring opener with a double-play grounder from Carlos Guillen to end the first inning. Jo-Jo Reyes followed with two innings of one-run ball on three hits.

Tigers on the mound: Justin Verlander began his spring by not allowing a ball out of the infield over his two scoreless innings, giving up one hit and two walks. Zach Miner followed with two scoreless innings before closer Brandon Lyon yielded three unearned runs in the fifth. Bobby Seay struck out the side in order in the sixth. Taiwan's Fu-Te Ni retired the side in order on six pitches in the eighth to earn the victory.

Grapefruit League records: Tigers 1-0; Braves 0-1.

Up next: The Tigers will travel Thursday for Viera, Fla., for a 1:05 p.m. ET game against the Washington Nationals. Edwin Jackson will make his first game appearance in a Detroit uniform against Collin Balester. Nate Robertson, Rick Porcello and Joel Zumaya are also scheduled to pitch for the Tigers.

The Braves will open the home portion of their Spring Training schedule Thursday with a 1:05 p.m. ET game against the Astros at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex. Jorge Campillo will make the start for Atlanta opposite Roy Oswalt.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Spring training: Tigers 5, Braves 4
Verlander sharp; Tigers top Braves
Tom Gage / The Detroit News

LAKELAND, Fla. -- To be or not to be slower. That is the question this spring for Justin Verlander.

There's been talk his tempo on the mound shouldn't be as fast as it's been in the past -- that he should be more deliberate, take more time between pitches.

On Wednesday, however, in the Tigers' first game of the spring -- a 5-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves -- Verlander not only seemed to work as fast as he always has, but spoke of its advantages.

"I'm the type of person that if things are going well and we have a team down," Verlander said, "for me, working quick is almost like putting my foot on their throat and saying, 'You're not going to get back up.'"

Now compare that to what manager Jim Leyland said after the game and you can see that the adjustment the Tigers want Verlander to make is a subtle one.

"It's a concentration thing, not trying to do too much," said Leyland. "You have to understand you don't have to strike everyone out. It's all right in certain situations when you need a strikeout, but he needs overall to slow down a little bit.

"We want our pitchers to work fast, but there's a difference between working fast and being 'over-adrenalined.' We want a nice tempo. We don't want, 'Give me a sign, give me a sign! Let's go!' That's not good."

Has that been Verlander in the past -- give me a sign, give me sign?

"At times," said Leyland. "Sometimes pitchers want to get the out before they throw the pitch. They want the out so bad, they want to know what's happened before they ever throw the ball."

Verlander understands what Leyland is saying. He also knows he can be hyper at times. But he still wants to work fast.

"We haven't talked about slowing down too much," Verlander said after working two scoreless innings. "I wouldn't put it that way. Maybe focusing a little bit more, but not slowing down.

"When I'm going good, I work just as fast and it's not an issue. It's when things go bad and I'm working fast that everyone says, 'Oh, he's too quick.'

"Personally, I like my pace. I thought today was a good mix. I wasn't intentionally trying to slow down. It's just a matter of gathering your thoughts and that automatically slows you down."

Still, he walked two in two innings.

"On the walks, I was in control of those at-bats," he said, "but spring training got the best of me. I tried to do too much, tried to throw a perfect pitch, and lost the zone at little bit. But overall I was very pleased.

"I felt I was pounding the zone, attacking the hitters and not avoiding contact, letting them put the ball in play but not with the barrel of the bat."

The only hit Verlander allowed was an infield single. Gerald Laird, his catcher, thought he was excellent.

"Good stuff," he said. "It's just the first game, but I thought he was sharp."

One thing is sure -- Verlander has plenty of time to work on the adjustment the Tigers want him to make. He didn't make the final roster of the U.S. team in the World Baseball Classic.

Not that he definitely would have played anyway.

"If they had asked, I honestly didn't know what my decision would have been," he said. "But it ended up I didn't have to make that decision. It was made for me. They obviously went in a different direction. I can't be upset with that at all.

"Do I think I would have been an asset to that team? Of course, I do. But I'm a true-blood American all the way and I really hope they win this thing."

02/26/09 4:03 PM EST

Box >

Jackson solid in Tigers debut
Right-hander pitches two shutout innings, strikes out three batters

By Bill Ladson / MLB.com

NATIONALS 2, TIGERS 1
at Viera, Fla.
Thursday, Feb. 26

Nationals at the plate: Catcher Wil Nieves and first baseman Chris Marrero each had an RBI, on a double and single, respectively. Pete Orr was the only member of the Nationals to get two hits and score two runs. Nick Johnson played in his first game since May 13 and went 0-for-2.

Tigers at the plate: Outfielder Clete Thomas tied the score at 1 when he singled to right in the fifth inning to drive in Ryan Rayburn. The Tigers collected just two hits in the game.

Nationals on the mound: Right-handers Collin Balester, Jordan Zimmermann and Terrell Young pitched a combined six innings without giving up a run. They struck out five batters and walked two. Mike O'Connor was the only Washington pitcher to give a run.

Tigers on the mound: Right-hander Edwin Jackson pitched two shutout innings, struck three batters and walked one. Left-hander Nate Robertson and right-hander Rick Porcello gave up a run apiece in the game.

Grapefruit League records: Nationals 1-1; Tigers 1-1.

Up next: The Nationals return to Space Coast Stadium on Friday to face the Astros at 1:05 p.m. Shawn Hill will make the start for Washington, while lefty Wandy Rodriguez gets the nod for Houston.

The Tigers travel to Dunedin, Fla., to face the Blue Jays at 1:05 p.m. ET. Right-hander Armando Galarraga will take the mound for Detroit, while Matt Clement will start for Toronto.

Bill Ladson is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Thursday, February 26, 2009
Spring training: Nationals 2, Tigers 1
Tigers manage two hits in loss to Nats
Tom Gage / The Detroit News

VIERA, Fla. -- A run off Rick Porcello in the fifth inning held up as the winning run Thursday in the Washington Nationals' 2-1 victory over the Tigers at Space Coast Stadium.

The Tigers managed just two hits and now have a 1-1 record this spring.

Porcello allowed a run on a single, a groundout to first, and another single off the wall in right. He ended his only inning of work with two strikeouts, however.

In his spring debut, starter Edwin Jackson pitched two scoreless innings.

"It's an adrenaline rush to go from pitching batting practice to pitching in games, but I got through it," Jackson said.

Nate Robertson allowed a run in two innings of work, but retired the side in order after the Nats put together a single-double combination against him for their first run.

Admitting later that he had "the jitters," Joel Zumaya hit the first batter he faced, former Tiger Dmitri Young, but pitched a scoreless inning of relief.

The Tigers scored their only run on a walk and two singles in the fifth, Clete Thomas knocking in the run with a single to right.

02/27/09 4:00 PM EST

Box >

Blue Jays' bats come alive vs. Tigers
Solid innings from Clement, Mills staked Toronto to early lead

By Anthony DiComo / MLB.com

BLUE JAYS 6, TIGERS 4
at Dunedin, Fla.
Friday, Feb. 27

Tigers at the plate: Timo Perez provided the only early offense, driving in Mike Hessman with a groundout in the second. Detroit was then quiet until the seventh, when Donnie Kelly hit a solo home run, and Alex Avila hit a two-run single to draw the Tigers within two.

Blue Jays at the plate: Wasted opportunities plagued the Jays early -- they loaded the bases with one out in the first inning but scored just once, then couldn't convert Scott Rolen's leadoff double in the second. Yet they proved far more efficient in the third, turning a leadoff error into a run on Kevin Millar's double, then increasing the margin on Rod Barajas' RBI single. Aaron Hill and Alex Rios also drove in runs for Toronto.

Tigers on the mound: Wild throughout his two innings, Armando Galarraga pitched out of enough trouble to limit the Blue Jays to one run, despite allowing four baserunners in total. But Dontrelle Willis fared far worse, allowing two unearned runs after an error in the third, then loading the bases without recording an out in the fourth. Chris Lambert came on in relief and allowed two of the runs to score.

Blue Jays on the mound: Two walks were the most noticeable blemishes on Matt Clement's line, especially considering the second of them led to a run. More impressive was fellow rotation hopeful Brad Mills, who allowed a lone single in his two innings.

Grapefruit League records: Tigers 1-2; Blue Jays 2-1.

Up next: Roy Halladay will make his first Grapefruit League start for the Jays on Saturday, in a 1:05 p.m. ET home game against the Braves. Closer B.J. Ryan is scheduled to pitch one inning after Halladay completes his two, while new acquisition Derek Lowe will start for Atlanta.

Brandon Lyon will pitch for the Tigers in their 1:05 p.m. game at Lakeland, Fla., against the Mets. He'll follow starter Jonathan Kibler and oppose New York setup man J.J. Putz, one of the relievers Detroit pursued in lieu of him this past offseason. Also of note for the Tigers is rehabbing starter Jeremy Bonderman, who will throw a 10:20 a.m. bullpen session in Lakeland.

Anthony DiComo is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

02/28/09 3:50 PM EST

Box >

Inge's jack gives early edge in win
Tigers take advantage with three-run fifth to top visiting Mets

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

TIGERS 7, METS 2
at Lakeland, Fla.
Saturday, Feb. 28

Mets at the plate: Four walks in the first couple innings didn't yield any runs for New York, which turned Angel Pagan's leadoff single into a game-opening run on Bobby Kielty's groundout. Pagan reached base safely three times, including a pair of singles.

Tigers at the plate: Curtis Granderson put in a good afternoon of watching pitches miss the strike zone, taking three walks in as many plate appearances and scoring twice. Miguel Cabrera brought Granderson home in the fifth with an RBI single that paced a three-run inning. Brandon Inge had a solo homer and Cabrera added his own jack in the seventh. Mike Hessman followed in the eighth with a solo shot.

Mets on the mound: Jonathon Niese's first outing of the spring nearly turned into a long afternoon once the first three Tigers hitters all reached base safely against him. He escaped with just one run allowed in that opening inning, but Inge's second-inning homer put him behind. Bobby Parnell followed with two hitless innings of relief, but walked three Tigers in the process. Two more walks and a wild pitch from Heriberto Ruelas set up the Tigers' three-run rally.

Tigers on the mound: Prospect Jonathan Kibler, making the start in place of injured Jeremy Bonderman, showed a fair amount of jitters. The big left-hander walked four of the first 11 batters he faced, all with two outs, yet escaped to survive with two innings of one-run ball. Eddie Bonine followed with two scoreless innings of relief.

Grapefruit League records: Mets 2-2, Tigers 2-2

Up next: Weather permitting, Justin Verlander will make his second outing this spring when the Tigers visit the Pirates for a 1:05 p.m. ET game on Sunday at historic McKechnie Field. Zach Miner, Clay Rapada, Macay McBride and Freddy are also slated to pitch for the Tigers opposite Jimmy Birthmaier, Chris Bootcheck, Sean Burnett, Evan Meek and Tyler Yates for Pittsburgh. Curtis Granderson is scheduled to make his final appearance before he leaves camp to join Team USA for the World Baseball Classic. The game will be broadcast on 97.1 FM and AM 1270 in Detroit.

John Maine, trying to bring back a curveball as part of his repertoire, is scheduled to make his first outing of the spring Sunday when the Mets return to Port St. Lucie, Fla., for a 1:10 p.m. ET tilt against the Astros. Duaner Sanchez, Kyle Snyder, Connor Robertson, Sean Green, Nelson Figueroa, Darren O'Day and Pedro Feliciano are also on the pitching list for New York. Fernando Nieve and Clay Hensley are slated to pitch for Houston. The game will be telecast back to New York on PIX 11.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Saturday, February 28, 2009
Homers power Tigers over Mets
Tom Gage / The Detroit News

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Three home runs -- by Brandon Inge, Miguel Cabrera and a huge blast to center by Mike Hessman -- powered the Tigers to a 7-2 win over the New York Mets in Grapefruit League action Saturday.

The Tigers are 2-2.

Rookie Jon Kibler, who started instead of sore-shouldered Jeremy Bonderman, was the winner. Kibler won't make the team, but showed he can work out of a trouble when he allowed just one run in a messy first inning.

Manager Jim Leyland played Cabrera, Carlos Guillen and Magglio Ordonez longer than usual because this was their last game before joining the Venezuelan team for the World Baseball Classic.

Tom Gage's take: I was impressed by how Guillen stuck with a fly ball to deep left that some left fielders without much experience at that position might have turned the wrong way on. Guillen hauled it down, though.

Dontrelle needs to be released.

laprimamirala wrote:

Dontrelle needs to be released.

Or turned into an infielder or outfielder. He had a good batting average, in the NL, when he had to bat! Then trade him!!!

I caused a little tiff over on the Tigers.com board with that comment. But come on, really. If any of us performed like that at any usual real-world job, we would have been shown the door at the end of the first month. Miggy recovered well, why isn't Dontrelle doing the same thing? And riding on the apron strings for pretty much the whole season, no play, and a regular HUGE paycheck. If I was DD, I would be shakin' in my shoes for that expensive blunder part of the trade.

DETROIT 7, N.Y. METS 2
Guillen embraces new position in field

BY JON PAUL MOROSI • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER • March 1, 2009

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Miguel Cabrera has three hits this spring. Magglio Ordoñez and Carlos Guillen have one apiece. Their combined batting average is .192.

They are not ready for the regular season. It's too early to expect that they would be, as Tigers manager Jim Leyland said Saturday. But the Venezuelan stars are about to play in a tournament that is very significant to them -- and their home country.

Ordoñez, Cabrera and Guillen formed the heart of Detroit's lineup in a 7-2 victory over the New York Mets, and it might be several weeks before they do so again. Saturday's game was their last for the Tigers until after the World Baseball Classic, which begins this week and concludes March 23.

Team Venezuela opens against Team Italy in Toronto on Saturday night. (Team USA and Team Canada play that afternoon.)

Guillen's wife, Amelia, traveled recently to the U.S. from Venezuela and told him about the fervor building there. "It's all over the papers, the news, everything," Guillen said. "People are talking on the street."

Guillen is probably a big topic of conversation. Shortly after spring training began, Guillen declared that he would return to Lakeland if he did not play leftfield -- his new position with the Tigers -- in the first game of the tournament.

On Saturday, though, he softened his stance. Since the team has two established corner outfielders, Ordoñez and Bobby Abreu, Guillen indicated that he would be willing to serve as the designated hitter. He might not want to play the outfield all the time, anyway, because of the artificial surface at Rogers Centre in Toronto.

"I would like to play leftfield, but I don't know if I'd want to play nine innings on the turf already," he said. "I already sent a message: I need to play leftfield. He (manager Luis Sojo) knows I need to play leftfield. At the same time, I'm doing this for my country."

Detroit's four Venezuelan players -- right-hander Armando Galarraga also is on the team -- are scheduled to work out with Tigers personnel today. Team Venezuela will practice Monday and play three exhibition games in Florida, including Tuesday against the Tigers at Joker Marchant Stadium.

Guillen showed Saturday that he has made progress at his new position by going to the warning track to grab Jeremy Reed's deep fly in the sixth. ("You feel good when you make the plays," he said.) But he has four strikeouts in 10 spring at-bats; it's taking him some time to recognize breaking pitches again.

"I'm fine," Guillen said. Then he added: "Maybe I need to save the hits for the World Baseball Classic, you know?"

GAME NOTES: Cabrera, Brandon Inge and Mike Hessman homered for the Tigers on Saturday. Inge is 4-for-6 in three games. With an adjusted batting stance, this is the best he has felt offensively at this time of year. "By far," he said.

WAKE UP EVERYBODY!!

03/01/09 4:03 PM EST

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Granderson homers in Tigers' loss
Miner runs into trouble vs. Bucs in fifth inning at Bradenton

By Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com

PIRATES 6, TIGERS 4
at Bradenton, Fla.
Sunday, March 1

Tigers at the plate: Outfielder Curtis Granderson hit his first home run of the spring with a solo shot in the fifth. The homer was part of a two-hit game from Granderson, who scored twice and reached base three times in all. Brent Clevlen went 1-for-3 with a two-RBI triple. First baseman Mike Hessman also drove in one with a run-scoring single in the Tigers' three-run first.

Pirates at the plate: Center fielder Nate McLouth had the big hit of the day, a three-run homer to cap a five-run Pirates fifth inning. The home run was the first hit of the spring for McLouth. Second baseman Freddy Sanchez drove in the other two runs of the inning with his RBI single. Third baseman Andy LaRoche continued his strong spring showing with a single and sacrifice fly.

Tigers on the mound: Justin Verlander pitched three effective innings, allowing one run on one hit and two walks. However, the afternoon didn't prove so kind for Zach Miner. In two innings of work, Miner allowed five runs on seven hits.

Pirates on the mound: Jimmy Barthmaier, who is a long shot to make the rotation out of camp, allowed three runs on three hits and two walks in two innings. Relievers Chris Bootcheck, Donald Veal and Tyler Yates all tossed a scoreless inning in relief.

Grapefruit League records: Tigers 2-3; Pirates 4-1

Up next: The Pirates' four-game homestand at McKechnie Field continues on Monday with the team's first of two games against the Reds in four days. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. ET, and Zach Duke is scheduled to make his first start for the Pirates (second appearance).

Also, infielder Luis Cruz is still expected to make his Grapefruit League debut on Monday. Cruz suffered a left hip flexor strain on the final day of workouts and has slowly been progressing his way back to full health. After participating in full workouts on Saturday, Cruz should be ready to make his first spring start.

On Monday, the Tigers begin a string of three straight games against non-Grapefruit League opponents. That sequence of games begins with a 1:05 p.m. ET affair against Florida Southern back in Lakeland. Right-hander Edwin Jackson is scheduled to start for the Tigers and will be followed by Rick Porcello, Joel Zumaya and Max Russell.

Following Monday's game, the Tigers will play the World Baseball Classic squads from both Venezuela and Panama.

Jenifer Langosch is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

03/02/09 3:29 PM EST

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Larish homers in return to Tigers lineup
Jackson goes three innings in victory over Fla. Southern

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

TIGERS 7, MOCS 1
at Lakeland, Fla.
Monday, March 2

Mocs at the plate: Trae Gore's fifth-inning single put Florida Southern College on the scoreboard, plating Jordan Guida following his leadoff single and stolen base. Wade Kirkland slugged a first-inning triple and a third-inning double.

Tigers at the plate: Jeff Larish's three-run home run and Will Rhymes' two-run homer powered a six-run third inning that put Detroit in command. Larish, returning to action after missing three straight games with a stiff neck, reached base three times in as many plate appearances, including a pair of walks. Rhymes went 2-for-2.

Mocs on the mound: Starter Max Russell retired the Tigers in order in the opening inning, then Steven Batman stranded the bases loaded in a scoreless second before the Tigers broke out. All six third-inning runs came off Eddie Sipple.

Tigers on the mound: Edwin Jackson put the leadoff runner on base in each of his three innings, but stranded them all in his second performance of the spring. Joel Zumaya needed 12 pitches to send down the side in order in the fourth, including a strikeout on a 97 mph fastball.

Up next: The Tigers begin a pair of back-to-back games against World Baseball Classic squads when they host Team Venezuela on Tuesday at 1:05 p.m. ET at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla. Dontrelle Willis will try to rebound from his rough Spring Training debut when he makes the start for Detroit. Nate Robertson, another candidate in the Tigers' fifth starter competition, is also scheduled to pitch.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Most of our starting lineup did not play in this game.

Without our starters, this was probably a more evenly matched game!

laprimamirala wrote:

Without our starters, this was probably a more evenly matched game!

LOOKING AT THE INNING-BY-INNING breakdown, I think you are correct. This gave our starters a good day off, and let Leyland see more of our minor league players play.

Go Minor League Players