SPRING TRAINING PICTURES 2009

Still feels like someone's missing

Tigers spring training continues Tuesday in Lakeland
Tuesday, February 24, 2009 in Lakeland.
John T. Greilick /The Detroit News

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Detroit 5, Atlanta 4

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our signs were better last year! We just didn't have a Freep photog there is all!

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2/26/09
Nationals 2, Tigers 1

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Spring Training: Tigers 7, Mets 2
Lakeland Saturday, Feb. 28, 2009.
Michael Wilson / Special to The Detroit News


Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera, left, is congratulated by
catcher Matt Treanor after scoring a run during the fifth inning of
their spring training game against the New York Mets at Joker Marchant
Stadium in Lakeland Saturday, Feb. 28, 2009. Three home runs -- by
Cabrera, Brandon Inge, and a huge blast to center by Mike Hessman --
powered the Tigers to a 7-2 win over the Mets.


Tigers starting pitcher Jon Kibler watches his pitch as it heads
towards home plate during the first inning. Rookie 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.


Tigers batter Placido Polanco hits a broken-bat single during the first inning.


Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge stands ready to field the ball as pitcher Jon Kibler winds up during the second inning.


Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge, right, is congratulated by catcher
Matt Treanor at the plate after hitting a home run during the second
inning.


Tigers center fielder Curtis Granderson makes diving catch as an umpire eyes the play during the fourth inning.


Tigers relief pitcher Brandon Lyon winds up during the sixth inning.


Mets baserunner Alex Cora slides into a double play as Tigers second
baseman and shortstop Ramon Santiago backs him up during the seventh
inning.


A crowd of 7,586 fans fills Joker Marchant Stadium as they watch the
Detroit Tigers play the New York Mets during their Spring training game.

Tigers 7, Florida Southern College Mocs 1
March 2, 2009.
John T. Greilick / The Detroit News


Tigers Jeff Larish hits a three-run homer in the third inning to pace
the Tigers to a 7-1 victory over Lakeland's Florida Southern College
Monday, March 2, 2009. The Tigers play the FSC Moccasins annually at
Joker Marchant Stadium.


While their Tigers teammates were playing the local Florida Southern
College Moccasins, Miguel Cabrera (left) and Magglio Ordonez were
suited up with team Venezuela practicing for a game tomorrow against
the Tigers. Four Tigers will play for Venezuela in the upcoming World
Baseball Classic. The other two are Carlos Guillen and pitcher Armando
Galarraga.


Colin Kaline, grandson of Tigers great Al Kaline, catches a bases-loaded pop-foul off the bat of Tigers hitter Alexis Gomez to end the the fourth inning. Kaline had two put outs and a base-on-balls and strike out at the
plate.


Tigers second baseman Scott Sizemore fields a hard grounder...


...and throws a strike to first base for the put out.


Florida Southern College's Jordan Guida slides home in the fifth inning for the Moccasins' only run of the game.

I like how the Tigers wear their regular uniforms for Spring Training Games


Most MLB teams wear their BP jerseys instead;


I guess it saves money

I think that is what makes the Minor League players, participating with the regular team, feel special. They get to wear ACTUAL TIGER UNIS!

We should be the Lakeland Tigers! Marchant is such a nice stadium, much nicer than Comerica! (I know ---there are already ARE Lakeland Tigers....)

Tigers 7, Venezuela 5, spring training
Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Florida on Tuesday, March 3, 2009.
John T. Greilick / The Detroit News

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Tigers 0, Marlins 1
Detroit Tigers take on the Florida Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla., on March 9, 2009.
Robin Buckson / The Detroit News

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Tigers 3, Mets 9 (spring training)

Detroit Tigers take on the New York Mets at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Florida on March 13, 2009.

Robin Buckson / The Detroit News

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Tigers 1, Astros 1, (spring training, 11 innings)
Detroit Tigers take on the Houston Astros at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla., on March 17, 2009.
Robin Buckson / The Detroit News


Hitting coach Lloyd McClendon, left, works with third baseman Brandon Inge during batting practice


Tigers pitcher Joel Zumaya sits in the clubhouse before the game.


Before the game, Tigers outfielder Wilkin Ramirez tries on the top hat
worn by the bat boy, Kyle Dauer, 18, of Toledo, left, for the St.
Patrick's Day game.


Tigers outfielder Brent Clevlen catches a fly ball off the bat of Astros' Kazuo Matsui in the first inning.


Leadoff batter Timo Perez hits a single in the first inning. Perez went 2-for-5.


Astros pitcher Brian Moehler winds up in the first inning. In his five
innings, Moehler allowed four hits with one walk and three strikeouts.


Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander winds up in the second inning. In his
six innings, Verlander allowed one hit with one earned run, three walks
and two strikeouts.


Tigers first baseman Jeff Larish fields a grounder off the bat of Astros' Michael Bourn in the third inning.


Tigers second baseman Placido Polanco hits a single in the third inning. Polanco went 1-for-3.


Tigers catcher Matt Treanor, left, talks with pitcher Justin Verlander
after Verlander walked Houston's Carlos Lee in the fourth inning.


Tigers head athletic trainer Kevin Rand, left, checks on second baseman
Placido Polanco after he fell catching a ball in foul territory in the
fourth inning. Timo Perez watches.


Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge flies out in the fourth inning. Inge went 1-for-2.


The Joker Marchant Stadium grounds crew dances before the fifth inning.


Tigers second baseman Placido Polanco throws out Astros' Humberto Quintero in the fifth inning.


Tigers third baseman Jeff Larish goes near the fans in foul territory
to catch this foul ball off the bat of Astros' Michael Bourn in the
fifth inning.


Tigers shortstop Adam Everett throws out Astros' Reggie Ambercrombie in the sixth inning.


Tigers' Clete Thomas, left, and manager Jim Leyland shake hands with
pitcher Justin Verlander as he enters the dugout after pitching six
innings.


Tigers non-roster pitcher Casey Fien pitches in the seventh inning. In
his one inning, Fien allowed no hits with one walk and one strikeout.


Medical staff and a police officer help a fan hit by a hard foul ball.
The fan is helped into a wheelchair to be taken to an ambulance during
the seventh inning.


Tigers non-roster pitcher Eddie Bonine releases a pitch in the 10th
inning. In his one inning, Bonine allowed no hits with two strikeouts.


Tigers' Ramon Santiago hits a single in the 10th inning. Santiago went 1-for-1.

Tigers 5, Blue Jays 1 (spring training)
at Dunedin Stadium in Dunedin, Fla. on Saturday, March 28, 2009
Robin Buckson / The Detroit News


Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge signs autographs after batting practice.


Tigers center fielder Curtis Granderson beats the throw to Blue Jays first baseman Lyle Overbay in the first inning.


Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera singles up the middle to score Curtis Granderson in the first inning. Cabrera went 1-for-3.


With the wind whipping around the mound, Tigers pitcher Edwin Jackson
steps off the rubber and lets it die down a bit before he pitches the
next pitch in the first inning.


Jackson winds up for a pitch in the first inning. In his seven innings,
Jackson allowed six hits with one earned run and four strike outs.


Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera hustles to catch a high infield fly
off the bat of Blue Jays' Marco Scutaro in the first inning.


Tigers center fielder Curtis Granderson follows through on his double with an RBI in the second inning. Granderson went 1-for-4.


Tigers second baseman Placido Polanco watches his two-run home run in the second inning. Polanco went 1-for-3.


Tigers catcher Gerald Laird gets up after ducking from a pitch in the third inning.


Tigers catcher Gerald Laird follows through on his sacrifice fly to
score Carlos Guillen in the third inning. Laird went 0-for-2.


Tigers left fielder Carlos Guillen makes a running catch on a fly ball off the bat of Blue Jays' Travis Snider.


Tigers non-roster pitcher Ryan Perry winds up for a pitch in the eighth
inning. In his one inning, Perry allowed one hit with two strike outs.


Tigers non-roster pitcher Scott Williamson releases a pitch in the ninth inning. In his one inning, Williamson allowed two hits.

Braves 9, Tigers 3 (spring training)
Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla., on April 1, 2009
Robin Buckson / The Detroit News


Tigers center fielder Curtis Granderson takes the field wearing the
jersey of Josh Anderson as part of April Fool's Day shenanigans


Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge wears the bat boy jersey as part of April Fool's Day shenanigans in the first inning.


Tigers pitching coach Rick Knapp, right, comes out to talk with pitcher
Justin Verlander, facing, with catcher Gerald Laird, wearing
Verlander's jersey, and shortstop Adam Everett, left, wearing Ramon
Santiago's jersey, in the first inning.


Wearing the jersey of Al Kaline as part of April Fool's Day shenanigans, Magglio Ordonez waits for a pitch in the first inning


Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera, wearing the jersey of fellow
Venezuelan Armando Galarraga as part of the April Fool's Day joke,
waits for a pitch in the second inning.


Tigers center fielder Curtis Granderson follows through on his two-run home run in the third inning. Granderson went 2-for-4.


Tigers outfielder Josh Anderson, facing, high fives Curtis Granderson
after Granderson's home run that scored Anderson in the third inning.
The players wore jerseys that belong to other players as part of April
Fool's Day joke.


Wearing the jersey of catcher Gerald Laird as part of an April Fool's
Day joke, pitcher Justin Verlander winds up for a pitch in the fourth
inning. In his five innings, Verlander allowed nine hits with seven
earned runs, one walk and one strikeout.


Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge hits a double in the third inning. Inge went 1-for-2.

Tigers beat Blue Jays 8-5 in spring training
Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla., on April 2, 2009.
Robin Buckson / The Detroit News


Wallace, a St. Bernard belonging to bullpen catcher Scott Pickens,
hangs out in the shade in the Tigers clubhouse gathering area before
the game as the Detroit Tigers win over the Toronto Blue Jays, 8-5, at
Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla., on April 2, 2009.


Tigers pitcher Ryan Perry signs autographs before the game.


Tigers pitcher Eddie Bonine winds up for a pitch in the first inning. In his two innings, Bonine allowed no hits with one walk.


Tigers shortstop Adam Everett makes a diving snag on a grounder off the bat of Blue Jays' Aaron Hill in the first inning.


Tigers center fielder Curtis Granderson hits a triple in the first inning. Granderson went 2-for-3.


Tigers left fielder Carlos Guillen makes a catch on a deep fly ball off the bat of Blue Jays' Lyle Overbay in the second inning.


Tigers pitcher Ryan Perry winds up on a pitch in the third inning. In his one inning, Perry allowed no hits.


Tigers minor league pitcher Josh Rainwater follows through on a pitch in the fourth inning.


Tigers minor league pitcher Jon Huber releases a pitch in the fifth inning.


Tigers pinch runner Josh Anderson is safe stealing third base in the seventh inning.


Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera follows through on his double in the seventh inning. Cabrera went 2-for-4.