GDT: 4/13/10 - DET (5-2) VS KC (3-4) - 1:05 p.m. ET

Bannister, Willis to duel in rematch

By Bailey Stephens / MLB.com

When Brian Bannister and Dontrelle Willis faced off in their season debuts last week, both pitched well, but saw their chances at earning an early win fall short as both took a no-decision in the Tigers' eventual victory.

On Tuesday, when they hook up again for a rematch, both will get a second chance at securing their first victory of the season.

In the opener, Bannister held the Tigers to just one run in six innings of work before the bullpen faltered, ruining his effort.

According to Bannister, though, his effort last week wasn't a total success and involved a more cautious approach than he'll take on Tuesday. Last week was his first regular-season outing since August, when he was shut down early with shoulder fatigue. As a result, he took a simpler approach, rather than employing his new mechanical adjustment designed to get more sinking action -- a move that in his opinion resulted in too many fly balls.

"I was very aware of it. I hadn't pitched in a game since August, not counting Spring Training," Bannister said. "I really just wanted to go out there and give the team a quality start. I pitched conservatively, I didn't walk anybody. I didn't really gamble or go risky with my pitch mix. And I didn't really drop my arm angle to get that good sink. I just wanted to see how my arm was feeling and really just play it safe and have a good first outing."

Not to worry, Bannister has made the adjustment to return to the more complex delivery in an effort to get more ground balls, a statistic he values.

"There are all kinds of stats out there, but the general rule of thumb is that if you get 50 percent ground balls, you want to have a 2-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. If you get 40 percent ground balls, you want to have a 3-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio," Bannister said. "Because one of every 10 fly balls goes for a home run when you average it out over a season. And to keep pitching, it's as simple as that. If you hit those numbers, you're going to be successful Major League pitcher."

Willis' chances at a win were hurt by a lack of early run support, as the Tigers' bats didn't come alive until late in the game. After earning a spot in the rotation in Spring Training, Willis allowed two runs on seven hits in a solid performance.

His control, which had been a problem over the past few years, wasn't really an issue, as even his two walks didn't evoke similarities to his past episodes of wildness. Willis was able to get ahead of many Royals batters who seemed to be expecting him to struggle with the strike zone. His manager took notice of the solid performance.

"I thought Dontrelle made a lot of strides," Jim Leyland said after the game. "I was tickled. He escaped some trouble, but he battled through it. ... I was very pleased with him. I think he's just got to build on this and keep moving forward."

Royals: Guillen pulling homers left and left
Finally healthy after battling nagging ankle injuries through most of last season, Jose Guillen has found his long-ball stroke early this season. The outfielder hit two homers in Sunday's loss to the Red Sox and another in Monday's win over Detroit. With his ankle healed, Guillen is able to rotate it fully to the left, and as a result, can pull the ball left. His three homers went out to left field.

Tigers: Middle of order still producing
The middle of the Tigers' lineup has gotten off to a fast start, as all of the 3-6 hitters are hitting better than .320 after Monday's loss. Carlos Guillen and Brandon Inge enjoyed another big day at the plate. Guillen went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, while Inge added two hits and two RBIs.




Pitching matchup

DET: LHP Dontrelle Willis (0-0, 3.00 ERA)
Though Willis didn't earn the win in his season debut last Thursday at Kansas City, his six innings of two-run ball earned him a measure of respect for the work he has put in to come back into the big league fold. He'll try to duplicate a lot of those same qualities in the rematch against the Royals at Comerica Park, where he earned his only Major League win last year with scoreless work against the Texas Rangers. Much like his Spring Training starts in Lakeland, Fla., a supportive crowd and a comfort level should help him on the mound.


KC: RHP Brian Bannister (0-0, 1.50 ERA)
The schedule is playing right into Bannister's hands. This is his second start and both have been afternoon games. It's well known that he's a day tripper. His career record in 34 day games is 17-8 with a 4.08 ERA; in night games, it's 13-30 with a 5.13 ERA. Last Thursday afternoon, Bannister also went against the Tigers and held them to one run in six innings before the bullpen blew his 2-1 lead and lost the game, 7-3. As Bannister pointed out, the numbers were good, but he really wasn't satisfied because he didn't keep the ball on the ground enough. In fact, only two of his 18 outs were on the ground. Bannister is in the second year of a campaign to change his image from a fly-ball pitcher who gives up a lot of home runs to a ground-ball pitcher who doesn't. He hopes to do better this time.


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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Wednesday, April 14:
Tigers (RHP Rick Porcello (1-0, 3.60 ERA)) vs. Kansas City (RHP Kyle Davies (0-0, 4.50 ERA)), 1:05 p.m. ET (FSD/1270 & 97.1)

• Thursday, April 15:
Off

• Friday, April 16:
Tigers (RHP Jeremy Bonderman (1-0, 1.80 ERA)) at Seattle Mariners (RHP Felix Hernandez (0-0, 3.29 ERA)), 10:10 p.m. ET (FSD PLUS/1270)

STARTING LINEUPS:

TIGERS

1. Jackson, CF
   
2. Damon, LF
   
3. Ordonez, RF
   
4. Cabrera, 1B
   
5. Guillen, DH
   
6. Inge, 3B
   
7. Laird, C
   
8. Sizemore, 2B
   
9. Everett, SS
   

P: Dontrelle Willis


ROYALS

1. David DeJesus, RF
   
2. Scott Podsednik, LF
   
3. Billy Butler, 1B
   
4. Jose Guillen, DH
   
5. Rick Ankiel, CF
   
6. Alberto Callaspo, 3B
   
7. Jason Kendall, C
   
8. Willie Bloomquist, 2B
   
9. Yuniesky Betancourt, SS
   

P: Brian Bannister

Under the pitching matchup: SCHERZER'S first start? No...

let's go Tigers

gdennis59 wrote:

Under the pitching matchup: SCHERZER'S first start? No...

Thanks, data fixed

49 degrees at gametime

yay!!

jacket weather...

so k c has some speed - posednick

Inning 1
Top Half

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
David DeJesus pops out to shortstop Adam Everett.

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Scott Podsednik walks.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Billy Butler singles on a ground ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Scott Podsednik to 2nd.


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
With Jose Guillen batting, Scott Podsednik steals (6) 3rd base.

B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Jose Guillen walks. Billy Butler to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Coaching visit to mound.


B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Rick Ankiel on foul tip.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Alberto Callaspo flies out to left fielder Johnny Damon.


0-0 after .5 inning

msgol wrote:

so k c has some speed - posednick

they are mostly a small ball team. They need speed.

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Austin Jackson grounds out, shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt to first baseman Billy Butler.

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Johnny Damon walks.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez pops out to second baseman Willie Bloomquist.

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera flies out to left fielder Scott Podsednik.

0-0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Jason Kendall flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Willie Bloomquist grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Yuniesky Betancourt grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

0-0 after 1.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Carlos Guillen pops out to third baseman Alberto Callaspo in foul territory.

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Brandon Inge flies out to center fielder Rick Ankiel.

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Gerald Laird pops out to shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt.

0-0 after 2 innings

ok, time for tigers bats

and you thought Todd Jones was the rollercoaster???

ummm i have a ?
what sense is pickoff, runs scored, the guys not going

Inning 3
Top Half

B:3 S:2 O:0 -
David DeJesus homers (1) on a fly ball to right field.

KC 1, DET 0


B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Scott Podsednik lines out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Billy Butler walks.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Jose Guillen doubles (3) on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson. Billy Butler to 3rd. (Damon tried a diving catch and missed)

B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Rick Ankiel swinging.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Alberto Callaspo singles on a ground ball to left fielder Johnny Damon. Billy Butler scores. Jose Guillen scores.

KC 3, DET 0

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Jason Kendall grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

KC 3, DET 0 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Scott Sizemore singles on a line drive to left fielder Scott Podsednik.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Adam Everett pops out to second baseman Willie Bloomquist.

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Austin Jackson called out on .

B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Johnny Damon flies out to right fielder David DeJesus.

KC 3, DET 0 after 3 innings

well, it's still early, and damon has a good eye.. ...usually

be back later, have an appointment..

don't be long

come on bats...let's not let this get totally outta range

well, we have something going....

Mags!!

yay - rally!!!

what? bases loaded....whoa!!