DET TIGERS 2008 SPR. TRAINING SCHEDULE & SCORES

Wed - Feb. 27, N.Y. Mets, at Lakeland, 1:05 WXYT 1270 radio

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02/26/2008 4:53 PM ET
Mets open Grapefruit slate vs. Tigers
Pelfrey to take mound; Beltran, Castillo likely out
By Marty Noble / MLB.com

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- The Mets' diet of Michigan-based teams continues Wednesday. One day after they played a 4-4 tie against the University of Michigan, they are to play a presumably more formidable opponent, the Tigers.

The Mets begin their official exhibition season after a two-hour trip to Lakeland. No doubt they would opt to end their 2008 season playing the same team.

Mike Pelfrey, competing for a place in the Mets' starting rotation, is to start, opposite Jeremy Bonderman in the 1:05 p.m. ET game. But few regulars will make the trip for the Mets, who are to play the Cardinals in Jupiter on Thursday before playing their first game at home, Friday against the Cardinals.

Right fielder Ryan Church, reserve catcher Ramon Castro and Marlon Anderson are to make the trip to Lakeland. Inclement weather is forecast. More regulars are likely to play Thursday.

But Carlos Beltran and Luis Castillo are not likely to be among them. Beltran and Castillo underwent knee surgeries after last season and still are recovering. Endy Chavez, who injured his hamstring in winter ball, and Damion Easley, still recovering from the severe ankle sprain he suffered in July, aren't likely to play until next week, if then, either.

The club has no intention of rushing any of their mending players.

Besides Pelfrey, the Mets will bring three pitchers, who probably will figure in the Opening Day plans -- middle relievers Matt Wise and Jorge Sosa and left-handed setup man Pedro Feliciano.

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02/26/2008 7:49 PM ET
Tigers ready to open spring slate
Grapefruit League schedule begins vs. Mets on Wednesday
By Jason Beck / MLB.com

LAKELAND, Fla. -- The Tigers begin their quest for a World Series in 2008, appropriately enough, by facing the team favored by many to be there waiting for the American League champion at the end.

For the second straight year, the Tigers and Mets begin their Spring Training slate against each other with high expectations heading into the season. Neither lived up to the build-up last year, finishing out of the postseason altogether, but both put together offseason moves to rank among the top contenders again.

Miguel Cabrera, the highlight of Detroit's dealings this winter, is expected to be in the starting lineup. So is Edgar Renteria, acquired the day after the World Series ended. They won't get to face the Mets' big addition, Johan Santana. In fact, given the long trip and weather forecast, most of New York's regulars are expected to stay back in Port St. Lucie.

Thus, any rivalry is symbolic. Still, the first game means the arrival of baseball season is here.

The only Detroit regular who won't play for sure is Gary Sheffield, who has depositions to attend in the ongoing arbitration case with agent Scott Boras. Most of the others are likely to see at least an at-bat.

Jeremy Bonderman will make the start to begin his work towards what he hopes will be a healthier and effective season. His 8-0 start to last season included a win over the Mets on June 9 at Comerica Park. He headed into the All-Star break with a 10-1 record before a nagging elbow injury took its toll on his second half.

Bonderman lost eight times in 11 starts following the break before the Tigers shut him down to rest his elbow. He is completely healthy at this point, by all accounts, and will likely go a couple innings to begin the task of stretching out his arm.

Following Bonderman will be a slew of relievers, from returning arms Jason Grilli, Zach Miner, Yorman Bazardo and Tim Byrdak to intriguing candidate Denny Bautista.

February 27, 2008

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
NY Mets	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		2	6	0
Detroit	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	X		4	7	1

WOW! You sure posted that fast. Thanks! The games GDT has been archived here.

We make a good team

Thanks cat!

you guys are awesome!

Sorry if the heading letters are squished together, but I tried fixing it, and then when I try to send, it is too big. That is why I also separate the innings and the game info into two separate posts.

but it looks great!

February 28, 2008

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Toronto	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0		1	4	0
Detroit	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	X		4	7	2

Wow! You're very fast at this! I was hoping to get the GDT archived before you posted this but it looks like I failed. The archive is ready though, too.

Good, we will probably have the same problem, gameday operator wise, with the game tomorrow. They must still need gameday operators. That sure sucked today! Near the end I saw some pitch locations but not much.

I can't believe they don't have someone doing that. If I was in Lakeland and available I'd do it for minimum wage (assuming I got in free).

Heck, if that's too much, give me $20 for the whole game and I'll do it.

I'll give you free food and Lodging (if I lived there!) lol

Yes they pay you and are looking for interns. It takes at least two people, an f/x pitch operator and a score play by play operator. I would guess they only had one person trying to do everything. Every game needs a team of people all season long. So I would guess they employ probably 10 people per stadium to work shifts.

I've tried for either one of those jobs at Angel Stadium and Dodger Stadium 2 years running but they don't call me back

I know how to keep score! I've done it for every game I've ever been to. I know what # goes to which position...

I know that if someone writes down 3-8-2 DP they either have no idea what they're doing or they just witnessed a very strange play.

(That's first basemen to CFer to catcher for a double play if you can't make sense of that)

I know they were looking for people, maybe they wanted college grads, I don't know. I didn't think you had to be a college grad.

Sorry to hear that catbox!

U can do it catbox!

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

I know they were looking for people, maybe they wanted college grads, I don't know. I didn't think you had to be a college grad.

Sorry to hear that catbox!

Oh well. Dodger Stadium is a 20 min - 90 minute drive depending on traffic (15 miles). It's usually about an hour. Angel Stadium is a 60 - 120 minute drive depending on traffic (40 miles). It's usually about an hour and 10 minutes.

Why is it that Angel Stadium is 3 times further and only takes 10 minutes longer to get to?

For those of you with at least MLB gameday AUDIO tomorrows (2/29/08) game will be webcast. You can use the link below:

1:05 PM
DET @ TOR

http://mlb.mlb.com/mediacenter/index.jsp#20080229

Then click webcast under audio column for the Detroit game

That's the Verlander game, right?

Yes, tomorrow is Verlanders start.

Quote :

The Tigers will tangle with Toronto for the second game in a row
Friday at 1:05 p.m. ET when the two teams meet in Dunedin, Fla.
Right-hander Justin Verlander will start for the Tigers, with Nate
Robertson, Preston Larrison, Rick Porcello, Franis Beltran and Freddy
Dolsi also making the trip.


Roy Halladay is Toronto's scheduled starter Friday, with Jason Frasor,
Brian Wolfe, Jeremy Accardo, Brian Tallet, Scott Downs, Brandon League
and Kane Davis also expected to see action.

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

Yes, tomorrow is Verlanders start.

Quote :

The Tigers will tangle with Toronto for the second game in a row
Friday at 1:05 p.m. ET when the two teams meet in Dunedin, Fla.
Right-hander Justin Verlander will start for the Tigers, with Nate
Robertson, Preston Larrison, Rick Porcello, Franis Beltran and Freddy
Dolsi also making the trip.


Roy Halladay is Toronto's scheduled starter Friday, with Jason Frasor,
Brian Wolfe, Jeremy Accardo, Brian Tallet, Scott Downs, Brandon League
and Kane Davis also expected to see action.

Oh boy oh boy!! Too bad I have to leave for school at 10:30. At least I'll get to here 20 minutes worth or so. Too bad we're on the road - we pitch second

Yay! Never thought I'd get so excited about an audiocast!

Now I am glad I have MLB.tv. they are quickly adding Webcasts to games! It may be radio, but who cares, it was better than that stupid gameday farse we had today!

laprimamirala wrote:

Yay! Never thought I'd get so excited about an audiocast!

I know!

February 29, 2008

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Detroit 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 13 1 Toronto 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 6 2

02/29/2008 3:48 PM ET
Verlander sharp in first spring outing
Righty throws two shutout innings; Granderson goes deep
By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com

TIGERS 3, BLUE JAYS 1
at Dunedin, Fla.
Friday, Feb. 29

Tigers at the plate: For the second day in a row, Detroit center fielder Curtis Granderson took a Blue Jays pitcher deep. In the third inning, Granderson led things off by pulling a 3-2 offering from left-hander Scott Downs over the wall in right field for a solo homer. Outfielder Matt Joyce added an RBI double in the eighth.

Blue Jays at the plate: Toronto first baseman Lyle Overbay roped a pitch from left-hander Nate Robertson into center field in the fourth inning to plate one run for the Jays. Frank Thomas, who scored on the play, doubled off the wall in left-center field to lead off the inning. Overbay, who's coming back from a right hand injury suffered last season, added a double in the seventh.

Tigers on the mound: Detroit starter Justin Verlander kept a lineup full of Toronto's regulars off the scoreboard during two innings of work. He allowed one hit, struck out one and finished with 26 pitches, including 19 strikes. Robertson struck out one, hit one batter, and gave up one run on three hits in two innings. Rick Porcello -- the 27th overall pick in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft -- pitched two shutout innings.

Blue Jays on the mound: Toronto ace Roy Halladay surrendered one run on three hits in his Spring Training debut. Halladay allowed consecutive hits to open the second inning and yielded a run on a groundout by Brandon Inge. The right-hander induced four ground-ball outs, struck out one and threw 27 pitches (19 strikes) in two innings.

Grapefruit League records: Tigers 3-0; Blue Jays 0-2.

Up next: Left-hander Dontrelle Willis will make his first game appearance in a Tigers uniform on Saturday, when he starts opposite Indians lefty C.C. Sabathia, the 2007 American League Cy Young Award winner. Detroit will host Cleveland in a 1:05 p.m. ET matinee at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla.

Blue Jays right-hander Dustin McGowan is set to make his first start of Spring Training when Toronto takes on Tampa Bay at 1:05 p.m. ET on Saturday at Progress Energy Park in St. Petersburg. Right-hander Casey Janssen, who is in the running for the rotation's fifth spot, and newly-acquired outfielder Shannon Stewart will be making their game debuts as well.

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