Opening Day!

Home Again!  Comerica Park Home Opener Today!

The Tigers finally make it back to Comerica Park to open the season at home against the Kansas City Royals who have gotten off to a good start at 4-2 including several extra inning games already this season.  Kansas City has been running so watch for them to try and stretch some base hits and steal some bases.  They are a young team with several top prospects playing.

A report from Comerica indicates a packed house, no parking and lots of tailgaters who have been camped in the damp chill all day heating up the action and firing up the city for the annual rite of spring.  There's nobody on the road.. nobody on the streets.. they are all at Comerica Park for the BEST home opener anywhere in Major League Baseball!  The Boys of Summer are finally here...


The Tigers matched up with two good teams for the first two series of the 2011 Season.  The Yankees always contend, and the Baltimore Orioles had the best team in the Major Leagues in August and September of last year.  The Tigers only came away with one win against each team, but I think we will find those two teams competing with each other for the lead in the American League East division all year.  They are both quality clubs, so the slow start by the Tigers is nothing to worry about.

Concerns for the Tigers so far are the slow starts by starters Brad Penny and Max Scherzer, as well as Porcello.  (See trends and regular season numbers here: Pitcher Trends, Regular Season 2011)  Look for Scherzer to turn it around against the Royals in the home opener, and we will look for first time starter Phil Coke to follow with a good outing for the second game of the series with the Royals.  Other concerns are the 6th and 7th inning relievers.. can Brad Thomas, Schlereth, and Gonzalez fill in, or will one of the young guys we saw in Spring Training have to come up and get the job done?

Austin Jackson - Key to the Tigers offense.

On the hitting side of the equation there is one guy who can make or break the Tiger's season this year.  Austin Jackson. (See: Regular Season 2011)  The leadoff hitter is only hitting .200 so far.. and if we see him start to hit, and stop striking out at the rate he did last year.. look out.  The Tigers have the players behind him to hit him home every time he gets on base.  Could be a very good year if that starts to happen!

That's it for now.  Opening Day is here.. and summer isn't far away.

GO TIGERS!    ---Rob


Photo Credits:
Comerica Park and Opening Day Hat by John T. Greilick - Detroit News
Austin Jackson by Robin Buckson - Detroit News