The game against Florida Southern not withstanding, today was the debut of the new-look Detroit Tigers in a Spring game.
Now, if you look at it the right way, the game was an unqualified success.
We all know the bullpen is the first target for those looking for flaws on this year’s edition of the Tigers. You have to work entirely too hard to take issue with the line-up and the rotation, though far from perfect, stacks up as well as any in the American League.
And today, my fellow Tigers fans, the bullpen did what it was designed to do.
After Jeremy Bonderman allowed one run in each of his two innings to start the game, Jason Grilli and Zac Miner each threw two hitless innings on the way to a 4-2 Tiger victory.
Of course, you don’t take much from wins and losses in the Grapefruit League. Bonderman, in fact, was “more than happy” with his outing because his “arm felt fine.” I guess you chuck that 9.00 ERA for the day out with the fact that the Tigers regulars mustered but one hit on the chilly afternoon (a Magglio Ordonez single).
I’ll go ahead and trust Bonderman that he got out of his day what he felt he needed, but I’d certainly have preferred he didn’t give up four hits and a walk in just two innings to a Mets line-up that featured a whole bunch of names you won’t be seeing in the box scores this summer (well, not in the MLB box scores…you know what I mean).
Grilli and Miner are likely to be the two guys who pick up some of the load with Joel Zumaya still out and now with Fernando Rodney apparently having some shoulder issues. It was important that they succeed today. There are a lot of guys who can enter the season with confidence because they will be asked only to do what they’ve done throughout their careers. Grilli and Miner are going to be asked to step into new roles and with more success than they had in 2007. I think it will be good for them to build some confidence with solid performances this spring.
Today was step one.
Now, let’s get them bats warmed up. It’s time to take the new engine out for a test run.
