The reigning World Series Champ White Sox come to Detroit to open up the home schedule.

Everyone knows the season that White Sox had last year. They went from being picked third in the division to ending the longest title drought in the American League with a dominating run through the playoffs. They've been off to a slow start so far this year, though, going 2-4, and you can sure as hell bet they're just chomping at the bit to show the "upstart Tigers" just who the World Champs are.

The Tigers are off to a 5-1 start and are playing acting like winners for the first time in years. This is their first real test of the young season, and it'll be interesting to see how they react to the challenge, playing at home for the first time this young season. The baseball season's a marathon, not a sprint, so it's impossible to say that these games are "crucial" or "must-win" but it sure would go a hell of a long way in establishing the Tigers as legitimate contenders if they can take 2 of three here at Comerica.

Opening Day's Monday at 1:05 Eastern followed by two more 1:05 starts on Wednesday and Thursday.

Game 1's Monday at 1:05 Eastern.

Chicago's Freddy Garcia vs Jeremy Bonderman

The right-handed Garcia's one of the leaders of the Sox rotation. He got shelled in his first start of the season against the Indians but he'll be looking to get things back on track against the Tigers on Monday. He's been a Tigers killer in his career, absolutely dominating them with a 11-5 record and a 3.56 era lifetime. The only Tiger that has really gotten to him in their career is Chris Shelton who his 5-13 with a homer lifetime.
He shuts down right-handed hitters but lefties have been able to get to him, so look for Curtis Granderson, Dimitri Young and Carlos Guillen to try and get some offense going.

The Tigers send our young ace-in-training to the mound in righty Jeremy Bonderman. He dominated the Royals in his first start and is looking to keep things going against Chicago. He's only 3-5 career against the Sox but he's had some success, holding them to a 3.93 ERA and a .206 batting average. Paul Konerko, Joe Crede, and AJ Pierzynski have hit him pretty hard though, going a combined 16-44 with 3 homers and 4 doubles against him in their careers, so he'll have to have his good stuff to assure success.

I think the Tigers will get back on track this game in a close one. I'll take the Tigers, 5-4, with the bullpen getting the win.

Bonderman set for home opener
White Sox (2-4) at Tigers (5-1), 1:05 p.m. ET

The Tigers don't return home undefeated as hoped. But they won't go home unappreciated, either.

Most of the team already knows the college football kind of atmosphere that a home opener in Detroit draws, win or lose. Fans tailgate early in the morning, some of them without tickets. Center field at Comerica Park becomes a massive group of standing-room people. Every out is a raucous ovation.

Nearly as many of those Tigers know what it's like to return home a winner, having experienced the 2004 home opener after sweeping a three-game series at Toronto beforehand. The difference this year is that they're trying not to let it get to them.

"The biggest thing is to take it in stride," Nate Robertson said. "Be excited about it, enjoy the atmosphere [and the fact that] we're going to play in Detroit, because it's awesome. Opening Days there are a lot of fun. There's a lot of hope. Our job is to keep that hope alive, go out and win baseball games."

The way Jeremy Bonderman is approaching it, that doesn't sound like a major concern.

Bonderman pitched Opening Day last year, striking out seven Royals for the victory. Yet because he was pitching, he barely remembers the atmosphere. He said last week that Monday's win at Kansas City was the first Opening Day he really had a chance to soak in. His blue-collar attitude makes him a Detroit favorite, but it also lets him filter out distractions.

"I'm ready to go out and pitch," Bonderman said. "After the hoopla and flyovers and stuff, you've still got to go out and perform. After the game, nobody's going to write about the flyovers. They're going to write about the game."

That's the attitude manager Jim Leyland would like his team to have: Enjoy it, but don't let it affect your job. And that's coming from a manager entering his own home opener with his family from Perrysburg, Ohio, in attendance.

Because the Tigers spent the season's first week on the road, Bonderman enters this opener having already made a start. He struck out eight Royals over 6 2/3 innings with one run allowed Wednesday at Kansas City. It marked the third consecutive year Bonderman won his first start, but he didn't win his second outing in either of those previous two seasons.

That will be one reason for him to filter out the hoopla. His opponent will be another. As if a Tigers home opener isn't enough on its own, the White Sox are coming to town. They've struggled out of the gate in their title defense, but they used the Tigers to stop more than one skid last year, taking 14 of their 19 matchups overall and seven of nine in Detroit.

Pitching matchup

CWS: RHP Freddy Garcia (0-1, 15.75 ERA)
The man ex-manager Alan Trammell called "Day Game Freddy" gave up seven runs over four innings in an afternoon tilt last Tuesday. That dropped him to 39-14 for his career in afternoon starts.

DET: RHP Jeremy Bonderman (1-0, 1.35 ERA)
Bonderman posted a 2.82 ERA against the White Sox last season but won just one of his three starts. He went 7-5 at home in 2005.

Player to watch
Chris Shelton went 5-for-13 against Garcia last season and hit .278 against the White Sox. He's coming off an 0-for-4, three-strikeout game, but he still leads the Majors with five home runs.
http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060409&content_id=1391786&vkey=news_det&fext=.jsp&c_id=det

Fuck school. I'm gonna miss everything before the game. Fuckin school.

I think Bondo is going to shut them down.

Tigers win 5-2.

That crowd is going to be nuts.

I am pretty pumped for this game. I love the feeling of spring/summer in the air.

Lineups posted:


Chi White Sox
S. Podsednik lf
T. Iguchi 2b
J. Thome dh
P. Konerko 1b
J. Dye rf
A.J. Pierzynski c
J. Crede 3b
R. Mackowiak cf
A. Cintron ss

Detroit
C. Granderson cf
P. Polanco 2b
I. Rodriguez c
M. Ordonez rf
D. Young dh
C. Shelton 1b
C. Guillen ss
C. Monroe lf
B. Inge 3b

DMITRI STEALS THIRD! OMFG! CRAZY!

Konerko goes deep off Zumaya.

5-3 ChiSox in the 8th.

Okay, that double play really hurt.

Onto the 9th...

so sad, da well

Ahh. I hope we can develop some consistency. I know we're not going to play like we did the first five games of the year, but I hate stretches where we can't score more than three...

Well, here we go again, it was fun while it lasted.

LOL. Still early. The Yanks are 2-4

Hopefully this team dosnt start to live and die with the long ball. I'd like to see us Manufacture some runs.

More kudos for Shelton: Not surprisingly, Shelton followed up his happy reception from fans by receiving the AL Player of the Week award. His five home runs led the Majors last week, while his .583 average ranked second. He also had nine RBIs.

Shelton is the second Tiger in as many years to win the first such award of the season. Dmitri Young won the AL honor last year after homering three times on Opening Day.

Watch Dmitri run: Dmitri Young's slimmed-down frame presumably makes him faster, but that doesn't make him any more artistic on the basepaths.

It wasn't as intended, but Dmitri Young's stolen base Monday was his first steal of third in four-plus years as a Tiger. He did it against the Cubs while still with the Reds on June 12, 2001.

Presumably, his last one had a more textbook slide. Young lost his helmet as he skidded into third base sideways. Third baseman Joe Crede made a quick tag of the helmet, but Young's head wasn't in it.

Jones throws bullpen session: Todd Jones' first pitch off a mound in Detroit again came in the bullpen. He threw a side session Monday morning under the eye of pitching coach Chuck Hernandez. The session went well, keeping hope alive for Jones that he'll be able to come off the disabled list when the Tigers head to the West Coast next week.
http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060410&content_id=1393295&vkey=news_det&fext=.jsp&c_id=det

Well, here we go again, it was fun while it lasted.

We'll save your seat on the bandwagon. Sounds like you're going to jump on and off a few times before the end of April.

Sox are getting to Robertson now, 3-0 in the 6th, 2 men on.

Our bats are deathly silent.

In other news, Thome is looking like a great acquisition for the Sox. 5 homers this year for them (and for my fantasy team, tee hee).

Craig Monroe goes yard to get the Tigs on the board.

4-1 in the bottom of the sixth.

Only 3 hits today, Monroe's HR and two hits by Guillen.

Shelton does it again!

2 run homer.

4-3, 9th inning.

No matter....we've lost 3 straight, but we were in all 3 games right to the end.

I'm still fired up.

I have a practical question.

Why did Infante get to bat with 1 out in the 9th inning in a one run ballgame?

Don't we any power hitters on the bench?

Is Dmitri hurt? Thames?

That's fuxxy.

We're still above .500.

I have a practical question.

Why did Infante get to bat with 1 out in the 9th inning in a one run ballgame?

Don't we any power hitters on the bench?

Is Dmitri hurt? Thames?

I was pissed that he was even in the lineup. Leyland probably wanted to get him some AB's since he hadn't played yet, but at DH??? Save that for when Polanco or Guillen or Inge needs a day off. Ridiculous. Let alone the fact that they had him 7th, "protecting" Shelton.

Sparky used to make a ton of bonehead moves like this too, though, so I guess you have to take the bad with the good.

I have a practical question.

Why did Infante get to bat with 1 out in the 9th inning in a one run ballgame?

Don't we any power hitters on the bench?

Is Dmitri hurt? Thames?

Here is why:


Omar gets to play: The last Tiger without an at-bat finally got a start Wednesday. Leyland put Omar Infante in his lineup at designated hitter, giving Young a day off.

It was a surprising spot for a utility infielder, but Leyland cited Young's struggles against Chicago starter Jose Contreras. Young is 2-for-22 lifetime against Contreras, including 0-for-6 last year, while Infante is 6-for-23. Leyland said he'll probably play Infante again Thursday versus Jon Garland, against whom Infante is 9-for-19.
http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060412&content_id=1396457&vkey=news_det&fext=.jsp&c_id=det

Nice find, H1.

I don't have a problem with him STARTING Infante, but I see no reason not to pinch hit for him with the game on the line and two big bats on the bench.

Sore elbow pushes Maroth back
Left-hander will start Sunday instead of Thursday

Mike Maroth's tender elbow is giving the Tigers reason for concern.

For the second time in just over a month, the left-hander has had a start pushed back due to discomfort in his left elbow. He was scheduled to pitch Thursday's series finale against the White Sox, but will go on Sunday against Cleveland instead.

From a short-term standpoint, it's not a logistical issue. Tuesday's day off means Justin Verlander, Kenny Rogers and Jeremy Bonderman could be pushed up and still start on regular rest. Verlander will start in Maroth's place, followed by Rogers and Bonderman to begin the weekend series against Cleveland.

In that sense, the Tigers could afford to push back Maroth as what they call a precautionary measure.

"Could I have pitched tomorrow? Probably," Maroth said. "Would that have helped it? Probably not."

Maroth isn't sure what would help it right now. He took a few extra days between starts when his elbow first flared up after his first start of Spring Training. That seemed to work, but Maroth said Wednesday it was still noticeable through most of camp.

It hasn't bothered him when he pitches, but it has in the days afterwards. This time, Maroth felt it a day after his regular-season debut Friday at Texas.

"My first outing, I felt 100 percent. It was the best I've felt," Maroth said. "What concerns me is the recovery time and going on every fifth day. We have the luxury of these off-days early, but when we start falling on every fifth day, how's my arm going to recover? That's kind of the big thing now."

While the recurrence is reason for concern, there's no evidence to suggest anything worse. Maroth had an MRI exam for insurance reasons during Spring Training and no problems popped up. However, doctors weren't looking specifically at the elbow.

When manager Jim Leyland was asked if he was concerned, he said, "Probably not so much right now, but if it continues, then we'll probably have to take it a little more seriously."

Maroth has no doubt he'll be able to pitch Sunday, once he plays a light session of catch Thursday and a light bullpen session Friday.

"I believe there's not going to be a problem pitching Sunday," he said. "It's the recovery after."
http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060412&content_id=1396457&vkey=news_det&fext=.jsp&c_id=det

Shit. Let's hope for the best.

Today's lineups:
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=260413106

No Inge, Infante at 3B.

Let's go VERLANDER!!!!

Omar, at 3rd? Strange. Very strange. Has he ever played 3rd in the majors or minors?

The sox can fucking hit man.

2 long balls in the 1st, and the only guy on my fantasy team cant get it out of the infeild.

Thome is a machine. He's hit a homer in every game at Comerica. Why didn't we trade for him? lol

Verlander got just plain ROCKED. Painful.

Holy shit Shelton.

DAMN THAT THIRD BASE COACH TA HELL!

What a wild game!

10-7 in the top of the 6th, ChiSox lead.


Craig Monroe singles on a line drive to center fielder Brian Anderson. Carlos Guillen scores. Craig Monroe out at 2nd, center fielder Brian Anderson to catcher A. J. Pierzynski to second baseman Tadahito Iguchi to shortstop Alex Cintron to second baseman Tadahito Iguchi.

PP with a 2 out double! Cmon Puge!

HERE WE COME BABY!

Ouch, Young just missed a HR according the radio.

10-8 going into the 7th.


They need to start puting this shit on TV

Ouch, Young just missed a HR according the radio.

10-8 going into the 7th.


They need to start puting this shit on TV

He also swung at and fouled off ball 4 the pitch before. Great move, Dmitri, it's not like the hottest hitter in baseball was on deck.

I'm stuck with the radio.

It's on Chicago TV but you have to listen to Hawk Harrelson, who I'm not a big fan of.

Nope, they put the cubs on where i'm at

Damn cubs.

Ouch, Young just missed a HR according the radio.

10-8 going into the 7th.


They need to start puting this shit on TV

He also swung at and fouled off ball 4 the pitch before. Great move, Dmitri, it's not like the hottest hitter in baseball was on deck.

He also swung and miss on 2-0, which was out of the zone.

Nope, they put the cubs on where i'm at

Damn cubs.
Yeah, sorry, it's on cable here.

Damn. They're just too damn good.

Shelton now hitting .514

Tying run on deck

Granderson with the bases juiced!

Ugh.

If anybody saw the game today, can you tell us what Verlander's problem was today?

Command? Loss of velocity? Were they just hitting good pitches?

Well...the good news is that our bats work again. 21 hits with everyone at least hitting 1.

FUCK. How do you lose with 21 hits?

That means we left a shitload of people on base. I don't even think either team hit that many homers.

I was at the game. Verlander seemed to have the velocity on his fastball, it was just the white sox hitters took advantage of everything else. Can't make even the slightest mistake around the huge lineup of the Sox. Literally, these guys are all 6'5 220.

Well...the good news is that our bats work again. 21 hits with everyone at least hitting 1.

FUCK. How do you lose with 21 hits?


The Tigers and White Sox set Comerica Park records with 38 hits overall and 15 extra-base hits.

The Tigers put up 21 hits and lost, something no Major League team had done since the Cubs tallied 22 hits in a 15-12 loss at Cincinnati on Sept. 12, 2002, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. No Tigers team had that many hits in defeat since a 15-13 loss at Boston on June 13, 1934.