The Royals come to town for a two game set on Monday and Tuesday, both 7:05 starts. I know it's early, but this is a great opportunity for us to gain some ground on our divisional brethren, as the Royals are just bad and our two main rivals, Cleveland and Chicago, square off against each other. We swept KC in a two game set to open the year and let's hope to do the same this week.

The Royals are pretty much just bad top to bottom, from Pitching to Hitting to Defense. Their lineup is supposed to be anchored by Mike Sweeney, but he's been off to a miserable start, hitting only .185 so far this year while battling his usual array of minor injuries. Other than that, there roster features a pretty wide array of has-beens and never-will-be's some of whom probably wouldn't even of stood a chance to make the 2003 Tigers. The only players really of note are Mark Grudzielanek, who has had longevity if nothing else, and provides at least an average bat in the middle infield; Reggie Sanders, who is a consumnate professional hitter, but is off to a slow start this year hitting .233; and Matt Stairs, who provides a bit of power and patience to an otherwise dreadful lineup. David DeJesus and Shane Costa, who were expected to have breakout years and give the Royals a chance to compete for second to last, have both been relegated to the dl.
Doug Mientkiewicz provides great defense but no power at first and Angel Berroa is just slightly below average at just about everything. He'll get hot for a week or a series or two, but has never put it all together and probably never will.

As for the pitching staff, their best pitcher, Zach Greinke, up and ran away before Spring Training and is not expected back for at least a month. That left them with a hodge podge staff of failed prospects and mediocre filler that doesn't really scare anybody.

If there are any Royals fans reading this, trust me, I feel for you, but there really isn't anything good to look forward to this year. Frankly, i'm surprised they've even managed to win 5 games this year, and if we can't sweep these guys, Leyland might have another tirade.

Game one features Mike Maroth vs former Tiger Mark Redman.

Redman had a couple good seasons for the Tigers and Marlins back in 02 and 03 but has been less than average since. He's only gone 12.2 innings in his three starts combined this year and has gotten roughed up to the tune of a 7.82 era. Looks like another feast for the Tigers attack. Carlos Guillen, Placido Polanco, Craig Monroe, Magglio Ordonez and Pudge have all hit him relatively well in their careers, going for a combined .352 average and a .619 slugging percentage.

Mikey Maroth has had some success against the Royals, going only 8-8 but with a 3.70 era. Angel Berroa, Matt Stairs and Tony Graffanino (of all people...) are the only current Royals who have hit him very hard, so look for him to build on his early season success on Monday night.

I'm taking the Tigers in a laugher, 8-2.

I find it hard to believe that we can whoop the twins like that and drop one vs KC. Tigers sweep in two straight laughers

It depends on how many runs Bonderman gives up in the first. If it's zero, then we win today.

Does anyone else think it's amazing that The Tigers carried the Detroit sports scene this weekend?

Yeah, crazy they were the one bright spot.
Good for them though.

I thought Runelvys Hernandez was pitching, according to the Tigers' commentators yesterday...

He is, I must have had an outdated listing.

Sorry, I mixed up today's and tommorrow's games. Today is Bonderman vs Runelvys Hernandez.

7 pitches for Hernandez, three outs for the Tigers so far...

I remember Hernandez being a bunch of punks last year. Shouldn't that make the boys want to whoop this guy's ass?

Bonderman with 4 K's through three.

Maggs with a big fly.

I'm on gameday, and when Pudge got out, it said "Injury Timeout" -- did he get hurt or something?

GET THAT MAGS!

Nice to see get going.

Bonderman now with 7 K's through 5 with 3 hits. Keep it up, killer.

Craig must be lovin' them high socks. Homer to left puts the Tigers up 3-0.

7th inning and I finally got this stupid MLBTV internet thing working. I had it last year and it was easy but I guess I had alot of changes to my Win Media Player settings since then. A friend gave me his password so I am currently watching the Pistons and Red Wings on 2 tvs with the Tigers on my computer. I need help.

7th inning and I finally got this stupid MLBTV internet thing working. I had it last year and it was easy but I guess I had alot of changes to my Win Media Player settings since then. A friend gave me his password so I am currently watching the Pistons and Red Wings on 2 tvs with the Tigers on my computer. I need help.

No, dude. That kicks ass.

Jones better not fucking blow this.

Jones shaky as hell, but he held on for the save. Good win, Bondo pitched another gem.

This could have been our fourth shutout in five days. That's incredible for our starters.

Three stars for tonight:

Easy tonight:

1. Jeremy Bonderman: Pitched a beauty, 8 IP, 9 Ks, only 4 hits. The great starting pitching continues.

2. Craig Monroe: Good to see him coming around. His 2 run bomb in the seventh gave us the insurance runs we really needed after Jones almost blew it in the ninth.

3. Maggs: He just continues to rake. Only one hit tonight but it gave the Tigers the lead when it left the park in the fourth.

This is awesome. I feel like a kid again.

I had to listen to the game on radio because FSN tape delayed the broadcast in favor of a third class sport.

Fuck the Red Wings, fuck golf with figure skating, and fuck FSN.

I'm really starting to dislike Todd Jones. He almost ruined my day.

Craig Monroe > breathing

This is awesome. I feel like a kid again.

Well said.

This start has brought the same feelings I had in '84 and '85, the last time I felt the Tigers could go out there and compete with anyone, any time.

Good memories.

Let's try this again:

Game TWO features Mike Maroth vs former Tiger Mark Redman.

Redman had a couple good seasons for the Tigers and Marlins back in 02 and 03 but has been less than average since. He's only gone 12.2 innings in his three starts combined this year and has gotten roughed up to the tune of a 7.82 era. Looks like another feast for the Tigers attack. Carlos Guillen, Placido Polanco, Craig Monroe, Magglio Ordonez and Pudge have all hit him relatively well in their careers, going for a combined .352 average and a .619 slugging percentage.

Mikey Maroth has had some success against the Royals, going only 8-8 but with a 3.70 era. Angel Berroa, Matt Stairs and Tony Graffanino (of all people...) are the only current Royals who have hit him very hard, so look for him to build on his early season success on Monday night.

I'm taking the Tigers in a laugher, 8-2.

Mike Sweeney is supposedly headed to the DL with a bad back, so we won't have to deal with his paltry sub-.200 batting average today.

Staring Lineups:

Kansas City
K. Robinson cf
M. Grudzielanek 2b
R. Sanders rf
E. Brown lf
T. Graffanino dh
D. Mientkiewicz 1b
A. Berroa ss
M. Teahen 3b
J. Buck c

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

Inge came through with a two run shot. 2-1 Tigers in the sixth. Two on, no out, let's get some insurance runs here.

Wow. Zumaya's a fucking monster.

Another great performance from the pitching staff and the Tigers win again, 4-1. Maroth went six allowing only 4 hits and we got three innings of 1 hit ball out of the bullpen.

Another day at the office.

On to the Angels.

The Tigers are having absolutely no problems with their own division outside of the White Sox. If the Tigers could figure out a way to beat them, we'll be in for a very fun season.

The good news is that we don't Chicago again for a while.....although maybe playing them now when we're "hotter than the sun" would also be good.