FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Operative description of the day: It was a packed house (announced as 15 people below the Knology Park capacity) with a distinct Great Lakes feel. Unlike most other games around spring training, there weren’t lots of kids in the stands, as the median age had to be hovering near 65. Still a little cooler than normal, it was also perfect weather for watching baseball. You gotta love seeing people walking around a baseball game in Calgary Flames alternate sweaters. That's one heck of a road trip from Alberta to Florida. 

And yes, Friday afternoon traffic in the Tampa Bay area is reminescent of a parking lot that moves one space closer to home every 10 minutes.

GOOD IMPRESSIONS: Detroit’s announced opening day starter Justin Verlander was cooking on the hill, throwing darts at the Blue Jays. In two innings, Verlander allowed just one hit and struck out one. More impressively, he threw 26 pitches, 19 for strikes and looked ready for the season right now.

Tigers' utility man Ryan Raburn, starting in right field today, continues to impress, no matter where manager Jim Leyland puts him. He’s also swinging a hot bat, scorching a line drive double to the gap in left in the second inning, the first hit in a perfect three for three day. While he’s seemingly fighting with Brandon Inge for a roster spot, I couldn’t imagine the Tigers going north without him.

There are certain players who when they step up to home plate, the bat appears to be more of a wand than a club. Gary Sheffield wields a club. Blue Jays top prospect Travis Snider waves a wand. Although the outfielder only had one plate appearance today in which he drew a walk, you can tell that his balance and approach from the left side of the plate will make him an excellent big league hitter one day. Plus he’s powerful and compact (5’11”, 245 lbs.) He’ll likely start the year at Double A, but keep an eye out for him in keeper leagues with farm systems.

Curtis Granderson moved up the overall rankings a little more today when he blasted a home run that sailed over the St. Petersburg-Clearwater in right field, his second blast in two days.  That it came off of lefthander Scott Downs was significant, since last year Granderson hit just three of his 23 home runs off of southpaws.

Right handed rookie Rick Porcello, in his first taste of professional ball, threw two perfect innings with one strikeout. He was the Tigers first pick in the 2007 amateur draft out of West Orange, (N.J.) High School and will play the entire season as a 19-year old.

In spring training its normal practice for the coaching staff to sit in chairs outside the dugout. Today it gave us a unique opportunity to watch Leyland call each pitch for catcher Maxim St. Pierre who gazed Leyland’s way before flashing each sign.


BAD IMPRESSIONS: Jeremy Accardo is being usurped in the closer job should B.J. Ryan prove that he’s healthy and if today’s outing was any indication, Ryan couldn’t be coming back at a better time. Accardo retired only two of the five batters he faced (and none of the players with major league experience). Of the three outs he recorded one was on a caught stealing against Jacque Jones, and the others came against players who have

Edgar Renteria continues to look lackadaisical in the field, committing a throwing error to first and not charging hard enough on a chopper that resulted in an infield single for none other than Matt Stairs.

Frank Thomas boomed a ball off the fence in left center and legged it into a double. Is it possible that he’s lost another step? How great would it be to see a foot race between the Jays’ Frank Thomas and Sal Fasano, two of the slowest players in the history of organized athletics? You’d be able to time it with an hourglass filled with cold honey.


MIXED IMPRESSIONS:

Jacque Jones had a couple of hits and a run scored, but was thrown out easily by Gregg Zaun on a steal attempt of second base. Jones would be a top 50 outfielder if he steals some bases. Bating in the double-leadoff ninth spot, he might.

Former Cub and Red, Buck Coats, made an excellent diving catch of a sinking line drive in center, but he would be nothing more than fifth (more likely seventh or eighth) outfielder fodder due to a sub par bat.

Reliever Brandon League was not dominant, but he was showing pre-surgery velocity and tremendous movement on a fastball that can hit 100 MPH on occasion. He’s a solid candidate for vulture wins.