Daily Roar - 3/24/08

With Spring Training winding down, there's only so much you can write about the Tigers until the "real" games start. I can't wait for this season to get going. I'm working on creating some type of original game recap style that I'll use to give my own take on each regular season game and hopefully into the Playoffs. I'm excited to try it out.

The Tigers are taking on the Washington Nationals as I type this. They are up 5-3 in the top of the ninth at this point. Nate Robertson took the mound today, giving up one run on four hits in 5 1/3 innings. Aquilino Lopez, who's battling for a roster spot, pitched 1 2/3 innings of scoreless ball in relief. Magglio Ordonez and Miguel Cabrera each have an RBI on the day, and Dane Sardinha hit a solo homer in the 8th.

Like I mentioned yesterday, it's likely that Jim Leyland uses Edgar Renteria as the leadoff hitter and Brandon Inge in center field, batting ninth after the Curtis Granderson injury. Well, that's exactly the lineup the Tigers used today. Renteria is 1-4 on the day. Leyland confirmed that this will be the lineup for opening day.

The bullpen competition is starting to formalize, and the Cutoffman thinks Denny Bautista and Yorman Bazardo will get the final two spots during Fernando Rodney's DL stint. I actually like Lopez over Bazardo in relief, with Bazardo as a better option to get some starts if there is an injury in the rotation. We'll see.

CBS Sportsline's Scott Miller blogs about Miguel Cabrera's new deal with Detroit. I think he likes it too. Here's more on the Cabrera deal from Danny Knobler as well.

Peter Gammon's blog on ESPN mentions Miguel Cabrera on his short list of MVP-likely candidates as well as Justin Verlander on his Cy Young watch. Good to hear. He also has a podcast that I can't link to. He agrees with many that the Tigers have the best lineup in baseball.

ESPN also has a different podcast with an interview with Jim Leyland. Click here for the audio link.

Update: The Tigers finished the game today with a 5-3 win. Francis Beltran came in and got the save.

Video of the Day: Newcomer Jacque Jones.