I just watched one of the most abysmal baseball games I've seen in awhile. The Detroit Tigers, 0-5 to start the 2008 season, hosted the Chicago White Sox on ESPN Sunday Night baseball. Detroit sent Justin Verlander, arguably the ace of their pitching staff, to the mound. More often than not, this would be enough to break a losing streak. Not this time, however. The White Sox are one of the few teams, if not the only team, that Verlander has had little success against in his career. Tonight was no exception. That, coupled with the horrible streak of bad playing and bad luck that the Tigers are mired in, resulted in a train wreck of a game. The White Sox shellacked the Tigers 13-2, completing the 3-game sweep, and sending the winless Tigers on the road to face Boston.

The sun is shining, and Detroit Tigers baseball is back on the radio after a 149-day hiatus! First day of Spring Training games! It's a beautiful day!

Spring training is here! Today was the reporting date for the Detroit Tigers' pitchers and catchers. Full squad reports on January 20, although many of them are already there.

Want to keep tabs on what's happening in Spring Training, but can't make it down to Florida to visit in person? These links will help:

MotownSports.com - Spring Training 2008 in photos and thoughts

Lakeland Flying Tigers Blog

Roger DeWitt's Flickr page

These past few weeks it has seemed like spring would never arrive, with all of the crazy winter weather we've been experiencing here in Michigan. Winter seemed to stretch out into the future indefinitely with no end in site. Knowing that the Tigers are now in Spring Training and seeing pictures of them working out in warm and sunny Florida is like a shot in the arm. In some crazy way, it's proof that spring will be here eventually. Winter no longer stretches out into the distance - the end is in sight!

Important dates:

First Spring Training game - February 26, an exhibition game against Florida Southern College.

First opportunity to watch the Tigers on TV - March 17 @ Cincinatti, on FSND

First opportunity to hear the Tigers on the radio - February 25 vs Mets on WXYT 1270 and some affiliates

Full Detroit Tigers TV/radio broadcast schedule

The Detroit Tigers signed Curtis Granderson to a five-year extension yesterday.

I was thrilled to read this news. Granderson is a very talented young player and it's exciting to watch him play. His baseball skills have flaws, to be sure - his high strikeout rate being the most worrisome - but the things he does well on the field far outweigh the things that he struggles with.
He has an excellent work ethic, so I'm confident that he will continue to improve in those areas that need improvement. I'm looking forward to watching him play for the Tigers in the years ahead!