March 21, 2008

• Quick Bits

  I really hadn't planned on posting again until Sunday or Monday with my season preview (especially since I worked so damn hard on the Fashion Guide that I wanted to leave it up as long as possible), but we've been without the Internet at my house for over two days, and we just got it fixed earlier today, so out of sheer joy of having it back, I have to post something.

  I've been watching the Spring Training games that are on TV a little bit (FSN/ESPN). In case you're wondering, Magglio is back in my good graces. I know with Pudge it's gonna take a bit longer, and I'm willing to be patient as long as he leaves well enough alone. Actually, they had an interview with him during today's game, and he already looks a whole lot better (as long as he stays out of the sun), so my guess is that his hair should look okay in about a week or so, albeit a bit short. Besides, it may be warm, sunny, and humid down there in Florida, but up here...well...it's snowing. 'Nuff said. The strange thing about Pudge is that he isn't exactly what you would call "attractive" (I certainly don't; that marker is reserved for Verlander and Magglio), and yet he is one of the few guys I have ever seen who can actually pull off the five o'clock shadow look (although right now his is just about at the point where you can't really call it that anymore). One more thing about Pudge: I don't know what it is, but he just looks...different when he's at the plate than he used to. It's not a good thing or a bad thing, it's just different, and I can't quite put my finger on it. And since when did he use an elbow pad?

  Another interesting thing that I've discovered is that seeing Brandon Inge or Ryan Raburn behind the plate is not as weird as I thought it would be. And it looks as though Ryan Raburn got himself a different mask since the last time I saw him catch. I'm not sure if there's any meaning to derive from that or not. I'm just kind of confused about the backup catcher situation. Leyland has repeatedly said it's not gonna be Brandon Inge, and I highly doubt they'd use Ryan Raburn in that role (cuz he really hasn't caught THAT much), but at the same time, nobody's said anything about Dane Sardinha in a really long time and everybody seems to assume that both Brandon Inge and Ryan Raburn will be on the big league roster come Opening Day, which doesn't work if you have a separate backup catcher (cuz Ramon Santiago has to be in there to play shortstop, and Marcus Thames is a definite lock as well since he's the only bench guy who can play first base). Even I don't expect Pudge to catch every single day until Vance Wilson is ready, so what's the deal?

  

  Damn, Brandon sure can jump.

  

  Okay, what's the deal with this? Do catchers do this intentionally? Cuz this isn't the first picture nor the first catcher I've seen applying the tag there. Nice bracelet, though.

  Turning attention to some former Tigers, it seems that Andrew Miller is still battling his control, Mike Rabelo is injured and may start the season on the DL, Cameron Maybin is vying for that Florida starting center field job, and Craig Monroe is having a decent spring (or at least he was last time I checked, which admittedly has been a while). Also, the Tigers are playing Philadelphia tomorrow, and Chad Durbin's starting for the Phillies, which seems weird to me. Oh, well, I'm working 10-6 tomorrow so it's not like I'll see/hear it.

  Apparently, Miss America will be singing the national anthem at Comerica Park on Opening Day. This would be a bigger deal if we knew who the hell she was.

  • 5:32 pm
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