Game Notes: Tigers @ Yankees 3/31

As I promised I will touch on other teams during the season so this is the first installment of the 'Game Notes' series. The format is subject to change but this seemed like a logical place to start; a running list of notes of observations followed by a wrap up. Without further ado...

Nice diving catch by granderson on rhymes Top 1

1-2-3 for sabathia stuff looks good FB sitting at 94 MPH

Verlander K on 96 FB sitting at 94-95 MPH Bot 1

Nasty hook to jeter 78 MPH strike looking

Slider 84 MPH misses

84 MPH change up / splitter looks like a 2 seamer

verlander 2 seamer movement is disgusting

walks arod missing strike zone to 3B on 2FB

better control to 1B side tailing back into the strike zone

Miguel Cabrera continues to hit sabathia Top 2

Jeter’s defense continues to underwhelm

Sabathia’s making mistakes but is staying low in the zone limiting the opportunity for extra base hits

Sabathia misses high sac fly scores run

Bases loaded no out sabathia only allows one run (sac fly to CF line out to 2B and K)

Verlander relying heavily on change up vs LHH so far so good Bot 2

Sabathia cruising 2 more Ks Top 3

Great sack bunt by gardner Bot 3

Granderson’s at bat song is ‘Friday’

Verlander’s control not there right now

Letter high FB over heart of the plate leads to Teixiera 3 run bomb

Inge rbi single sabathia missed inside Top 4

Sabathia battles back for the K with runner one 3B

Great diving catch by rayburn to rob martin of a hit in shallow left center Bot 5

Verlander curveball dialed in great movement and hitting the strike zone

Nice 2B by igne pulled his hands in and drove it into the gap Top 6

Arod broke up a streak of 9 straight by verlander who missed with a fastball high Bot 6

Verlander done 114 pitches looked great at times poor control other times 2FB to 3B side had poor control one major mistake teixeira tagged him for a 3 run bomb

Joba in sabathia solid outing for the 1^st of the season Top 7

Joba FB at 90-91 MPH slider 85-86 MPH good movement

Joba flashes curveball 78 MPH missed high

1-2-3 for joba FB not stellar but off speed stuff looked good

phil coke into the game Bot 7

FB over the letter high over heart of the plate granderson hits a solo shot

Coke gets 1 out then done runner on 2B

Ryan perry in game wild pitch runner at 3B

Sac fly by jeter brings in martin

Soriano in Top 8

K looking for Cabrera

1-2-3 inning

dan schlereth in 1 on 1B no out

3 wild pitches by tigers pitching

rivera in Top 9

cutter sitting 89-91 MPH

granderson reading the ball great off the bat

less movement than in past years

Yankees retired 14 of last 15 hitters

Both pitchers struggled in their first start of the season but the stuff was there, they just need regain their control. The biggest worry for the Tigers is clearly going to be their bullpen, look for GM Dave Dombrowski to make a move early if this continues to be a problem. Joba's control wasn't quite there but his curveball and slider combination should allow him to be an acceptable piece even if his fastball is in the low 90's. Something for Yankee fans to keep and eye was Rivera's cutter, I know its sac religious in most baseball circles to question it but hear me out. The velocity was down to a career low, high 80's low 90's, this isn't a major issue in itself because of the Maddux-esk control Rivera has of the pitch. The most concerning thing was the decrease in movement. Rivera, like every other pitcher, has experienced a decrease in velocity over the last 5ish years of his career but he has continued to be an elite closer because of his outstanding control and movement of his one pitch. As the season goes on we could see and increase in velocity as he loosens up, but if his velocity and movement stay at the same level they were at during the season opener we could be witnessing the first signs of a mortal Mariano Rivera.

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