We were hoping that new pitching coach Rick Knapp would make a difference with all of these talented arms, but starting out with a 12-5 loss in which the ace of the staff gives up 8 runs in 3 2/3 innings doesn’t seem to bode well.

It’s early. There are 161 more games, but once again we start off the season on the wrong foot after high hopes. We;ll have to see how this plays out over the first few weeks, but our biggest concern is that this ball club doesn’t get off to too slow of a start. With the economy as bad as it is, particularly in Michigan, putting butts in the seats is going to be difficult enough as it is. With an inferior product we may end up looking at a fire-sale…

First – congratulations are in order for Miguel Cabrera being named co-player of the week for the American League after hitting .429 with four doubles, four home runs and 11 RBI in the last week. A sign of what’s to come, we hope.

Back to Galarraga. First, the numbers. In his two starts he is 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA. In 12 innings pitched, he has given up 4 hits with 2 earned runs, and walked 4 while striking out 10. Better numbers than all the other starters – not that it’s saying much. It’s not all great though. His control was nowhere near as pinpoint accurate as it was in his first start, but you can’t argue with results.

Surprisingly, the bullpen looked very good. Actually – Aquilino Lopez, Rapada and Bautisita have been very consistent. So it’s not all bad. Hopefully, these next two series at home against the Rangers and Angels can get the Tigers closer to .500.

More good news – MRI results looked good for Placido Polanco, and he may be back in the line-up against the Rangers. Maybe he’ll leave his .148 batting average at the doctors office.

Sheffield is out with a bum shoulder.

Polanco hasn’t hit well this year, and is out with a bad back.

Jacque Jones has proven nothing.

Cabrera will do well, along with Ordonez, Guillen and maybe Renteria. But we will see no “Murderers Row”, as I mistakenly predicted after the trade. Looking at this line-up with sober eyes, it’s apparent that they will be good. Not great, just good. Without equally good pitching, they will accomplish little this year.

But I’m excited, nonetheless. Why? Tomorrow, we will get another look at Armando Galarraga. Toronto’s hitters will have had some tape to review, so we’ll see how well he does. But I can honestly say I’m excited. It would be nice to leave Toronto with a split and a bright new star in the rotation. One can only hope….

6 2/3 fairly strong innings moves the Tigers to 6-11. Long way to go, to be sure, but at least their heading in the right direction now. But why are they always coming from behind? At least they’re actually coming from behind now, but it would be nice to see them actually win convincingly for a few games.

This time, it was 4 runs in the 7th inning to give Kenny the support he needed to get his first win. A lot of extra base hits today, with 7 Tiger doubles (2 each for Cabrera and Pudge).

Next up is Bonderman. Detroit sorely needs a good quality start from Jeremy. Fingers crossed…

Detroit needed this badly. Every little bit helps. We got another quality start from Kenny Rogers and moved one step closer to the miracle needed to overcome the Yankees or the Indians. So now it’s on to the Rangers with a doubleheader. We’ve got Chad Durbin and Jair Jurrjens throwing, and Texas isn’t all that good, so Detroit could conceivably help themselves tremendously tomorrow. At this point they have no choice.