Around the Horn: Robertson looks to get the Tigers First win in 2008
-Dexter Sports
12:26 PM
Nate Robertson will take the mound at 1:05 as the tigers look to get their first win in 08. The tigers, who were automatically dubbed a championship caliber team by most analysts, have started the season 0-3 after being swept by the Kansas City Royals. The Tigers will look to Robertson, who had a tremendous spring to shut down a White Sox offense that did struggle at times last year. Though many are worried about the tigers after being swept away, tigers fans should not have any fear. The lineup is working without catalyst lead-off hitter Curtis Granderson and Third Baseman Miguel Cabrera. Today, Gary Sheffield will sit out because of a jammed finger, and should be back sometime soon. Anyways, here is what's going on around the league.
12:26 PM
Nate Robertson will take the mound at 1:05 as the tigers look to get their first win in 08. The tigers, who were automatically dubbed a championship caliber team by most analysts, have started the season 0-3 after being swept by the Kansas City Royals. The Tigers will look to Robertson, who had a tremendous spring to shut down a White Sox offense that did struggle at times last year. Though many are worried about the tigers after being swept away, tigers fans should not have any fear. The lineup is working without catalyst lead-off hitter Curtis Granderson and Third Baseman Miguel Cabrera. Today, Gary Sheffield will sit out because of a jammed finger, and should be back sometime soon. Anyways, here is what's going on around the league.
- Mike Hampton was pulled twenty minutes before game time last night. Hampton strained his left pectoral warming up in the bullpen before the 7:05 start against the Pirates. Hampton will find himself on the DL yet again. The Braves are optimistic (as always) and it looks like Jeff Bennett will get that position in the rotation for now. Hampton has made 12 starts since 2005, making a total of 12 starts (Carl Pavano anyone?).
- Reds Rookie Johnny Cueto was brilliant in his debut yesterday. Any that watched it could say his 96 mile an hour fastball was impressive and his nasty slider was just plain wrong. Cueto finished with 10 strike outs. Who would have thought it was him instead of Homer Bailey in the rotation. Reds fans should be glad that Cueto is a red instead of Erik Bedard or Joe Blanton.
- The Nationals seem like a team to be reckoned with in their first week of action. First a walk-off home run in the new nationals park, a new stadium that puts the nationals as GM Jim Bowden puts it, "from the outhouse to the penthouse." We all knew this team would hit, but who would know that Odalis Perez would get the job done and that Tim Redding would throw a one-hitter. Who knows, maybe this rotation and bullpen can hold up and acutally give Washington D.C . a good representative.
- Phil Hughes sparkled in his season debut last night. He did leave a couple curves hanging, but showed why the Yankees were not worried about bringing in anybody else this off-season beyond Andy Pettitte. Ian Kennedy will make his first start tonight.
