Well Game 1 of spring training is in the books, and let’s just forget that one happened, ok? The Yankees bludgeoned a chorus of Tigers minor league relievers to win 20-3 on Saturday. Yeah, it doesn’t matter, but nobody likes getting shelled out of the park.
The key notes on the Tigers’ side was a home run by veteran outfielder Corey Julks, who is in camp trying to compete for a bench outfielder role. Kevin McGonigle smoked a 100 mph fastball from Carlos Lagrange for a sharp oppo single and turned
a nice, but fairly routine double play on a feed from Gleyber Torres. The veteran second baseman has been working with McGonigle since well before camp got underway, as each reported early and have been taking infield together the whole time.
Catching prospect Thayron Liranzo really does look like he lost, as claimed, 35 pounds since last season, and moved better behind the plate including pouncing on a little tapper down the third base line and firing a quick strike to first. Keider Montero’s command was pretty meh though he was also pumping a steady 96 mph and threw a couple of good changeups too. Right-handed reliever Cole Waites used to throw high 90’s heat, but returning from surgery he hasn’t found it yet and sat 92-93 mph on Saturday. Not a whole lot else to take away from that one.
Jack Flaherty and Bryan Sammons are both scheduled to pitch on Sunday against the Orioles, with Flaherty obviously getting the start. Tarik Skubal will make his debut in Lakeland on Monday against the Twins. Drew Anderson, offseason free agent signing, is also scheduled to pitch in that game.
Typically players get some days off the first few days of camp in particular, so we’ll see if McGonigle, Torres, Colt Keith, Max Clark, Josue Briceño, or Thayron Liranzo play on Sunday. Probably not, but we’ll likely see more of the Tigers regular lineup instead. We’re expecting to see Riley Greene, Spencer Torkelson, Kerry Carpenter, and Javier Báez on Sunday, but possibly they’ll just package those core players behind Skubal on Monday instead.
The Tigers heard everyone’s pleas for clarity on the cable/streaming situation on Saturday. There are no doubt plenty of details to sort out on all the licensing contracts, so we’ll have to wait for next week when the Tigers say they’ll have things worked out.
In the meantime, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday’s games are all just on the radio anyway.
