Terry Foster: Tigers Are Both Fabulous And Flawed
By Terry Foster
@TerryFoster971
Did my eyes deceive me?
I swear the Tigers paraded Joe Nathan, Phil Coke and Jose Valverde to the mound while trying to hang on during an 8-7 11-inning victory over the Miami Marlins. If you closed your eyes and listened you'd swear they brought the old band back.
The Tigers are both fabulous and flawed.
We saw both Jekyll and Hyde in Miami. They stormed to a 5-0 lead as Justin Verlander pitched the first five innings without giving up a hit, then they hung on for dear life as another closer failed. Francisco Rodriguez gave up three runs in the ninth, squandering a 7-4 lead.
Now do you see why many believe that the Tigers will miss the playoffs?
Now do you see why some believe they are World Series contenders?
Now do you see why picking the Tigers to do anything with confidence is risky business?
The Tigers can pound the rock. They pounded out 12 hits and second baseman Ian Kinsler knocked in four runs, including a three-run home run, while Victor Martinez came off the bench to knock one out of the ball park. So they've got the usual fire power.
But the bullpen appeared to be the same. It is just one game, but that is what we do around here. We overact to the first game of the season.
There are no left overs from last year's bullpen but they sure did look the same. Can I ask a question? How come Tigers closers no longer close? Francisco Rodriguez threw softball change ups right over the plate and the Marlins ripped him. He might have lost the game if Justin Upton didn't make a great catch at the fence.
I swear the Tigers could sign Mariano Rivera in his prime and he'd have a WHIP of 1.75 and a 60 percent save percentage.
"I didn't make my pitches," Rodriguez told the media after the game. "I had four opportunities to make one pitch and I didn't. Everything was up over the middle of the zone."
I did like closer Shane Green who got the save in the 11th. Oh wait, he is the Tigers fifth starter.
It is way too early to come down on the team and it is way to early to praise it.
I just hope you enjoy this white knuckle season. The Tigers are going to win games they have no business winning and they are going to lose some heart breakers. I actually believe they can win the division if they stay healthy and focused. Of course the chance of that happening are slim.
Do you like your movies filled with comedy? How about drama and suspense? Well grab the popcorn folks, you will get all of that with your Tigers. They will be worth the watch but will be every bit scary as we saw on opening night.
(Foster can be reached at Terry.Foster@cbsradio.com)
