I enjoy having the evening games as I really get a chance to listen and pay attention. Tonight’s match up of the Tigers vs the Nats wasn’t the most exciting but it was still pretty nice to listen to the game, even if it wasn’t Dan Dickerson. Justin Verlander started the game and gave four good innings looking more like a ground ball pitcher but seeming like he certainly had command of the plate. Zach Miner picked up the win, pitching one inning of stressful baseball.
Zach has been off to a slow start this year and continued to struggle with his control this evening giving up three walks and saving himself with a pair of strike-outs. This probably isn’t the best time to be having any issues at all since the competition for the Tigers bullpen this off season is as intense as ever. At the same time, from my perspective, I don’t see many ways the Tigers can go wrong with the decision as most up for the position are pretty solid.
I’d put Zach Miner on the Tiger list of serious trade bait. He’s a clear starter who showed great skills last year while filling in for Mike Maroth. He pitched one of the games I enjoyed the most last season against the Twins picking up one of his two wins against Francisco Liriano. At the same time it’s very crowded at the top for starters in Detroit. He’s also good enough that the Tigers could likely get a pretty decent amount for his skills to some of the few non-pitching positions they need, such as possibly shortstop, a catching prospect or other infielder.
We’ll see how this plays out in the next few weeks but in the best case for Miner this season he will be in Toledo. I know there is plenty of fishing around the lakes here to keep him occupied.
Tomorrow the Tigers will face the Phillies in Lakeland at Joker Merchant with Mike Maroth starting. Looking forward to see this one.