Verlander to start opening day
posted in 2008 Spring Training |In a surprise to nobody, the Tigers named Justin Verlander their opening day starter. According to Jason Beck:
On the one hand, Leyland said it was clear that Verlander deserved the honor. On the other hand, he went out of his way to point out that an opening-day assignment doesn’t elevate one pitcher over anyone else.
“We feel like we have five solid starters when they’re healthy. They all can’t pitch on opening day.” (Beck’s blog)
I don’t think the opening day starter was ever really going to be that big a question. I think we can make a reasonable guess on the second game and third game starter. Those will likely go to soft-tossing lefty Kenny Rogers and hard-throwing righty Jeremy Bonderman, because Jim Leyland likes to show teams completely different pitching styles.
So the question is, who’s No. 4 and who’s No. 5? Is it Nate Robertson (new dad!) or Dontrelle Willis? And, that, to, isn’t that big a deal. Either you have Willis swinging his right leg wildly the day after Bonderman pitches, or the day before Verlander pitches.
Not that it really matters whether you’re a No. 4 or No. 5. Once the teams start taking different off days, it’s all a mess who faces whom.
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