Tigersicles

After losing yesterday's game to cold weather in Detroit, they're going to get much of the same in Kansas City today against the Royals. Temperatures at game time are supposed to be below 40 with a wind chill dipping into the 20s. Sounds like baseball, don't it?!

For the first time this year, Justin Verlander is set to take the mound against the perenial lowlifes Royals. Last year, Verlander faced the Royals three times and won each start, allowing just two runs and striking out 16 Royals. It's going to be a big test for Verlander to see if he becomes another Mark Fidrych (one good season and then a very mediocre, and short, rest of career) or a potential ace-in-the-making. The sophomore slump doesn't seem to be affecting Curtis Granderson at all, and that's very good news, hopefully it will avoid Verlander as well.

The Tigers lost just 4 times to the Royals last season, but they'll be seeking revenge for the final three. I need not mention the three game sweep to end the season, and lose the Tigs the division, as it was painful enough for all us Tiger fans. Especially yours truly, since I was in attendance for both of the extra innings collapses in the first and last games of that series, waiting for a celebration that never came. However, the Tigs did win every game they played in Kauffman Stadium last year, so that may mean good things for this series.

Tonight, the batting line up goes against Jorge De La Rosa, which means "George of the Rose" in Spanish (how intimidating). De La Rosa has control problems, issuing 106 walks in 144 major league innings thus far in his career. Hopefully, the nearly-impatient-to-a-fault Tigers' line up can sit back and wait for a decent pitch to hit against the out-of-control lefty. A veteran hitter like Placido Polanco ought to have a great day against this guy, since Polanco is probably the most professional hitter in this line up.

Also, look for Brandon Inge and Craig Monroe to have big days. Neither of these two have a hit yet this year, but against a mediocre-at-best pitching staff line KC, they should be able to get some solid cuts in.

Today's game should be a good chance for the Tigers to get their first guilt-free win of the year, since Wednesday's game had to have left a bad taste in their mouths after an almost total collapse. If they play like the team that showed up for the first seven innings of that game, then you should be checking back here later looking at a review of a Tigers' win.