The Cutoff Man: Claiming Evan Reed, and No Opening Day Flyover

Apr 3, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez (19) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Tigers Claim RHP Evan Reed From Marlins – Bless You Boys

"If he was DFA by a team like the Marlins, it’s difficult to get too excited. On the other hand, Reed was ranked as highly as 24th on Baseball America’s Marlins prospect list in 2012, so there may be a small chance that he makes an impact on the big club."

Comerica skies will be silent as flyover grounded for Opening Day – The Detroit News

"The “voice of the turtle” may be heard Friday, but not the full-throated roar of fighter jets from Selfridge Air National Guard Base.Sorry, Detroit Tigers home-opener loyalists, the federal sequester has killed a long tradition.While someone is sure to recite fabled baseball broadcaster Ernie Harwell’s opening-day ode to turtles and spring from the Song of Solomon, there’ll be no A-10s blasting through the skies above Comerica Park before the game."

Poorly placed fastball, elusive game-winning hit lead to second-guessing after Detroit Tigers’ first loss – MLive

"Of course, the closer-by-committee approach will be under scrutiny anytime things go wrong. Coke struggled terribly against right-handers last season. Dozier and Escobar both hit right-handed.Leyland could have pitched Coke in the eighth inning, when left-handed hitters Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau sandwiched right-handed power hitter Josh Willingham were due up. But Benoit has better career numbers against Mauer and Morneau — he has allowed one home run to those two compared to the three that Coke allowed. And Willingham seems like the exact type of hitter — a right-handed power hitter — that most Tigers fans don’t want Coke to pitch to."

Tigers’ bullpen problems shrink if rotation rolls on – Detroit Free Press

"But what’s most important is that the Tigers’ starting pitching has yet to surrender an earned run. A starter has yet to go beyond the fifth inning, but that was mainly due to blustery conditions in Minnesota.The Tigers will figure out the back end of the bullpen. It’ll take time and no doubt test the patience of many, especially those directly involved. But it’s starting pitching that ultimately will determine the Tigers’ fate in the remaining 160 games."