Detroit Tigers vs New York Yankees: Opening Day Recap

Justin Verlander served up one of the greatest Opening Day starts of his career today.  Six innings, three runs, and with two men on in a tie game he strikes out Nick Swisher and then Jorge Posada on his 114^th pitch to end the 6^th inning?

The Tigers want to contend this season and I think they have the defense and offense to do so, but the pitching staff is going to start and end with what Verlander can give them.  The only think you can fault with his start today was that he was up against CC Sabathia who is so good, he’s almost boring. 

There is going to be a lot of talk about the Mark Teixeira homer off of Verlander in the third, but that was as much a function of Yankee patience at the plate as it was an incredibly tight strike zone by the home plate umpire. 

As this series progresses, it’s going to be harder for the Tigers to keep pace with the Yankees if it is a match up of bullpens.  But on Saturday if they can touch up AJ Burnett, the team has a chance to do some real damage. 

On the Yankee side of the ball, what do you say about Curtis Granderson when he wasn’t even going to play and still makes two amazing outfield plays and breaks the game open in the 7^th the moment Verlander leaves?  After that everything just went according to the old school Joe Torre formula of the starter for 6 innings then unhittable relievers for two and close it out with Mariano Rivera.

But really, more important than any of this is the thing that has been burning in my mind for almost two hours.  Can someone tell me just how restrictive can the Yankees' policy on facial hair can be if every time a player leaves the team they feel the desperate need to grow the stupidest looking goatee imaginable?  Here is Phil Coke as a Yankee and Phil Coke as a Tiger.

I'm obviously just an unfrozen cave man lawyer who isn't familiar with you kids crazy ways.

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