Published: Monday, February 28, 2011, 10:19 PM     Updated: Tuesday, March 01, 2011, 8:54 AM

Prior to the game, Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland shared a long hug and a loud laugh with Yankees Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra, his baseball idol who has become a friend.

“I told him my joke and he liked it,” said Leyland, who made sure Berra got to have a few words with his son, Patrick, a catcher.

When asked if it excited him to have his players around the legends of the game, Leyland smiled and said, “Hell, I get excited when I see Yogi Berra. He’s my all-time favorite player.”

Furbush gives up two runs against Yankees
Charlie Furbush, a left-hander with a chance of cracking the majors in the near future, gave up two runs on four hits in two innings.

The first six Yankees he faced were All-Stars, and Mark Teixeira had an RBI double while Russell Martin singled in another run.

“He did fine,” Leyland said. “He got the big guys right away. They centered a couple balls — welcome to the big leagues. But he bounced back. I like him a lot. …He struck A-Rod out.”

Furbush fanned Alex Rodriguez in between the run-scoring hits, and finished by getting Derek Jeter to ground out after allowing a single to him the previous inning.

Leyland quote of the day on starter Phil Coke
“He’s going to be driving me crazy on the bench this year…I love him, though. But he’s got one oar out of the water some time…We love him here. He adds some pizzazz.”

Short hops
• Rick Porcello gave up no runs on two hits, one walk and three strikeouts in two innings. “Porcello was in his (arm) slot sometimes and out of his slot sometimes. He’s got to get a consistent arm slot.”

• Andy Oliver will face Cliff Lee of the Phillies today in Clearwater, while Jacob Turner goes against Ricky Romero of the Toronto Blue Jays in Lakeland. Ex-Tiger Eddie Bonine, who signed a minor-league contract with Philadelphia, is scheduled to pitch for the Phillies.

• Leyland said Max Scherzer will start Thursday in Lake Buena Vista against the Atlanta Braves, while Brad Penny will start an intra-squad game that day in Lakeland.

• Third-string catcher Omir Santos bruised his left big toe fouling off a pitch and left the game.

CBSSports.com wire reports
Feb. 28, 2011

LAKELAND, Fla. — After almost two weeks of turmoil, Miguel Cabrera returned to where he’s most comfortable: a baseball field.

Cabrera played his first game following his arrest, going 0-for-2 with a walk as the Detroit Tigers’ designated hitter Monday in a 6-2 win over the New York Yankees.

Cabrera batted cleanup, his first appearance since his arrest on Feb. 16 on suspicion of driving under the influence and resisting an officer without violence. He is to be arraigned on March 16.

After the game, he refused to answer any non-baseball questions. Cabrera said he is looking forward to playing the field, but manager Jim Leyland said he will DH again Tuesday against Toronto, then play the field Wednesday against Houston.

“It’s kind of slow playing DH,” Cabrera said. “I really prefer playing at first. I was starting to feel normal in batting practice, but I am looking forward to playing in the field.”

Cabrera hit a sharp grounder down the third-base line in the first off CC Sabathia, but Alex Rodriquez made a backhand grab and threw out Cabrera out at first. Cabrera hit a similar ball in the third, but Rodriguez made another backhand stab and retired Cabrera at first. Cabrera drew a walk in his final at-bat and was removed for a pinch runner.

Leyland said Cabrera looked to be in spring training form. Cabrera hit .328 with 38 homers and 126 RBI last season, finishing second in AL MVP voting to Texas’ Josh Hamilton.

“It’s going to take some time to get ready,” Leyland said. “He’ll be fine.”

Cabrera was greeted warmly by fans before each at-bat.

“I heard the applause,” Cabrera said. “It was good to get the first game out of the way, but I can do better. I was thinking about seeing strikes, but I heard the fans supporting me.”

The game itself provided a likely preview of opening day on March 31, when the teams meet at Yankee Stadium.

Sabathia allowed two hits and struck out two for the Yankees, and Justin Verlander gave up two hits in two scoreless innings for the Tigers. Sabathia said he felt fine following offseason to repair a minor tear in his right knee.

“My fastball command was good, away. I still got to do some work in to righties,” he said. “Usually, it takes me a while to get it. To have it pretty good this early, I can start working on my other pitches. I felt great. My knee, no problems.”

One-time Chicago Cubs star Mark Prior pitched a 1-2-3 inning with a strikeout for New York. Prior, who hasn’t pitched in the major leagues since 2006, is trying to earn a job with the Yankees as a long reliever.

“If I’m healthy, I know I can compete at this level,” Prior said.

Detroit scored two runs each against Daniel Turpen, Robert Fish, and D.J. Mitchell in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings.

Rick Porcello followed Verlander with two scoreless innings for the Tigers. New York took a 2-0 lead in the fifth against rookie Charlie Furbush, ending Detroit’s 22-inning scoreless streak.

With the score tied 2-2, Cale Iorg homered to give the Tigers a lead, and two batters later, Andy Dirks doubled home John Murrian. Dirks went 2-for-2 and is batting .667.

Mark Teixeira, Jorge Vasquez, and Francisco Cervelli each had two hits for the Yankees.

Notes

New York C Russell Martin (right knee) was the DH in his first spring training game. He is expects to catch Thursday or Friday. … Yankees OF Greg Golson said tests performed after he was hit in the helmet by an A.J. Burnett pitch during batting practice Sunday were negative. Golson said he never saw the ball because of bright sunshine behind the CF fence. … Tigers reliever Daniel Schlereth left in the eighth inning after pulling his left hamstring. He was helped off the field. Leyland said he didn’t know if Schlereth was upset by the pain or the frustration. He was covering first when he felt a pop.

Detroit Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera, center, blows a bubble in the dugout prior to a spring training baseball game against the New York Yankees in Lakeland, Fla., Monday, Feb. 28, 2011. Photo: AP / AP

Detroit Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera, center, blows a bubble in the…

New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez throws out Detroit Tigers Brandon Inge at first base after fielding a grounder during the second inning of a spring training baseball game in Lakeland, Fla., Monday, Feb. 28, 2011. Photo: Phelan M. Ebenhack / AP

New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez throws out Detroit…

New York Yankees starting pitcher C.C. Sabathia warms up before the second inning of a spring training baseball game against the Detroit Tigers in Lakeland, Fla., Monday, Feb. 28, 2011. Photo: AP / AP

New York Yankees starting pitcher C.C. Sabathia warms up before the…

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander throws to homeplate during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the New York Yankees in Lakeland, Fla., Monday, Feb. 28, 2011. Photo: Phelan M. Ebenhack / AP

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander throws to…

New York Yankees left fielder Justin Maxwell dives but misses a fly ball hit for a double by Detroit Tigers’ Jhonny Peralta during the second inning of a spring training baseball game in Lakeland, Fla., Monday, Feb. 28, 2011. Photo: Phelan M. Ebenhack / AP

New York Yankees left fielder Justin Maxwell dives but misses a fly…

Members of the Detroit Tigers congratulate each other after defeating the New York Yankees 6-2 in a spring training baseball game in Lakeland, Fla., Monday, Feb. 28, 2011. Photo: Phelan M. Ebenhack / AP

Members of the Detroit Tigers congratulate each other after…

Detroit Tigers’ Cale Iorg, right, is congratulated by teammate John Murrian (74) after hitting a home run off of New York Yankees pitcher D.J. Mitchell during the eighth inning of a spring training baseball game in Lakeland, Fla., Monday, Feb. 28, 2011. Photo: Phelan M. Ebenhack / AP

Detroit Tigers’ Cale Iorg, right, is congratulated by teammate John…

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) – Brad Penny was concentrating on keeping his pitch count down.

Detroit’s new right-hander was one of 11 pitchers who kept the score down Sunday.

Victor Martinez drove in the game’s only run with a sacrifice fly off Henderson Alvarez in the sixth inning, and the Tigers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 1-0 in an exhibition game.

“I was just throwing a nice, easy sinker,” Penny said after tossing the first two innings of the Tigers’ second straight shutout. “I got three ground-ball outs (in the second), and I don’t know if I’ve ever gotten three ground-ball outs because I usually don’t throw a sinker.”

The only run was unearned after a leadoff single by Andy Dirks, a bunt by Will Rhymes and a throwing error by Toronto catcher Joe Molina. Martinez followed with the sacrifice fly.

The 32-year Penny, who was limited to nine starts for St. Louis last season by an injury to his latissimus dorsi — the back of the shoulder — has been trying to develop a more reliable sinker this spring.

“He used to get the four-seamer up all the time because he was a big power guy, but you can’t live up there,” said Tigers manager Jim Leyland. “He was making a good, conscious effort to get the ball down today and I was very impressed with that.”

Penny said he threw three or four sinkers in his first spring start, and might gain more confidence in it as the spring goes on.

“We’ll see,” he said. “If it works I’ll use it, if it doesn’t, I don’t know.”

Max Scherzer followed Penny with two hitless innings, and Joaquin Benoit got the win after pitching the sixth inning. Brayan Villarreal pitched the ninth for a save.

Toronto starter Mark Rzepzcynski also pitched two hitless innings, while Dirks had two of the Tigers’ four hits. The Blue Jays had only three.

NOTES: Tigers 1B Miguel Cabrera, who reported to camp a week late, will be in the lineup for the first time this spring as DH in Monday’s game against the Yankees. Cabrera was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol Feb. 15 near Fort Pierce, Fla., and did not arrive until Thursday … Two more of Detroit’s starting pitchers, Justin Verlander and Rick Porcello, will pitch Monday.

==========

Tigers beat Blue Jays 4-0 in spring opener

DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) — Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera may play his first spring game Monday against the New York Yankees following his Feb. 16 arrest on a charge of drunk driving.

“He will not play (Sunday),” manager Jim Leyland said. “Monday’s more a possibility but I’m not sure about Monday, either,” Leyland said before the Tigers shut out the Toronto Blue Jays 4-0 in the team’s spring training opener Saturday behind starting left-hander Phil Coke.

Leyland said Cabrera had an “excellent” workout Saturday under first base coach Tom Brookens’ guidance at the Tigers’ spring camp in Lakeland, Fla., but, “truth be told, I don’t want to get second-guessed (about playing Cabrera too soon).”

“I’m not going to put him out there for one day and do something crazy,” Leyland added.

Leyland said he will meet with Cabrera, head trainer Kevin Rand and strength and conditioning coordinator Javair Gillett before making a final decision on when to put Cabrera in the lineup. Cabrera came in second in AL MVP voting last season after batting .328 with 38 home runs and a league-leading 126 runs batted in.

He was arrested in Fort Pierce, Fla., about 110 miles from Lakeland. Police said they approached Cabrera’s car, broken down on the side of the road, and smelled alcohol on his breath, and that he took a gulp from a bottle of scotch in front of an officer.

Coke is projected as a starter this season after making his only start in his three previous seasons, the Tigers’ last game of 2010.

“I feel like I’m on the right road; I feel I’m not far off right now,” he said.

He didn’t miss the plate with any of his nine pitches over two innings, allowing one of Toronto’s five hits.

“He went after them real good,” Leyland said. “They hit a couple of balls on the nose and they also mis-hit quite a few. That was good to see.

“Other than that, it was his first outing. I’m not going to get excited about any of ‘em, bad or good, the first outing. They all did fine today, obviously. For the most part they threw strikes and put the ball in play.”

Brandon Inge doubled and scored in the second inning off Bret Cecil and Scott Sizemore hit a two-run double off Jesse Carlson in the fifth.

The Blue Jays loaded the bases with one out in the fifth before Alberto Albuquerque struck out Jose Bautista and got Adam Lind on a fly ball.

“Very impressive, but I wouldn’t want to put myself in that situation too many times,” Leyland said.

NOTES: Toronto left-hander Marc Rzepczynski and Detroit right-hander Max Scherzer are scheduled to start Sunday in Lakeland.

==========

Tigers beat Florida Southern

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — Miguel Cabrera met with his Detroit Tigers teammates for the first time this spring and said he felt welcome.

“I appreciated all that, what

they did to me,” Cabrera said. “I’m comfortable with these guys. I love these guys. They’ve always been good to me, so now I’ve got to do a lot of good things for them. Right now I’m going to prepare very hard and get ready to win games.”

Cabrera, who was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving Feb. 16, did not play in the Tigers’ 17-5 win over Florida Southern College on Friday. Cabrera did some hitting and fielding drills but wasn’t available for the game and is not expected to travel to Dunedin, Fla., for Detroit’s Grapefruit League opener Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays.

It isn’t known when manager Jim Leyland will put Cabrera into the lineup and Leyland has dodged most questions about Cabrera. He did say that he expected Cabrera to be in the lineup when the Tigers open the regular season in New York on March 31.

When the slugger who finished second in the AL MVP voting last year after hitting .328 with 38 homers and 126 RBIs spoke with the media Friday he spoke about his weight, not his pending arraignment on March 16.

“I feel good. Everybody worries about my weight and what I do during the offseason, but right now I feel good,” Cabrera said. “I’m not worried about being overweight. I worked hard in the offseason so right now I’m just worried about baseball and getting ready for the season.”

Cabrera said that he is ready to go and that the Tigers are a formidable team with him surrounded by Victor Martinez and Magglio Ordonez in the lineup.

“If we’re healthy, we’re going to be very good, very dangerous,” Cabrera said. “If our pitchers, our staff, can be healthy, I think we’ve got a good chance to win. We’ve got to go out there and compete. All day I saw a lot of good things, so the most important thing is to compete.”

The Tigers scored in every inning except the eighth against Florida Southern, a Division II team based in Lakeland, and led 5-0 after three innings.

Top prospects Andrew Oliver and Jacob Turner both pitched two scoreless innings and Daniel Schlereth, Ryan Perry and Enrique Gonzalez combined for four more before the Mocs scored five in the ninth.

“We didn’t want to score that many runs,” Leyland said. “We just couldn’t help it.”
Brennan Bosch, competing for the starting job in left field, hit a long three-run homer, and Audy Ciriaco added another for the Tigers.

NOTES: The win sent the Tigers record to 22-1-2 against FSC since the series began in 1979. The Tigers agreed to terms with INFs Scott Sizemore and Danny Werth, OFs Clete Thomas and Casper Wells on Thursday. Thirty-five players on the 40-man roster are under terms. Phil Coke, who is making the transition from setup man to starter will start for the Tigers against the Blue Jays on Saturday, followed by Duane Below, Alberto Albuquerque, Brad Thomas, and Robbie Weinhardt. Toronto will use Brett Cecil, Scott Richmond, David Purcey, Will Ledezma, Jesse Carlson, Mike Hinkley, and Luis Perez.

By Rob Neyer – National Baseball Editor

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Feb 28, 2011 - There are questions surrounding all 30 MLB teams during Spring Training, and Rob Neyer intends to answer them with his 30-part Question of the Day series. Today, he takes a look at the Cleveland Indians.

In 2010, the Detroit Tigers tallied 750 runs and finished eighth in the American League in scoring.

In 2011, the Detroit Tigers will tally 750 runs and finish eighth in the American League in scoring.

Of course none of that’s exactly right. For one thing, the Tigers actually scored 751 runs last season. For another, they’ll probably do a little better this season. The Tigers finished seventh in the league in OPS, and underperformed some in clutch situations. They’ll have Jhonny Peralta for the whole season, which won’t help the fielding but should improve hte hitting. They’ve signed Victor Martinez, who represents an upgrade over Johnny Damon.

But that’s about it. Everything else is the same, on paper. These Tigers figure to score a few more runs, but not significantly more and either way there aren’t any real questions regarding the offense. It is what it is, and should be decent but not spectacular. Partly sunny with a chance of taters, you might say.

The pitching is an entirely different story. The starting pitching, in particular.

In 2010, the Tigers’ starting pitchers finished 11th in the American League with a 4.46 ERA, and they weren’t so many runs away from finishing 13th (the Royals ran away with 14th place and hid). The Tigers managed this despite fine seasons from Justin Verlander (3.37) and Max Scherzer (3.50). Only three other Tigers started more than eight games: Jeremy Bonderman (5.53), Rick Porcello (4.92) and Armando Galarraga (4.49).

Verlander and Scherzer are back. So is Porcello. Which isn’t a terrible thing, as Porcello in most regards pitched better in 2010 than in 2009, when he rang up a solid 3.96 ERA and finished third in Rookie of the Year balloting. Porcello’s never going to strike out enough hitters to be a star, but he’s perfectly capable of adequacy.

Bonderman and Galarraga are gone, replaced in the rotation by Phil Coke and Brad Penny.

There’s your question, then … Will Coke and Penny represent a big (enough) upgrade over Bonderman and Galarraga?

It really is anyone’s guess.

Coke has pitched in 158 major-league games, and 157 of those were relief outings. In fact, Coke is 28 and he’s started only two games above Class AA in his entire professional career. The Tigers are probably hoping to feature their own version of C.J. Wilson, but if hopes were wishes we all would have ponies in our garages. Or something.

Meanwhile, Penny has spent most of the last three seasons struggling with injuries and/or bad luck. One encouraging note: In his last 15 starts, spread over two seasons, Penny’s got a 2.96 ERA. One discouraging note: Those 15 starts are spread over two seasons; Penny started only nine games last season because of a serious shoulder injury.

Both Coke and Penny are intriguing enough, and it’s likely that one of them will pitch well this season. In a wide-open American League Central, that might even be enough. If both of them pitch well, though? That might be more than enough for 89 wins and the division title.

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LAKELAND, FLA. Victor Martinez drove in the only run with a sacrifice fly to lead the Detroit Tigers to a 1-0 exhibition victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday.

It was the second straight shutout for the Tigers, who opened their exhibition season with a 4-0 win over the Blue Jays on Saturday.

The unearned run came off Henderson Alvarez in the sixth inning after a leadoff single by Andy Dirks, a bunt by Will Rhymes and a throwing error.

Detroit starter Brad Penny worked two innings and Max Scherzer followed with two hitless innings. Joaquin Benoit got the win after pitching the sixth inning for Detroit. Brayan Villarreal pitched the ninth for a save.

Toronto starter Mark Rzepzcynski also pitched two hitless innings.

Dirks had two of the Tigers’ four hits.

The Associated Press