Rogers Continues to Dazzle

The last time we saw Kenny Rogers in a game that mattered he was bamboozling the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series and giving Tigers fans the only morsel of joy they could munch on during the Fall Classic.

Eight months and one major surgery later, Rogers was back at his old tricks, thoroughly mystifying the Braves to the tune of two hits and five strikeouts in six innings.

What a comeback.

As I mentioned on the podcast this afternoon, never in my life as a Tigers fan have I so eagerly awaited the return of a pitcher from the DL. Never. Of course, if we get close to Joel Zumaya’s return I may need to reconsider.

Last year when Placido Polanco came back from his separated shoulder injury, I watched anxiously with every swing and every throw he made in those last few weeks of September. It was then I noticed that Polanco grimaces on every swing and every throw. At the time I wasn’t sure if he was in pain. Now I know better.

On Friday night I had those same pangs as I watched Rogers shrug or shake his throwing arm. Was he hurting? Did he rush back?

My worries were unfounded. Clearly he was feeling strong.

And early on so was the Braves’ John Smoltz. (I didn’t get the WXYT feed on XM Radio so I missed Jim Price calling him Schmoltz.) I don’t know about you, but the looks of the Smoltz repertoire in the first few innings made me think the Tigers would be lucky to score even one.

Glad I was wrong.

Rogers’ performance had to make the Tigers brain trust guardedly optimistic about the new-look rotation.

Now about that bullpen…

Minutiae

• Ha. Cleveland lost to Washington.
• My brother Tom called me after learning of the Maroth trade and was incredulous that he only commands a player to be named later. Have to admit, I was surprised too. Let’s hope Maroth brings a decent catcher or other position prospect.
• Talk about getting right after it. How about that new Braves lefty Wilfredo Ledezma striking out the side?
• Yeah, my heart stopped when Magglio Ordonez got cracked on the hand by that pitch. Thank goodness he’s day-to-day.
• Can’t wait to see Andrew Miller pitch on Sunday Night Baseball.