detroit tigers clips wednesday, march 16,...

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1 Detroit Tigers Clips Wednesday, March 16, 2016 Detroit Free Press Detroit Tigers injury updates: Victor Martinez, Alex Wilson, etc. (Fenech) Detroit 10, Atlanta 6: Justin Verlander sharp in Tigers' win (Fenech) Justin Verlander, K-Rod prove Brad Ausmus’ case against m.p.h. (Fenech) Windsor: Francisco Rodriguez still good despite dip in velocity (Windsor) The Detroit News Henning: Holaday’s big spring likely to change little (Henning) Baseball men: Raw numbers play second fiddle to wisdom (Henning) JV, K-Rod trigger Ausmus' take on radar guns: Overrated (McCosky) Deception, movement key to K-Rod’s dirty change-up (McCosky) Ausmus hopeful V-Mart will be ready to DH by Saturday (McCosky) MLive.com Justin Verlander strikes out five as Tigers beat Braves (Iott) Detroit Tigers notes: Alex Wilson could throw bullpen session this weekend (Iott) MLB.com K-Rod survives on art of deception (Beck) J.D. doesn't put stock in spring homers (Beck) V-Mart could return by this weekend (Beck) Verlander's spotless spring continues (Beck) Enberg returning to Michigan roots for 1 game (Beck) Associated Press Tigers' Verlander extends spring scoreless streak in 10-6 win over Braves (Berlinicke) Tigers bat boy taken in by old clubhouse prank (Walker) ESPN.com Ian Kinsler growing into leadership role with Tigers (Strang)

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Page 1: Detroit Tigers Clips Wednesday, March 16, 2016mlb.mlb.com/documents/3/6/2/183067362/Tigers_Clips_3_16...1 Detroit Tigers Clips Wednesday, March 16, 2016 Detroit Free Press Detroit

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Detroit Tigers Clips

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Detroit Free Press

Detroit Tigers injury updates: Victor Martinez, Alex Wilson, etc. (Fenech)

Detroit 10, Atlanta 6: Justin Verlander sharp in Tigers' win (Fenech)

Justin Verlander, K-Rod prove Brad Ausmus’ case against m.p.h. (Fenech)

Windsor: Francisco Rodriguez still good despite dip in velocity (Windsor)

The Detroit News

Henning: Holaday’s big spring likely to change little (Henning)

Baseball men: Raw numbers play second fiddle to wisdom (Henning)

JV, K-Rod trigger Ausmus' take on radar guns: Overrated (McCosky)

Deception, movement key to K-Rod’s dirty change-up (McCosky)

Ausmus hopeful V-Mart will be ready to DH by Saturday (McCosky)

MLive.com Justin Verlander strikes out five as Tigers beat Braves (Iott)

Detroit Tigers notes: Alex Wilson could throw bullpen session this weekend (Iott)

MLB.com

K-Rod survives on art of deception (Beck)

J.D. doesn't put stock in spring homers (Beck)

V-Mart could return by this weekend (Beck)

Verlander's spotless spring continues (Beck)

Enberg returning to Michigan roots for 1 game (Beck)

Associated Press

Tigers' Verlander extends spring scoreless streak in 10-6 win over Braves (Berlinicke)

Tigers bat boy taken in by old clubhouse prank (Walker)

ESPN.com

Ian Kinsler growing into leadership role with Tigers (Strang)

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Daily Transactions

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Detroit Tigers injury updates: Victor Martinez, Alex Wilson, etc. March 16, 2016

By Anthony Fenech/ Detroit Free Press

LAKELAND, Fla. – A noon update from Tiger Town, where it is sunny and in the low-80s and the Detroit

Tigers are ready to take on the Atlanta Braves in a Grapefruit League game:

• Designated Victor Martinez is not in today’s lineup, nor will he be in Wednesday’s lineup. He could be out

until Saturday, manager Brad Ausmus said. Martinez underwent no additional tests on his mild left hamstring

strain from Monday. “The knee was a little sore but nothing major,” Ausmus said. “He’s going to be out for a

few days.”

• The hiccup will push back his spring debut at first base, which was slated for Saturday against the Miami

Marlins in Jupiter, Ausmus said.

• Francisco Rodriguez will make his second appearance of the spring today. Rodriguez was dealing with a

swollen right ring finger in his pitching hand Monday, according to ESPN’s Marly Rivera, but he was not listed

on the team’s injury report.

• Right-handed reliever Alex Wilson, who has been shut down with shoulder soreness, will throw at 120 feet for

the next two days. If he clears that hurdle, he will throw a bullpen session four days from then. “If we have to

start him on the DL, then we’ll deal with it,” Ausmus said. “Right now, there’s no plan to do that.”

• Justin Verlander will make his third start of the spring today. In relief will be Rodriguez, Angel Nesbitt, Bruce

Rondon, Jose Valdez and lefty Kyle Ryan.

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Detroit 10, Atlanta 6: Justin Verlander sharp in Tigers' win March 16, 2016

By Anthony Fenech/ Detroit Free Press

At Joker Marchant Stadium, Lakeland, Fla.

What happened: The Detroit Tigers beat the Atlanta Braves, 10-6. … Justin Verlander threw four scoreless

innings, striking out six. … J.D. Martinez hit a three-run home run. … James McCann hit a grand slam. …

Closer Francisco Rodriguez made his second appearance, pitching a scoreless inning. … There were no injuries.

Starting off: Verlander threw four scoreless innings, allowing one hit. He struck out five and walked none. “My

location was much better today from my last start,” he said. “I felt like the slider was probably the most

improved from the last one to this one, so, yeah, overall, I was very pleased.” Verlander threw 61 pitches, 42 for

strikes.

At the plate: Martinez’s home run was his fourth of the spring and third in the past four days. … Ian Kinsler

continued his hot hitting with a leadoff double. He is hitting .384 this spring.

On the mound: Bruce Rondon was hit hard but managed to limit the damage in his inning of work, allowing two

runs on a hit and a walk. He walked Gordon Beckham to lead off the sixth inning, then came a hard-hit, hard-

luck double, then a wild pitch scored a run. … Kyle Ryan threw a scoreless inning, lowering his spring ERA to

1.50. … Angel Nesbitt allowed three runs on four hits.

Overheard: “I feel like I’m on pace,” Verlander said.

Three stars: 1. Verlander, 2. Martinez, 3. McCann.

Up next: Wednesday vs. the Houston Astros in Kissimmee.

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Justin Verlander, K-Rod prove Brad Ausmus’ case against m.p.h. March 16, 2016

By Anthony Fenech/ Detroit Free Press

LAKELAND, Fla. – Tuesday’s opening statement in the case of Brad Ausmus vs. radar guns: “Sometimes I

wish there had never been a radar gun invented, quite frankly,” he said. “The radar gun doesn’t mean anything.

The hitters will let you know how well you’re throwing.”

Then, the evidence: Tigers right-handers Justin Verlander and Francisco Rodriguez.

Both have been flamethrowers, both are in their 30s, and both have adapted their style of pitching as radar guns

haven’t registered as high.

In Tuesday’s 10-6 victory over the Atlanta Braves, both proved Ausmus’ argument correct. Verlander, the ace,

pitched four scoreless innings. Rodriguez, the closer, pitched one. Verlander operated in the low-90-m.p.h.

range, and Rodriguez topped out at 89.

“The radar gun is good as a scouting tool,” Ausmus said, “but it doesn’t guarantee success.”

Verlander’s third spring training start was arguably his best. He allowed one hit and struck out five over 62

pitches.

“My location was much better today from my last start,” said Verlander, 33. “I felt like the slider was probably

the most improved from the last one to this one so, yeah, overall I was very pleased.”

He isn’t throwing at max effort yet, a lesson he learned a long time ago, but is showing that a postprime pitcher

of his caliber, with better location and smarter sequencing, can be equally as dominating as his 1000-m.p.h.

days of the past.

“I didn’t feel like the ball was coming out like it can yet,” Verlander said. “It’s still the third start of the spring,

so it’s just not quite there yet, but with location and movement and keeping guys off balance, I was able to pitch

well.”

So did Rodriguez, who has been keeping batters off balance for most of his career, and through a reinvention

process with the Brewers the past two seasons.

“The velocity is not there yet, but the location is there,” said Rodriguez, 34. “I have been able to manipulate the

change-up the last two outings where I want to and how I want to. It’s just the extra gear on the fastball is not

there yet.”

The extra gear for Verlander is still there — he was throwing in the high 90s late last season — but for

Rodriguez, his high-velocity days are behind him.

“People get so involved with the radar gun,” Ausmus said. “They think you have to throw hard to get outs. I’ve

seen plenty of guys that throw hard get shelled. Pitching is pitching. You still have to hit your spots, and you

still have to change speeds.”

On Tuesday, his pitchers came to his defense.

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Windsor: Francisco Rodriguez still good despite dip in velocity

March 16, 2016

By Shawn Windsor/ Detroit Free Press

LAKELAND, Fla. – He doesn’t throw in the mid-90s anymore, and that’s just fine with Francisco Rodriguez.

Besides, he learned long ago how to pitch with average velocity.

That’s why he’s still around, why he’s here, in Lakeland, working on preparing for his 15th season despite an

89-m.p.h. fastball.

Wait, what?

Yes, the Tigers’ latest closer averaged less than 90 m.p.h. on his fastball last season. But the team didn’t sign

him for his heat. It wanted his ability to get batters out in the ninth inning, and few did that better in 2015 than

Rodriguez. In fact, few have done it better period.

When Rodriguez, 34, broke into the majors, he was an instant star, combining a mid-90s fastball with late

movement and a veteran’s understanding of pitching. In other words, he was ahead of his time.

And still is.

So before we dismiss him as another desperate signing by the Tigers of a relief pitcher past his prime, consider

that he’s not 40. Also consider what Rodriguez did last season in Milwaukee, when he had 38 saves, the lowest

WHIP (walks plus hits per innings pitched) of his career and still managed almost a strikeout per inning.

Without overwhelming heat.

How did Rodriguez remake himself from the dominant, heat-throwing closer to the surgeon he is now?

“You have to be able to know your body,” he said, and “realize what you can do and what you cannot do. I’m

not going to try to blow people away at all, but I’m gonna try to locate my pitches.”

Yeah, Francisco, but what was the key to the transformation?

“I learned how to pitch when (I still had) velocity,” he said. “So, when it went missing, I knew what to do.”

To be fair — to other pitchers — Rodriguez has the ability to keep his arm motion — and positioning — the

same whether he’s throwing a fastball or a change-up, which means the hitter has no idea if the pitch will be

whistling in near 90 m.p.h. or taking its sweet time at 80.

That 10-m.p.h. difference is massive because it forces hitters to adjust their timing. If they don’t know what’s

coming, they have to guess. And Rodriguez is a master at keeping hitters off balance this way, too.

“People get so enthralled with the radar gun,” said manager Brad Ausmus, who is thrilled to have Rodriguez as

his closer. “Pi tching is pitching. You still have to hit your spots. Change your speeds. He changes speeds about

as well as anyone, and his arm action is so good that regardless what his fastball velocity is, it makes it very

hard on the hitter to square it up.”

Rodriguez has shown that in both of his spring training outings, including Tuesday’s scoreless, hitless inning. In

case you were wondering, he hit 90 on the radar gun.

“Velocity is not there yet,” he said. “But the release point is.”

Rodriguez expects to operate with a fastball that will hover between 90-92 m.p.h., “93 at times when I have to

reach back.”

In a revamped bullpen, his fastball surely will be the slowest. But it also should be the most cunning, as long as

he stays healthy.

For the past few seasons — heck — the past few decades, this franchise hasn’t left Lakeland with much youth

or depth in the bullpen.

Here’s betting the foundation lasts a little longer this summer. For Rodriguez might not be the pitcher he was,

but he still can get outs, and that’s good news for the closer who will lead this promising young bullpen by

example.

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Henning: Holaday’s big spring likely to change little March 16, 2016

By Lynn Henning/ The Detroit News

Lakeland, Fla. — It is the happy story the Tigers do not discuss happily.

It is a story of roster surplus as the Tigers move closer to breaking spring camp ahead of Opening Day in

Miami.

Bryan Holaday is a catcher fresh out of minor league options. He cannot be returned to the minors unless he is

placed on waivers. And should the 28-year-old catcher, who has big league experience and adequate skills, be

yielded to the waiver wire he would be slurped up like a pizza left at midnight in a dorm hall.

The problem is Detroit has in place a starting catcher, James McCann. The Tigers have an important left-handed

batter, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, as McCann’s backup on a team chock full of right-handed sticks.

The Tigers have made clear they cannot carry three catchers when the team leaves Lakeland in 21/2 weeks.

And so, the club has quietly prepared to trade Holaday, the man they call “Doc,” which is how it goes when

you’re a clubhouse favorite. You have a nickname. It is used often and affectionately.

Grapefruit greatness

Holaday is one of the team’s most appreciated players. He is smart, steady, and solid as granite. His teammates

love him. So does his manager, Brad Ausmus.

It leaves you to wonder if Holaday could yet change his status from Surely Gone to Maybe Stays. But it’s a long

shot, even if he is hitting .588 in nine games, with three home runs, a triple, and three doubles.

Saltalamacchia was brought aboard when Alex Avila departed for free agency and for new life with the White

Sox (Avila’s Cactus League numbers so far: five games, four walks, seven strikeouts, no hits, but a .308 on-

base percentage).

The switch-hitting Saltalamacchia has been just what the Tigers craved — a hitter they can use primarily from

the left side. His numbers through six games: .400 batting average, two home runs, a 1.471 OPS.

He isn’t as skilled a catcher as Holaday. But he can put a ball into the seats and offer endless matchup

protection. That’s why the Tigers signed him in December.

That’s also why they planned to trade Holaday at the end of camp in a swap that might benefit all parties.

What they didn’t anticipate was Holaday booming the ball all over Florida. As the skipper who thinks so

mightily of him, Ausmus, said last week: “He’s working his way to the Grapefruit League Hall of Fame.”

Of course, this happens all the time during spring camp. The guy who was least likely to crush pitches suddenly

morphs into Jimmy Foxx.

Dubious marketability

It is necessary to remember that Holaday’s big league career, all of 108 games, has produced a .251 career

batting average and .623 OPS. So be extra careful about making much of March, even if a swing adjustment no

doubt has helped the TCU star, drafted in the sixth round by the Tigers in 2010, rip one pitch after another in

Florida.

In fact, scouts who know players the way Apple knows iPhones, have ample notes on Holaday. It is highly

improbable they are sending get-this-guy directives to their general managers. Past observations tell them

Holaday is exactly what he has been: a decent defender and pitch-caller who will hit .250 or so with an OPS a

bit north of .600.

In other words, don’t expect general manager Al Avila to be sorting through ever-escalating trade offers as 25-

man rosters are sealed in a couple of weeks.

Plans and dispositions can of course change. Those following Tigers spring camp have seen Ausmus

experiment in recent days with Holaday at third base and in left field. The sleuth in all of us says, aha, the

Tigers are trying to turn him into a flexible backup who can, in a pinch, play extra positions and stick in Detroit.

The strategy, in fact, probably isn’t that crafty, as much as the Tigers front office appreciates the compliments.

Ausmus likely — at no cost to his team’s preparation — is allowing Holaday a shot at some professional

enhancement. It could make him more valuable down the road if he could tell his future manager: You need an

emergency third baseman? You’ve got one.

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But it does not alter reality. A good man and a solid backup almost certainly will be playing elsewhere inside of

three weeks. The Tigers will view Miguel Gonzalez, headed for Triple A Toledo, as their third catcher.

Holaday will be moving on. Expect it to be a place that, in step with the team for which he now plays, will

enjoy the comfortable pluses unique to a man named “Doc.”

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Baseball men: Raw numbers play second fiddle to wisdom

March 16, 2016

By Lynn Henning/ The Detroit News

Lakeland, Fla. — Kirk Gibson remembers a time when sabermetrics weren’t sabermetrics.

They were baseball wisdom, crafted not by algorithms, explained not by acronyms, but imparted by way of

baseball experience, as in the case of his old manager Sparky Anderson.

Anderson didn’t believe in trying to throw out at home a runner sprinting from second base on a single. Not

through a game’s first six innings, anyway.

No, the man who helped steer Gibson and his teammates to a Tigers world championship in 1984 wanted that

outfield relay pegged to second base, keeping the hitter planted at first base in a bid to keep a run-scoring inning

from becoming a runs-scoring inning.

Gibson was recalling this snippet of baseball history outside the Joker Marchant Stadium clubhouse Sunday as a

current baseball flap was discussed: Hall of Fame reliever Goose Gossage’s charge last week that baseball was

now in the hands of “nerds” who were ruining the game with their mathematical appraisals.

Gibson returned to his story about Anderson.

“What happens,” the Tigers outfielder asked his skipper that day 30-plus years ago, “if it’s a one-hop single that

I’m fielding on the charge?”

Anderson never wavered.

“Then you walk that ball into second base,” Sparky said.

Gibson later learned, by way of numbers the sabermetrics brains favor, that Anderson’s strategy was correct.

Empirically so. The percentage of times a runner at second is thrown out at home on a single is in the low

single-digit range.

But there’s a caveat that virtually every big-league baseball player or former player cites when these

mathematical nuggets are dissected. Numbers are wonderful. But they do not, in the players’ estimation, reveal

anything close to a complete story.

It takes scouts, managers, coaches, and definitely players, to decide who can cut it at a particular moment.

Justin Verlander, Tigers rotation ace: “I feel like they (baseball’s intelligentsia) have probably overvalued the

stats a little and undervalued the player. It has a place, obviously, but you can’t just go on numbers.”

Jordan Zimmermann, former Nationals star now sitting in tandem with Verlander as the Tigers’ 1-2 starting

pitching punch: “Numbers are important, but the bottom line is guys have got to perform. It still comes down to

who can get the job done, and who can’t."

Anthony Gose, Tigers center fielder who last month said defensive analytics were “a scam” and who found

Gossage’s remarks humorous in their unvarnished candor: “He definitely ticked off a lot of people in the game.

He definitely gave his opinion. I’m not gonna disagree with all of it (sabermetrics), but I don’t think you can

build a whole team around it.”

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus has his views, nuanced and expansive, which he shared at unusual length during a

Monday conversation in his Tigertown office.

“The majority of players think statistics are overvalued,” said Ausmus, who played 18 seasons as a big-league

catcher. “Unless you’ve stood in the box with the game on the line in the bottom of the ninth inning, you don’t

know what that feels like.

“That’s not to sound arrogant — it’s just you don’t. It’s a human being standing in the box, and human beings

have emotions, and atmosphere creates different emotions. You can try and put any numbers you want on it, but

unless you’ve done it, the feeling of most players is: You can’t explain it.”

The baseball men were not finished.

Gibson, a businessman who once schooled himself in aeronautics as he worked toward a pilot’s license, is

accustomed to numbers-crunching. His late father, Bob, was a mathematics teacher.

Gibson likes what cold, hard, incontrovertible math research can reveal. He knows what weighted on-base

average can tell him about a hitter. Likewise, he understands when traditional match-ups and percentages don’t

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always mesh. A left-handed pitcher against a right-handed batter may in fact be a terrific match-up if the lefty

throws heat and the hitter can’t handle a high fastball.

“The important thing for me is how to filter metrics,” said Gibson, who managed the Diamondbacks for three

seasons and now is a Tigers broadcaster and coaching consultant. “I want to see what’s applicable and what’s

not.

“It’s interesting. But I want to understand why a formula is what it is.”

Ausmus wants also to be sure the numbers he’s sharing or incorporating pay a true dividend. As in winning a

game. To turn a baseball clubhouse into the Massachusetts Institute of Technology might sound great but

perhaps isn’t the best idea.

“I don’t need to be throwing spread sheets at players,” he said. “I think that’s counter-productive.”

A separate issue, which last week triggered Gossage’s sabermetrics spiel, has to do with players and the

occasional celebration that some opponents and fans consider to be nothing short of in-your-face showboating.

In other words, Jose Bautista’s bat flip after he slammed a mammoth, game-clinching home run in last

October’s playoffs against the Rangers at Toronto.

Gossage appeared to have been still simmering over a five-month-old antic when he chose to take off on

Bautista as well as analytics in a long, profanity-rich harangue with ESPN.

“He’s embarrassing to all the Latin players who ever played before him,” Gossage fumed, calling the Jays

outfielder a “disgrace,” even if Bautista has six times made the All-Star team, and four times finished in the top

eight in Most Valuable Player voting.

“Throwing his bat and acting like a fool,” Gossage said before turning his sights on another sometimes-

flamboyant slugger who a year ago was playing for the Tigers. “Yoenis Cespedes, same thing.”

Somewhat surprisingly, Tigers pitchers were fine with Bautista’s playoff spontaneity. That they weren’t on the

mound that day in Toronto might, of course, be a consideration.

“I think a little celebration is fine,” Verlander said. “People say other sports have more celebration, that Cam

Newton (NFL, Panthers) does it on a touchdown, or Steph Curry (NBA, Warriors) if he hits a big shot.

“Well, baseball is more individual. It’s more isolated than the other sports, which is why there’s these supposed

unwritten rules.

“I can tell you I don’t have a problem with that kind of stuff. Bautista’s home run was a huge moment. They

had just clinched the series and the city was going nuts. It was a pretty cool moment. “

Verlander concedes if he had been on the mound, rather than reliever Sam Dyson, he might have been less

forgiving.

“I’d have been (ticked),” Verlander said. “But, still, I understand it.”

So did Tigers reliever Mark Lowe, who then was pitching for the Jays. Bautista’s theatrics were part of a team

and town’s triumph, said Lowe, who had come to know Bautista as a “good teammate” and gentleman.

“If I was on that side (Texas), probably not,” he said when asked if he could appreciate Bautista’s dramatics,

which saw him pause after launching his blast, then with his left hand throw away the bat with a “take that”

flourish.

“But I have a lot of respect for Jose. It was spur of the moment. You’ve worked your whole life to get to a

moment like that, then you square up a ball.

“Who’s to say I wouldn’t have done the same thing?”

All pitchers interviewed said there were, of course, lines not to be crossed. A hitter stares at a pitcher after a

home run? There likely will soon be a fastball to his, or a teammate’s, ribs.

A pitcher gets overly giddy after a big strikeout? That’s not good for relations, either, with all kinds of fallout

possible.

It’s a little like sabermetrics, to hear the players and managers talk. Somewhere out there is a definitive line.

They’re just not sure where it is.

“You want to be on top,” said Gibson, returning to the analytics debate. “The filter is the key. They help you

decide what’s useful and what isn’t. Don’t take 'em from the book as Bible.”

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JV, K-Rod trigger Ausmus' take on radar guns: Overrated

March 16, 2016

By Chris McCosky/ The Detroit News

Lakeland, Fla. — Tigers manager Brad Ausmus isn’t a fan of radar guns.

“Sometimes I wish radar guns were never invented,” he said before the Tigers' 10-6 Grapefruit League win over

the Braves. “Radar guns don’t mean anything. Hitters will let you know how a guy is throwing.”

As if to prove his point, Tigers ace Justin Verlander pitched four scoreless, one-hit innings Tuesday with a

fastball that stayed between 89 and 91 mph. He struck out five batters and dominated the Braves with an

assortment of sliders, curveballs and off-speed pitches — all with movement and precise location.

“I didn’t feel like the ball was coming out like it can,” said Verlander, who threw 61 pitches. “But it’s still just

the third start of the spring. It’s not quite there yet. But with location and movement and keeping guys off-

balance, I was able to pitch well.”

Francisco Rodriguez replaced Verlander in the fifth and threw six of his 12 pitches 85 mph or slower. His

fastball was 89 mph. Yet, it was his second scoreless outing of the spring.

“People get so involved with the radar gun,” Ausmus said. “They think you have to throw hard to get outs. I’ll

tell you what, I’ve seen plenty of guys that throw hard get shelled. Pitching is pitching. You still have to hit

your spots and you still have to change speeds.”

To further illuminate his point, Bruce Rondon and Angel Nesbitt — two flame-throwers with upper-90s

velocity — gave up five Braves runs. Jose Valdez, another mid- to upper-90s right-hander, gave up the sixth

run.

Rondon had a miserable time getting through the sixth. He walked the first man he faced, gave up a hard-shot

double off the glove of second baseman Tommy Field, allowed a run to score on a wild pitch and a second run

on a sacrifice fly.

“His mechanics seemed out of whack today,” Ausmus said. “But that’s spring training. It’s like we talked about

with hitters, one day you feel great, the next it’s like you haven’t picked up a bat in months. It’s the same for

pitchers. That’s just part of it.”

Nesbitt gave up three runs and four hits in the eighth.

Both, unlike Verlander and Rodriguez, fell behind hitters and missed their spots with the fastball.

“It just comes with experience,” Verlander said, speaking of his own outing. “I wouldn’t say I am not a power

pitcher any more. I still hit 99 last year. But it comes with experience. It’s been a while now where early in

games I’ll be 90, 92, 93, just trying to get quick outs.

“You learn through the process. You learn to slow the game down and read swings and just see the game.”

Verlander will have three more spring starts to continue to build his arm strength.

Rodriguez, too, believes his arm strength is only at 70-75 percent after two outings.

“The velocity is not there yet, but the location is there,” Rodriguez said. “The release point is there. I have been

able to manipulate the change-up the last two outings where I want to and how I want to.

“It’s just the extra gear on my fastball is not there yet.”

Ausmus would love for more young pitchers, Rondon included, to emulate Rodriguez’s cerebral approach to

pitching.

“Kids are taught to look at the radar gun from the time they are 15,” he said. “From the time they are 15 years

old all they want is to throw hard. Now we’re getting a bunch of guys who throw hard and don’t really

understand pitching.

“The guys who throw hard and know how to pitch, those are the elite pitchers in the game.”

The Tigers hitters got the bulk of their work in early off Braves starter Bud Norris. They got two in the first

(leadoff double by Ian Kinsler) then batted around and scored four in the second.

J.D. Martinez has heated up. He blasted a three-run homer that landed beyond the left-center field wall. It was

his fourth homer of the spring and third in four games.

In the seventh, James McCann hit an opposite-field grand slam.

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Deception, movement key to K-Rod’s dirty change-up

March 16, 2016

By Chris McCosky/ The Detroit News

Lakeland, Fla. — Tigers closer Francisco Rodriguez pitched his second scoreless inning this spring on Tuesday.

He continues to demonstrate deceptive arm action with his off-speed pitches and precise location.

And his fastball got to 89 mph.

“That’s not where I’d like it,” he said. “Where I’d like it is at like 100 mph, like Bruce (Rondon).”

He laughed, but he knows his days of throwing in the upper-90s are long gone. Yet he continues to be one of the

most reliable closers in the game because of his high baseball IQ, his ability to read hitters’ swings and keep

them off-balance by changing speeds and locations.

Still, he wants his fastball velocity to go up another tick or two before the end of spring training.

“Just something to make my change-up more effective,” he said. “Right now I am 87, 88, 89. I will get to 90,

91, 92 — 93 if I have to reach back. If my change-up is coming in at 80, then that’s a pretty big gap (in

velocity).

“Right now if the fastball is 87, and the change-up is at 83 — that’s four mph. That’s not normal.”

He threw his change-up Tuesday anywhere between 80 and 83 mph, and it looked pretty good to manager Brad

Ausmus.

“He’s got really good arm action on the change-up,” said Ausmus, who caught one of the game's most

legendary change-ups — Trevor Hoffman's. “And he throws it in areas that the hitters bite on it.”

The firmer change-up can play well, he said.

“It works as a power-change,” Ausmus said. “When it’s harder and it has some depth (sinking action), it can get

them more than a change in velocity. Velocity difference isn’t as important as making the arm speed and ball

rotation look as much like a fastball as possible.”

While the Tigers travel to Jupiter, Fla., this weekend, Rodriguez will pitch to minor leaguers on the back fields.

He will probably pitch three or four more times before Opening Day.

“Another positive outing,” Rodriguez said. “Just have to keep working.”

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Ausmus hopeful V-Mart will be ready to DH by Saturday March 16, 2016

By Chris McCosky/ The Detroit News

Lakeland, Fla. — Some early morning news items from Tigers camp.

• Victor Martinez was at the facility long before sunrise Tuesday and spent the morning getting treatment on his

left hamstring.

“He was a little sore,” manager Brad Ausmus said. “But nothing major. He’s going to be out for a few days.”

Martinez strained his hamstring after singling and rounding first base hard in the fifth inning Monday. Ausmus

said the medical staff didn’t think it was necessary to take any tests on it. But the injury will push back plans to

give him some reps at first base.

“I don’t know if he’ll play first base Saturday (in Jupiter, Fla.),” Ausmus said. “In fact, I doubt he will play first

base there.”

Martinez could DH as early as Saturday, though, barring any setback.

• Although nothing is set in stone, the battle for the fifth rotation spot seems down to two contestants — Daniel

Norris and Shane Greene. Both pitched Monday. Greene pitched the final four innings in a 9-2 win over the

Mets and he was dominant against a lineup of mostly minor league players.

With a hard, sinking fastball and a cutter that was registering at 92 mph, he struck out five.

“I threw that cutter a lot last year,” he said. “Honestly, I threw it more than I threw my slider. It’s a little harder

than it was last year, so that’s making it sharper.”

In his previous start, Greene gave up several hits after having hitters in two-strike holes. He came into

Monday’s outing bent on correcting that.

“I had a game plan,” he said. “I wanted to use my slider and cutter off of each other a little more, which I did.

And when I got two strikes I wanted to step on their throat. That previous outing I got two strikes on a lot of

guys and got fancy and gave up some hits.”

Issue resolved. In 8⅔ innings this spring, Greene has struck out 10 and walked one.

Norris’ next start will be Saturday against the Cardinals in Jupiter. Greene will start a split-squad game Sunday

against the Braves at Disney.

Even if Greene doesn’t win the rotation battle, he could still make the club as a reliever.

• It’s not at that point yet, but within the next two weeks the Tigers may have to make a decision regarding

right-handed reliever Alex Wilson, who continues to work his way through rotator cuff fatigue.

He will throw from 120 feet tomorrow and if all goes well, he would throw off the mound in a bullpen session

on Sunday. He would still need to face live hitters (presumably minor league hitters) before getting into a spring

game.

The question, especially if he has another setback, will be whether there is enough time to get his arm strength

built before Opening Day? He may need to start the season on the disabled list.

“It’s too soon to say,” Ausmus said. “Relievers don’t need that many innings to get ready. But if we have to

start him on the DL, we’ll deal with it. But right now there is no plan to do that.”

• Right-hander Jeff Ferrell did not feel comfortable Monday throwing lightly from 60 feet. It was the first time

he picked up a ball since being diagnosed with a shoulder impingement.

His throwing program has once again been suspended.

“He’ll just do more treatment,” Ausmus said. “(Pitching coach Rich) Dubee is working on something with him

mechanically to alleviate the stress on the area where he’s getting the pain.”

He’s been feeling the pinching on his rotator cuff since before last season. He was able to pitch through it and

have a productive year — getting to the Tigers for nine games. The

Tigers hoped he’d be a back-end reliever at Triple A Toledo this year but he hasn’t been able to throw.

• Right-handed starter Anibal Sanchez (triceps inflammation) will have to clear one more test before starting a

spring game. He will face minor league hitters in a simulated game Wednesday. If all goes well, he could make

his spring debut next week.

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Justin Verlander strikes out five as Tigers beat Braves March 16, 2016

By Chris Iott/ MLive.com

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Justin Verlander has three more Grapefruit League starts this spring. But he looked more

than ready for the regular season Tuesday afternoon.

Verlander struck out five and J.D. Martinez and James McCann hit home runs Tuesday afternoon as the Detroit

Tigers rolled to a 10-6 win over the Atlanta Braves.

Martinez hit a three-run home run in a four-run third inning for the Tigers, who led 6-0 as the game headed to

the fourth. Martinez has homered in each of the past three games he has played.

McCann hit a grand slam in the seventh inning to extend his team's lead to 10-2.

Verlander struck out four consecutive batters at one point and allowed just one runner to reach base.

Game notes

• Ian Kinsler doubled on the first pitch of the game thrown by Braves starter Bud Norris, then scored before No.

2 hitter Justin Upton completed his at-bat. With Kinsler on second, Norris wheeled and threw the ball in a

pickoff attempt, but no one was covering the bag. Kinsler went to third on that play, then scored on a wild pitch.

• Martinez smacked his three-run home run with one out in the third inning to give the Tigers a 5-0 lead. The

ball just cleared the fence to the left of the batter's eye in center field and bounded back onto the field, but the

umpires signaled that it was a home run immediately.

• Francisco Rodriguez faced the minimum three batters in one inning of work in just his second outing this

spring. Tyler Flowers reached on a Mike Aviles error to lead off the fifth inning, but he was erased on an

inning-ending double play. Rodriguez struck out Michael Bourn for the first out of the inning.

• Bruce Rondon struggled in the sixth inning. He struggled with his command and missed badly on a 3-1 pitch

to walk Gordon Beckham to start the inning. After Emilio Bonifacio doubled on a hard-hit ball off the glove of

second baseman Tommy Field, Rondon uncorked a wild pitch, which allowed Beckham to score. Bonifacio

then scored when Ender Inciarte lined out to center.

• The line for Verlander: 4IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 5SO.

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Detroit Tigers notes: Alex Wilson could throw bullpen session this weekend

March 16, 2016

By Chris Iott/ MLive.com

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Right-hander Alex Wilson was a key member of the bullpen for the Detroit Tigers during

the 2015 season. Will he be on the opening day roster in 2016 or will a sore right shoulder have him sidelined to

start the season?

It's too early to say either way, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said Tuesday morning.

Wilson will throw up to 120 feet Wednesday and Thursday and, if that goes well, progress to a live bullpen

session Saturday.

Ausmus said Wilson has time to get ready if he progresses as expected from this point forward, but he wouldn't

speculate when it would be.

"If we have to start him on the (disabled list), then we'll deal with it," Ausmus said. "But right now there's no

plan for that."

TIGERS NOTES

Martinez out for now: Victor Martinez will miss a few days after leaving the game early Monday after suffering

a mild hamstring strain. "He was a little sore," Ausmus said. "Nothing major. He's going to be out a few days

though." Ausmus said Martinez is not likely to play first base, as had been planned, Saturday in a road game

against the Miami Marlins.

Next step for Sanchez: Anibal Sanchez will pitch to minor leaguers Wednesday as he continues on the path

back from right triceps inflammation. If things go well in that game, the next step will be a Grapefruit League

start.

Roughed up: Left-hander Justin Wilson surrendered a run on two hits Monday and has allowed four runs in four

innings of work this spring. Ausmus is not concerned. "I think he's just getting his work in," Ausmus said.

"Don't read anything into it."

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K-Rod survives on art of deception March 16, 2016

By Jason Beck/ MLB.com

LAKELAND, Fla. -- The right-field video board that used to reside at Joker Marchant Stadium is gone, a

casualty of the new Tigers clubhouse and offices being built. For this year, the score is shown on an old-school

digital board that can require squinting to read. The numbers are smaller than the digits on the radar gun board

next to it.

So for this spring, the fastball is bigger than the score, much to the chagrin of manager Brad Ausmus.

"People get so enthralled with the radar gun," Ausmus said. "They think you have to throw hard to get outs.

Pitching is pitching. You still have to hit your spots. You still have to change your speeds."

Ausmus' new closer hasn't lit up a radar gun in a while, but by changing speeds, Francisco Rodriguez still gets

outs, often big ones. That's why he's still in baseball, and why he's here, closing on a contender.

Rodriguez earned the K-Rod nickname when he was one of the harder throwers in the game, armed with a mid-

90s fastball. Those days are gone, yet the 34-year-old remains one of the game's top closers.

Rodriguez's fastball averaged less than 90 mph last year for the first time in his 14-year career, yet he put up 38

saves and enjoyed the best strikeout-to-walk ratio of any full season. Rodriguez doesn't need to throw hard

anymore so much as he needs to throw hard enough.

Two outings into this spring, he's getting there.

"Right now, I can throw 87-88 [mph], something like that," said Rodriguez, who topped out at 89 mph in a

scoreless frame during Tuesday's 10-6 win over the Braves. "To be more consistent at 90-91, 92-93 at times

when I have to reach back, with a changeup at 80, that's a big gap in between."

Give Rodriguez that gap, and he can pitch. He can throw his changeup and leave hitters swearing they're seeing

the fastball as the ball leaves his hand. Not until they're swinging do they realize the difference.

"He's just got real good arm action on that changeup," Ausmus said, "and he's got the ability to throw it in areas

that the hitter bites on it. Sometimes it even works as a power change, where it's harder and the depth is what

gets them more than the change of velocity."

Rodriguez says he can throw two, sometimes three different changeups, each with different movement.

"It depends on the hitter," Rodriguez said. "If there's a righty, I want the ball to go straight down. If it's a lefty, I

want the ball to tail away. What I'm trying to do is not pitch the same pitch in the whole at-bat. I want them to

make the adjustment. So that's the advantage that I've got working for me right now."

Rodriguez has one more advantage: He can take what he sees from a hitter in an at-bat and adjust his game plan.

For him, the scouting report isn't as important as what he sees in the box.

"I developed the instinct to read hitters," Rodriguez said. "So I go by their swings. I go by the hitting situation,

what they're trying to do, whether they want to walk, whether they're tracking pitches or if they just want to take

to swing."

That, Ausmus said, is pitching.

"Sometimes I wish there had never been a radar gun invented, quite frankly," Ausmus said. "The radar gun

doesn't mean anything. The hitters will let you know how well you're throwing."

That doesn't mean Rodriguez doesn't miss the old fastball. He says he needs to throw around 90 mph or above

to be at his best. Asked what he'd like to throw, he smiles.

"I'd like to throw 100 like Bruce [Rondon]," Rodriguez chuckled.

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J.D. doesn't put stock in spring homers

March 16, 2016

By Jason Beck/ MLB.com

LAKELAND, Fla. -- For Steven Moya, four Spring Training home runs aren't enough. For J.D. Martinez, four

Grapefruit League home runs aren't important.

"Doesn't mean anything," Martinez said after his third home run in four days helped power the Tigers' 10-6 win

over the Braves on Tuesday. "At the end of the day, to me, what does it mean? I'm not worried about that."

Martinez doesn't have to worry about making the team anymore. After two impressive seasons, right field in

Detroit is his. But there's an irony to his Grapefruit League history.

Until last year, Martinez never hit well in Spring Training. If he had, there's a good chance he wouldn't be a

Tiger. He was 3-for-18 with seven strikeouts in Grapefruit League play when the Astros released him from

camp two years ago. The rest is history.

Now that Martinez doesn't have to hit to make the team, he's hitting. But he's not trying to hit. He's trying to

prepare.

"Honestly, I'm trying to get my swing underneath me," Martinez said. "I'm trying to get my timing, trying to

work on different approaches. Maybe one at-bat, I'm going to try to get to two strikes and then be ready to hit.

Another at-bat, I'll want to sit [on the] slider, or I'll want to do something with the fastball. I want to try to look

for anything away. These are kind of the times you want to pick and choose your times to do things, because it's

really not important. If you strike out, you strike out. What's the worst that can happen?

"It's spring. It doesn't mean anything. For other guys, obviously it's different. Some guys have to come in and

they have to hit and try to make a team. Fortunately for me, this year I feel I don't have that pressure on me like

I've had in the past, and I can work on different things when I'm up there."

Tuesday's homer came off a familiar foe. Martinez and Bud Norris were teammates for a few years in Houston,

then foes for a couple years between Detroit and Baltimore. Martinez sent a ball just to the left-field side of the

batting eye for a three-run homer.

To Martinez, though, familiarity isn't important. If anything, he wants variety.

"I would like to see different categories of pitchers, submarine guys, guys throwing over the top, three-quarters,

funky guys, so you can kind of see as many looks as you can before the season starts," he said. "That's why, to

me, Spring Training is so hard, because every time you go up there, there's a new pitcher, and you have to come

up with a new plan.

"During the season, you don't have that. During the season, you have video, you know the guys, what they like

to do, things like that. You don't know any of these guys when they go out there, so now's the time to improvise,

just go up there.

"It's hard to get a plan off those guys. It's going to be beneficial in the long term."

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V-Mart could return by this weekend

March 16, 2016

By Jason Beck/ MLB.com

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Victor Martinez is out of the lineup for at least the next couple days as he deals with a

mild left hamstring strain, but the Tigers' designated hitter could return to action by the weekend.

"He was a little sore [Tuesday], but nothing major," manager Brad Ausmus said. "He's going to be out for a few

days."

Martinez left Monday's win over the Mets after feeling his hamstring tighten up as he rounded first base on a

single. Martinez was walking normally around the clubhouse, but he was nonetheless hampered.

With the Tigers taking a two-day trip to Jupiter, Fla., this weekend, the club could wait on Martinez until

Sunday, when it has a split-squad day that includes a home game against the Nationals at Joker Marchant

Stadium. Ausmus didn't rule out Martinez playing a game in Jupiter, but he said Martinez probably won't play

first base on that trip as previously planned.

Quick hits

• Reliever Jeff Ferrell will continue to receive treatment on his shoulder after encountering issues playing catch

on Monday. Ausmus said pitching coach Rich Dubee is working on a mechanical adjustment with Ferrell to

relieve the stress of what Ferrell called an impingement.

• Alex Wilson will play catch from 120 feet the next couple of days and then potentially throw a bullpen session

Saturday as he tries to progress back from tenderness in the back of his shoulder. Ausmus isn't quite ready to

say Wilson won't be ready for the start for the season.

"If we have to start him on the DL, we'll deal with it," Ausmus said. "But right now, there's no plan to do that."

• The Tigers did not sign anybody out of last week's open tryout camp, ending a streak of deals that included

outfield prospects Wynton Bernard two years ago and Jiwan James last spring.

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Verlander's spotless spring continues

March 16, 2016

By Jason Beck/ MLB.com

LAKELAND, Fla. -- J.D. Martinez hit a three-run home run and James McCann crushed a grand slam in

support of four scoreless innings from Justin Verlander, sending the Tigers to a 10-6 win over the Braves on

Tuesday afternoon at Joker Marchant Stadium.

Martinez's fourth home run of the spring was his third in as many games. The drive off Atlanta starter Bud

Norris landed just to the left-field side of the giant batting eye beyond center field, plating Justin Upton and

Miguel Cabrera after back-to-back strikeouts. Mike Aviles added a two-out RBI single later in the inning to

score Nick Castellanos.

That was more than enough for Verlander, who retired the Braves' lineup in order the first time through, striking

out four. Ender Inciarte's bloop double down the left-field line comprised the only baserunner Verlander

allowed.

"Today in the first inning, he was having a little bit of trouble with his breaking ball," manager Brad Ausmus

said. "But just towards the end of the first inning, something clicked, and both breaking balls were very good.

As a matter of fact, all of his offspeed [pitches] were very good the rest of the way."

Verlander allowed one hit with five strikeouts over his four innings, but he threw 61 pitches, 21 of them to

strike out the side in order in the second inning. The Braves broke up the shutout when Gordon Beckham scored

on a Bruce Rondon wild pitch in the sixth.

In three Grapefruit League starts, Verlander has allowed just three hits and racked up seven strikeouts over nine

scoreless innings.

Norris, making his third appearance this spring after seven innings of one-run ball in his previous two outings,

gave up six runs on nine hits over three innings.

"Any time you're on the road in Spring Training, you're pretty much going to get the 'A' lineup through the

seven hole," said Norris. "I've seen a lot of the Tigers in the last couple years. They've got one of the best

lineups in the game, but I've got to execute my pitches. The pitch to Martinez was definitely a mistake and he

put a good swing on it. You tip the cap. But once again, this is Spring Training. But I've seen them before, and I

know how to get them out when I need to."

Inciarte drove in two runs for the Braves while top prospect Dansby Swanson, Nick Swisher and Emilio

Bonifacio also picked up RBIs. The bulk of the damage came off Tigers relievers Bruce Rondon and Angel

Nesbitt.

"He seemed a little out of whack mechanically today," Ausmus said of Rondon, who has given up runs in back-

to-back outings since hitting triple digits on the stadium radar gun in a dominant performance last week.

Swanson also showed off his range in the eighth, as he made a stellar play to rob Mike Gerber of a hit.

"He's a special player," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said of Swanson. "You don't get picked No. 1 in the

country if you're not a special player."

Up next for the Braves: First baseman Freddie Freeman, who has been pacing himself in the Grapefruit League

while coming back from the wrist and hand injury that nagged him last season, will begin picking up the pace

beginning Wednesday against the Cardinals at Champion Stadium. He is expected to make the first of three

straight starts for the first time this spring. First pitch is 1:05 p.m. ET, and fans can listen to the action on

Gameday Audio. Right-hander Jhoulys Chacin will be making his third spring appearance, second start.

Up next for Tigers: Steven Moya, owner of four Grapefruit League home runs, gets his chance to continue his

power-packed Spring Training when he bats cleanup for the Tigers' visit to Kissimmee, Fla., to face the Astros

on Wednesday. Jordan Zimmermann is scheduled to make his third start of the spring in the 1:05 p.m. ET game

that will air on MLB.TV. Anthony Gose, Jose Iglesias, Ian Kinsler, James McCann and Bryan Holaday are also

expected in the starting lineup against Brad Peacock.

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Enberg returning to Michigan roots for 1 game March 16, 2016

By Jason Beck/ MLB.com

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Dick Enberg became a Hall of Fame broadcaster as a voice of baseball in southern

California and later across the country. For one game this season, the Michigan native will be the voice of the

Tigers.

FOX Sports Detroit announced its rotation of broadcasters for the 2016 Tigers scheduled, including 140 games

for play-by-play man Mario Impemba and 13 for Tigers radio voice Dan Dickerson.

One other game, a May 21 contest against the Rays at Comerica Park, will go to Enberg, who has broadcast

Padres games for Fox Sports San Diego for six years and is retiring when the season ends.

"One of baseball's many charms is that it's a generational game," Enberg said in a news release. "My

grandfather rooted for the Tigers at Navin Field. My father took me to Briggs Stadium for my first Major

League game in 1947 … Fred Hutchinson outpitched Bob Feller. In 1973, I called Nolan Ryan's second no-

hitter from the visiting booth at Tiger Stadium. And now after almost 70 years, this delicious opportunity to

return to Detroit in my final broadcast season to refresh my historical love of the Tigers. Wouldn't Grandpa and

Dad be proud! Oh, My!"

The 14 games Dickerson will broadcast on television will feature Impemba calling the games on the radio side

with Jim Price.

FOX Sports Detroit will also have a rotation of four analysts. Rod Allen, who has broadcast Tigers games since

2003, is scheduled to handle 75 games. Kirk Gibson, who rejoined the FSD crew last year, is on schedule for

60. Jack Morris will return for 14 games, while Craig Monroe will step out of the studio to do six games.

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Tigers' Verlander extends spring scoreless streak in 10-6 win over Braves

March 16, 2016

By Jeff Berlinicke/ Associated Press

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) -- Justin Verlander has won Cy Young Awards and MVP honors. He also know it is

time to make some changes.

The 33-year-old right-hander was injured most of the first half of last season and ended up with a 5-8 record in

2 starts. He isn't used to that, but knows he isn't the same pitcher he was 10 years ago. Verlander used to throw

heat but things have changed as his arm has gotten older.

"I wouldn't say I'm not a power pitcher anymore," he said. "I hit 99 (on the radar gun) last year. But I feel like I

am learning to throw differently to adjust. Different grips, different ways of pitching."

It seems to be working so far this spring.

Verlander allowed one hit and struck out five in four innings Tuesday, extending his scoreless string to nine

innings as the Detroit Tigers beat the Atlanta Braves 10-6.

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus caught for the Houston Astros and worked with Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens

as their careers were heading down the home stretch. He said that, like the those two stars, Verlander will adapt.

"He is adjusting and transitioning," Ausmus said. "It's just a natural progression of things. Things just change.

Pettitte was a two-pitch pitcher. By the time he was done, he was throwing five different pitches. Clemens was

already old when he came (to Houston) and he was making changes. Verlander will be fine."

As for the actual changes, Verlander wasn't giving away any secrets.

"New grips on my pitches?" Verlander asked. "I wouldn't tell you if there was."

J.D. Martinez homered for the third straight day to increase his spring total to four, and James McCann also

homered for the Tigers. Ian Kinsler doubled to improve his spring average to .385.

The Tigers led 6-0 in the third inning and coasted down the stretch.

New closer Francisco Rodriguez pitched a scoreless inning in his second outing of the spring.

Bud Norris started for the Braves and watched his spring ERA balloon to 7.88 after allowing six earned runs in

three innings. Ender Inciarte had two RBIs for Atlanta.

STARTING TIME

Norris got rocked but Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said that numbers can lie.

"You look at the numbers and they were worse than he looked" Gonzalez said. "He did a great job getting out of

a jam in the first inning and he knows how to minimize damages. He gave up two in the first, but he's a

professional guy and knows how to get things done."

Norris started 22 games last year for Baltimore and San Diego.

WHAT A RELIEF

Rodriguez retired all three batters he faced. He is expected to be a savior for a Tigers bullpen which has

consistently struggled in recent years.

"I'm not even where I need to be yet," Rodriguez said. "I still have time to get stronger. My location is there but

not my velocity yet. I am going to get an extra gear on my fastball."

Ausmus likes what he is seeing from Rodriguez even though the pitcher was held up reporting to camp due to

visa issues.

"He has great arm action, especially on the changeup," Ausmus said. "Velocity is important but not as important

as throwing with the same motion as his fastball. He's a pitcher now."

Rodriguez saved 38 games for the Milwaukee Brewers last season.

HOT HITTER

Braves infielder Hector Olivera leads all major leaguers in hits this spring with 14 and has a .438 average. He

has gotten hits in 10 of 11 games. Olivera played in 24 games for the Braves last season, batting .253.

UP NEXT

Braves: RHP Jhoulys Chacin will square off against St. Louis starter Jaime Garcia at Walt Disney World on

Wednesday.

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Tiger: RHP Jordan Zimmerman will face the Astros in his third spring start. Brad Peacock will start for Houston

in Kissimmee.

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Tigers bat boy taken in by old clubhouse prank March 16, 2016

By Ben Walker/ Associated Press

Lakeland, Fla. — This rookie got caught looking.

Eager to do well, Braeden Ward reported to the Detroit Tigers on Monday to work his first day as a bat boy. It

didn’t take long for the college freshman to fall prey to a clubhouse prank that’s been around forever.

“They asked me to get the key to the batter’s box,” he said.

Despite his best efforts — oh, and plenty of help from the Tigers, New York Mets manager Terry Collins and

the umpires — the 18-year-old nicknamed “Bugsy” never got it locked down.

“The oldest trick in baseball,” Ward said, laughing. “Yes, sir. They got me good.”

He won’t be the last one, for sure. Every year, stories grow about teams sending earnest, young employees on

searches for nonexistent ballpark items. It’s a playful rite of passage throughout the majors and minors.

Mets assistant general manager John Ricco recalled an intern at Citi Field last season who was dispatched to

retrieve the left-handed fungo bats.

“They went to 15 different departments and never did find them,” Ricco said. “It’s a tradition in the game, it’s

fun. But the key to batter’s box — that’s the gold standard.”

This gag played out at the Tigers’ spring training park, fittingly named Joker Marchant Stadium in honor of a

former local official.

Ward’s quest began when Detroit third base coach Dave Clark said he needed the key and suggested the

umpires might have it. Wearing his Tigers uniform and a batting helmet, Ward knocked on the door at the

umps’ locker room and politely asked.

Veteran umpire Bob Davidson quickly sensed what was going on.

“First day?” he inquired.

Having seen this routine before, Davidson pointed the Florida Southern College student toward Collins. When

Ward left, the ump deadpanned: “He might be back for the box of curveballs, too.”

Ward then went over to the Mets’ locker room and told a clubhouse worker why he needed to see Collins. The

skipper is no stranger to these sort of shenanigans, either.

“He tapped me on the chest and said, ‘Don’t worry, son, you’ll find it,’” Ward said.

Eventually, a staff member in the Tigers’ clubhouse clued in Ward.

“I can’t believe I fell for it,” a smiling Ward said after Detroit’s 9-2 win. “I’ve played baseball my whole life.

I’ve lived in the batter’s box. I played tricks like that on the freshmen in high school.”

“But this time, yup, they got me,” he said.

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Ian Kinsler growing into leadership role with Tigers

March 16, 2016

Katie Strang/ ESPN.com

Detroit Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler learned a valuable lesson about winning -- not on the baseball

diamond, but on the basketball court -- back when he was a teenager.

He’d be hooping with a bunch of friends, enjoying all the boundless energy and bravado that comes with being

young. They’d run end-to-end without tiring, drain 3s and dribble circles around defenders. And yet, every time

they’d square off against some old dudes -- a group of men in their mid-40s -- they’d lose.

DATE PLAYERS

March 15 No. 100-91

March 16 No. 90-81

March 17 No. 80-71

March 18 No. 70-61

March 19 No. 60-51

March 20 No. 50-41

March 21 No. 40-31

March 22 No. 30-21

March 23 No. 20-11

March 24 No. 10-1

“We would have cool dunks, but they would always beat us,” Kinsler told ESPN.com. “Because they

understood when to force us to shoot the 3-pointer, how to position their bodies, how to make an easy shot.

Whether they were getting dunked on or not, they knew how to win the game.”

It may have seemed inexplicable at the time, but now it makes a bit more sense, and it applies to baseball, too.

“Maybe an older player isn’t throwing as hard or hitting as many home runs or whatever that may be, but they

understand how to win,” Kinsler said. “And I think that’s invaluable.”

None of this is to suggest that Kinsler now empathizes with that demographic. Kinsler, at age 33, is not old. He

is not facing the twilight of his career. Not even close. He remains one of the most spry and well-conditioned

athletes in the game. He’s meticulous about his habits and training, and it shows (according to ESPN Stats &

Info, his 315 games played over the last two seasons are the most he’s played in any two-season span of his

career).

But, by virtue of both his experience and his personality, Kinsler has taken on a prominent leadership role with

these Tigers. Whereas previously he led by example, a frustrating 2015 season saw him take a much more vocal

role in the clubhouse. He didn’t have to shoulder it all, and that helped. Guys like Victor Martinez, Miguel

Cabrera and Justin Verlander all chipped in when the team went into a tailspin after the trade deadline last

season, but Kinsler stepped up in areas he might previously have not.

When things are going poorly, fissures become apparent. Losing often threatens a team’s morale. Kinsler takes

pride in the fact that, despite all of last year’s difficulties, the Tigers showed few signs of fracturing.

“The season was not a fun season. When you’re losing, guys tend to separate, go their own ways. And that’s ... I

really don’t like that. So that kind of forced me [to take on a bigger leadership role]. I felt like I had to stay

focused,” Kinsler said. “It wasn’t just an exhibition game. We were still trying to win games.”

Kinsler, a consummate professional who has earned the nickname “Everyday Ian” for his sturdiness, wanted to

set an example in being steadfast in his commitment. Always work hard in the cage, always prepare, always

play as hard as possible. Wins and losses are tough to control, especially when injuries begin to mount, but

work ethic is not.

“When those things start to slip, it bothers me,” Kinsler said. “Because those are things you can control.”

Ian Kinsler's 2015 Season

CATEGORY 2015 STATS CAREER RANK

Batting average .296 2nd

Triples 7 1st

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Hits 185 2nd

Kinsler was not immune to struggles. After a tough stretch in May and early June, he convened with hitting

coach Wally Joyner to refine some areas in his swing to help stoke his production. It wasn’t the type of

undertaking that was ideal midseason, but Kinsler trudged on regardless. He put in the work, taking 500 swings

in the batting cage daily until it started to yield results. Talking a big game about working hard is easy, but he

knew it would be rendered meaningless if guys didn’t see him doing the same thing.

“Basically, it comes down to you have to practice what you preach,” Kinsler said. “If you think games should

be played a certain way or you should act a certain way off the field, and you’re struggling and you all of the

sudden aren’t doing that anymore, that automatically subtracts from your leadership qualities.”

Eventually, that hard work paid dividends for Kinsler, who went on a tear during the second half. He hit .366

and .362 in July and August, respectively. According to ESPN Stats & Info, Kinsler’s .296 BA last season was

his best since 2008, a year in which he made the All-Star team, and his second-best ever.

When the team was really starting to take a nosedive, Kinsler remained one of the most consistent players day

in and day out. This did not go unnoticed, as Kinsler received MVP votes for the first time since 2011.

Those numbers mean little now, but Kinsler carried over the midseason fine-tuning and continued to tweak this

winter. The repetition that wasn’t always easy to accomplish with games every day became much easier to

achieve during the offseason.

And already this spring, Kinsler is producing at a torrid pace. He is 22-for-55 with a .400 batting average and 13

RBIs in Grapefruit League play. The 10-year veteran is shrewd enough to not start celebrating yet. Spring

success does not necessarily translate into strong regular-season numbers.

But Kinsler is encouraged to see the work he’s put in this offseason bear results. He can at least hope that means

that he can pick up where he left off.

“When you’re working on something and you see a result, you definitely get confident, right? And you believe

that it works quickly. Or you believe what you’re doing is correct, so that’s always a positive,” Kinsler said. “It

makes the days go by a little bit easier."

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LAST UPDATED: WED, MARCH 16, 2016, 00:24 EST

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016

TEAM PLAYER TRANSACTION

Boston Red Sox Edwin Escobar Sent to Minors

Boston Red Sox Bryce Brentz Sent to Minors

Chicago White Sox Daniel Webb Sent to Minors

Chicago White Sox Mike Olt Released

Kansas City Royals Mike Minor Placed on 60-Day DL, (Recovery from left shoulder surgery)

Kansas City Royals Dillon Gee Purchased From Minors

Los Angeles Angels Rob Rasmussen Retired

New York Mets Dilson Herrera Sent to Minors

New York Mets Robert Gsellman Sent to Minors

New York Mets Brandon Nimmo Sent to Minors

New York Mets Gabriel Ynoa Sent to Minors

Philadelphia Phillies Alec Asher Sent to Minors

Philadelphia Phillies David Buchanan Sent to Minors

San Diego Padres Manuel Margot Sent to Minors

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Tampa Bay Rays Taylor Guerrieri Sent to Minors

Tampa Bay Rays Blake Snell Sent to Minors

Tampa Bay Rays Ryan Brett Sent to Minors

MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2016

TEAM PLAYER TRANSACTION

Arizona Diamondbacks Cody Hall Sent to Minors

Atlanta Braves Chris Withrow Sent to Minors

Atlanta Braves Matt Marksberry Sent to Minors

Baltimore Orioles Henry Urrutia Sent to Minors

Baltimore Orioles Jason Garc??a Sent to Minors

Chicago Cubs Eric Jokisch Sent to Minors

Chicago Cubs Dan Vogelbach Sent to Minors

Cincinnati Reds Carlos Contreras Sent to Minors

Cincinnati Reds Amir Garrett Sent to Minors

Cincinnati Reds Rookie Davis Sent to Minors

Cleveland Indians Zach Walters Sent to Minors

Houston Astros Joe Musgrove Sent to Minors

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Kansas City Royals Kyle Zimmer Sent to Minors

Kansas City Royals Miguel Almonte Sent to Minors

Kansas City Royals Bubba Starling Sent to Minors

Kansas City Royals Jorge Bonifacio Sent to Minors

Kansas City Royals Cheslor Cuthbert Sent to Minors

Los Angeles Angels Victor Alc??ntara Sent to Minors

Los Angeles Dodgers Jharel Cotton Sent to Minors

Milwaukee Brewers Jorge L??pez Sent to Minors

Milwaukee Brewers Orlando Arcia Sent to Minors

Milwaukee Brewers Michael Reed Sent to Minors

Milwaukee Brewers Adrian Houser Sent to Minors

Minnesota Twins J.T. Chargois Sent to Minors

Philadelphia Phillies Roman Quinn Sent to Minors

Pittsburgh Pirates Harold Ram??rez Sent to Minors

Pittsburgh Pirates Jameson Taillon Sent to Minors

Pittsburgh Pirates Tyler Glasnow Sent to Minors

San Diego Padres Cory Mazzoni Sent to Minors

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San Diego Padres Jos?? Rond??n Sent to Minors

San Diego Padres Tayron Guerrero Sent to Minors

San Francisco Giants Adalberto Mej??a Sent to Minors

San Francisco Giants Kyle Crick Sent to Minors

St. Louis Cardinals Charlie Tilson Sent to Minors

Texas Rangers Steve Johnson Released

Texas Rangers Patrick Kivlehan Sent to Minors

Washington Nationals Brian Goodwin Sent to Minors

Washington Nationals Sammy Sol??s Sent to Minors

SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 2016

TEAM PLAYER TRANSACTION

New York Yankees Jacob Lindgren Sent to Minors

Oakland Athletics Renato N????ez Sent to Minors

Oakland Athletics Jarrod Parker Placed on 60-Day DL, (Fractured right elbow)

Seattle Mariners Gaby S??nchez Released

Toronto Blue Jays Ben Rowen Sent to Minors