Javier Baez's First Home Run As A Tiger Gave Detroit An Awesome Early Season Win

The Tigers offense has looked a bit rough so far this season. I'm by no means panicking. We are four games into a 162 game campaign, and in the first three games, they faced the White Sox, who have an excellent pitching staff. But it's been well documented for several years that The Tigers needed a boost on offense, and that's why you sign a shortstop, and that shortstop is Javier Baez. Now, I was not the world's biggest fan of the Javy Baez signing. I've never been somebody who believes that he's "overrated" in fact, I think he adds so much to a baseball team even beyond what's in a box score, but there are limitations to his game. He strikes out a lot, he chases a ton of pitches, and he's not going to draw a lot of walks. Those things are not fun. Do you know what is fun? 450 foot home runs. And a long home run is exactly what he hit tonight.

As significant as Javy's moment was tonight for the Tigers, Matt Manning set up this win. The former top prospect put together easily the best start of his career this evening. He gave up one hit, a solo shot to former Tiger J.D. Martinez. But he was incredibly efficient, throwing only 68 pitches over six innings. 

The Tigers still have a ways to go this season. I try to preach not getting too high and not getting too low, which is hypocritical, considering I am the physical embodiment of overreacting. Still, tonight's game was indicative of the kind of team I think the Tigers will have this season, which is a unit that will win a lot of games with their pitching. I hope that as the weather gets warmer, the offense will come along, and if that's the case, hopefully, good things will happen. Fun times tonight, though.