Thoughts from DET-NYY and other games

One of the things that is so great about baseball, is that anything can happen in one game, one series or even one week. This time last season, the Mets were 6-2 and Omar Infante was one of the hottest hitters in baseball. By the end of the season, the Mets were 74-88 and Infante was nothing more than an above-average bottom of the line-up hitter. This year, it's Chris Davis going nuts with the bat, and the Colorado Rockies who are tied for the best record in baseball. Maybe they'll both go on to have surprise seasons, but you can't take anything from the first week of action. Of course, that is just what I'm about to do.

Tigers v Yankees

Having watched CC Sabathia struggle on opening day, I was intrigued to see how he would perform against a better offense in the form of the Detroit Tigers. Unsurprisingly, he quelled my concerns about velocity, with a fastball back up towards 93 and his usual dazzling array of off-speed offerings. He wasn't at his vintage best, striking out just four and recording just the single 1-2-3 inning, but he kept hitters off-balance, not allowing an extra-base hit, and ultimately did what he does best - won the game.

On the opposite side was the disappointing Justin Verlander. Verlander struggled to command his fastball all game, allowing it to run back over the plate and at 91-92, hitters were able to square it up. He did get unlucky, as Matt Tuiasosopo misplayed one hit, but he couldn't find his groove early in the game and never elevated the fastball velocity beyond the low nineties. Once he left the game, things got worse as the shaky Detroit bullpen allowed four more runs to score, with Phil Coke and Octavio Dotel both struggling.

I thought Kevin Youkilis had another good game, smoking a first inning double, drawing a walk and knocking in another run at the end. His best days are behind him, but he continues to be a productive clean-up hitter whilst injuries plague this line-up. The bottom third of the Yankees line-up is embarrassingly bad on paper, with Jayson Nix, Lyle Overbay and Francisco Cervelli simply not Major League calibre hitters. But they were productive yesterday, with the veteran Nix even homering. With Gardner and Cano struggling atop the line-up, the production of these bit-part players is crucial.

Around the league

It was a woeful day for aces, as R.A. Dickey got jacked up by Will Middlebrooks and the rest of the Red Sox line-up. Dickey will come good eventually, but this is a disconcerting start to the season for the reigning NL Cy Young, as the Jays have stuttered out of the gate. David Price fared even worse, allowing eight runs in five innings as the Indians line-up exploded at Tropicana Field. Matt Cain had a nightmare fourth inning, as 14 hitters took to the plate as nine runs scored for the Cardinals. And finally, Cole Hamels allowed eight runs in 5.2 innings, punctuated by a Billy Butler grand slam. The end to that game was exciting, as the Phillies launched a ninth inning comeback, scoring four runs to reduce the deficit to 9-8 before Kelvin Herrera slammed the door with the winning run in scoring position. Jose Fernandez had probably the highlight of the Marlins season (and I don't mean so far) as he was dazzling on debut, striking out eight over five strong innings. The fastball sat between 95 and 97 all game, and he paired it with hard breaking balls and change-ups. Hitters will begin to catch up with him, but for now he looks set to put up Matt Harvey-esque numbers playing in spacious Marlins Park.

Play of the Day

Yesterday's play of the day came courtesy of Logan Schafer of the Milwaukee Brewers, who threw a strike from left field to gun down Miguel Montero.