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There are players who perfectly signify franchises for me. They’re unfair characterizations borne out of when my baseball fandom was formed, but they are inalterably apt as such. It is for that reason that I tell you the Detroit Tigers will forever be the team of Bobby Higginson. The Tigers went 712-1050 from 1995-2005, good for a .404 winning percentage one point below that of the Mariners this season. Those 11 years encompassed Higginson’s entire, single-team career. The Tigers did not total a winning record a single time during Higginson’s MLB tenure, coming closest with 79 win campaigns in 1997 and 2000. He oversaw 106, 109, and 119 loss seasons. The year after he retired, the Tigers made a shocking run to the World Series, their first playoff appearance in 19 years. From 2006-2016, Detroit made the playoffs five times and finished under .500 just twice, making two World Series appearances and winning four straight AL Central titles.
But I remember Bobby Higginson.
The Mariners will run with their best Opener thus far in Matt Wisler before Headliner Tommy Milone against the fairly unlucky Spencer Turnbull. Turnbull has been an above-average pitcher this year and gets grounders at a good clip, but the Tigers offense has been too feeble to support him. When Turnbull has taken the hill the Tigers have averaged a league-worst 2.6!!!!! runs of support behind him, half a run worse than the next lowest figure for a qualified starter.
Game Time: 10:10 AM PT
TV: ROOT
Radio: 710 AM ESPN
Online: MLB.TV
Oh, and in case you missed the fun and exciting news on the farm, as well as some less fun news in the bullpen: