Some people might know him as Chicken Alfredo or Fernando Rodney’s cousin, but I know him as Figaro the Cat. Who the hell is this “him” I’m speaking of? Why, it’s Alfredo Figaro, the newest “Cat” pitcher for our beloved Detroit Tigers. (By the way, if you don’t get the Figaro the Cat reference then you should slap yourself in the face, feel ashamed, and freshen up on your Disney Movies. Figaro the Cat is Geppetto’s pet in Pinocchio.)
Alfredo Figaro, recently called up from AA Erie to fill in for DL’ed Dontrelle Willis, made his first big league start for the Detroit Tigers against the Milwaukee Brewers today and sauntered his way into the W column faster than Willis could say, “recurring social anxiety disorder.”
His start was not stellar by any means, but it got the job done. At this point with the No. 4 and No. 5 spots in the Tigers rotation pitching not unlike my lower intestine (stinky and loaded with danger), that’s all you can possibly ask for.
In fact, Figaro did what other rookie, Rick Porcello has done in three of his starts this year where the Tigers have gone on to win: pitched less than 6 innings. To be more specific, Figaro went the bare minimum for a starter to earn a win of 5 innings, gave up 2 earned runs on 8 hits, and struck out an impressive 7 Brewers. Granted the bats gave Figaro plenty of support, any start from our No. 4 or No. 5 lately with at least a 5 in the innings column and a small number like 2 in the walks column is a huge success. It’s funny that we have come to expect so little from the tail end of our rotation, but that has been the reality. Relatively, Figaro impressed.
Detroit has a chance to sweep the series and build on its 3 game lead over the Minnesota Twins on Sunday as Justin Verlander takes the bumps at 1:05 PM EST. In case you have a short term memory, the last time Justin Verlander took the bump against the Brewers at Comerica Park he threw something we do not speak of until it happens: a no-hitter.
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