Game Countdown – 4/22/10: Tigers @ Angels

VS.

Counting down to the Angels’ game against the Tigers living in fear of the bullpen.

Detroit Tigers (8-7) @ Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (8-8)

Game Starters: DET – Justin Verlander (0-1, 6.88 ERA)  LAA – Joe Saunders (1-2, 4.26 ERA)

Game Info: 7:05 PM PT TV-Fox Sports West; Radio-ESPN Radio, KLAA 830 AM, KWKW 1330 AM

5. I am officially now living in fear of the Angel bullpen.  Things just keep getting worse and worse with no real sign of things turning around.  All we can hope for at this point is for every Angel starter to throw a complete game every single game.

4. I also fear for Joe Saunders tonight.  He was excellent in his last start, but he now has to face a righty-heaver Tiger team tonight and I don’t think he is quite crafty enough to keep their bats in check.  Scott Kazmir did manage to do it two days ago, so it is possible, but the Tigers might now be wise to the plan of attack Kazmir used.

3. There was no bigger supporter for Brandon Wood before the season than me.  But now that his average is below .100 can we all agree that this just isn’t working out?  At least for right now anyway.  It seems to me what Wood needs right now is to sit out for like three or four games to try and get his head together and start anew at this whole hitting thing.  The Halos really do need him to develop, so they have to start pulling out all the stops to coax him into being a productive major leaguer.

2. Hey, Mike Napoli, feel free to start hitting any time now.  Mathis is gone, you can relax.  This will be your third straight start, so your swing should be at least starting to get in a groove.  Don’t make Mike Scioscia start considering giving Bobby Wilson some starts.

1. Can the Angels take advantage of Justin Verlander before he gets good again?  The Tiger ace and Cy Young contender is off to a slow start this season, but he is starting to round into form.  The Halos could barely muster any offense against Bonderman last night, so they better pray that Verlander is still off his game otherwise tonight could get ugly for the Angel hitters.