Yo, Bob, what's your take on Armando Galarraga?
Well, we all love him in Detroit but let's face it the Tigers were tough to love last year and he was one of the few bright spots.
I believe he's got real potential but it worried me at the start of the season that he was going to come under a huge amount of pressure from expectation, both from fans, the local media and the fantasy pundits.
He was a complete surprise to us all last year. We got him for next to nothing (as I recall he was traded for a Single or Double A player) and it was only Dontrelle Willis' injury that brought him up to the Tigers. I happened to be at his first game against the Tribe last April. Everyone was kind of looking at each other, thinking of our dismal start to the 2008 campaign, and saying to each other "Oh crap, who the hell is this guy, is this the best we've got?" None of us were saying that by September.
He's not overpowering but has wicked movement, good location, and seems at present to have the mental strength needed to succeed. The fact that the Tigers rotation seems at least early in the season to be stronger that many expected (Verlander's poor start notwithstanding) can only help him. Amazingly to many Tiger fans the bullpen looks solid as well at present. We're all holding our breath right now and wondering if this is a flash in the pan or whether all we needed was some self belief.
I'd like to see him throw more ground ball outs, and a lot of teams don't know him that well yet so better scouting may reveal weaknesses, but the year has started positively. If he stays healthy (and the bullpen doesn't revert to the form of the last 3 years), I wouldn't be surprised to see him as a 15+ game winner this year.
If Verlander can get his shit together then our 1-2-3 with him, Galarraga and Jackson could make us contenders. Mind you, Justin pitches against the Yanks and Sabathia tomorrow night so.....we'll see!
