The Tigers announced their first cuts of the spring season today with no surprises. Among those sent out were Macay McBride, Rick Porcello, Jeff Larish, Matt Joyce and Wilkin Ramirez.
Leyland said before today's game against the Astros that McBride's future is as a starter. He will more than likely head to Toledo this season and start every fifth day. According to Leyland, McBride is better suited for the rotation because he can use all of his pitches. Out of the bullpen, you tend to use only two pitches. They like his arm and potential.
Larish meanwhile needs to work on making more contact. The Tigers understand that strikeouts go hand and hand with power, but in order stick with the big league club, it's all about making adjustments.
Hey MARIO & Rod; about Tigers #7; Rodriguez. His name is Ivan; not Pudge. That was a nick-name given to him by his family; and not to be shared by the general public! He has told you before; please don't use it; please respect his wishes as professionals and stop using Pudge as given name. The name printed on the ticker is correct; and if you cant read it then you need a better prescrfiption on your glasses!! Please call him Mr. Ivan Rodriguez!
Mario Impemba is in his seventh season as play-by-play announcer on FSN Detroit’s Emmy-winning Tigers coverage.
In addition to Tigers duties, he has done play-by-play on FSN's coverage of MHSAA football and basketball championship games, as well as CCHA hockey and college basketball. In the off-season, he is the radio and television voice of Oakland University Golden Grizzlies basketball.
Before joining the FSN broadcast team, he spent the previous seven seasons as the radio voice of the then-Anaheim Angels and served as a fill-in TV play-by-play announcer during his final three years in Anaheim.
Check out more about the craft of baseball broadcasting at his website, thesoundofbas eball.com.
