Tigers Sweep Mariners

I was on the road much of the day today and didn't catch the game but I was happy to learn that the Tigers completed their three game sweep of the Seattle Mariners. I did see the first two games of the series and they were two excellent games. It's late but here are a few quick notes:

• The starting pitching has been good all year and it really shined in this series. Mike Maroth, Nate Robertson and Justin Verlander combined to pitch 20 innings allowing just 1 run on 10 hits and 7 walks.
  

• The bullpen was a bit more adventurous but it still got the job done. Todd Jones returned from his hamstring to get saves on Friday and Sunday while Fernando Rodney saved the middle game. Jones is going to be the closer and Rodney the set up man for the foreseeable future. Rodney was really sharp in Jones' absence but Jones was acquired to be the closer and that's what he'll do unless he shows he can't do it. I like Rodney better but I don't have a big problem with the decision right now.
  

• Mike Maroth leads the league with a 0.49 ERA. His elbow seems to be OK and his next start will be on Wednesday. Kenny Rogers is the 10th in the league at 3.38.
  

• The Tigers 12-7 record is their best start since 1993 when they started 13-6. That, of course, was also the last year they finished over .500 (85-77). They did start off 11-7 in 2004 so I'm not going to get too excited yet. I do think they have a better team this year than they did in 2004 though.
  

• They have won 5 games in a row and are 5-1 on their western road trip so far. If I was told before the trip began that they would go 5-4, I would have been happy. Obviously, I'm looking for better than that now. They next travel to Anaheim for a three game series against the Angels.