The Tigers are following the D-backs' lead and "adding a bullpen cart" at Comerica Park, but no pitchers currently plan to use it, according to George Sipple of the DETROIT FREE PRESS. The team is offering pitchers entering the game from both the home and visiting bullpens the "option of riding into the infield area." The club will also "announce details regarding a sponsorship of the carts at a later date" (FREEP.com, 3/30). Tigers P Warwick Saupold said, "From our bullpen -- nobody is going to use it. They asked us and everybody said no." In Detroit, Chris McCosky notes there is an issue as to "where the cart will be parked." The plan appears to out it in the Tigers bullpen, which "further squeezes an already cramped area" (DETROITNEWS.com, 3/30).
D-backs pitchers will also have the option of riding in the cart when they enter a gameUSA TODAY
READY TO RUN: ESPN.com's Josh Weinfuss noted the bullpen carts "weren't used" by the D-backs or the Rockies during their Opening Day matchup at Chase Field. D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said that it is the pitchers' decision "whether they want to use the carts or not." D-backs P Archie Bradley after the game said that he "enjoys the rush of running through the bullpen gate onto the field to the cheers from the fans, but he wouldn't rule out never using the carts" (ESPN.com, 3/30). In Phoenix, Nick Piecoro notes after choosing not to ride the bullpen cart, Bradley exited the bullpen to a "dull roar" from the fans down the left-field line. The applause "grew as he neared the mound." Bradley: "I'm not going to say I’ll never use (the cart), but when you get a reaction like that leaving the bullpen, it’s going to be hard to" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 3/30). FS Arizona’s Kate Longworth before the game spoke with Bradley, telling him, "We can’t ignore the obvious (that) we’re sitting here in the bullpen cart." Bradley said the cart is a “great idea, it’s going to be fun and with the characters we have down in the bullpen you’ll see some overhauls throughout the year I’m sure" (“D-Backs Live,” FS Arizona, 3/29).
A FUN PASTIME: D-backs President & CEO Derrick Hall said bringing back the bullpen cart was "something that I’ve wanted to do for about five or six years." Hall: "We finally figured, ‘Let’s go ahead and pull the trigger.’ It turned out great. We'll see if the guys want to use it. They used it in the exhibition games.” Hall said the current players in the bullpen “don’t even know what they are, they don’t remember seeing baseball when there were the bullpen carts. So, we’ll see and everybody’s superstitious so things have to go well if they’re going to use them.” Hall: “Let's hope it catches on, not only here but throughout all of baseball again" (“D-Backs Live,” FS Arizona, 3/29). MLB Network's Kevin Millar said of whether or not the carts should take relief pitchers straight to the mound, "I'd love to see that. It won't happen because it feels now the grounds crew will go crazy because they have it perfectly lined-up, there might be a number out there, there might be initials, so you'll never see that, but I wish it would be all-in" ("Intentional Talk," ESPN2, 3/27).
