Free Press writers George Sipple and Anthony Fenech preview the Detroit Tigers' 2018 season, before Opening Day against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday, March 30, 2018. Mandi Wright/Detroit Free Press
After a 24-hour delay, Detroit’s local holiday that is Opening Day began at 1:11 p.m. on Friday afternoon.
It was 37 degrees. Tigers right-hander Jordan Zimmermann — a Wisconsinite — was wearing short sleeves.
What transpired over the next few hours was the earliest look at why this team — inexperienced, pitching-deprived and lacking talent — is predicted to finish with many more losses than wins.