Detroit Tigers, Game 45: One thing I loved, one thing I didn't

The News' Tony Paul gives his quick takes on the Tigers' 3-2, walk-off victory over the Blue Jays on Friday:

One thing I loved

Classy move by the Tigers, honoring late sportswriter Pat Caputo with a moment of silence Friday night at Comerica Park. Caputo, 67, died last week, after a months-long battle with pancreatic cancer.

Caputo was a highly respected reporter and columnist for decades, and he later became a fixture on 97.1 The Ticket and Fox 2, as well. They called him, "The Book," for his total-recall ability when it came to stats, dates, just about anything to do with Detroit sports, big and small moments alike. The internet eventually came along and gave everyone else access to that information, too, but it didn't diminish Caputo's voice — a voice that was gruff but fair, and always frank. He said what he meant, meant what he said, and wasn't interested in pulling punches.

As you can imagine, that ruffled some feathers in front offices in Detroit throughout the years. The Tigers certainly weren't spared Pat's occasional wrath, as recently as last year, in fact, when Caputo took issue with the team's television broadcast. He went on his radio show and said as much.

The Tigers still paid the appropriate tribute in their first home game since Caputo's death.

Well done — for a life well lived.

One thing I didn't

It's one step forward and one step back for the Tigers pitching staff. Or, rather, one arm forward, one arm back.

Casey Mize (right adductor strain) is set to come off the injured list to start Saturday's game against the , but yet another Tigers pitcher went down Friday night. , a bulk reliever — and a good one — who was set to go multiple innings in the series opener, off the bat of Yodendrick Pinango, just the second batter Madden faced. We're still awaiting word of the severity of the injury, but it didn't take a very long look from the training staff before he was exiting the game, uttering several expletives as he walked off the mound.