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Detroit Tigers, Game 3: One thing I loved, one thing I didn't

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The News' Tony Paul gives his quick takes on the Tigers' 3-0 loss to the Padres on Saturday:

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One thing I loved

Let's start with the obvious today: The jerseys. Love 'em.

The Tigers, in their 126th season, haven't been ones to tweak their look a whole lot over the years, but they've got road and home alternates this season. And the road blues (allegedly?) made their regular-season debut Saturday night. It's nice to see a team with orange as one of its primary colors actually wearing more than just a splash of orange for a change.

The circle Tiger on the sleeve is super sweet, too — though I'd prefer they'd actually use the exact yesteryear logo, rather than a cleaned-up modern take. But that's nitpicking. Props to starter Jack Flaherty for wearing the high socks that also featured that logo. At least he was dressed for success, even if his 2026 debut wasn't much of one.

If the Tigers aren't going to bring back their best roadies — those 1970s and '80s masterpieces, with "DETROIT" block lettering and no buttons on top, and the faux belt on the bottom — then these will definitely do. Change isn't always a bad thing. You used to be able to smoke on airplanes.

The Tigers also will be wearing orange home alternates this season, on Fridays, excluding Opening Day, when I'm pretty sure it'd be a felony to wear anything but the Olde English D whites. The home alternates are set to debut April 10, and also will be worn May 1 and 15, June 5, 19 and 26, July 10 and 24, Aug. 14 and 28, and Sept. 25.

The Tigers, by the way, will wear no uniforms this Sunday, an odd day of rest. It's their only Sunday off till October.

One thing I didn't

I've never been one to sing commissioner Rob Manfred's praises (the extra-inning ghost runner annoys me more than the "Seinfeld" series finale), but I must admit, he's nailed some of the game's biggest changes in recent years, including the pitch clock, the relief-pitcher minimums, and now, ABS. The ball-strike challenge system is speedy, and a critical tool in critical moments.

The problem might lie, however, in how many challenges a team gets: two, if they're wrong on both (if they're right, they keep retaining them).

That makes challenging early in the game a big risk, and one the Tigers clearly have been told to be careful taking. Before the seventh inning, they act like they might actually need a notarized letter from manager AJ Hinch. Spencer Torkelson declined to challenge an inning-ending strike three in the first (when ball four would've loaded the bases), and Kevin McGonigle let strike three go leading off the second (McGonigle challenged a strike three later, and was wrong).

Challenge decisions have to be made in a split-second, and there's no replay to consult before you tap the head. The strike-zone box you see on your Detroit SportsNet stream isn't available on live feeds in ballparks. (Even the broadcasters don't have it.) It's all on one player's shoulders, and if you're wrong early and cost yourself the opportunity to challenge late, that's no bueno. But also true, a game's biggest moment might actually come early.

Three stars

(Season total in parentheses)

▶ Colt Keith (2)

▶ Connor Seabold

▶ Petco Park (it's big, and it's spectacular)

Tigers' ABS tracker

▶ Hitter challenges: 1-for-3

▶ Pitcher/catcher challenges: 1-for-1

Tigers' uniform tracker

▶ Traditional road grays: 2-0

▶ Alternate road blues: 0-1

Next Tigers game

▶ Game 4: Tigers at Diamondbacks, 10:10 Monday, DSN, 97.1

ICYMI: Yesterday's Tigers recap

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@tonypaul1984

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Detroit Tigers, Game 3: One thing I loved, one thing I didn't

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