Why the Tigers slow start is not alarming

The Detroit Tigers were supposed to be the best. They were supposed to score thousands of runs. They were supposed to be unbeatable.

They are currently 0-6.

Granted the six losses are pretty ugly. Losing three to the Royals is disgraceful at best, but the White Sox are competitive.

They're playing like the Tigers that lost 119 games just a handful of years ago.

Fear not Tigers fans. It's only a rough patch. The wonderful thing about baseball is that it will all work itself out.

Take last year for example. The Tigers exploded onto the scene in the first half of the year just to falter in the second half. This year it's going to be the opposite.

By the second half of the year we should get relievers Fernando Rodney and Joel Zumaya back. Voila, the relief pitching is shored up.

As the weather gets warmer the bats will warm up. Problem solved.

I'll be honest. This first week has been rough. But I'm not worried.

Inge will not be forced to play catcher

Okay, so 15 hour car trips from Michigan to Florida really take it out of you. Fortunately, I have enough left in the tank to do a blog post tonight, even while I'm enjoying the rather balmy 70 degree weather.

So it looks like Brandon Inge will not be catching anymore for the Detroit Tigers. Inge, the Tigers' former starting third baseman was relegated to a utility role with the acquisition of Miguel Cabrera this offseason.

Inge was a great catcher when he came up to the big leagues. Unfortunately, he no longer wishes to fulfill that role. And personally, I cannot blame him. I still feel that Cabrera should be moved somewhere else. Inge's glove at third base is too important to sit on the bench.

What angers me more is the comments made on the ESPN story linked above. People are making it like Inge is whining and complaining, but all he wants to do is start somewhere. And, for those that argue that Inge should do his job must remember his contract was signed with the intent that his job would be the Tigers' everyday third baseman.

I really hope some miracle happens and Inge ends up back at third for Detroit. He is my favorite player in recent history and it would be terrible for his tenure in Motown to end like this.

Tigers sign Granderson to long-term deal

It's amazing what a couple years of success can do for a baseball team.

The once cellar-dwelling Detroit Tigers have re-signed star center fielder Curtis Granderson to a long-term deal through 2012, with a club option for 2013. The deal could be worth $43.25 million according to ESPN's Buster Olney.

At one time, I would have been surprised to see such a high figure spent on a Tiger. But now that they are winning, money seems to be of little object. And that is a good thing.

Signing Granderson further solidifies the future of the star studded team. His extension may be of equal importance to the aquisitions of Miguel Cabrera, Dontrelle Willis, and Edgar Renteria. After all, last year Granderson became only the third player in major league history to join the 20-20-20-20 club.

Good job Dave Dombrowski. Matt Millen, please take note.

Tigers acquire Cabrera, Willis

It’s a great day to be a Detroit Tigers fan.

As a lifelong fan, I’ve come to enjoy the past two years of success that the storied franchise has given us. And, apparently, the Tigers are looking to make it three successful seasons in a row, with the prospect of many more to come. Let’s just say Christmas came a little early to Detroit.

Not only did the Tigers get one of the most prized diamonds of the offseason in Miguel Cabrera, they also got a spectacular pitcher in Dontrelle Willis.

Cabrera’s numbers compare well to Manny Ramirez and Alex Rodriguez, but he is only 24 years old. Dontrelle is 25 and is a very dominant pitcher when he’s at his best.

Sure, the Tigers give up quite a bit, including super prospects Andrew Miller and Cameron Maybin. But, what GM Dave Dombromski did is pure genius. He traded raw talent for two proven all-stars. Maybe Miller or Maybin work out, they both did show flashes of brilliance last season. But, the odds aren’t that great that Miller becomes the next Willis, or that Maybin becomes the next Cabrera.

The only thing that I dislike about the trade is that it may mark the end of the Brandon Inge era in Detroit. However, I would rather see Cabrera play left field and Jacque Jones become a backup than to see Inge get shipped out.

Now, if only Matt Millen would take a page out of Dave Dombrowski’s book. Then maybe the Lions could actually win a game here or there.

Zumaya hurt... again

Tigers' pitcher Joel Zumaya just can't get lucky.

Trying to save some of his father's things from the California wildfires, a box fell on Zumaya's shoulder, injuring it to the point that it required major surgery.

Zumaya's injury is a huge loss for the Tigers. Now they must work on resigning Todd "Blowns" (Jones) or look elsewhere for a closer. With a bullpen that was decimated by injuries last season (including Zumaya's first injury, a ruptured tendon), the Tigers were shaky late in games at best. The bullpen now becomes the major weak spot again.

I would look for the Tigers to resign Jones. He is a serviceable closer for the time being.

It's just too bad that this had to happen to someone as promising as Zumaya is.