Just trying to get a pulse on the level of anticipation around here.

Will you watch or attend the games more, less, the same as recent years?

What is your prediction for their final record? Finish in the AL Central standings?

Who will be our All Star representative(s)?

Any chance in hell they can snag the wildcard?

After 15 of losing, excitement is tempered

Health is the key, year after year like the Lions you think the last year was as bad as it gets and boom injuries start happening and hope is gone. This team has the potential to be very good or awful. I mean if we can get 1-9 to play 140-150 games together, I think they will win 85-89 games. If Mags, Pudge, DY, Guillen, miss a lot of time 70 wins is reality.

This is not to say without pitching we can win 85-89 games but I think a consistent offense will go a long way. If the Pitching staff 1-4 can avg 14-15 wins that will serve Verlander well who is the 5th starter.

I expect the bullpen to be avg to slightly above avg but health will be key.

My biggest concern about the team is not enough left handed bats or arms out of the bullpen.

As far as All Stars, Pudge will be our default AS, maybe Bonderman

I think there is a 25% chance they will be in the WC hunt after July. So I would guess 3rd in the AL central.

I'm very excited. Thats it. No long post like JS. I'm just excited to see this team this year. They have talent, but can they play defense well enough to be competitive.

And will the pitching show up for the whole year?

Actually I am more worried about our offense than pitching or defense.

We have a Word Series calibur 1-9 lineup. We have great hitters and several of them able to get on base. I think we'll be just fine with offense.

i am not a baseball fan at all. i started watching last season and attended some games. i hear there's some buzz this season, so i'm hoping to watch more and go to comerica park some more.

Enjoyed today, not excited. If we're .500 at the AS break I'll tune in.

Pumped like a cock on viagra AND cialis.

Way to much Info.


I'm really excited to see how Leyland rubs off on our guys.....In a baseball sorta way [smilie=anxious.gif]

I'm always excited in April. It's the month where we're not mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.

I love the Tigers, so of course I'll watch them.

Illitch seems to have a renewed interest in his "red-headed step child" of a baseball team. We have a new manager that means business and a lineup that looks great. Granderson will figure it out and Chris Shelton is no where near his ceiling as a hitter. The pitching is young but we could have 2-3 20 game winners in the bunch.

I'm certainly not prepared to say that "this is the year", but I think they will be exciting....and they may even steal a few games this season. Whatever the case, Comerica shopuld be jumping just a bit more, and that's always worth the trip downtown.

hmmm as excited as this guy
http://www.treatyelm.com/fark/stike.jpg

Very excited here. As long as they hover around or above .500 I will continue to watch.

The thing that is different this year is excitement around some young prospects. Verlander and Zumaya along with Bonderman will keep me tuned in.

I still can't beleive that Bonderman is only 23 years old.

The pitching is young but we could have 2-3 20 game winners in the bunch.


I dig your enthusiasm, but only 4 pitchers won 20 games last year, and lately (with the emphasis on solid middle relief, a job once relegated to the dregs of the league) it has been happening less than it used to. So I doubt that even in a "dream season" scenario that we could have 2 or 3 on this staff alone, especially since only Rogers has even come close before.

Gecko mentioned a big reason that I am more excited about this season, youth. If if the team's record suffers as the season wears on, as long as Verlander, Zumaya and Bonderman perform well, my interest will be piqued.

I still get the feeling that we are looking at a .500 team at best, and if we get hit with the injury bug again, they could be much worse than that.

I think the ChiSox have actually improved their team from last year's WS squad. They took a strong starting staff, maybe the best in the game, and made it stronger (Vasquez). They took a good offense, secured it (Konerko) and added to it (Thome, he could have a HUGE year). They also got rid of the cancer that is Frank Thomas.

Cleveland is on the same path that the Tigers are on, but they may be a year or two ahead of us in progress. They may contend for the WC if things break right for them.

All in all, I'd love to be within 5 games of the WC coming down the stretch, and it could happen. But even if it doesn't I'll be watching the youngsters and keeping my skeptical eye on Illitch to see if he keeps his word about adding assets (read: payroll) if the team is in the running.

As far as the All Star game, I think it's between Pudge (lack of a quality backup and poor depth at C in the AL), Shelton or Rogers. I'll go with Rogers as my prediction.

So I guess that goes to show you how long it's been since I've been interested in baseball. Yikes.

My pick for the All Star game is Shelton. I think he's the real deal.

So I guess that goes to show you how long it's been since I've been interested in baseball. Yikes.

My pick for the All Star game is Shelton. I think he's the real deal.

No worries man, you never know what can happen.

I'm just looking for shit to talk about, I wasn't intentionally trying to put your opinion down.

Please don't let it keep you from sharing your thoughts in the future.

PLEASE!!!! [smilie=a.gif]

Actually, I appreciate your insight on the whole "20 game" phenomenon. I seriously didn't know that. Whatever the case, I'm just looking for Bonderman to at least start off well by winning todays game.

Very excited here. As long as they hover around or above .500 I will continue to watch.

The thing that is different this year is excitement around some young prospects. Verlander and Zumaya along with Bonderman will keep me tuned in.

I still can't beleive that Bonderman is only 23 years old.

Gecko mentioned a big reason that I am more excited about this season, youth. If if the team's record suffers as the season wears on, as long as Verlander, Zumaya and Bonderman perform well, my interest will be piqued.

The youth is what excites me but it's not at the ML level. It's the Minors that I am more interested in.

Last year, all our minor league teams had great seasons. Toledo went on to win the championship, Erie made the playoffs, Lakeland dominated the FSL for a first-place finish. Our minor league teams combined to finish with the best winning percentage in all of Minor Leagues.

This year shouldn't be any different. We have a few new additions (Maybin, Colon) and guys coming off of injuries and poor performances (Ledzema, Sleeth, Beattie, Giarratano). It will be intersting to see how they perform. All in all, the Minor leagues should be just as exciting this year as they were last year, maybe more.

Stinkin' tigers. [smilie=angry.gif]

FSN Tigers Color Analyst Rod Allen on 1270 this morning predicts the Tigers will win the division!

God Bless this man. Just the fact that he believes it gives me the chills.

The Tigers' lineup is solid. There isn't an easy out 1-9. Just like defense is the most important thing in other sports, in baseball it's all about pitching, which is pretty much defense. Bonderman and Zumaya are phenoms. The jury is still out on whether Kenny Rogers (Roasters) can hold up. We know Todd Jones won't. That's why I say move Zumaya to closer and let Rodney be the set up man.

Pudge will be an All-Star, maybe Bonderman too.

All in all, this is the most hyped I've been about the Tigers in a while. Well, I've probably got about a month to feel this way. [smilie=anxious.gif]

The Tigers' lineup is solid. There isn't an easy out 1-9. Just like defense is the most important thing in other sports, in baseball it's all about pitching, which is pretty much defense. Bonderman and Zumaya are phenoms. The jury is still out on whether Kenny Rogers (Roasters) can hold up. We know Todd Jones won't. That's why I say move Zumaya to closer and let Rodney be the set up man.

Pudge will be an All-Star, maybe Bonderman too.

All in all, this is the most hyped I've been about the Tigers in a while. Well, I've probably got about a month to feel this way. [smilie=anxious.gif]

Are you kidding me?

Why turn him into a closer?

Especially when considering the fact that he has proven successful as a starter at every level he has played at.

I'm with you, H1. He needs to at least be tried out as a starter. Why use a guy for 60 useful innings a year as a closer if he can potentially give you 200?

Overall I'm pretty pumped so far this year. We're still a couple years away but I feel like we're finally at least on the right track. Dombrowski has done wonders with the talent level throughout the system.

It sounds silly, but this team is starting to remind me a little of the early 80s Tigers. We've got some veterans in key spots; a lot of potential star kids are starting to come up all at the same time; there seems to be some chemistry finally, guys are laughing and joking out there; and Leyland comes in as the veteran manager from the other league to put it all together.

I'm not etching any names on World Series trophies yet, but I can dream, can't I?

I just hope that if the winning continues they are willing to invest what it takes if they can make a trade or two. I don't won't to be the new Baltimore, every year while they are still in the hunt the owner talks a mean game, but when it come to making a move he doesn't.

More excited by every HR I see.

FOR REAL OR NOT?

Detroit Tigers
The verdict: For real

In the 12 previous seasons under this playoff format, seven other teams started 5-0. Five of them made the playoffs. All of them finished with a winning record -- even the 2003 Royals. These Tigers might not be the '05 White Sox. But even this spring, as Jim Leyland began lighting their fire and pitching phenoms Justin Verlander and Joel Zumaya started blowing up the radar guns, the buzz was: the Tigers are better than most people think.

"They could be the surprise team in that division, because they're certainly going to hit," said one scout. … "If the manager can get those veteran players to keep playing hard," said another, "they have a good chance of staying in it -- if they stay healthy." … "I like Leyland. I like their offense. And Verlander is the real deal," said a GM. "There's always somebody that comes out of the pack, and this is a good candidate to be one of those teams."
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=2407713

Very excited here. As long as they hover around or above .500 I will continue to watch.

The thing that is different this year is excitement around some young prospects. Verlander and Zumaya along with Bonderman will keep me tuned in.

I admit my enthusiasm has already been chopped in half. Twice in the past 2 weeks I was excited to tune into the Tigers game and watch it but both times it was a non televised game. Serious mistake not televising all the games. I don't want to have to plan my tiger viewing out I want to know that if there is a game on I can tune in and watch it. Subconciously I have already noticed I stopped checking to the games to be on tv and consequently I am not as enthused as I was 2 weeks ago.

Sounds crazy I know, but I really have limited time in my life and no time to be pouring over the tigers tv schedule. Am I tunring into a fair weather fan? Perhaps that's what happens the older you get and the more time commitments you have.

I admit my enthusiasm has already been chopped in half. Twice in the past 2 weeks I was excited to tune into the Tigers game and watch it but both times it was a non televised game. Serious mistake not televising all the games. I don't want to have to plan my tiger viewing out I want to know that if there is a game on I can tune in and watch it. Subconciously I have already noticed I stopped checking to the games to be on tv and consequently I am not as enthused as I was 2 weeks ago.

Sounds crazy I know, but I really have limited time in my life and no time to be pouring over the tigers tv schedule. Am I tunring into a fair weather fan? Perhaps that's what happens the older you get and the more time commitments you have.

Are you back, Geck?

I agree that the TV situation really sucks, but could you really blame the stations for not wanting to show the product that they've given the past 15 years? They had to actually go out and try and sell advertising around that garbage. I imagine there were not too many takers.

Hopefully the coverage will get better as the Pistons and the Red Wings close out their seasons.

I've watched every inning I possibly could so far this year, just soaking up the run of success the Tigers have had. Maybe I'm doing it to balance out the disappointment I'm sure to feel as the Tigers come back down to earth, or maybe it's because I haven't seen a winning Tigers baseball team in almost 20 years. Don't know.

As for now, I'm eating the orange and black cornbread with gusto. I say Rogers, Bonderman, and Verlander all register 20 wins. The Tigers take the AL Central and the American league pennant.

And the day they do, the Yankees will lead off Sportscenter.

It will take a while for people to embrace a team that has been the worst in baseball over the last decade. However, last night's game really pushes me a little closer to thinking that Dombrowski has started to right the ship. Instead of losing 1 run games we are now winning 1 run games.

I'm always excited at the beginning of the season, but usually it dies off starting around May. That's not the case this year. These guys are something to be proud of!

Even is a loss, did you guys ever think you would see this as the headline:
Angels snap longest skid since '02, cool off Tigers

There will be life after the Pistons playoffs this year!

In answer to the original question, I just went out and purchased Tigers apparel for the first time since Cecil Fielder was on the roster.

Pretty fuckin excited. I punched somebody right in the mouth for talking shit about them earlier.

LMFAO@MOLA1

Representin WTF!

With the way Ordonez is hitting, I may have to buy his jersey and build a shrine.

MOST SURPRISING AL TEAM: Detroit Tigers

After his hiatus, many wondered if Jim Leyland still had the proverbial fire in the belly to manage. The first six weeks of the season seem to have pretty much cleared that up.

Leyland is engaged, all right, and the Tigers are reaping the benefits. They're healthier than they were a year ago, and the bullpen has yielded great results, led by fireballing rookie Joel Zumaya. The Tigers lead the AL in pitching, with an impressive 1.18 WHIP, while Kenny Rogers has given the rotation some stability and experience.

The Tigers, who only three years ago endured a 119-loss season, haven't had a winning season in 13 years and haven't finished higher than third in the standings since 1991.

It's tough to see them staying with Chicago and Cleveland for the entire season, but for a change, the Tigers have a direction -- and this time, it's forward.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?id=2441624

I'm pumped. 35 games in and we are almost winning 2 out of every 3. There are only like 2 or 3 teams that have a better record than us in all of baseball.

Its kind of odd to look up in the standings, over the last few years I've been looking down to make sure there is someone below us so we we weren't the worst team in baseball.

The type of games we were losing we are winning now.

There are only like 2 or 3 teams that have a better record than us in all of baseball.

1. There's only 1 team that has a better record in the bigs. And they just happen to be in the Tigers division. [smilie=banghead.gi:

This season is already a success, IMO.

The fact that we are even sniffing first place 2 weeks into May is incredible.

Anybody want to go back and find the last time we had a better winning % at this point in the season? I'm willing to bet it was late 80's, maybe '87.

You ask and The Free Press delivers:

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060516/SPORTS02/605160395

The Onion also put their two cents in:

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/48405

I love the fact that they have a sports section now.

Even if we finish out the rest of the season at .500 I'd be pretty satisfied. That would probably be enough to wild card.

The only thing is that they have to somewhat finish what they've started now. All of this is amazing, but if they finish 3rd in their division it will be depressing. I'm not so worried about them finishing behind Chicago, because they're the defending champs and all and the Tigers are only 1 game up on them. But you know eventually the Indians and/or Twins will make a run and if we lose the 8 game lead and finish behind them it will suck. And to think that 2 months ago many would have been fine with that as long as it meant 85 or so wins.