Another season has started, and many a prediction has been made. But we've still got over 160 games to go in a monster of a season. One thing that has become clear over he last few years is that it doesn't matter how big the payroll is, if a team plays well enough to make the post season, it can win the World Series.
So, fuck the Yankees! They have their own thread where their elitist love-monkeys can kiss the dirt they walk on.
For everyone else, let's talk about baseball.
By some miracle, FSN actually carried the Tigers' opening game, so I got to watch the beginning of what will probably be another 71-91 season. Reading the paper today, I have to ask what the fuck everyone in Detroit is smoking, because that's some good shit. Sure, Detroit had A+ pitching yesterday, but Inge made an error (yes, it was an error, not a base hit, the score card is wrong) that would have cost Detroit the game had they actually been playing a good team. That's not to say the Royals won't be a good team this year, but I'm being realistic. Shelton made a play at first that I never thought he would ever be capable of making, creating a double play to make life easy on Rogers, who got the next batter for the third out, but what are the chances he can do that next time?
But Shelton wasn't done. He followed that play up with consecutive solo line home runs, one down the right field line, and the other down the left field line. However, even with Guillen adding a home run of his own, the Tigers should have lost this game 1-0 at best. They could not hit with runners in scoring position, a common problem last year, with almost the same line-up.
So, when I say don't expect the Tigers to challenge the White Sox and Indians, that doesn't mean they won't, that just means that they were swinging for the fences all game yesterday, just like they always have, and it's going to take a miracle for them to start playing ball the right way.
If Leyland can get through to these players, the Tigers could give any team a run for its money. However, I think Dombrowski is going to have to move some players off of this roster by the deadline if he wants to have any hopes of competing NEXT year. I have a feeling there are going to be some very disgruntled high-priced players in Detroit this year, because I just don't see Leyland allowing this team to get away with crap like that every game.
That is, I hope he doesn't.
OK, that's my Tigers season preview.
Please, don't let me do all the posting on this thread. It really won't be that interesting to just talk about the Tigers all season.
