Opening Day

I feel like I've been out of the game so long that this opening day sneaked up on me.  I had a dream last night that I was watching the game and didn't know half of the players.  This was very distressing.  With all the injuries lately and last minute moves, my head is in such a tizzy.  To make up for it, here are some of my thoughts from the game.  I'll feel more connected, you'll be informed, and all will be right with the world.

Cheer assessment: Biggest cheers for Cabby, Verlander, Scherzer, and Ausmus.  Surprisingly loud cheer for Gene Lamont (people must have acquired amnesia over the winter).  Loudest cheer of all?  Donnie Kelly.  That just proves that in Detroit, starting is overrated.  I think #DonnieKelly was trending on Twitter.

I'm digging the high socks that Kinsler is wearing.  Interesting choice to have him bat first.  Let's see how this plays out.  Leyland was so set in having Jackson start things off, but I like that Ausmus is mixing things up and putting his own stamp on things.  Lineups are meant to be fluid and adapted as the season goes on and players go through droughts and streaks.  Rod assures me that Torii will move in the lineup, which means others will move too.

First "I see you" of the year?  Vmart.  So glad to have him in the lineup and healthy.  He changed his middle name over the winter to Clutch after a great season last year (especially given his slow start).

Verlander's face must have been cold down in Florida because he grew a little scruff for opening day.  He always seems to have the roughest time in April so it's good he gets out there and gets his licks in.  Personally, I think this was Scherzer's opening day to start, but my application for Tiger manager was not picked over the winter.  I really bombed the interview when I showed up in my Zubaz pants.

Alex Gonzalez is sporting the chin strap over at shortstop.  He must have watched a little too much tape of Jhonny from last year.  Just stay away from the PEDs, Alex.

Very strange to see Joe Nathan in a Tiger uniform.  After so many years playing against him, I just hope he's as stellar as he was when he was playing against us.

A win on opening day is great.  A walk off win on opening day is wonderful.  Love the contributions from the players in the bottom of the lineup.  Castellanos and Gonzalez were a little jittery in the field, but they pulled through with the bats when needed.  Very glad that this game did not have to go to extra innings.  That's not the way to start the season.

Game one down.  Only 160 more to go.

Under the mattress

Dom is a little like a spoiled kid in a toy store these days.  He wants the shiniest, newest toy in the store and when he doesn't get what he wants, the mismatched eye doll was out of stock, he goes for the priciest toy that's been hiding in the back room waiting to be released.  Mike Ilitch must have an eight bedroom house because he has been stuffing cash under each mattress for just such an occasion.  Miguel Cabrera better buy a new winter coat with his 248 million dollars because he'll be dealing with cold Michigan springs and falls for the next ten years.

Some may say ten year contracts (eight year extension in this case) are ridiculous and too much of a commitment, and they would be right.  Think of the other ten year deals that have happened recently.  Prince Fielder, traded.  Alex Rodriguez, PED user.  Albert Pujols, in the twilight of his career.  These things don't necessarily equal a smart decision for the Tigers.  Now, Miggy is locked in to hopefully finish his career in Detroit.

Miggy is My Tiger, so this is fabulous news for me.  However, ten years is a life time.  Mini Tigress will be in fourth grade in ten years and will probably be hitting dingers herself in Little League.  Miggy doesn't have the best health history and ten years of good health in any sport is a blind gamble.  It's risky, and it's what Dom wants so it's what Dom gets.  Part of the equation is also the aging Ilitch and his desire to finally get that World Series ring.  Forget about your inheritance kids, Papa Ilitch is going big!

Sounds like Miggy is going to finish his career with Detroit and he's thrilled.  He should be thrilled.  He can buy a huge vault and pull a Scrooge McDuck and swim in all his pennies whenever he wants.  I read that he'll be making upwards of 49,000 dollars per at bat, which is more than the median income for the people of Michigan.

It's impossible to say whether this is a good deal or a poor deal.  Don't let other people fool you.  No one has the foresight to see if this is going to work out or not and those that pretend they do are just crazy.  The real question is, does this mean negotiations with Scherzer will be nonexistent once the season is over?  We shall see.  I know this, a happy Miggy makes a productive Miggy.

You'd smile too if you could buy golden underwear

Extensions

This spring has been all about extensions.  Extensions for players and the extension of the Tigress.  Mini Tigress has arrived and she's the coolest Tiger fan under the age of one month around.  Nothing prepares you for a little one, but I'm going to suggest a new activity in childcare classes.  If you can wrap a wiggling puppy in a large size tortilla with the precision of a Qdoba burrito maker with an air horn blowing in your ear while on one hour of sleep, then you are one step closer to being prepared for a child.  Skills and depth of performance are really pushed to the limits at 3 AM feedings.

The other extension on everyone's mind has been that of Max Scherzer.  Dom is usually cool as a cucumber in both trade situations and when interviewed.  He seemed to take offense to Max's refusal of a contract extension, however.  He threw a minor hissy fit, throwing Max under the bus by revealing how much money he had offered him and implying he was being greedy.  My only response to Dom is the same as Mini Tigress would say at this point, "Wah."

Max has a right to refuse a contract with any team.  It's also been said that both sides will wait and hold off negotiations until after the 2014 season.  Even better idea.

Scherzer had a Cy Young winning season last year.  He has the goods and the smarts to do it again.  There's no saying what will happen this season though.  Injuries, overuse, or a jinx may be in Max's future.  Let the season play out to see if it's worth it to spend the money to resign Scherzer.

The Tigers have their ace and franchise player, Justin Verlander.  He swims in pools of Tiger money and drinks the tears of Tiger fans' adoration.  As much as Scherzer was the better player last year, he's not the Tigers' golden boy.  If he wants that status, then he has to look to another team.

Miggy is signed through the 2015 season.  Beyond that, who knows if the Tigers will have the money to attract another big name bat.  If Scherzer starts shopping for a new team this year, then he has his choice of big men to pair up with to make a title run.  He can also go where the money is free and not tied up in other big name players.

In a perfect world, the Tigers will win the 2014 World Series and Max Scherzer will be a hero.  If that's true, he'll become more valuable than the Tigers can manage to keep and we will have to part ways.  I'd love to keep Max on the team.  In truth, I prefer him to Verlander.  He has a more level head and doesn't date swimsuit models.  There's an old saying though.  If you love someone, set him free.  If he signs a new contract with the Tigers, then we know he's ours.

Let's let the season play out with the best efforts on both sides and revisit this conversation in November.  Not a day sooner.

My Tiger- the sequel

It was a sad winter for all Dougie Fresh fans in Detroit.  There was one fan in particular that took things hard.  Here's a hint:  It was me.  Maybe that's why this winter was one of the worst in recent history.  Cold, snowy, and lonely.  Mother Nature was a Fister fan too.  She'll have to throw on a National cap this season.

As for me, I won't be switching my allegiance to a team, just picking a new player to devote my fandom to in a ridiculous manner.  Let's do a brief history to catch you all up.  From approximately 2001 to 2011 (that's ten years, longer than all my romantic relationships combined), Brandon Inge was "My Tiger" before the term was even coined.  Some tough decisions were made in the off season and I released Inge as My Tiger before the Tigers released him from the team.  Dougie Fresh has been My Tiger for the past two, blissfully wonderful years.

Now, a new era in Tigress My Tiger is upon us.  Rather than go through the choices and my agonizing decision, I'm going to make this really simple.  My pick is sending a clear message to Dave Dom and AusMust about continuing the contract of a certain MVP beyond even 2015.  My pick is to stand behind our batting champ and metaphorically spit in the face of haters who say this guy has been drinking the juice for years.

My pick for My Tiger is Miguel Cabrera.  He's the man, he deserves my loyalty and I'll proudly give it this time around.  I feel like having Miggy as My Tiger is the right way to bring a child into this world.  I'd hate to give my child the impression that mediocrity is acceptable when it comes to professional sports.  I won't fight it anymore, power and numbers are what earns respect and awards in sports.

Congrats Miggy.  Even though the honor is mine, it's also partly yours too.  You're welcome.

Beware the cannon

Every year in Lakeland, a new Tiger team starts preparing for 162 games.  Even though some of the faces may look familiar, even one player or coaching change can alter the whole team dynamic.  This year there are quite a few new faces, which means that anything can happen.  Here are some new faces to watch:

Brad Ausmus: The biggest X factor this year is the manager himself.  Tiger fans and players have gotten used to Smokes' style of managing.  Consistency was key and cigarettes were smoked in the tunnel.  How will Brad manage, especially given his group of All Stars he has?  No matter what he does, he's sure to get criticized, probably more than praised.

Joe Nathan: To say that Joe is getting on in his years is an understatement.  There are two types of players, those that go out with a bang (Chipper Jones, even without the championship) and those who fizzle into oblivion (Papa Potato).  Which will Joe be?

Ian Kinsler: An article came out in ESPN the Magazine where Kinsler was very critical of the Rangers' general manager and hopes that his former team goes winless all season.  He's very unhappy with the Rangers for many reasons, they are too tedious to list.  The point is, if a player has the ability to complain about his former team, what's to stop him from complaining about his current team?  My advice to Kinsler is to keep his head down, adjust to his new environment, and take his cues from the team leaders.  He should sidle up to Torii and listen to the captain.

The other changes might not be as significant, but every player makes a difference and every coach can transform the game.  Even Bryan Holiday in all his swimsuit glory can distract the team.  Kate Upton is on Tigress notice.  Don't disrupt or distract the team, lady!  You never know where the loose cannon lies.