Detroit Tigers

The teams that contend and make the playoffs are usually the teams that have the most well rounded and productive benches. A team is only as good as its weakest players.

It takes 25 men to win a championship. 162 games is a long season, spaced out over 180 days. The teams that do contend are able to do so because of a good bench. Everyday starters, despite the name, do not play 162 games per year anymore.

Despite the assertion that Detroit's minor league system is talent deficient, the future is looking bright in Double-A Erie.

Five SeaWolves were elected to play in the Eastern League All-Star game on July 15, suggesting the cupboard is not bare.

Catcher Alex Avila, first baseman Ryan Strieby, outfielders Brennan Boesch and Deik Scram, and right-handed relief pitcher Josh Rainwater will suit up for the 24-man Southern Division squad.

As it stands, the Detroit Tigers sit atop the American League Central Division with a modest two-game lead.  Yet, looks can be deceiving when you look at the AL Central.  

This is definitely the worst division in the majors, with no team standing far above the others.  At this point, the Tigers, Minnesota Twins and Chicago White Sox are the three teams that will contend for the division championship.  

Well, maybe you've somehow been sleeping all of this 2009 season. Or maybe, you decided to forget about the Tigers this season after an abysmal 2008. Could it be a little of both?

If it's any of those reasons, or for any other excuse you just have missed out on the action of 2009 so far, I'll catch you up. You're in for a suprise.

Brandon Inge isn't just defense.

Magglio Ordonez provided easily the best baseball experience in the past 24 years for Detroit Tigers' fans. The walk-off home run he hit to win the 2006 ALCS and propel the Tigers into the World Series set off a love fest in Comerica Park. It brought tears to the eyes of any fan that saw it.

In 2005, he signed a mega-deal to play for the Tigers, when no one wanted to play here, and when no one wanted to pay him.

It was in a fit of boosterism, some two years ago, when I took leave of my senses and banged out some tripe on this very blog about the bourgeoning third baseman of the Tigers, Brandon Inge.

I all but called him Mr. Tiger, declaring that he would never play for another big league team. Since his career would extend a dozen or so years in Detroit, why not go ahead and erect a statue of him in left center field at Comerica Park to join the other Tigers' greats in bronze?

Well, guess what? I stand by that boisterous tripe.

Welcome to Rudy Dominick & Johnny Lawrence's Week 13 installment of Detroit Tigers information and analysis. 

Each Thursday, we will delve into all things Tigers. Read and digest, or skim and spit out our insightful banter.

Keep An Eye On

Robbie Weinhardt, Relief Pitcher—Erie Sea Wolves (AA)

(Season @ Single-A Lakeland)

1-0, 31.2 IP, 24 H, 30 K, 0.85 ERA.

As the 2009, Non-waiver trade deadline quickly approaches many teams scurry around to find that extra player or two that can put their team over the edge and on pace to play in October.

That July 31st deadline has brought in Kyle Farnsworth and Sean Casey over the past few season for the Detroit Tigers.

This season, the Tigers look to add a solid bat to the middle or bottom third of an already pretty stacked lineup.

I have had it with Magglio Ordonez.

Okay, I should preface this by saying how much I appreciate what Ordonez has meant to my beloved Detroit Tigers and the fans in general. 

Maggs signed with us when we were still a losing franchise without a lot of promise.  Sure, we may have overpaid for the then injured slugger, but he still had to sign the contract and we all were grateful.

After an early injury scare (sports hernia) kept him sidelined from the outset of his Tigers tenure, he eventually hit the field and tore the league apart in the process.

Hello again Tigers world. I am now making my way back to Michigan. I will spend this week in Washington DC with my brother and his wife before finally making my way back to the Great Lakes State. 

I think Brandon Inge has at least a pair of huge home runs since I left about a week and a half ago. I’ve also seen Curtis Granderson and Miguel Cabrera go deep at least once or twice. That trio has hit a ton of homers this season and I wanted to see how they stack up against other power trios.