Detroit Tigers

The July 31 trade deadline is still two months away, a relatively small blip on the radar screen, to be sure, but the trade winds seem to always blow in baseball.

The Detroit Tigers, who many presumed would be weak in starting pitching, may soon have a surplus of hurlers ready, willing, and able to take the ball every fifth day. As a result of this reversal of fortunes, the Tigers may be in the rare position of “selling” at the deadline while remaining a strong playoff contender.

FoxSports.com’s Dayn Perry thinks the Tigers should make a trade with the Rockies for Huston Street, who recorded a couple of stress-free saves for Colorado against Detroit over the weekend. Why? He has no faith in Fernando Rodney. (FoxSports.com).

Quoting Perry:

The Detroit Tigers are one of the hottest teams in baseball and are currently in first place in the American League Central Division. After being a major disappointment last year, not much was expected out of them in 2009.

This a group still has a large part of the nucleus that was in the World Series three years ago, but are they for real?

Looking at some of the players they have and the division they are in, I think they are definitely contenders.

Originally published 5/19/09 at www.jelletlambie.wordpress.com

Dontrelle Willis needed this.

He needed to step onto that mound at Comerica Park and feel the evening sun shine upon him, the clouds in retreat, the swirling winds at bay. He needed to kick his right leg high into the air and bring his left arm across his body in perfect plane as the baseball left his fingertips with a sizzle. He needed this, and so did we.

Rockies 3, Tigers 1 (box)
Record: 24-18 (first place)

Dontrelle Willis was not sharp, but he didn’t have to be sharp. He just had to keep putting zeroes on the board at the end of innings.

He did that five times through six innings, allowing just one run and picking up the second quality start in as many chances.

I’ve been acquiring all sorts of stats and links, time for a bunt singles update!

Brandon Inge spent most of season last year changing positions and waiting for a trade. Following the blockbuster deal that brought Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis to Detroit after the 2007 season, and the move to bring Edgar Renteria to Detroit, the 2008 Tigers infield was set. Carlos Guillen was shifting from shortstop to first base, Cabrera was to be the everyday third baseman. That left the slick-fielding Inge, who had been the team's third baseman, as a man without a position.

Success for baseball players in Detroit isn't measured by placement in the final standings. It isn't measured in division crowns and pennant victories. 

No sir, baseball in this town is about one thing and one thing only: beating the Colorado Rockies.

The natural rivals share such a rich baseball tradition that it's impossible not to get drawn in by the allure of the games.

This is why I'm a baseball fan.

Dontrelle Willis isn’t back. Let’s get that straight right out of the box.

The demons aren’t gone. Some of the dragons still lie in wait.

Willis’s career is a house of cards, still.

So when you exhale after every hopeful outing, turn your head and blow in the opposite direction, just in case.

Last night, at Comerica Park, Willis won himself a baseball game.

Brilliantly.

His first win in the big leagues since 2007.

A masterpiece. Not just for him. For anyone.