Detroit

Detroit Tigers (2010 Record: 81-81)

The Detroit Tigers finished the 2009 season tied for first place in the AL Central (86-76) after having relinquished a seven-game lead to the Minnesota Twins during the last four weeks of the season. They then lost a one-game playoff in the Metrodome in 12 innings, sending the club into the offseason on a down note.

We all know Max Scherzer’s 2010 story. It was a tale of two seasons, to say the least, as we can tell by his splits before he was sent down to the minors and after it:

One of the most interesting races in baseball should be the AL Central Division.  The Midwestern division isn't the sexiest in baseball, but it's highly underrated. 

ESPN will give more coverage to one Red Sox/Yankees series than they will to the combined seasons of the five teams in the division, but the fans of those teams know it's shaping up to be a great race in 2011.

The more we learn about Phil Coke, the more Detroiters are going to love this guy.

But the more we learn about Phil Coke, the more Detroiters are going to worry about him.

If Coke, the lefty lifetime reliever who will be in the Tigers rotation this season, was a product, he'd be juice concentrate—and he needs to be diluted with realism.

I grew up just outside Motown, during a time when the Detroit Tigers, much like the local economy, toiled to stay afloat in the midst of global change. This was the late-1990s.

Alcohol is a problem that affects not only the richest of athletes and businessmen, but also the middle- and lower-class workers who need a "relief" from their everyday stress.

Most know of the consequences and repercussions of taking a sip, but does that stop most individuals?

Most of the time, no.

In a process facilitated by MLB, medical specialists have evaluated Miguel Cabrera and recommended an outpatient rehabilitation program to deal with his alcohol related issues which re-emergered following his arrest last week for a DUI. 

Cabrera was also charged with two misdemeanor resisting arrest charges without violence.

Miguel Cabrera was arrested last week and charged with suspicion of DUI and resisting officers without violence.  This is not the first time Cabrera has had an incident related to alcohol use.  The way the Tigers and MLB are handling the situation, it may not be the last. One thing is certain, Cabrera needs help.

Opinions on Miguel Cabrera following his recent DUI arrest have varied widely. The media and fans have spun the situation as anything from a "boys will be boys" story to "take the season off for rehab."

We all know that alcoholism isn't something to laugh about and should be handled very delicately. What we don't know is the extent that alcohol has had a grasp on Miguel Cabrera.

Miguel Cabrera should not be playing baseball in 2011. Let's be clear about that right away. The fact that we are even discussing this is sad.

Cabrera has a problem—a really, really serious problem. If he does not get this figured out and straightened out, it won't matter how many home runs he hits or how many runs he drives in. It won't matter because Cabrera the man will be dead.