Detroit Tigers

• Date: June 13, 2009
• Time: 7:05 p.m.
• Teams: Detroit Tigers at Pittsburgh Pirates
• Park: PNC Park
• Weather: 72 degrees and cloudy, 30 percent chance of rain
• Starting Pitchers: Aramando Galarraga (3-6, 5.19)  Zach Duke (6-4, 3.07)
• Records: Detroit (34-27)  Pittsburgh (28-33)
• Last 10 Games: Detroit (6-4)  Pi
  

• Date: June 10, 2009
• Time: 8:11pm
• Teams: Detroit Tigers at Chicago White Sox
• Park: US Cellular Field
• Weather: 64 and partly cloudy
• Starting Pitchers: Justin Verlander (6-2, 3.26)  John Danks (4-4, 5.10)
• Records: Detroit (32-26)  Chicago (27-32)
• Last 10 Games: Detroit (5-5)  Chicago (3-7)
• My Two Cents: This seems like a classic, over-confident game&md
  

When I began this blog about a month ago, I had no idea where things might go, or if anyone would even read it. What I have found so far, is that I truly enjoy sharing my thoughts about Detroit Tigers baseball with other fans and bloggers, and that at least of few of you are reading.

Recently, J. Ellet Lambie of Hazaa, asked me to participate in a segment he runs regularly called "Five for Fighting", where he and another blogger trade five questions and post each other's answers.

Another injured Tiger is close to getting his wings back. Marcus Thames has been heating up on a rehab assignment with class AAA Toledo and could be back in Detroit soon.

Thames has been on the disabled list since April 19th, after straining his ribcage in batting practice.

The Tigers could use his power in a lineup that has struggled to score runs.

Small ball may be virtuous for many reasons. the Tigers have not played very good small ball lately, and therefore could greatly benefit from the smashing potential that Thames brings to the plate.

For now, the rehab road has ended for Jeremy Bonderman, who will be handed the ball on Monday night to make his first major league start in over a year.

That road started almost a year ago when Bonderman underwent two surgeries: one to remove a blood clot from his pitching shoulder and another to remove a rib to alleviate symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome.

Bonderman came into spring training this year attempting to claim a spot in the Tiger rotation, but wasn't healthy enough to continue. After some time off, after that bend in the trail, the rehab road continued.

In my opinion, Curtis Granderson is the best center fielder in the American League and also the best player on the Detroit Tigers.  Yes, it's true that he is only hitting .258 right now, and it's also true that he's received a lot more help this year from his corner outfielders than he has in his three previous seasons, but he has had one of the most exciting first three seasons a player could have without making the all-star team. 

Throughout our life time, we are all bound to face some sort of adversity. Whether it be trouble in school, recovering from an addiction,or coping with the loss of a loved one, it is never easy.

All the talk is what happens when Jeremy Bonderman is deemed ready to return to the starting rotation, which could come as early as next week, or as late as the middle of the month.

We speak about it as if it is a certainty he will return to the rotation, thus bumping either rookie Rick Porcello (doubtful), struggling lefty Dontrelle Willis (maybe) or struggling righty Armando Galarraga (possible) from the rotation. That’s a debate for another time. I have a different idea for you to bat around:

Being a nice guy is overrated.

A team's ace pitcher doesn't have to be a Dale Carnegie protege.

The exact opposite, in fact, is often what's needed.

Bob Gibson had it.

"It" was the disposition of a hungry, caged lion.

Especially on the days that he was slated to pitch.

It was best to stay out of Gibson's way on those days. Gibson was never really known as a congenial man—still isn't, frankly—but he turned positively wretched when his turn in the rotation came up.