Opinion

The Reds are both blessed and cursed at the same time. Blessed in the fact that they have two really good catchers. Cursed in that they are starting the wrong one.

Fans should never expect much out of their catcher. His most important job is to know his pitchers and call a good game. If your name isn't Joe Mauer then it's safe to say that you won't be expected to hit much.  

Ramon Hernandez was acquired in an offseason deal that sent Ryan Freel to the Orioles with a couple of prospects.

There were a lot of high hopes for infielder Eugenio Velez when he first broke on the stage in 2007.

In a cup-of-coffee 14 game stint at the end of the 2007 season, Velez hit two triples, scored five runs, and stole four bases.

And he did this in only 13 plate appearances.

The following spring training, Velez tore it up and built on that small stint he had the previous season. The buzz about this kid was something special.

In the 2008 Sports Illustrated baseball preview, a club official likened Velez to Willie McGee.

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.

Tim Wakefield has been good, if not great, for the Boston Red Sox. He has stepped up big when it matters the most and I give him all the props in the world.

He is an excellent pitcher with an excellent story. However, he is no All Star.

The All-Star Game is reserved for the 33 best players in the American League. Tim Wakefield is not one of them. However, we will likely get voted in by the managers/players for his feel good story.

If there's one thing Met fans know about their fandom, it's this: it takes some thick skin to root for this team.

We have to contend with the constant noise from Yankee fans who revel in tearing down our "little brother" of a team, while also crowing about championships they won in the 20's and 30's. 

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.

After the emotional roller-coaster ride of the last two games against Boston, it is hard to tell just what state of mind the Baltimore Orioles will be in as they hit the road for a seven-game West Coast swing.

One thing for sure is that they can’t have a repeat of the performance displayed the last time they trekked out west a month ago.

On that trip, which followed a home stand in which the Orioles had won five of seven games, Baltimore won the first game in Seattle 1-0 on the best outing of the season for starting pitcher Rich Hill.

With a chance to take three out of four games against one of the best teams in baseball, it would make sense to keep your team's hottest hitters in the lineup.

But with Giants manager Bruce Bochy throwing out his 45,699th lineup of the season on Thursday, both right-fielder Nate Schierholtz and shortstop Edgar Renteria were absent from the lineup.

To be fair, after picking up 14 hits in a six-game stretch, Schierholtz went 0-for-4 in back-to-back games heading into Thursday's series finale.

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.

Just look at that crowd cheering my caffeine charged anti-Dusty Baker/anti-Walt Jocketty rally held outside of my apartment as soon as I saw Willy Taveras' name in the leadoff spot on Thursday afternoon.

I apologize to my fans that I did not recognize any you.

This is a plea to Reds owner, Bob Castellini.  For the sake of the Queen City, sell me your team.