I was at the Tigers game in Baltimore Thursday and I have to admit to coming away from it a little perplexed about Tigers right fielder Magglio Ordonez.
In his first at bat, he crushed a high line drive down the left field line that hit the foul pole for a home run. It was his fourth home run in four games. After that, though, he did not put good swings on the ball at all - including when he came up flat with the bases loaded and one out during the fifth inning. His numbers are easily the best of any Tigers hitter. Yet, there is no other player that has been a bigger source of frustration for Tiger fans. I have mostly defended Ordonez. I think he is a very good player. But having said that, I do feel he will have to stop fading in and out with his production and become a more steady influence in the middle of the Tigers lineup if they are going to advance deep into the postseason. It's also noticeable he has hit his home runs recently at U.S. Cellular Field and Camden Yards - two of the smaller ball parks in the American League. Ordonez has hit only eight home runs at spacious Comerica Park compared to 16 on the road.

Random thoughts

- Usually I am not much for the rah-rah stuff having much influence on the outcome of a college football game. But I do feel Notre Dame will be motivated by MSU planting a flag at Notre Dame Stadium last season following the Spartans victory. That was a bush league move by the Spartans and Notre Dame has every right to be upset by it, and use it as a motivational tool.

- I know Fernando Rodney's numbers are pretty good, but there does seem to be a major difference between him and Joel Zumaya. I wonder if Jim Leyland will consider bypassing Rodney at times during the postseason and going to Zumaya on back-to-back days.