The Tigers are 10 games above .500. They are right there with Cleveland near the top of the American League Central. Yet, there are some ominous signs. I have wondered, nearly from Day 1 of this season, whether they are winning on borrowed time.
An overreaction? Perhaps. But I can’t help it. What I liked about the Tigers so much last season was their pitching. I am not nearly as impressed with it this season.
The good part about the Tigers is that in April, when they weren’t hitting a lick, their pitching came through for them. In May, when their pitching struggled, they have hit like crazy.
But it is not a good sign that Mike Maroth, in Comerica Park where he should excel, is knocked around like he was Tuesday by the Angels. His ERA is nearly 5.00. The Tigers bullpen is an adventure right now. Is there any reliever on that staff you really trust with a lead right now? Even Todd Jones is shaky of late. And if anybody says Bobby Seay, may I remind them he is, well, Bobby Seay.
It is Jim Leyland’s great strength handling the bullpen, but its shaky at best. All that said, the Tigers nearly pulled out that game Tuesday. They did an excellent job of waiting out Angels starter John Lackey. They nearly rallied in the ninth. The Angels were brilliant defensively. That was the difference. It’s just I don’t like the way the Tigers pitching has been depleted. Supposedly, Jeremy Bonderman will be back in the rotation and pitch on Thursday. He can’t return fast enough. Also, I wouldn’t be surprised if Andrew Miller eventually takes Maroth’s spot in the rotation. He just brings such better pure "stuff" to the mound.

Random Thoughts

- I hope, deep into the future when his career is done, Tayshaun Prince gets the credit he is due as one of the great playoff players of his generation. The way he clamps down on the NBA’s greatest scorers defensively is unbelievable. No wonder LeBron James was afraid to shoot Monday. Prince deserves more consideration than he has been getting for the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award. And Prince is an excellent clutch shooter.

- I have a feeling this is the year when their poor decisions and wasteful spending catches up to the Yankees - and they don’t make the playoffs. They need more than an aging, part-time Roger Clemens to get them out of this jam. The Red Sox are killing the Yanks - and in every way.

- If I am the Red Wings, I’d do everything possible to retain Dominik Hasek. While they did show much more grit this playoff run than during the recent past, if CuJo or Manny Legace were still in net for them, I doubt they get out of the first round - and certainly not the second. Hasek was that big of a differencemaker. He was terrific during the playoffs. And I am starting to wonder if Jimmy Howard is really that good.

- Pavel Datsyuk had eight goals during the playoffs, including the biggest one vs. San Jose during the Western Conference semifinals. And Tuesday night, with the season on the line, he played brilliantly during the third period against Anaheim. So I guess it’s official - Ken Holland did make the right decision by giving Datsyuk a long-term contract just before the start of the playoffs.