Much has been debated about the Tigers trades during the off season. And that’s the way it should be, given the Tigers rough start, and when it is considered just how much they gave up in those deals.
But reality has set in as this season has moved along. The Tigers are playing much better baseball, picking up an astounding five games in less than a week on the American League Central Division-leading Chicago White Sox.
And it’s not Miguel Cabrera or Edgar Renteria or Dontrelle Willis, who are making or breaking the Tigers’ season.
It’s the core of the 2006 pennant-winning team that is the gauge.
Take Sunday’s 5-4 victory over the Dodgers as an example. Brandon Inge - no longer stewing and gladly catching - and Marcus Thames, key players in 2006, homered. Nate Robertson pitched well. Todd Jones closed the game. Carlos Guillen had three hits and is fielding better. Placido Polanco had two hits. Even the seemingly forgotten Brent Clevlen had two hits.
None of the above-mentioned players, with the exception of Jones, was performing nearly as well as they did in 2006 until recently.
Same with Kenny Rogers and Justin Verlander, who have gotten their act together as well.
Another revelation has been the Tigers’ minor league system. It was supposed to be devastated by the departure of the organization’s top prospects. Yet, the Tigers have received numerous shots in the arm from the system. It was a great deal with Texas that brought Armando Galarraga to Detroit for a Class A outfielder. Clete Thomas, Michael Hollimon, Freddy Dolsi, Matt Joyce and Jeff Larish have all, at various times, made important contributions. None were, really, on the radar at the start of the year.
It’s all bought some time for Renteria and Cabrera, in particular, to get their feet back on the ground.
And it appears as if it might have saved what was rapidly becoming a lost season.

Random Thoughts

- That was truly one of golf’s great moments when Tiger Woods sank that birdie putt on the 18th hole of the U.S. Open Sunday. He is not only well on his way to becoming the greatest golfer of all time, but he has to rank as one of the greatest competitors ever - regardless the sport.

- How ironic was it Saturday when Jason Grilli contributed to the Tigers from afar by beating the White Sox with 1 2-3 innings of scoreless relief.

- This is an odd week, isn’t it? I mean three games in San Francisco and three in San Diego for the Tigers. The Giants are playing poor baseball. I watched most of their loss Sunday to the A’s and they just aren’t hitting. They have lost six straight games to the American League this season, having been swept by both the White Sox and A’s. All those games were at home, too.