The Tigers have been this utterly frustrating entity. One day they lose in some maddening fashion - and the season seems to be over. The next, they win, while the White Sox and/or Twins lose - and they appear to be anything but done.
Down the line, every Tigers player and pitcher, with the exception of Marcus Thames, is having a subpar year based on the standards they set the previous couple seasons.
On top of it, Gary Sheffield and Edgar Renteria have been mere shadows of what they used to be, their lack of production staggering. Dontelle Willis and Jermey Bonderman aren’t even in the rotation when there was a reasonable projection they would combine for between 25 to 30 victories.
Considering all this, is it necessarily a bad sign?
I mean, it could be looked upon as if this just isn’t the Tigers season. Or it can be concluded the Tigers have had all this go wrong - and they are still in a pennant race.
Last season, the Rockies were .500 after 102 games and reached the World Series. And the Phillies were 48-48 and six games back on July 20 last season before winning the National League East.
The last thing the Tigers should do at this point is quit. It could be just a matter of time until water finds it level.

Baseball’s All Star Game was a hit this year. The high drama at the end was welcome. The festivities at Yankee Stadium interesting, but not overdone.
It came in stark contrast to 2002 when Bud Selig called the game in extra innings because the teams were out of pitching. You know, as if it is some spring training game. And this year reminded me of extra inning All Star games in the past - when the game really meant something to both leagues.
When I was a kid, the National League used to win it every year. The lone exception was in 1971 at Tiger Stadium, which has to be the greatest All Star Game of all-time with the six future hall of famers hitting home runs, including the monster shot off the light tower by Reggie Jackson.
Now it’s the American League that just doesn’t lose this game. Maybe adding that the winning team gets home field advantage is working.. Seemed like the National League was actually disappointed it lost.

Random Thoughts

- Considering what is happening with Tiger Stadium these days, I must admit a sense of sadness every time Jackson’s home run in ‘71 was shown. And it was shown a lot. Loved those dark green seats.

- Last year, when I was at the All Star Game in San Francisco, I became completely turned off by home run hitting contest. It went on for way too long. It just wasn’t very interesting. It was too much of a staged, made-for-TV event. By the end, honestly, I wasn’t paying much attention. It seemed odd because I did enjoy it very much at Comerica Park in 2005 when Pudge did so well, and Bobby Abreu won it. Seems like the show Josh Hamilton put on this year revived it.
There sure was a lot of buzz about it, and it wasn’t just ESPN driven.

Note: There will be no blog update Friday. The next one will be Monday. Have a great weekend.

Trade rumors surfaced over the weekend that had Tracy McGrady coming to the Pistons. The Pistons have reportedly denied interest. They should.
Although still a very good player, McGrady is not the explosive athlete he once was. He is older and has been beat down to a degree, particularly by back injuries. He had his moments last season, especially when the Rockets went on a long winning streak after Yao Ming was injured, but he misses a lot of games.
Honestly, I wouldn’t trade any of the Pistons core players one-for-one for McGrady, who has never been part of a winning playoff series. He is not the answer. The Pistons don’t need perimeter players. They need help inside. As the off season moves on, it appears more and more like the Pistons core will remain intact.
There just don’t seem to be any moves that would improve the Pistons. I strongly feel, if Joe Dumars does make a major deal, it must be for an inside player, or to improve the Pistons’ defensively. There is nothing wrong with the Pistons’ backcourt of Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton and Rodney Stuckey. That’s a strength. I also don’t get the issues many fans have with Tayshaun Prince. He is a unique player. The obvious player to move is Rasheed Wallace, but there just doesn’t seem to be a fit that would involve the Pistons getting a quality big man in return. And Wallace, despite his propensity for hanging around the 3-point line, is the Pistons only real inside presence.
The landscape could change during the season. Teams, after reviewing the way they are playing, often look to make moves. Phoenix (Shaquille O’Neal) and Dallas (Jason Kidd) last season are examples.
It’s less than ideal, but Dumars might not be able to shake up his team until after the season starts.

Random Thoughts

- Yankee Stadium is a treasure of baseball history, and that obviously will make the All Star Game interesting. It is, however, disappointing the way average baseball fans, who represent the roots of the game, have been priced out of enjoying the experience. You could take three Hawaiian vacations for the cost of spending three days in New York and buying tickets for the All Star game and its various sidehows. It’s ridiculous.

- The Tigers have no excuse for losing like that to the Twins, especially at home. The Twins have three players - Justin Morneau, Joe Mauer and Joe Nathan - of note. The rest of that team is made up of raw young talent, average major leaguers and 4-A players. The Twins are overachieving and the Tigers underachieving. That’s the bottom line.

- An underlying story entering the All Star break: The wheels are starting to come off the Tampa Bay Rays. That could help the Tigers move into the AL wild card race, assuming the Yankees continue their spotty play.

Todd Jones has his backers, as he should. Only 14 pitchers in baseball history have saved more games. Nobody has saved more games for the Tigers. He did do a respectable job as closer in 2006 when the Tigers won the pennant.
That, however, shouldn’t distract from has become an alarming issue for the Tigers. Jones has pitched poorly lately. Period. It’s gotten to the point where he can no longer be trusted.
His time as Tigers closer seems to be borrowed. All the signs are there that the wheels are coming off, including a dismal blown save opportunity Thursday against the Twins.
Jones has an ERA over 5.00. He has walked more hitters than he has stuck out. He has allowed far more hits than innings pitched.
I think it will be a long time before Tigers manager Jim Leyland turns to Joel Zumaya as the Tigers closer, but it may be inevitable at some point of this season.

Random Thoughts

- There is only one truly threatening power hitter remaining in the Twins lineup - Justin Morneau. Why aren’t the Tigers pitching around him? Other teams certainly are.

- I’m glad they are saving the flag pole from Tiger Stadium. It was distinctive and unique and symbolic of the ball park. Can’t help but feel bad Tiger Stadium is coming down.

-The Lions have to sign another running back before the start of training camp, don’t they? LaMont Jordan would be a good fit.

These next six games represent a crossroad for the Tigers. They are at Comerica Park. The Tigers are 25-11 there since beginning the season with six straight home losses. They are playing Cleveland, which has essentially thrown in the towel on its season, two straight nights. Then they go head-to-head against Minnesota four times. The Twins, who have beaten up on the National League and the Indians to move into contention, will be in the midst of their most difficult road trip in awhile (Boston and Detroit) and may be prime for a trip back down to earth. The White Sox will be on the road, at Kansas City and Texas. The White Sox are 19 game above .500 at home and five games below .500 on the road.
The All Star break is coming after this weekend. Where will the Tigers be? If they are still seven games or further off the American League Central lead, given the scenario presented this week, it will be a tell-tale sign they are unlikely to contend the second half of the season. Conversely, if they move up a couple notches, the second half of the season should prove to be quite interesting.

Random Thoughts

- There are two things, above all else, Jim Leyland must get in order. One is the Edgar Renteria situation. His lack of production is killing the Tigers. He hasn’t had an RBI in his last 54 at bats. He doesn’t have an extra base hit in his last 89 at bats. He has just two extra base hits - both home runs - in his last 207 at bats. All he does is leave runners stranded. It might not be a bad idea to bench him through the All Star break. Obviously, Renteria needs to regroup.
Second, is how to use Fernando Rodney. Leyland should not use him in setup situations if Joel Zumaya is rested. And even then, Freddy Dolsi should be the option ahead of Rodney.

- Tennis, including the ultimate marquee event such as Wimbledon, had fallen off the radar to a large degree. That could change, however, following what was an utterly spectacular men’s final Sunday.

- Brett Favre is a great football player, but count me among those tired of his drama king act. Either play or retire. This has gotten to the point of absurdity and has taken some of the luster off his legacy.

It wasn’t just that the Tigers lost Wednesday I found disturbing. It was how they lost.
They are supposedly fighting to get back into the pennant race. It was their first series against an American League Central foe in a long time, one that has emerged as a legitimate contender, the Minnesota Twins. It was the so-called "rubber game" of a three-game series. The White Sox are winning every day and threatening to run away with the division.
And how did the Tigers respond? With a lethargic performance. The Twins aren’t a better team than the Tigers, even with Magglio Ordonez and Miguel Cabrera out of the lineup. They outhustled the Tigers at every turn, though. Especially on Wednesday.
The Tigers dug themselves a hole. They can’t afford to give away games. They lost a game in the standings to both the Twins and White Sox Wednesday. That’s going to happen, but it shouldn’t be because emotion is lacking.
It was a habit the Tigers developed early this season. It’s a bad habit. Not one they can afford to fall back into at this crucial juncture of the season.

Random Thoughts

- I didn’t mention Marian Hossa among the possibilities for the Red Wings during free agency. I saw no way they had a shot at him. How could anybody envision - general manager Ken Holland among them - the Red Wings getting Hossa to agree to a one-year deal for less than market value? He was due, by any stretch, a multi-year pact at near max money. By pulling this off, the Red Wings have made the move of the off season. It says a lot about how revered their organization is among players. I liked the Ty Conklin signing, too. Oh, and getting Brad Stuart to return was another gem. Is this team set up to win another Stanley Cup or what?

- Brett Favre is "itching" to play again. What a surprise. How long has he been "retired?" Not even six months? Seems like the guy just loves the attention. Thing is, I’m not so sure the Packers would welcome him back with open arms.

- The Tigers have had few pitchers down through the years as puzzling as Zach Miner. He throws in the mid-90s, has excellent movement on his fastball and decent off-speed pitches. There are times when he has good control. The problem is consistency. Just when you think Miner can be trusted, he proves he can’t. Just when you think the Tigers should give up on him, he starts to pitch well again. It’s odd.

Don't forget to check out "The Book and His Boss" video podcast I do with sports editor Jeff Kuehn each week. It's on the video bar next to the blog. Thanks for your support. It is appreciated.

Pat Caputo

It’s part myth and part reality the Tigers have gotten better simply because they have been benefactors of interleague play.
It obviously helped their record to go 13-5 against the inferior National League, but only minimally when it came to gaining ground in the American League Central standings. The White Sox went 12-6 in interleague games. Even the Royals 13-5. The Tigers actually lost a game to the Twins, who were 14-4 against the N.L.
In terms of the standings, the Tigers made a monumental move, gaining five games in just six days to suddenly move into contention. Since then, despite winning regularly and getting over .500, they have been pretty much been spinning their wheels trying to pick up ground in the standings.
That’s the beauty of the next month. There will be a lot more head-to-head competition for the Tigers against their A.L. Central rivals. Eighteen of their next 29 games, starting tonight in Minnesota, will be against the A.L. Central - including their next nine home games.
The competition outside the division isn’t that fierce - eight games, each a four-game series, at Seattle and Baltimore. But those games are on the road and, frankly, the White Sox don’t have a particularly challenging schedule outside the division, either. The Twins, however, do. They must make road trips to Boston and New York in July.
I don’t know how the Twins are doing it, to be honest. The Tigers and White Sox are comparable in terms of their talent, especially when injuries are placed into the equation. The Tigers can’t afford not to have Magglio Ordonez for an extended period of time. We’ll know more about the Twins and Tigers after this series.

Random Thoughts

- The American League has beaten the National League in interleague play every season since 2003. This year, the A.L. won the games by a 149-102 margin. It was 137-115 in 2007 and 154-98 in 2006. That’s 440-315 over a three-year span - a winning percentage of 58 percent. If that isn’t discernable evidence the A.L. is the better league, I don’t what would be.

- It would help the Tigers a great deal, with Ordonez out, if Gary Sheffield continues the clutch hitting he began last week. Also, it’s imperative Miguel Cabrera gets untracked. The loss of Ordonez can’t be minimized. Until Cabrera proves otherwise - and he sure hasn’t to this point - Ordonez is the Tigers best hitter.

And so the answer was Walter Sharpe. Or, in the words of Pistons fans throughout Southeast Michigan Thursday night, "Walter Who?"
But for all his problems, the Pistons’ first pick in the NBA Draft obviously has talent. Otherwise, the Pistons would not have selected him in that spot. In that way, it makes sense.
This draft was remarkably thin. The Pistons weren’t likely going to get a serviceable player at 29th overall. D.J. White sure isn’t the answer to any of their needs. So Joe Dumars did the next best thing: He went for a player with a troubled past, but with a higher ceiling given his talent - at least based on the Pistons scouting. Seems like he did his homework on Sharpe. And it does pay off sometimes to think outside the box. In that sense, I thought it was a good - and certainly interesting - pick. It was good to get an extra pick because of the deal with Seattle.
I still think the Pistons would have been better off, though, drafting Chris Douglas-Roberts. Time will tell.

Random Thoughts

- Gary Sheffield has been terrific since returning from the disabled list. But the key has been starting pitching. The Tigers are in every game. Now if they could just get Miguel Cabrera on a hot streak. Have a feeling that is coming sooner instead of later.

- As good as the Tigers have been lately, the Twins have been better. They seem to be emerging as the team to beat in the A.L. Central. And I don’t understand how with that pieced-together roster.

- The Tigers can’t afford to let their guard down against the Rockies. A sweep this weekend is in order. It would put them above .500 and keep pressuring the White Sox and Twins.

I like Baron Davis as a player. He is better than Chauncey Billups at creating his own shot, but don’t see where he would lead the Pistons to a championship. The Pistons’ need size. They need somebody with a rebounding presence and the ability to guard the basket, who does his best offensive work in the low post. As it stands, the Pistons guards are the least of their problems. Elton Brand and, particularly, Carlos Boozer would be ideal. Not sure Joe Dumars can get a deal done to acquire either one of those players, however.

Random Thoughts

- Either Bill Walker and Chris Douglas-Roberts would be a good choice for the Pistons at 29th overall in the NBA draft. Not sure either one of them will be there, though. This is a pretty weak draft. I don’t anticipate it having much of a bearing on the Pistons for next year.

- I don’t know what to make about Gary Sheffield’s return to the Tigers lineup. He did hit a home run Tuesday, and that’s a good sign. He is a Hall of Fame-caliber player. But I wonder whether he still has anything left in the tank. We’ll find out soon enough. If he does, it would provide the Tigers with a huge lift. Oh, and can he stay healthy? That’s the main issue.

- No, I don’t like Michigan’s new road uniforms. That was more than tweaking with tradition - it was messing with it. If something isn’t broke, don’t fix it. The Wolverines uniforms are classic.

Now that the Tigers have rapidly moved into a position of contention, what will it take for them to remain there?
Pitching is the obvious answer to that question. Marcus Thames aside, the Tigers have been winning lately because they are pitching better - period.
They are getting a decent start pretty much every game. Their bullpen - save for Fernando Rodney - has avoided disasters. They have also been fielding better, which has benefitted the pitching staff. Carlos Guillen is playing much better at third base. So is Miguel Cabrera at first.
What I don’t know yet is whether the Tigers surge is the result of just beating up on bad teams. Cleveland wasn’t playing well when the Tigers won two of three to begin this. The White Sox were - and sweeping them was encouraging. But the Dodgers, Giants and Padres are teams with little life right now.
We’ll know a little more about the Tigers this week. St. Louis won two of three in Boston over the weekend. The Cardinals are thriving despite injuries. Yet, we’ll really know when the Tigers get back to knocking heads regularly with their American League Central rivals come July.
I do think the Tigers are in the race for the long haul. I don’t believe any club is going to run away with the A.L. Central this year. This might be one of those seasons when 90 or less victories nets a division title.

Random Thoughts

- I think it’s being overlooked just what a monumental accomplishment it is that Tayshaun Prince was named to the United States Olympic basketball team. That’s rarified air he is breathing by hanging with such a star-studded cast. Wonder why all these people want him traded from the Pistons. Doesn’t make sense to me.

- People still don’t seem to have much faith in Todd Jones. Why? Hasn’t he converted every save opportunity this season? Isn’t that what matters?

- What do Dan Haren and Cole Hamels have in common? They rank 11th and 12th in the National League in ERA - just behind Jair Jurrgens, who is No. 10 with a 3.20 mark. By the way, Brandon Webb is 14th.