Opening Day 2010

Tigers at Royals

4/5/2010

Here it is!  Opening Day for a brand new season!  The Roster has been whittled down to 25 men.  Names we have known for years are gone (Granderson, Polanco, Rodney, Robertson).  New ones are now on the team (Sizemore, Jackson, Valverde).

No one really knows how well they will do (the individuals or the team).  For today they are just as good as the eventual World Champions- for all that we know they will BE the eventual World Champions. 

In order to do that they will have to beat weaker teams on a regular basis, and today's Royals should be one of those weaker teams.  If there is anything we should understand after 2009 is that EVERY game counts, even the ones played in April and May.  Just one more win along the way would have avoided Game 163 and the Tigers would have won the AL Central Pennant. 

I believe that the 2010 Tigers can do that.  Ordonez should be much better than last year (now that his wife is healthy).  Inge has been to the repair shop and his knees appear to be strong again.  Cabrera has apparently faced his demons and should focus better.  Laird should bat better (more to his norm) also.

What I hope, more than anything, is that those players who are still here from Game 163 will be angry.  They had the prize taken from them at the last moment.  I'm not trying to take anything away from what the Twins did, they earned it- but the Tigers should be pissed about losing like that.  And they have to take that energy and focus it. 

I have read the story of the 1968 Tigers' team.  They too had lost a chance at the post season taken away on the last day (in 1967).  They came back angry and determined.  They won the last true AL pennant and then the World Series that year. 

Others may think I'm crazily optimistic, but I see a lot of talent on this 2010 team and I believe they can do this.  Starting in about 10 minutes we're about to find out!