Baseball Anyone?

I know it's November and yes, the Lions are actually putting together a pretty sexy season so far, but I'm starting to get jacked up for baseball again. I've been jogging through games, lineups and even possible Tigers trips for 2008. And they haven't even handed out the MVP Awards for this year yet for 2007. I need a life. That or a girlfriend.

Here's what the Tigers line-up and rotation could look like next season:

CF Curtis Granderson (.302 BA, 117 runs, 23 3B, 26 SB)
2B Placido Polanco (.341 BA, 105 runs)
RF Magglio Ordonez (.363 BA, 28 HR, 139 RBI)
DH Gary Sheffield (25 HR, 75 RBI)
SS Edgar Renteria (.332 BA, 87 runs)
1B Carlos Guillen (.296 BA, 21 HR, 102 RBI)
LF Jacque Jones (.285 BA, 33 2B)
C Pudge Rodriguez (.281 BA, 63 RBI)
3B Brandon Inge (14 HR, 71 RBI)
Bench Marcus Thames (18 HR, 54 RBI)
Bench Ryan Raburn (.304 BA, 27 RBI)

SP Justin Verlander (18-6, 3.66 ERA, 183 K and a No-Hitter)
SP Jeremy Bonderman (11-9, 5.01 ERA, 145 K)
SP Kenny Rogers (3-4, 4.43 ERA)
SP Nate Robertson (9-13, 4.76 ERA)
SP Andrew Miller (5-5, 5.63 ERA)
RP Fernando Rodney (2-6, 4.26 ERA)
RP Todd Jones (38 Saves, 4.26 ERA)

Pretty close to last year's team with a few positive additions to the offense. I'd be nice to see the Tigers go out and get another quality arm for the bullpen and maybe another top-line starter like Dontrelle Willis. There's plenty of time for that as this post is about four months before the season actually starts. If you have made it all the way through this post without losing interest (it is baseball in November afterall), then you'll want to make sure to read this again... in March.




I'm also saddened to hear about Lloyd Carr's retirement following Michigan's disappointing loss to Ohio State this past Saturday. Many fans and media guys only see who he is on the field of football. They don't see him making numerous visits to the Michigan Hospital or spending time with his players, encouraging them and making life-connections. He even made sure last year that his assistants received two-year contracts so that if he did retire this year, they would be able to continue on at the program. I grew up watching his teams and it will be hard to see another head coach on the sideline next year.