Morning Prowl: Weeks That Were, Ernie's Fitness, Rob Deer, and Gut Punches

  How did the past week go for the White Sox, the Tigers' opponent for the next three games?  MLB.com's Scott Merkin sums it quickly in his latest blog post (while also saying some nice things about Detroit). 

  And if you're looking for a summary of the Tigers' first week of the season, Mack Avenue Tigers has a one-stop post for you.  (I was thinking of doing something like that.  Dang.)

  I mean this in the nicest way possible (really), but no one makes me feel like more of a fat, lazy slob than Ernie Harwell.  The man is a physical marvel at 91 years old, and as you can see in this story, he does a lot to stay in shape.  I bet he could beat me arm wrestling.

  David Laurila interviewed Rob Deer for Baseball Prospectus.  Deer is currently the minor league hitting coordinator for the San Diego Padres.  (Yes, really.)  Good stuff toward the end of the Q&A about his Tigers days.

  I don't know about you, but I was really hoping that the Indians would start off 0-7.  Not just because it would obviously help the Tigers, but so we wouldn't have to hear about that anymore.  (Although that talk has probably been squashed with the 4-3 start, right?)  Unfortunately, the Tribe won yesterday.

  Over at Lone Star Ball, Adam is beaten down and distraught after Sunday's loss to the Tigers.

  If you were looking for the Tigers to sign Chad Gaudin (in whom they were reportedly interested), look no more.  After being released by the Cubs last week, he's signed a minor league deal with the San Diego Padres.

  Hot Foot Blog has video from Ken Rosenthal on FOX Sports, in which he says Gary Sheffield will last a month with the Mets, calling him "a waste of a roster spot."