If you were worried that Dontrelle Willis might somehow be added to the Detroit Tigers' major league roster and perhaps appear in one of these last 25 games, fret no longer.  Technically, Willis was recalled from his minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo.  But he wasn't activated from the disabled list, which means he won't see any game action.

Also recalled from the minors, but not activated, was pitcher Alfredo Figaro.  Figaro had been pitching in relief at Double-A Erie. 

  Driveline Mechanics has posted the first of a two-part profile of Rick Porcello.  Part 1 compares Porcello's pitch speeds from last night's game to a start back in July.  There's been plenty of concern about Porcello getting worn down as he nears 150 innings in his first major league season.  But do the numbers show exactly how much is Kid Rick tiring out as the Tigers head into the stretch run?

  Did Nate Robertson's relief appearance last night mean he's not starting on Friday?  No, he's still scheduled to pitch against Toronto.  Jim Leyland just wanted to get Robertson some work, as he'll have gone more than a week between starts, according to Jason Beck.

  Kurt from Mack Avenue Tigers freelances for MVN Outsider to break down the American League Rookie of the Year race.  Who are the top five candidates as of right now, and where does Porcello rank among them?

  ESPN.com's Rob Neyer also looks at the AL's best rookies, and though he basically has the same list of candidates as Kurt, his top choice is different.  Will this be a close race or is there a heavy favorite?

  Of all the analysis I've read about Fernando Rodney's three-game suspension, Tigers Tracks might have the best take on why Rodney needed to be penalized. 

  And though Rodney immediately appealed his suspension and is presumably available to pitch, the way the Tigers used their bullpen last night makes me wonder if Rodney is already serving his sentence.  Would Brandon Lyon have been used instead of Ryan Perry or Jeremy Bonderman if he wasn't being saved for the ninth inning?

  Since the Tampa Tribune's Marc Lancaster seemed the most outraged by Rodney's heave into the stands Friday night, it probably won't surprise you that he was "pleasantly surprised" by MLB's decision. 

  On his blog, Tom Gage asked a similar question I had about a play Brandon Inge made last night.  Inge scooped up a foul ball down the third base line and whirled to make an off-balance throw across the field that Miguel Cabrera caught at his chest.  Yet since it was a foul ball, the play didn't count.  Thus, no Web Gem.

  Any time Drew Sharp is positive about something, it seems worth noting.  (That is, if you're reading him in the first place.)  Maybe the guy's excited about his new afternoon drive-time gig on WDFN.  But Sharp thinks Leyland should be the AL Manager of the Year. 

(But is it hard to take him seriously when he doesn't even mention Seattle's Don Wakamatsu among his candidates?)

  Adam Everett was almost married to Mrs. America?  His wife Jennifer represented Georgia in yesterday's pageant, and Everett spent Monday's off-day in Arizona to be the supportive husband. 

In the end, Mrs. Missouri won the pageant.  (Yes, I looked this up.)  Everett's wife was not among the finalists.  But does he have bragging rights in the Tigers' clubhouse?

  MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo looks at the "reverse standings" to determine next year's draft order.  If things stand where they are now, the Tigers will have the 21st selection in the first round.  (That's just a guess, however, as Mayo hasn't factored in variables such as tiebreakers and compensation picks.)