You know the Tigers’ pitching is struggling when five runs allowed is considered a stellar performance...

Detroit Tigers: Could Curtis Granderson be the missing piece?

Is this bad start a result of players showing their advanced age at the same time?

How badly will the Tigers regret giving up Cameron Maybin and Andrew Miller in two years?

If the Tigers don't turn it around, will this be a tougher year for Jim Leyland than managing the Florida Marlins in 1998?

Dave Sheinin: Clearly, the Tigers are missing Granderson, who is the catalyst of that fantastic offense -- and a difference-maker on defense, too. But they have also gotten very good production out of center field in his absence, so that's the not the entire problem.

The thing about the Tigers' lineup is that it is full of hitters with long track records who absolutely will put up numbers.

But one thing that has been exposed a little is their vulnerability to right-handed starters. Last year, they were 60-59 in games started by RHPs, and instead of getting a left-handed bopper for their lineup, they got the right-handed Miguel Cabrera. Yes, Cabrera crushes every type of pitching, but it's also true that their lineup is very right-handed.

The degree to which the Tigers "regret" giving up Maybin and Miller is inversely proportional to how much production they get out of Cabrera (and to a lesser degree, Dontrelle Willis) over the next half-dozen or so years.

Once the horrible fire sale was over, Leyland actually enjoyed the 1998 Marlins (I know, because I covered them for the Miami Herald), despite losing 108 games. There was no pressure. The same can't be said for this year's Tigers.

Who the heck is this guy? Yes, I've seen the baseball cube stats:

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/T/clete-thomas.shtml

But last year's sub .800 OPS at AA hardly justifies him leading off what Steve Phillips continues to call the "the greatest lineup in the history of baseball"

(sorry, Phillips just bothers me - the man makes me appreciate Joe Morgan's analysis!)

Meanwhile, He is actually hitting big league pitching AND Jose Contreras. Never remember this guy on anyone's radar for any reason.

The best thing about the start of this baseball season: No Barry Bonds. - Pat Caputo on his Blog