Okay, we used to do this occasionally over at the old place, so I figured we'd try it here and see how it goes. This is spring training for us too, folks.
▪▪ Yesterday, I mentioned that Mike McClary had some exciting interviews coming up on The Detroit Tigers Podcast. And one of them is now available for your listening pleasure. Please go check out the DTP's 30-minute chat with Mr. George Kell.
▪▪ Did jealousy among colleagues prevent Dave Dombrowski from winning the Major League Baseball Executive of the Year award last season? The Detroit News' Lynn Henning smells a conspiracy.
▪▪ The Detroit Free Press' Jon Paul Morosi says the Tigers' starting rotation is set, despite Jim Leyland's claims to the contrary. Kenny Rogers should start Opening Day, with Justin Verlander, Mike Maroth, Jeremy Bonderman, and Nate Robertson to follow in that order.
Morosi also points out that the Tigers have an opportunity to give Verlander some extra rest in the first week of the season, if they'd like to skip his turn during the off-day after Opening Day.
▪▪ Big Al at The Wayne Fontes Experience is happy to have a boring spring training this year.
▪▪ From the CoPa is posting division previews, beginning with the NL West and NL Central. Since he's doing it, I guess that means I don't have to (and wasn't really planning on it, anyway).
▪▪ Brian already covered this at TigerBlog, but just in case you haven't seen it, Gary Sheffield has left Lakeland for some "me time." Sheffield's attorney said his client had "business to take care of" and that the matter is not health-related. Dave Dombrowski considers it an "excused absence," while Jim Leyland said Sheffield would probably be back for tomorrow night's game vs. the Phillies.
Also in the article, the Freep cited a report in Tuesday's New York Times which mentioned an arbitration hearing between Sheffield and agent Scott Boras being scheduled for this week. That could certainly qualify as "other business."