10 Lessons Learned from Lakeland '10

One of my favorite baseball writers, Jon Paul Morosi, recently wrote a piece called 10 for '10, with his 10 predictions for Major League Baseball. While a post detailing 10 for '10 for the Tigers' season is planned, why not take a look at 10 lessons learned from Lakeland:

10. Cabrera is "Back to MVP form"
Look. I am ssssooooooo sick of the alcoholic jokes about Miguel Cabrera, and with sports writers saying that he will have an MVP season this year now that he is "clean." Miguel had a great season last year (.324 AVG/34 HR/103 RBI). Normally, that would be considered an MVP campaign by anyone, if it weren't for an alcohol drenched weekend in September (and a super human robot named Joe Mauer). Cabrera didn't lose the pennant for us. We lost it ourselves by not capitalizing on runners in scoring position, letting Dontrelle Willis pitch for us in May, not upgrading the back of the rotation until August, and having a black hole of suckitude at the bottom of the batting order. I think Cabrera will put up identical numbers, and secure more MVP votes now that he is "clean." I'm not condoning boozing it up, I'm just saying, enough with the jokes already!

9. Johnny Damon Loves Detroit
Johnny Damon loves Detroit. Detroit was his first choice after New York. Damon had his teammates over for video games. Yada, yada, yada... I for one, cannot wait for the caveman to run the bases. Damon was exactly what this team needed after losing game 163: a shot in the arm of fun (and well, a true table setter). And the fact that he does naked pull ups in the clubhouse is pretty cool too.

8. Leyland Has a Sense of Humor
Supposedly, when Willis was getting roughed up in his last outing, Leyland told him he made the rotation while giving him the hook. That's kind of sadistic. And I like that.


7. Dombrowski Only Likes Left Handed Relievers
In the big trade, we got Coke and Schlereth. Nate Robertson and his 10 million was only worth a AA LOOGY. Add them to Brad Thomas, Fu Te Ni, and well, you've got a cluster$%^& in the pen. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DOMBROWSKI, WE NEED A LEFTY BAT, NOT A LEFTY RELIEVER.

6.Maggs' Bat is REALLY LOUD
What the hell does this really mean? Hopefully it means lots of extra base hits and RBIs. If it means line drives caught by Granderson when the Yanks visit, then I am pissed.

5. When DD Makes a Trade, He Does So With Class
He traded Granderson to the Yankees, a perennial contender. Ejax will benefit from moving to the National League. Robertson will get to be a starter, instead of working in long relief. I bet these boys are glad that Dombrowski is not bff with the GM of the Nationals.

4. Austin Jackson is the Real Deal
A lead off hitter that doesn't swing at bad pitches, is patient, hits triples, and can hit left handed pitches. Holy moly, Tiger Fans, we have a real lead off hitter! Listen, I love Granderson as a person and as a role model, but he was better suited for hitting in the 5 hole, not lead off. If he produces half as well during the season as he did in Spring Training, he will have the fans of the D saying "Grandy who?"

3. The Managers Prefer Players Who Wear Their Sox High
Dontrelle made the rotation over Nate, and it wasn't because he's the better pitcher. High sox make you an "it" player. And at the end of the day, the managers were able to overlook Donnie Kelly dropping the ball in the lights at the House of Horrors to reward him with the 25th spot on the roster. Sorry Cletus. I swear it's because he wears his sox high-as all players should!

2. The Tigers Have Some Hot Minor League Players
Could the outfield of 2011 consist of Casper Wells, Wilkin Ramirez, Maggs, and Ajax? If so, don't slip in my pool of drool on the floor. The future is looking really, really hot in Detroit folks.

1. At the End of the Day, It's Just Spring Training
Monday morning, we'll all be in first place. Spring Training will just be a memory, a play ground where the Tigers just practice kicking ass and taking names. There are 162 games to have wins, losses, injuries, blow outs and shutouts. I just hope we are ready!