Tiger Geist

By all accounts, Gary Sheffield was having an awful spring.  Then, after his two home run outburst against the Yankees, its revealed that Sheffield is working on regaining his old ’swing’ from two years ago.  Sprinkle in a few more hits and walks since then, and you wonder what Sheffield can be to Detroit this year.  With his contract ending after this year anyway, was there a chance that Sheffield wouldn’t make this team?  Probably not.  But who do we expect to have a better year, Gary Sheffield or Marcus Thames?  Where is Jeff Larish’s at-bats going to come from?

Thames has been out for a few days with an injury, and I’ve wondered whether he was trade bait this spring.  Since Sheffield’s contract expires this year, if Thames gives Detroit a better shot at winning this year, there is still a _chance_ that Sheffield could be cut for a more defensive player (Brent Clevlen) or a power hitter who can field (Mike Hessman)?  However, what’s another factor that Detroit has?  A giant desire to sell tickets in April.  What is a huge selling point?  Gary Sheffield and his 499 home runs.  Have the Tigers started hyping April tickets yet based on Sheffield’s run at 500 home runs?

As an add-on, I’ve been in Seattle most of the week for work.  The local media was talking about the Mariners’ financial woes in 2008, and its beginning to make me worry about Detroit’s long term contracts.  But I’ll get over that.  In the mean time, my father & I head to Lakeland this Thursday for a 4 game trip to watch the Tigers (Nationals,Yankees, Nationals, and Red Sox included).  Exciting times.