http://www.freep.com/videonetwork/3472246611001
MLB Power Rankings: Tigers are No. 1. really?
USA TODAY Sports' Ted Berg breaks down the teams in the April 15 edition of the MLB Power Rankings.

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/...tfielder-ready-blaze-his-own-trail-Notre-Dame
Torii Hunter Jr., son of Tigers outfielder, ready to blaze his own trail at Notre Dame.
from the detnews

http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbc...ked-too-low-among-MLB-s-top-big-game-pitchers
Tigers' Verlander, Scherzer ranked (too low?) among MLB's top big-game pitchers.
from the detnews

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/...make-difficult-Tigers-players-get-into-rhythm
Postponements make it difficult for Tigers players to get into rhythm.
from the detnews

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/...ndo-Casanova-who-helped-sign-Nick-Castellanos
Tigers mourn death of scout Rolando Casanova, who helped sign Nick Castellanos.
from the detnews

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/...104/Study-Tigers-players-13th-best-paid-world
Study: Tigers players 13th-best paid in the world.
from the detnews

http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1...ing-espn-sporting-intelligence-survey?cc=5901
sport's highest wages.

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/...s-uses-few-words-put-his-stamp-team-s-culture
Tigers' Brad Ausmus uses few words to put his stamp on team's culture.
from the detnews

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/det...md=20140416&content_id=72253620&vkey=news_det
Tyler Collins getting chance to shine with Tigers.
Injury to Dirks opens door for No. 17 prospect to get first shot in big leagues.
from the Tigers official site

Ausmus, Francona have history with Tigers.
DETROIT -- The Tigers-Indians rivalry last year featured two close friends as managers in Jim Leyland and Terry Francona. The Tigers' new skipper also has a history with Francona.

Before Francona got his first Major League managerial opportunity in Philadelphia, he was a coach on Buddy Bell's staff in Detroit. Among his players was a newly acquired young catcher named Brad Ausmus.

"He's definitely a player's manager, and he was a player's coach when I was here," Ausmus said Wednesday. "Tito and I always had a lot of fun, whether it was on the bench or in batting practice. I think he understands that a 162-game baseball season can be a little bit stressful, and he does a good job of taking the stress off the players."

Their friendship continued after Ausmus was traded to Houston and Francona got the Phillies' managerial job.
from the Tigers official site

Getting Avila hot is crucial for Tigers' lineup.
Alex Avila has swung at plenty of first pitches this season.
DETROIT -- The Tigers returned to the comforts of their American League lineup Wednesday, designated-hitter spot and all, which meant moves up in the order for Ian Kinsler, Torii Hunter, Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez. It did nothing for catcher Alex Avila, who remains in the seventh spot as he tries to work his way out of his rough start.

It's nothing new for Avila, who hit .183 (13-for-71) last April on his way to a .177 first half, and .220 (13-for-59) in April 2012. At 3-for-23 with 14 strikeouts, though, it's a rougher start than he had through eight games of those previous seasons.

The slump has countered what manager Brad Ausmus said has been an excellent effort behind the plate, notably in terms of calling games.

"He's done an excellent job behind the plate calling the game. He's a smart catcher," Ausmus said. "That's hugely important at the Major League level, especially over the long haul. He's scuffled a little bit with the bat.

"He's obviously a much better hitter than he's shown so far, so we're hoping he can snap back into some better at-bats. But his defense, really his game-calling, has been outstanding."

Avila's approach has been somewhat different, even if the numbers so far are similar. He has been more aggressive at the plate early in counts, swinging at 14 out of 30 first pitches, according to STATS. He has put just five of those pitches in play, though, resulting in two of his hits, two outs and a sacrifice bunt.

It's a small sample size, but Avila's rate for previous seasons has been about a third or less.

Ausmus said aggressiveness has to be situational.

"There's times to be aggressive," he said, "and there's times to be a little bit more passive. With men on base, men in scoring position, that's obviously a time to be more aggressive, because it might be the one pitch you get to drive and drive the runner in. But it varies from at-bat to at-bat. There are other times you prefer hitters to be more selective."

Avila's drop to the seventh spot in recent days coincides with the rise of Nick Castellanos. When the season began, Ausmus didn't want to put his rookie third baseman in a high-pressure spot, keeping him more in the bottom third of the lineup.

"I don't want to throw Nick in the heart of the lineup," Ausmus said, "but I just think Nick's handled himself pretty well, so I don't feel as uncomfortable putting him in the sixth spot."

There's a vested interest in getting Avila's offense turnaround, beyond simply getting production out of the catcher's spot. Avila's slump coincides with the Tigers' struggles with a righty-lefty balance in their lineup. The only other left-handed batter in Wednesday's lineup was switch-hitting designated hitter Martinez.

The Tigers have left-handed bats on their bench, including Don Kelly and Tyler Collins, but an Avila turnaround would by far have a greater impact on the lineup.

"He would be a huge asset if we could get Alex hot with the bat," Ausmus said. "He will get hot with the bat at some point. We're hoping it's sooner than later, though we have a stretch I think of five lefties in six days coming up pitching against us. ?

"He's important offensively. As much as the defense of the catcher and the game-calling of the catcher adds to the team's success, we need Alex to swing the bat."
from the Tigers official site

Miggy aims to get back to all-fields approach.
DETROIT -- Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera said Wednesday he's feeling more comfortable with the adjustments he has been making to get back to his all-fields approach at the plate. It didn't yield him any hits in the spacious right field of Petco Park. He's hoping it brings better results back in Comerica Park.

"I feel better," Cabrera said. "Got to get back."

He's trying to get back to the one-handed finish to his swing that produced a lot of his opposite-field hits. Cabrera had gotten into a two-handed follow through last year during his injuries, and it left him pulling more pitches this season.

Cabrera says he feels healthy now, but he's still trying to get back to the healthy swing.

"The last two series, Dodgers and San Diego, they give me good pitches to hit," he said. "The last two games I feel better."

Cabrera had a well-hit ball to the opposite field in each of those two games after not hitting a ball to right field with authority for about a week.

Though Cabrera feels healthy, he said he has a daily regimen of core exercises that he has to do to stay that way after core muscle surgery last fall.

"I think after the season, I'll be able to go to the beach with no T-shirt," Cabrera joked.
from the Tigers official site

Smyly set to face Angels in his first start of 2014.
DETROIT -- Tigers left-hander Drew Smyly's first start of the season is now set for Friday's series opener against the Angels.

Smyly was originally slated to face the Indians on Wednesday, but Tuesday's postponement pushed Anibal Sanchez to that game and forced Smyly to be pushed back yet again. Unlike the rainout against the Royals last homestand, which knocked Smyly out of the rotation for more than a week, the difference this time is just a couple of days.

The difference will be more about the opponent than the day. While Cleveland's lineup is loaded with left-handed batters and switch-hitters, the Angels' lineup leans right-handed, especially now with Josh Hamilton and Kole Calhoun out. Their two primary run producers, Albert Pujols and Mike Trout, both bat right-handed, as do David Freese, Howie Kendrick and Erick Aybar.

That said, the Angels have so far hit right- and left-handed pitchers about the same.

Max Scherzer will follow Smyly in the rotation, facing the Angels on Saturday. Rick Porcello, who had been on track for Friday, will instead pitch Sunday's series finale. Porcello will now miss next week's four-game series against the White Sox, a team he beat four times with two no-decisions last season and a 2.13 ERA.
from the Tigers official site

http://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/4/16/5617374/how-to-get-alex-avila-out
How to get Alex Avila out: an explanation of why our catcher can't hit.
from bybtb

http://motorcitybengals.com/2014/04/16/tigers-offense-might-come-around/
Detroit Tigers Offense Might Not Come Around.
from mcbtb

http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2014/04/tigers_indians.html
Indians 3 - Tigers 2: Anibal Sanchez struggles early; Detroit's bats quiet in loss to Cleveland.
from Mlive

http://www.freep.com/article/20140416/SPORTS02/304160167/detroit-tigers-cleveland-indians
Cleveland 3 - Detroit 2: Tigers unable to answer Yan Gomes' two-run triple.
from the freep

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/...ight-Indians-put-Tigers-bats-into-deep-freeze
On cold night, Indians put Tigers bats into a deep freeze.
from the detnews

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2014_04_16_clemlb_detmlb_1&mode=recap_home&c_id=det
Anibal recovers, but Tigers' bats remain cold.
Righty allows three runs before getting things under control.
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/inde...d=det#gid=2014_04_16_clemlb_detmlb_1&mode=box
Boxscore.
from the Tigers official site

http://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/4/16/5622110/post-game
Final: Indians 3 - Tigers 2.
from bybtb

http://motorcitybengals.com/2014/04...rs-final-score-lose-3-2-to-cleveland-indians/
Anibal Sanchez Wild Early, Offense Sputters as Detroit Tigers Lose 3-2 to Cleveland Indians.
from mcbtb

http://newenglishd.com/2014/04/16/how-was-the-game-april-16-2014/
How Was The Game? (April 16, 2014).
from the NewEnglishD-Tigersblog

http://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/4/...ates-late-comeback-attempt-torii--hunter-bunt
Indians 3, Tigers 2: Failure to execute deflates late comeback attempt.
from bybtb

April 17 in Tigers and mlb history:

1820 - Alexander Cartwright, considered by many the father of the national pastime, is born in New York City. This pioneer banker, who is given credit for establishing three strikes for an out and three outs for each half inning, will be elected into the Hall of Fame in 1938 after a review of his journals reveals his many contributions in developing and promoting the sport of baseball.

1914 - The Chicago White Sox purchased Ray Demmitt from the Detroit Tigers for $2,500.

1939 - On the morning of Opening Day in Washington, DC, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New York Yankees visit Abner Doubleday's grave at Arlington National Cemetery. Roosevelt is also scheduled to throw out the first pitch at Griffith Stadium, but the game is rained out and Vice President John Nance Garner will do the honors four days later.

1945 - Pete Gray, a one-armed outfielder, plays his major league debut game with the St. Louis Browns at Sportsman's Park. Gray hits a single off Les Mueller in four at-bats, and handles no chances in the outfield. St. Louis beats the Detroit Tigers, 7 - 1, for their ninth straight Opening Day win, setting a major league record that the 1975-1983 New York Mets will tie. Gray, one of many players recruited to perform during World War II, will hit .218 (51 for 254) in his only major league season.

1953 - New York Yankees outfielder Mickey Mantle clears the bleachers at Griffith Stadium with a 565-foot home run off Chuck Stobbs. The shot comes in the 5th inning of a 7 - 3 Yankees victory over the Washington Senators. It is believed to be the longest home run in Griffith Stadium history.

1955: At Forbes Field, the Pittsburgh Pirates' 20-year-old rookie Roberto Clemente makes his major league debut, playing both ends of a doubleheader, ironically but perhaps fittingly, against the Brooklyn Dodgers, the team that first signed him but left him unprotected in the Rule V draft. In his first at-bat, the future Hall of Famer rifles one back through the originator, Johnny Podres, and off the glove of shortstop Pee Wee Reese, for the first of his 3,000 career hits.

1955: Al Kaline of the Detroit Tigers hits three home runs in Briggs Stadium, including a pair in the 6th inning, to drive in six runs. The Tigers rout the A's, 16 - 0 behind Steve Gromek's strong pitching. Kaline becomes the first Tigers player to hit two homeruns in the same inning, a feat that will be also done by Magglio Ordonez. For Kaline's 1955 season, the 20 year old will lead the league in batting average .340 hits with 200 and total bases with 321, and finish second in the MVP vote to Yogi Berra.

1956: Three future Hall of Fame members make their major league debuts. Luis Aparicio of the Chicago White Sox, Don Drysdale of the Brooklyn Dodgers and Frank Robinson of the Cincinnati Redlegs play the first games of their brilliant careers.

1960 - Cleveland Indians general manager Frank Lane, notorious for his multiple transactions, sends American League home run king, Rocky Colavito, to the Detroit Tigers for the league's defending batting champion, Harvey Kuenn. The trade is especially unpopular with Indians fans, who regard Colavito as their most popular player and best hitter.

1993: The Detroit Tigers score 20 runs in a game for the second time this week, beating the Seattle Mariners, 20 - 3. Rob Deer is 1 for 2 and scores four runs, while Travis Fryman has four hits and scores five times. Chad Kreuter adds four hits and three runs and Gary Thurman paces the Tigers with four RBI.

1995 - The Detroit Tigers signed Juan Samuel as a free agent.

2006: Detroit's Chris Shelton and St. Louis' Albert Pujols hit their major league-leading ninth home runs, joining Mike Schmidt (1976), Larry Walker (1997) and Luis Gonzalez (2001) as the only players in major league history with at least nine home runs in their team's first 13 games.

Tigers players birthdays:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jaegech01.shtml
Charlie Jaeger 1904.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/garcipe01.shtml
Pedro Garcia 1976.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/stpiema01.shtml
Max St. Pierre 2010.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Ryan_Raburn
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/raburry01.shtml
Ryan Raburn 2004, 2007-2012.

from Baseball Reference

http://motorcitybengals.com/2014/04/17/three-things-detroit-tigers-need-happen-breakout-2014/
Three things the Detroit Tigers need to happen to breakout in 2014.
from mcbtb

http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2014/04/detroit_tigers_brad_ausmus_tor.html
Detroit Tigers' Torii Hunter botches sacrifice bunt in critical situation: 'That's probably why we lost'.
from Mlive

http://www.freep.com/article/20140417/SPORTS02/304170037/detroit-tigers-torii-hunter-bunt
Detroit Tigers RF Torii Hunter's failed bunt attempt shows Brad Ausmus not afraid to take a chance.
from the freep

http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2014/04/detroit_tigers_alex_avila_3.html
Analysis: Detroit Tigers will not reach potential offensively until Alex Avila reaches his.
from Mlive

http://www.freep.com/article/20140417/COL08/304170036/drew-sharp-detroit-tigers-offense
Yes, it's early - but Detroit Tigers have some problems in their lineup.
from the freep