Nice WSJ article about Rick Knapp.

Quoted: With his retro-style glasses, unfashionable gray crew cut and a gut that has stomached too many greasy dinners in two-stoplight towns, pitching coach Rick Knapp doesn’t look like anyone’s sexy offseason acquisition. But to the Detroit Tigers, that’s exactly what he’s turning out to be.

Good reporting from former GR Press writer Danny Knobler. This issue is finally getting some national attention. It's been under the radar in Detroit, too.

When you look at all the circumstances, a release seems like the most prudent choice. $18 million is just too much to pay Magglio next year, even if he turns it around. But last night's grand slam is a reminder of what a painful decision that would be. And I'm sure Mr. Illitch is attached; Maggs has been a huge asset to the team on and off the field since he got here.

Quoted: How do you know when a once-elite player like Magglio Ordonez is done? Danny Knobler isn't sure -- nobody is -- but Maggs' suffering stats and big salary mean an outright release by Detroit is a real possibility.

Excellent analysis of Dontrelle Willis' anxiety-related trip to the DL.

Quoted: It may well be something quite different from depression (anxiety disorders and depression are sometimes, but NOT always, concomitant), but it sounds like Dontrelle thinks there's a chemical or something in his blood that's making him sick, when the stuff in his blood is actually just a symptom.

Quoted: I'm only going into detail at all here because I've seen a lot of comments about this story elsewhere on the internet today, many of them ranging from the confused and curious to the willfully ignorant to the downright cruel and small-minded.

Quoted: REALLY LONG STORY SHORT: our pitching staff is screwed.

The bored and increasingly insane cartoon ramblings of a Tigers blogger. This off-season is about as exciting as the regular season.

Quoted: Bring me Jarrod Saltalamacchia! Let Kyle Farnsworth have a non-lethal but hilarious hunting accident! SOMETHING!

click to play

Great moment at Comerica last night during the rain delay.

Well, that was easy.

Quoted: It seemed the Tigers biggest infield surprise of the night had come from Ramon Santiago. He started at second base and hit his first homer in five years to finish off the Tigers’ three-homer third inning in their 10-2 win over Texas.

Quoted: Effective immediately, Cabrera is the first baseman and Guillen is the third baseman.

This one's for Liz.

Quoted: Tigers manager Jim Leyland said, “He’s got it all. Good looking. Articulate. Bright. Helluva of a player. Single.”

"Helluva [sic] player" is third on the manager's list? Sorry Pudge, looks like the skipper has moved on romantically.

Best Tigers season preview I've seen yet.

Quoted: [O]n the matter of tempting fate.... I regret to say I'm NOT doing my part; in fact, I'm thinking of getting a Tigers Old English 'D' tattoo. Now, you might say, well, what if the Tigers go on another 20-year ass-sucking binge? To which I say, did I attend multiple Tigers games during a season when Randall Simon was named team MVP? I did.

Tickets go on sale this morning.

Quoted: • Magglio Ordonez, the 1998 White Sox (861 runs, fifth in AL): "That lineup was all power. Here you've got on-base percentage, you've got speed, you've got people here who can do the little things."