Lakeland, Fla. -- What really matters in spring training?
There are those who believe, minus the variable of injuries, that nothing matters until now -- the last 10 games.
Coincidently, the Tigers began playing their last 10 on Wednesday -- not counting the 11thgame, that is.
Realizing it might make only borderline sense to say the Tigers have 10 games left with 11 to play, here is the explanation.
The last game of the spring is a mere formality -- a spring getaway that players on both sides want to get through as fast as possible, which they almost always do.
So the next 10 are the games that matter most.
Aren't they, Justin Verlander? Aren't they, Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez?
And Mr. and Mrs. Tiger Fan.
So you don't like the way Verlander has pitched this spring, especially in his last start, when he gave up three home runs?
There is time for him to make it look as if he is entering the season auspiciously instead of not.
But it has to be accomplished in the next 10 games.
If Verlander finishes the spring with a pair of strong outings, you'll feel better about him as the regular season starts.
What's more, he will be able to proclaim what every player hopes to at the conclusion of camp: "It ended well; I feel good."
Friday's start in Dunedin against the Blue Jays should be a good test for Verlander.
Next issue.
Not convinced that Cabrera and Martinez will be fully recovered when the season starts?
That's understandable, but give them the chance to be -- not to mention the time to be. They've not been playing until recently, but now they're back in the lineup.
Cabrera started at first base against the Miami Marlins on Wednesday, while Martinez was the designated hitter.
Making a couple of fine defensive plays upon his return to positional play -- including one he tumbled to the ground for, so in that regard, it could not have been a more encouraging game for Cabrera.
"I was relieved when he came up smiling," admitted manager Brad Ausmus. "It really did (concern me). He's a very important part of the team, coming off major surgery."
It matters far less that Cabrera went 0-for-2 at the plate than he did 2-for-2 with his defensive challenges -- the second one being a good pickup/throw combo to the plate.
What's more, when he left the game after four innings, Cabrera appeared to be moving comfortably -- his surgically repaired ankle giving him no problem.
That's not to say he is fully ready to start the season. He has not faced a lot of live pitching this spring.
But it's another reason why the next 10 games will be the ones that matter the most this spring.
"So I guess, yes, they are," said Ausmus. "Internally, the players are more prepared to play in the last 7-10 days."
The same goes for Martinez' recovery from a torn meniscus. He also was in the Tigers' starting lineup, but didn't seem to be moving as well as Cabrera.
Then again, with no position to play, the only available path for Martinez was to first base.
Ausmus said last week that Martinez won't catch at all this year, and now it sounds as if the same restrictions could be in place for him at first base.
Expanding his probably-not zone, Ausmus indicated he has no plans to use Martinez at first -- because the importance of his production far surpasses his defensive value.
It's not unusual for a team's bullpen to be determined in the last 10 games. More often than not, that's how it's gone over the years with the Tigers.
This spring won't be an exception.
To be determined, most likely, isn't whether Joe Nathan will go into the season as the Tigers' closer, but the degree of confidence the Tigers will have in that decision.
And, of course, there will be the fine-tuning of the bench. Will it be Andrew Romine, Hernan Perez or both as the extra infielder?
Also to be decided is the backup catcher role -- Bryan Holaday not hurting his cause with a grand slam in the 8-4 victory over the Marlins.
"It was a big hit for Doc," said Ausmus, "but also a big hit for us."
Then again, James McCann hasn't harmed himself by hitting .400 for the spring.
There are several decisions to be made, but the countdown to make them just got louder.
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