By DANA WAKIJI
FOX Sports Detroit
DETROIT -- If the Tigers can avoid the nasty injuries they had last year, they should have everything in place to make a run.
But just because Magglio Ordonez is fully recovered from his fractured ankle and Joel Zumaya says his elbow is 100 percent now doesn't mean the team's current good health will stay that way throughout the season.
"Everybody looks good this time of year," manager Jim Leyland said during the Tigers' caravan Thursday at Comerica Park. "We didn't think we were going to have any issues last year, then at the snap of your fingers, we lost three guys in about 48 hours.
"That happens to everybody. Somebody asked me the other day, you think you have enough depth if you lose guys like you did last year? No. Nobody does. That's part of the game.
"I've said this many times. Baseball's never really gotten the credit for the grueling sport it is. People when they think about grueling sports, they talk about hockey and football. I understand that, don't get me wrong. But when you play 162 games, 35 in spring training, you're going to have injuries. That's just the way it is.
"With the travel and everything, it's tough. It's a tough game. A lot tougher physically than people think, along with the mental part of it. So everybody's feeling pretty good right now, but that's the way it always is in January."
So far the starting rotation seems to be set with Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Rick Porcello, Phil Coke and new acquisition Brad Penny.
Leyland said they'll work with eight starters in spring training, trying to get some of the younger guys like Jacob Turner and Andy Oliver ready in case they are needed, as usually turns out to be the case.
But as the pitching goes, so will the Tigers.
"That's where it normally starts and ends," Leyland said. "If you get into the seventh inning with your starters on a consistent basis, with our bullpen, we should be pretty good. It does put you in a position to win a lot of games.
"When you start grinding it out, day after day after day, that's the key."
Jan. 20, 2011
