By MICKEY YORK
FOX Sports Detroit
Baseball is back in Detroit, and with it comes some lofty -- if not unrealistic -- expectations.
To avoid the inevitable disappointment, aggravation and frustration that will surely follow Tigers losses, lets dumb it down a bit with some lowly and completely realistic expectations.
Let's begin with losing.
It's entirely possible the Tigers will lose a few baseball games this year. They might even lose close to the 74 they lost last season.
When this happens, please avoid all sharp objects, bridges, the hangman's noose and the temptation to purge your soul on local sports-take radio.
The Tigers will lose to teams they should beat and win games they shouldn't. This cycle will repeat several times between now and October.
Justin Verlander will lose games this season, too. He will walk batters and allow home runs. His pitch count will get hopelessly elevated.
He will still win close to 20 games, finish with an era of 2-point-something and will be or rank among the game's strikeout leaders.
Miguel Cabrera will strike out, pop out and ground into double plays. He might even go 0-for-5 (see season opener). He will commit errors and will get thrown out at first by a mile.
Someone will accuse him of loafing and then he'll beat out a double that should have been a single. He will hit over .300 and finish with 25-plus homers, more than 100 RBI and 175 or more hits, just like he has in each of his previous nine seasons.
"FIRE JIM LEYLAND!"
It's already been said. He will leave a starter in too long and go to the bullpen too quickly. He will put together a lineup that will be dissected and debated more than North Korea's missile threats.
He won't play enough small ball, softball, big ball or beach ball. He will say he loves his team, its fans and the city. He will be right more often than he's wrong.
Tom Brookens will get someone thrown out at home and he will stop someone at third he should have sent. You will claim, "Gene Lamont never would have done that!" You will need a Xanax.
Tigers outfielders will inexplicably let balls drop in front of them, miss the cut-off man and overthrow a base. Torii Hunter will have lost a step, Austin Jackson won't dive for a ball (he never dives).
You'll wonder why Don Kelly is still on the team and groan when Cleveland Indian Ryan Raburn hits a home run against the Tigers (you know it will happen).
Jhonny Peralta won't get to a ball deep in the hole, and his lack of range will become Exhibit A in the case of the Tigers suspect defense. The Tigers will botch double plays and extend innings.
They'll issue lead-off walks that will come back to bite them, almost every time. You'll say, "They overpaid for Sanchez." The Tigers will nod knowingly.
Prince Fielder will strike out with men in scoring position and slide awkwardly. Austin Jackson will be caught stealing, and Ramon Santiago will fail to execute a bunt. Alex Avila will writhe behind the plate in pain.
The Tigers closer-du-jour will blow a save. You'll scream, "Bring back Valverde!"
Wait ... What?
You will fall in and out of love with this team all season long. You will be simultaneously, mad, glad, thrilled and downright agitated with your Tigers. No player, coach, front office member or TV personality will escape your wrath.
But after 162, the Tigers will have won more games than they lost. They will go to the playoffs and the World Series. They will win!
This is the year and a long one at that. Enjoy it and we will celebrate at the parade.
Oops, there's those expectations again.
