By JOHN KEATING
FOX Sports Detroit
... Your eyes were naturally drawn to the field where the unusual was taking place. We never had an inkling Prince Fielder’s baseball future included Detroit. Until the monstrous contract was announced. So, there was Fielder at first base. Miguel Cabrera was effortlessly fielding ground balls at third, where he will be stationed all seaon long. And Brandon Inge was at second base, awaiting his turn along with Ramon Santiago and Ryan Raburn, with whom Inge is now competing for that job.
... Inge is noticeably bigger in the arms and chest, the result of a rigorous offseason program with former Michigan football strength coach Mike Barwis. inge sounds determined to put what he called “a rough season” behind him, but whoever hits the most will win the second-base job.
... One of the longtime organizational staff members mentioned it to me. There's a different feeling as the full squad gathered today for the first time. "This team really seems to like each other," the staffmember said. "Not that others haven’t, but there’s a real camaraderie in place.” Expectations of a division championship and perhaps more can spur all kinds of those good feelings.
... Jose Valverde and new teammate Octavio Dotel were having a conversation -- from about a hundred yards away from each other, from one field to the other here in Lakeland. There isn’t much reserved about Papa Grande. He looks slimmer and sounds louder, if that’s possible.
... And we can start now. Rod Allen arrived today. I see you, Rod.
