Let's Make a Deal

I have to tell you something. The past couple days, after the Tigers suffered successive walkoff defeats at the hands of the Red Sox, I have been afraid to let myself read any articles, or listen to radio, or...anything. I've been petrified, quite literally, into total inaction. I can't figure out what to do with all this. The Tigers are seven games back. We are about to play the White Sox four times in three days. We could either climb back into this thing (however temporarily, setting us up for more heartbreak), or we could get buried.

Best I figure it, Monty Hall has set up:

Door Number One: I can give up the season for lost, sit back and watch the kids, try to figure out whether any of them are future Major Leaguers, start dreaming up a free-agent wish list, watch Miguel Cabrera get walked twenty zillion times, and find some way to go to an Arizona Fall League game. If I do this, and the Tigers end up making the playoffs, I will be Benedict Arnold in my own heart.

Door Number Two: I can keep the faith. I can get my heart stomped every night. I can find some way to deal with the pain (some way that doesn't involve substance abuse or binge eating). I can keep telling myself that we can win this division. Shut up. Stop laughing. Seriously.

Actually, my problem is that I cannot commit to either of these oh-so-attractive scenarios.

I'm looking for door number three.

Anyone....anyone????

Your "Always a Tiger" Update

Cameron Maybin needs surgery for a partially torn labrum, according to Juan Rodriguez of the SunSentinel.com. He's expected to be ready for Spring Training, and is the projected every day center fielder for the Marlins next season.

There is some apparent question of the club manipulating his service time so that he's not arbitration eligible until after the 2012 season. He was sent down to AAA last year in May, but was called up at the beginning of September after an injury to Jeremy Hermida (who was just traded to Boston for a couple minor league pitchers).

In 54 games, he stole only 1 base, and was caught three times. His average had sunk to .202 when he was sent down in May. He finished the season at .250, however, and started picking it up at the plate in late September.

Maybe we'll finally get a long look at Maybin in the majors next year. I'll watch for the chicken wing flapping as he runs the base-paths.