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.

Former TIgers On Parade

In the gaping absence of Tiger baseball (again) today (because, yeah you need an off day to travel from Seattle to LA), I tuned in to the Marlins/Pirates game.  Lo and behold, Andrew Miller was on the hill, and Craig Monroe was coming up to bat.  Monroe grounded out harmlessly, and Miller got out of the first after allowing one run. 

The announcer was describing Miller's stellar college career, and then mentioned that Miller came to Florida in the "Dontrelle Willis" trade.   Really?   Not the Miguel Cabrera trade?  Not the Cabrera/Willis trade?   I waited, but there was no mention of our nickname-less hero, nor any snickering afterward to betray any intended sarcasm.  Either the guy was totally deadpan in his joke, or...

There were 17 people in the stands at PNC Park.  I mean, even directly behind the plate, there was noone.  It was such a pitiful sight to see baseball being played in such desolation.   I wanted to board the next plane to Pittsburgh with a whole gang of baseball-crazed fans to people the stands for tomorrow's game.