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A Season To Remember

Rob Sanford

The smoke has cleared and now the Tigers can look at 2011 and be proud of what they had accomplished.  As spring training began it was very much of a question mark for me on how the team would shake out. I wasn't all that concerned about the bullpen...but starting pitching was the great unknown. Now I can see with Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Doug Fister and Rick Porcello the future looks pretty encouraging. I would say good bye to Brad Penny, who became more and more unreliable as the season went on. The offense really doesn't need that much, other than healthy bodies...Alex Avila took an almost inhumane beating behind the plate..not two mention two bad knees, Brennan Boesch going down at a bad time with his thumb, to along with Delmon Young and Victor Martinez with rib cage muscle strains. They were really just playing on guts and determination in the ALCS.

I think there is no doubt that the days of Magglio Ordonez with the Tigers are over. I will always remember him as a player that never "dogged" it and loved every minute he wore the Old English "D." I hope the club will find a place for Don Kelly and Ramon Santiago next season...they more than proved their worth and came up big when the team needed them to do it. I will remember the season for the many come from behind wins, the dominating performances of Justin Verlander, the class of Brandon Inge...and the super human catches made in centerfield by Austin Jackson. 2011 can't be called anthing but a unqualfied success and I can't wait for 2012.

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