So I am perusing the Boston papers this morning to read the local reaction of last night's melee and I run across Dan Shaughnessy's take on Kevin Youkilis' disagreement with Rick Porcello.  Here is Shaughnessy's lead: 

Kevin Youkilis took a first-pitch fastball in the back, hesitated for a split second, then made a bull rush for 20-year-old Tiger pitcher Rick Porcello. The kid righty was backpedaling when a sprinting Youk flung his helmet at him, then wrapped him up and wrestled him to the ground like a baby calf.

Huh??  Were we watching the same game?  Apparently not.  Wrapped him up and wrestled him to the ground like a baby calf?  Might want to check the video again.  My eyes told me Porcello slammed Youkilis to the ground, and the video agrees.  And while Porcello was indeed backpedaling, he was also trying to avoid Youkilis' helmet.  Now, I don't blame Youk for charging Porcello.  After being hit twice in two days, he felt he was being thrown at.  Of course, Miguel Cabrera was hit twice in two days, but he didn't charge.  I digress.  The issue I have, is Youkilis firing his equipment at Porcello.  A definite no-no.  I haven't read many local stories taking issue with Youk throwing his helmet.  Funny how two sides see a story very differently.

Also, should Porcello have been thrown out of the game?  Second inning, three run lead, no warnings and Youkilis was the first batter he hit.

Alex Avila walked into the Tigers clubhouse earlier this week and found his jersey hanging in his locker.  For the first time in his career it was a big league locker.  In addition, the number on his jersey caught his attention.  For ten seasons, Lance Parrish wore the number 13 for the Tigers and carved out an impressive career which culminated in in World Championship in 1984.  Now, Avila is wearing number 13.

Alex turned in one outstanding debut, as he not only picked up his first major league hit in his second at bat, but his his first big league RBI as wel.  The very next night, he slammed his first big league homer and finished with four RBI's.  Not a bad start for the kid.  Yet, through the whirlwind two day period that brought Alex from AA Erie to Comerica Park, he remains the same kid that he always was, cool, calm and collected.

I asked Alex how he celebrated his big league debut and his answer was not surprising,  "Just a quiet dinner at home with my family," he said.  Alex spent a portion of his high school career at Warren De La Salle.  While he went to school in Michigan, he spent his summer working at a local batting cage.  When my son played on a summer tournament team, he worked out at the same facility.  We would see Alex in the cage a lot, working on the very swing that would get him to the big leagues.

In 2006, Avila played on a summer team in Ann Arbor.  On the same team was Zach Putnam, who would later go on to star at U of M and eventually end up in the Cleveland Indians organization.

While Alex only spent a portion of his high school career at De La Salle, I still consider him a local kid.  A kid from a great family who has worked hard and has now gotten his first big league shot.  A dream come true for a kid who grew up around the game and put in the work to make this chance happen.

The announcement today that the Tigers have traded for Seattle lefthander Jarrod Washburn has energized the Tigers clubhouse.  Washburn gives the Tigers a legitimate trio of starters heading down the stretch and hopefully into the playoffs.

I know Washburn well having broadcast his games from 1998 to 2001 in Anaheim.  I can guarantee that the Tigers just traded for a fierce competitor that is having one of the finest seasons of his career.  Washburn has plenty of post season experience, which is a big part of what he brings.  He has pitched in pressure games and has a World Series ring, which he earned in 2002 after winning 18 games with the Halos.

Rick Adair is Seattle's pitching coach and a former Tigers coach.  Washburn has given Adair plenty of credit for his outstanding season.  Apparently Adair told Washburn to make a slight adjustment in the way he rotates his hips during his delivery.  The result has been a stunning improvement in his sinker.  As Wasburn said, "My sinker actually started sinking."

So the Tigers have made a significant addition to their staff and I believe to the emotional state of the club.  Recently Justin Morneau stated that it was frustrating that year after year the Twins stand pat at the deadline.  Many won't say it, but it frustrates players on contending teams when the club is not able to add some pieces.  Dave Dombrowski has done just that, bolstering the pitching staff and adding some pep to the clubhouse as well.  I think the Tigers just added a winner, and hopefully a key piece to a division champion in 2009.

After a clean sweep by the Yankees this weekend, it's clear the Tigers have a need for another bat in the lineup.  What's really strange is the Tigers inability to get it done offensively on the road.  The home/road splits for the club show just how much better the Tigers play at home.

                        Home                     Road

Ave.                  .276                       .243

SLG%               .456                        .393

OB%                 .353                       .307       

And, I'm not even going to get into RISP.  I suppose the good news is, the Tigers have played ten more games on the road this year then they have at home.  They will play at Comerica Park a lot in the second half.  They can't, however, waste the type of perfomances they got from the rotation in New York.    At this point, the Tigers really don't know what they will get in Carlos Guillen when he returns.  They hope it's the guy capable of driving in 100 runs, but they don't know.  And, while Miguel Cabrera has had a nice season, he may have to carry this team on his back a lot more as the season progresses.    With the trading deadline approaching, every contender hopes to add a piece or two.  Based on the Tigers current payroll, logic tells us they should have enough on the current roster.  This past weekend however tells another story.

As for the New Yankee Stadium, it is truly an impressive structure.  Maybe too impressive.  The thing that hit me this weekend, is that the new park is far less intimidating than the old one.  When you walked into Yankee Stadium in the past, you could actually feel the history and mistique of the franchise.  I'm not sure it's the same anymore.  It actually seemed too polished.  Still, very impressive.

The BranTorino marketing campaign is officially a success.  Today Brandon Inge officially became an all star when he was announced as the winner of the internet vote in the American League.  Along with Shane Victorino in the National League, Inge was voted in with the help of a shrewd marketing idea by the Tigers and Phillies.   Phils fans would vote for Inge if Tigers fans would vote for Victorino.  The results were impressive.  Victorino lead all players with a record 15.6 million votes, while Inge checked in with 11.8 million votes, the most ever by an American League player.

While the process of the vote is open for debate, the fact remains that Inge was deserving of an All Star selection this year.  He leads all A.L. third basemen in home runs, and is second in RBI, slugging percentage and runs scored.  Add to the mix his defensive abilities and he will represent Detroit very well.

Congratulations to Luke French on his first big league win.  French has given an already strong starting staff and big lift in the absence of Bonderman and Willis.  An eighth round pick in 2004, French has fought his way to the big leagues based on his strong performance this year.  The Tigers have been known to take the guy who was pitching the best in the minor leagues when a need arises.  It happened last year when Armando Galarraga got his shot.  That turned out pretty well.