First Lady Michelle Obama speaks out about gun control – First Lady Michelle Obama will be making a uncommon venture into politics. The First Lady will be giving a speech on gun violence, which plays a vital activist role during Presidents Obama’s second term. (more...) • Dearborn Heights Relay for Life coming up – Participants in the American Cancer Society’s 24 hour Relay for Life event are gearing up to fight against cancer at Crestwood High School’s football field, 1501 N. Beech Daly Road, on May 11. (more...) • Facebook makes changes to timeline once again – Facebook has made a change to its timeline once again. The change to the timeline was announced in March and was recently unveiled to Facebook users. Users profile page went from cluttered and hard to read, to simple and organized. (more...) • Student loan rates to increase – On July 1, the national rate on student loans is set to double from the current rate of 3.4%, to a new rate at 6.8%. (more...) • Caribou Coffee closes some Michigan locations – If you’re looking for a Caribou Coffee in Michigan after this April, you may be out of luck. (more...) • Habitat for Humanity to build 12 new homes in East Dearborn – For the first time in 26 years, Habitat for Humanity will reach outside of Detroit and into East Dearborn, where homes will be built for twelve lucky families whose dream to have a home will finally become reality. The city of Dearborn and ACCESS hav ... (more...) • Boston Marathon bombed, hundreds injured; federal officials assume terrorism – Tragedy struck the city of Boston during the Boston Marathon on Monday afternoon. (more...) • Hollywood films to be shot in Detroit bring jobs to Michigan – Detroit has big plans for the film industry coming late this spring. Just announced on Monday, April 1st from the Michigan Film Office is the film directed and written by actor, Ryan Gosling, “How to Catch a Monster” has been approved for a film ... (more...) • More News...

COLUMN: Can the Tigers meet expectations in ’13?

Improvements in the offseason could propel team to 2013 Championship

Follow @TMJSports

Published February 19, 2013

By: RICKY LINDSAY, STAFF COLUMNIST

Follow @RLindz35

Last week, while many people were celebrating Valentine’s Day, others were celebrating the return of baseball in the form of spring training. The Detroit Tigers took the field in Lakeland, Florida with high expectations and several story lines for the 2013 season.

(Ricky Lindsay / MJ)

The Tigers welcome a new outfielder in Torii Hunter with the departure of 2012 ALCS MVP Delmon Young to the Philadelphia Phillies, and welcome back designated hitter Victor Martinez.

Hunter, 37, who the Tigers signed just weeks after the World Series loss, will start in right field and is expected to hit second in the lineup. Hunter will not only affect the Tigers offensively, but will provide leadership to their younger players.

The return of Martinez is also monumental. With Martinez, the Tigers have a 2-3-4-5 that most teams would dream of, consisting of Hunter, Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder, and Martinez.

The open left field spot will be decided between candidates Andy Dirks and Avisail Garcia. Garcia, 21, is a much better athlete than Dirks, but has little experience in the Major Leagues, giving Dirks a slight advantage.

It’s also likely that the Tigers enter the 2013 regular season with a rookie closer. Bruce Rondon, the hard throwing right hander who routinely touches 103 miles per hour with his fastball, is the favorite to win the job. At 22, Rondon has never thrown a pitch at the Major League level, a risky move by the Tigers in their championship or bust season.

(Credit: MLB.com)

A competition for the fifth spot in the rotation will also occur. Drew Smyly and Rick Porcello will compete against each other for it during spring training. Smyly, a left hander, is vying to become the only lefty in the Tigers rotation, while Porcello will look to secure an all-righty rotation.

All of these internal story lines give the Tigers high expectations entering this season. Two straight division titles, two ALCS appearances, a World Series appearance, and two straight MVP’s also add impact to those expectations.

However, can the Tigers exceed expectations and win their first World Series championship since 1984?

Currently, there is no definite answer, but the Tigers are considered to be the favorite to win the American League once again, and rightfully so.

The team as a whole has improved vastly from last season, which definitely makes a statement being the defending American League champions. The experience and taste of defeat in an embarrassing form will also keep players hungry for success this season.

They were only four wins away from winning it all last season, and I expect this Tigers team to get their championship rings in 2013.