Detroit Tigers Links: V-Mart grateful, Joba’s son key to return, #10

The Detroit Tigers decimated the Baltimore Orioles (or the kids wearing Baltimore uniforms) in the Grapefruit League opener on Tuesday.

More from Motor City Bengals

• Detroit Tigers: Garrett Hill’s new role and changed delivery are excellent
• Detroit Tigers: Joe Jiménez has rebounded in 2022
• Detroit Tigers: Is it finally time to move the fences in at Comerica Park?
• Detroit Tigers: Riley Greene continues to impress with his performance
• Detroit Tigers: Outlook on Jace Jung is a little concerning

One player that help the Tigers romp to wins like that in the past was Victor Martinez. While he was not on the field Tuesday, he was in the facility working out. Speaking to reporters he was very thankful that the injury he suffered wasn’t worse.

Turns out that one of the reasons that Joba Chamberlain is back with the Tigers is because of his son. Well known in the Tigers’ locker room, Joba Jr. (not his real name) didn’t want pops to explore other, more lucrative offers because he didn’t know any of the players on that team. Remember #TigersTwitter if Joba struggles, blasting children is OFF LIMITS.

Finally, Grantland took a look at the MLB landscape in Spring Training’s infancy and while the Tigers’ may no longer be considered “elite,” they are still highly ranked (10th) heading into 2015.

Tigers’ Victor Martinez grateful injury wasn’t worse – Anthony Fenech, Detroit Free Press

"“The first thing that came to my head was that thing I had two years ago,” the Detroit Tigers’ designated hitter said today, in his first meeting with reporters since arriving to spring training Monday. He was recounting the moment he injured his knee this winter.Two years ago, Martinez tore up his left knee and missed the entire season.“I was really scared, I’m not gonna lie,” he said. “I had a lot of stuff going on in my head, a lot of thinking.”So Martinez did a lot of praying that the pop he felt while playing catch with his brother in the street outside of his house in Orlando wasn’t anything major.“And thank God, (the surgeons) went in there, they didn’t repair anything, just clean it,” Martinez said."

Joba Chamberlain’s son had a lot to do with him signing back with the Tigers – Craig Calcaterra, NBC Sports

"Ken Rosenthal reports that while Joba Chamberlain‘s desire to come back to Detroit this year was motivated in part by his own comfort level and sense of unfinished business with the Tigers, there was something else which factored into it too. His eight-year-old son’s wishes:“I sat down with Karter and asked him what he was comfortable with . . . We kind of went through all of the options. He was like, ‘Dad, I don’t know anybody on that team.’ Or, ‘I know this person on this team.’ Literally, as we were going through it, he gets on his phone and calls Victor’s son to ask how his dad was doing.”Meaning Victor Martinez‘s son, Victor Jr."

The Tigers ranked in top 10 in Grantland pre-season poll – Zach Gase, Detroit Sun Times

"There are still a lot of questions that need to be answered for the returning American League Central champions. Will Miggy Cabrera be ready for the regular season? Can Victor Martinez repeat as one of the best hitters in baseball? Is Justin Verlander going to ever be the same pitcher he was when he won his Cy Young/AL MVP?Despite all these questions, Grantland believes the Tigers are set to have a pretty good season, as they are ranked 10th on the website’s preseason poll."

Next: Recap: Tigers 15, Orioles 2