Detroit Tigers: Appreciating greatness on a daily basis

Detroit Tigers fans are some of the luckiest people on the planet, but do we realize it?

While it is easy to complain about some of the Detroit Tigers players, we certainly have more to appreciate than not.

Despite the fact that the Tigers have not won a World Series title since the calendar flipped to a new millennium, there are still plenty of reasons to be appreciative.

The first reason we should be grateful is Justin Verlander. Sure, the guy isn’t perfect, but there isn’t anyone on this team who plays with more intensity. Every time he pitches, he is working his way closer to his future enshrinement. As a pitcher who has hit 100-mph on the radar gun, he is on par with fireballers like Randy Johnson and Nolan Ryan. Even now, at age 34, he occasionally reaches 99 mph and he does it with control. His numerous awards, from the Rookie of the Year in 2006 to his pitching Triple Crown, he has proven his value year after year.

The second reason is Miguel Cabrera. Like Verlander, each at-bat gets him closer to his spot in Cooperstown, too. As we fans frequently hear from the TV and radio announcers, no one has more fun than Cabrera. It’s easy to believe this. Like Verlander, he, too, has won numerous awards for his outstanding play. His batting stats are up there with the historic greats like Ted Williams, Hank Aaron, and Willie Mays. In the future, there will be baseball fans who will envy us for being able to watch Cabrera play night after night.

J.D. Martinez may not be bound for the Hall of Fame, but there is no story in baseball that is better than his. We’ve heard the story of J.D. sitting in minor league limbo in the Houston Astros system when the Tigers rescued him. But, are fans aware that J.D. was actually a 36th round draft pick. Yes, you read that correctly – 36th round, in 2006. (Paul Goldschmidt was picked in the 49th round – 2006 was a good draft year). But that’s it for players picked after J.D. Despite his two recent injuries in 2016 and 2017, he has come back to make some of the most iconic hits in history. And, we get to see it every day.

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We also get to enjoy the defensive prowess of Ian Kinsler and Jose Iglesias. This pair is constantly compared to Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker (who both belong in the Hall of Fame). And, as someone who did get to watch Tram and Sweet Lou, I agree that the comparison is accurate. Iggy and Ian compliment each other with their ball flips and flying catches. In an MLB that is loaded with All-Star middle infielders, Kinsler and Iglesias stand out in the crowd. The duo was outstanding in 2016; Iglesias had the best fielding percentage as a short stop and Kinsler won the AL Gold Glove. And, we get to watch them every day.

We also get to watch young players develop their game. We have the reigning Rookie of the Year in Michael Fulmer. We also have James McCann and his second deck home runs and Captain America work ethic.

Next: Appreciating Tyler Collins & his desire to improve

It truly is a good time to be a Detroit Tigers fan.