Detroit Tigers Links: VMart injury factor, 06 mini reunion (VIDEO)

In the days leading up to Victor Martinez‘s surgery–which could go several different ways and offer a disabled list time from 8 weeks (available by Opening Day) to several months (around the All-Star break)–Detroit Tigers’ fans have been panicking.

And with good reason. If V-Mart is unable to go, it will be very tough for anyone to believe the Tigers are the AL Central front runners. Our first link explores this.

Our second link looks at Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen reuniting abroad. And anytime you bring up these two you have to remember this little gem when Guillen had Ordonez’s back against Jered Weaver.

Finally we take a look at how Tigers’ fans feel about their manager. While Brad Ausmus is “passing” if this was a report card, his 65 percent would give him a grade of a D. Luckily approval ratings are not a report card and 65 percent is surprising good.

Does injury to VMart spell doom for the Tigers? – Michael Betzold, Detroit Athletic Club

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The reports of the death of the Detroit Tigers are premature.Victor Martinez will recover from what is actually minor surgery—and be ready to contribute to the team by April. Miggy is set to go and be his old self. His problems with his legs and foot are over.Justin Verlander, having put on weight and finally put his own physical problems behind him, will return to Cy Young form. Detroit has David Price, another ace, for the entire season. Anibal Sanchez is also healthy again and will be the best No. 3 starter in the game. Simon is coming off an All-Star season, Greene is promising, and don’t forget that Kyle Lobstein is another up-and-coming rotation option.Bruce Rondon is finally ready to take over as closer if Joe Nathan falters again—and Blaine Hardy will blossom in the pen as well.Iglesias is 100 percent, and the wizardry of his defense will help the pitching staff immensely. He and Ian Kinsler will be the best double-play combo in baseball. Alex Avila’s new helmet will keep him in the game with an improved defense. Gose will be a spectacular center fielder to keep the Tigers very strong up the middle.

Magglio, Guillen reunite at Caribbean Series – Jesse Sanchez, MLB.com

Ordonez is part owner of the Venezuelan Winter League champion Caribes de Anzoategui club and the mayor of the eastern Venezuelan city of Sotillo.“I’ve always wanted to stay in baseball because I’ve played the game my entire life and I was looking for a way to stay involved,” Ordonez said. “I am who I am because of baseball and I wanted stay involved. I’m enjoying it. We have been a successful team and it takes a lot of time and effort to make a championship team.”Ordonez sported a .309 batting average with 294 home runs during 15 seasons with the Tigers and the White Sox. He played his last Major League game in 2011 and officially retired the next year. In 2013, he was elected in Sotillo, a city with 250,000 people, as a member of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela.

Brad Ausmus gets 65 percent approval rating – Rob Rogacki, Bless You Boys

Our January approval poll seems to reflect a general feeling of acceptance of the job Ausmus did. Sixty-five percent of voters expressed approval for Ausmus in an intentionally unambiguous poll. Managers incite more polarizing feelings than their front office counterparts and we wanted our poll to be as black-and-white as possible. Or, in this case, navy and orange.

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