Leyland On Tigers Opening Day: Team Should Have 'Tunnel Vision'
DETROIT (97.1 The Ticket) Detroit Tigers' Opening Day dawned crisp and clear Thursday, with a sell-out crowd and expectations that lots of people will mill around most of the day.
But is Detroit's Opening Day different than anyone else's? Tigers manager Jim Leyland took on that discussion during a chat with 97.1 The Ticket's Jeff Riger early on Opening Day at Comerica Park.
"I don't want to downplay the impact of it anywhere else, I wouldn't say that, I would say it's certainly as big here as anywhere obviously," Leyland said. "They're fired up in Pittsburgh today, they're opening up at home. They were fired up in Miami. I don't want to be disrespectful of other franchises. Opening Day is Opening Day."
But there is a way Detroit is different.
"The best part about Detroit is that they come out here pretty regularly after Opening Day and some of the other places don't," Leyland said.
The pressure's on the Detroit Tigers this season to produce something big, with a roster that includes sluggers Prince Fielder, Miguel Cabrera and pitchers like Justin Verlander. How does Leyland feel about predictions the team could go all the way in 2012?
"You have to embrace it somewhat because you can't avoid it, but you also try to pay as little attention to it as possible. The theme for this team all spring long was 'be tunnel vision on this clubhouse, on this team.' Don't get wrapped up in anything other than the task at hand.
"Like I said, I don't really pay a lot of attention to it because the same guys who picked us first this year, picked us third and fourth last year, so I don't pay much attention to their predictions," Leyland said.
On to the ever-hot topic of Brandon Inge and his role on the team -- Will he play second, will he get traded? -- Leyland was circumspect.
"Don't start etching everything in stone, I mean I've got to figure out a way ... to be creative enough to get Santiago some at-bats, he's playing second base today, and I feel real good about that. And I'll feel good when I play Inge at second base against a lefty," Leyland said.
"But that's my job, I'll have to do that. You can talk about that until the cows come home, but you'll be beating a dead horse. The one thing I've proved since I gotten here is I play everybody, I try to make everybody feel part of the team, and everybody will get some at-bats, some will get obviously a whole lot more than others. But I think everybody pretty much who's been here will have to say they felt like part of the team so we'll leave that at that."
