Some TSN Lovin’ on Valentine’s Day

Mike is quick to point out his disdain for The Sporting News, and I too must confess to being significantly disappointed in the product I recall quite lovingly from my youth.

And yes, TSN thinks half the Tigers’ infield is basically a bag of garbage, but in the Spring Training Preview issue I received in my mailbox today, Detroit is ranked as the preseason No. 2 in its weekly Power Poll. The Motor City Tabbies are tucked right behind division rival Minnesota and just ahead of the Yankees and Reds Sox.

 Also in the Top 10 are the ChiSox (eighth) and the Indians (ninth). Go figure, the Tigers finally get competitive and they’re now in the toughest division in all of baseball! Even the eternally woeful Kansas City Royals were shown a little TSN lovin’ by being ranked No. 23.

 Also in this issue the Tigers received kudos for the best off-season move in their acquisition of Gary Sheffield:

The Tigers didn’t mope after losing the World Series; they went out and filled their biggest hole with a legitimate slugger.

The Tigers also were rated with the No. 2 off season in the division earning applause for the Sheffield and Jose Mesa acquisitions. The Indians earned top billing for adding “NHL-style grit” with outfielders David Dellucci and Trot Nixon, among other moves.