Jim Leyland Says …

Caught most of Tigers’ skipper Jim Leyland’s interview with ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike in the Morning today. Some of the highlights follow.

On using the near-miss last year as a motivational tool (paraphrasing): I haven’t brought it up once. Our chances of getting back to the World Series aren’t good. I don’t say that to be negative, it’s just difficult to get back. Do we have a chance to go back? Sure, but a lot of things have to go right to get back to the World Series again.

On the AL Central: I think we’re going to beat up on each other. … The division title will probably be decided by how we each fare in interleague play and how we do outside the division. It’s an outstanding division.

On Lou Piniella’s recent tirade and the desire to get back into managing: It’s what I do. It’s what we do. There are only 30 of these jobs available and it’s an honor to have one of them. … I’m a competitor.