So I’ll spare them the details and provide new readers with the gist: I attended the Rockies’ first-ever home game at Mile High Stadium against the Expos in April 1993 (thanks to a grueling roadtrip with Fungo contributor Doug Hill). I attended the first-ever game at Coors Field in April 1995 – Rockies versus Mets. And, I was there for the Rockies’ first-ever postseason game in 1995 against the Braves.

What’s more, I’ve always considered Coors Field to be my favorite big-league park, though last summer the San Diego’s Petco Park might – might – have caught up to it.

With that background, please understand this: I never root for the Rockies over the Tigers.

And now this:

• The Tigers’ All-Time Record against the Rockies is 7-11. All-time at Comerica Park: 5-4; at Coors Field: 2-7.
• On this date in 1958 Ozzie Virgil, who became the first black man to play for the Tigers 11 days earlier, went 5 for 5 in his first home game at Briggs Stadium.
• According to this story over at MLB Trade Rumors, there’s a lot of interest in former Tigers number-one pick and current Red Sox reclamation project Andrew Miller. How much interest? Enough, apparently, that the word “tampering” was used to describe it. Would it surprise you that according to Peter Gammons the Yankees were involved?
• Remember this? Three years ago today Marcus Thames homered for the fifth game in a row. His last eight hits had all been home runs.

Finally, Happy 48th Birthday to Matt Kinzer, who pitched 1.2 innings for the 1990 Tigers. He gave up three walks, three hits, three earned runs in that outing – but he didn’t take the loss.

Have a great weekend.

• The last time the Tigers made any noise worth noting at the Aug. 31 trade deadline was in 1988 when the made two deals, acquiring outfielder Fred Lynn from the Orioles for RHP Cesar Mejia, LHP Robinson Garces and catcher Chris Hoiles. They also picked up RHP Ted Power from the Royals for LHP Mark Lee and catcher Rey Palacios. In 2004, they acquired cash considerations from the Cubs for catcher Mike Difelice.

• With the emergence of Max Scherzer, the Tigers are getting plenty of praise for the trade that brought Scherzer, Daniel Schlereth, Phil Coke and Austin Jackson to Detroit. Rob Neyer weighs in here, saying:
  

  So far, the Tigers and Diamondbacks have come out way ahead on this deal, and the Yankees have come out … well, not so far ahead. Granderson’s been decent, but it’s a cold fact that Austin Jackson alone has been more valuable than Granderson … and the Yankees gave up Ian Kennedy and Phil Coke, too. Both of whom have been quite good.

  Meanwhile, Aaron Gleeman focuses on Scherzer’s mini-resurrection after being sent to Toledo in May.

• Last week I checked in some former Tigers to see how they’re faring. I knew that I’d forget some names and a handful of readers suggested I look at these guys:
  • Matt Joyce, Rays: .225 avg., 7 HR, 31 RBI, .830 OPS

  • Andrew Miller, Marlins: 0-0, 4.50 ERA, 1.60 WHIP. Miller has spent most of the season at Triple-A New Orleans and was recalled on Aug. 19.

  • Chad Durbin, Phillies: 4-1, 11 holds, 3.51 ERA, 1.24 WHIP

  • Colby Lewis, Rangers: 9-11, 3.56 ERA, 1.19 WHIP. Lewis has lost seven of his last nine decisions.

  • Ryan Ludwick, Padres: .264 avg., 14 HR, 56 RBI, .778 OPS. The former Mud Hens outfielder (2006) was hitting .281 in St. Louis before being traded to the Friars. In San Diego he’s scuffling, hitting just .218 with seven extra-base hits.

• While Comerica Park’s dimensions have improved since it opened a decade ago, there are still lots of Magglio Ordonez and Miguel Cabrera flyouts that would be homers elsewhere. This is not a problem at Chase Field in Phoenix and as a result the Diamondbacks are looking at ways to curb offense starting in 2011.

• I’ve got one more disc of “Mad Men” Season 3 to watch and I’ll be able to start watching the Season 4 episodes piling up on my DVR. No spoilers!

Finally, wish a Happy 65th Birthday to Van Morrison.

Tigers’ Record: 23-17, 1st Place; Tied with Minnesota

Today’s Game

Tigers at Dodgers | 10:10 p.m. ET – Dodger Stadium | On the air: FSD/AM 1270 & 97.1 FM

Pitching Matchup

Dontrelle Willis (1-1, 4.68 ERA) vs. RHP Chad Billingsley (4-2, 4.03 ERA)

Yesterday’s Results

Tigers 5 – A’s 2

• W: Jeremy Bonderman (2-2)
• L: Tyson Ross (1-2)
• Save: Jose Valverde (11)
• HR: Miguel Cabrera (8)

Tigers History Lesson

Today’s Birthdays

• Andrew Miller, 25
• Bryce Florie, 40

• Bob Molinaro, 60

Here’s what Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez had to say about his new starter:

“I know that he’s a pretty good pitcher. … “There were a couple of years that he threw right around 200 innings. He’s a workhorse. Coming to the National League, where teams haven’t had a chance to see him much, maybe he can help us out.”

Nate will join former Tigers Cameron Maybin, Burke Badenhop and Cody Ross on Florida’s Opening Day roster. Andrew Miller was optioned to Triple-A New Orleans last week.

Hmm.

Well, it wasn’t as interesting as the 1980 Tigers/White Sox brawl (a.k.a. Cowens v. Farmer Grudge Match), nor as violent as Tigers/White Sox circa 2000. Here’s a refresher on that one:

Sixteen players, coaches and managers suspended. Nine others fined. It was, MLB said, “the biggest mass suspension ever.”

That was the end result of two brawls that erupted at Comiskey Park, one in the seventh inning, the other in the ninth. In the sixth, the Tigers Jeff Weaver hit Carlos Lee with a pitch. In retaliation, Chicago’s starter, Jim Parque, plunked Detroit’s Dean Palmer in the top of the seventh. Palmer charged the mound, throwing his helmet at Parque before the real action started.

…And it wasn’t as wild as Tigers/Twins in 1982, which featured Dave Rozema‘s flying-kung-fu acrobatics on Twins’ John Castino.

What do you think? Take this week’s Pulse Check –>

Other thoughts…

• In last week’s Pulse Check — “What do you make of the Tigers’ recent roster moves?” — “Inspiration” (37%) edged out “desperation” and “exasperation” by a single vote. Time will tell, but so far so good at least from the Alex Avila perspective.

• I think it’s great that the Tigers are injecting some youth into their anemic lineup. I just wish that Wilkin Ramirez had been called up for keeps and not given a ticket on the Toledo shuttle.

• Does anyone else find it strange that the Tigers are skipping down to the Double-A level to tap reinforcements? By “strange” I mean that Triple-A was always where the top talent was — or at least that’s what we were led to believe. Over the past couple of seasons it’s become increasingly common. These are the first times in all the years of my following the Tigers that I remember it happening as a regular practice.

  Of course, the Tigers promoted Andrew Miller from Class A in 2006 and proved that things definitely have changed in baseball. (Miller had a clause in his contract that he would be called up to the majors in ’06.) Oh, and that move also forced me to rethink my lone criticism of baseball reality portrayed in the film “Bull Durham.” I never bought the notion of Ebby Calvin LaLoosh being called up to the big club from the South-Atlantic League. I guess it does happen.

• The last time the Tigers relied on a rookie catcher to fuel a playoff spot was in 1987 when Matt Nokes made everyone forget about Lance Parrish. At least for one season, that is.

Finally, on this date in 1987, the Tigers acquired Doyle Alexander from the Atlanta Braves for minor-league pitcher John Smoltz. Gnash teeth if you must, but it was still a great trade at the time. Few expected Smoltz to emerge as a stud.