Tiger tales: Polanco, Ordonez, Larish, Verlander

Thursday, February 21, 2008
Tiger tales
Tom Gage / The Detroit News

Like riding a bike

Early batting practice probably doesn't mean much, but on Wednesday, it meant Placido Polanco merely picked up where he left off last year.

"I watched Polanco take one round today and he got six hits," manager Jim Leyland said. "One home run, two hits to left, three to right. I don't know how it happens. That's just the way it works."

No dummy

Magglio Ordonez showed up with his hair almost as long as it was last year.

But non-roster invitee Jeff Larish, a promising power hitter, had long locks as well.

"One thing I found out today is that Larish is the smartest guy in camp," Leyland said, "because he's wearing his hair long like Magglio's and Magglio hit .360.

"But Larish hit a bomb today and long hair looks a lot better when the ball goes over the fence."

Happy birthday

Justin Verlander turned 25 Wednesday. Was there a cake?

"I think there will be later," he said.

And what did he get for a present?

"Shoes," he said.

Shoes?

Verlander might be a major-league star, but it sure sounds like 25th birthdays are pretty much the same all over -- although shoes sound more like a Christmas present, right?

Shoes or a shirt or a tie.

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

Happy birthday

Justin Verlander turned 25 Wednesday. Was there a cake?

"I think there will be later," he said.

And what did he get for a present?

"Shoes," he said.

Shoes?

Verlander might be a major-league star, but it sure sounds like 25th birthdays are pretty much the same all over -- although shoes sound more like a Christmas present, right?

Shoes or a shirt or a tie.

Shoes? Hopefully they weren't from Payless. Shoes are worse than clothes in general as a gift. As a kid (and now) I hated getting clothes as a gift, but shoes? That's even worse. At least he can rent a car now

Maybe they were new baseball shoes?

I agree, clothes are not my favorate birthday gift either! Maybe Grandy took him to a stripper club?

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

Maybe they were new baseball shoes?

I agree, clothes are not my favorate birthday gift either! Maybe Grandy took him to a stripper club?

I hope so! I mean I'm sure they've got plenty in Florida. Either Granderson is a terrible teammate or they went to the strip club last night. Sure, he has a girlfriend, but any girlfriend that says strip clubs are the same as cheating is a fool - just because you're on a diet doesn't mean you can't read the menu

If you ask me, Magglio's hair is just a titch longer than it was on Sept. 30th.

laprimamirala wrote:

If you ask me, Magglio's hair is just a titch longer than it was on Sept. 30th.

I think it is longer too. In one of the videos they were trying to put it into a ponytail. I think he said he was not cutting it and it would get real big! (tigerfest???)

I think it was at Tigerfest. He can't cut it now...it's his trademark!