Five worthy stitches?

I know it's way too early to get excited about the Detroit Tigers, especially because they've stunk like old cheese over the last 10 years or so. But they've won their first three games of the spring training schedule, and yesterday, there was this:

Associated Press

Dmitri Young - he of the power afro - saw Yankees catcher John Flaherty blocking home plate, trying to prevent him from scoring a run, and decided to take on Flaherty instead of sliding around him. BOOM!

Unfortunately, Young was out. Despite the collision, Flaherty hung onto the baseball. And Young had to take five stitches to his ear for the trouble. But the message - the tone Young was trying to establish - may be more important for the coming season.

"The days of the nice Tigers are gone," Young said, after the game. "Milk and cookie teams finish last.

Man, I hope you're right, Dmitri. I can't wait for baseball season to start.

Anyone else in need of scratching their Tigers itch might want to check out Tigers Central and the Detroit Tiger Weblog.