Leyland Talks Before Opening Day

By: Jeff Riger

As traditional as opening day is the skipper Jim Leyland talking to the media before every game. Of course this morning was no different as Leyland had plenty to say to fill reporter's notebooks and recorders.

Below are some of the highlights from the skipper as he and the Tigers get ready to face crazy expectations in 2012 and win the organizations first World Series since 1984.

Leyland talks about Opening Day. Is it done better in Detroit than in other cities?

"I don't want to downplay the impact of it anywhere else, it's certainly as big here as anywhere obviously. They are fired up in Pittsburgh today they're opening up at home. They were fired up in Miami last night too. I don't want to be disrespectful to other franchises. Opening day is opening day! The best thing about Detroit is they (the fans) come out here pretty regularly after opening day, some of the other places don't!"

Leyland had thoughts about the high expectations that have been placed on his team.

"I don't have control over that kind of stuff. What I have said all along is that you have to embrace it somewhat because you can't avoid it, but you also try to pay as little attention to it as possible. The theme for this team all spring long was to have tunnel vision and don't get wrapped up in anything other than the task at hand. Like I said, I don't really pay much attention to it because the same guys that picked us 1st this year was the same guys that picked up 3rd or 4th last year. So I don't pay much attention to their predictions!"

It's never too early for Leyland to get miffed at a reporter about a question. A Red Sox writer decided to ask the skipper about Boston and how they will rebound after struggling at the end the season last year. Leyland took the question about the Sox and turned

"I don't talk about negative stuff! I'm not looking for negativity. We are going to play this game today; we are going to play 162 games. We got a good team; I think we will play good. Will we win anything? I have no idea but I don't have those answers for you. We are starting already, if we don't do good to start with then we are the biggest flop in baseball, if we do good then everybody expected us to. And, I don't care what happened to the Red Sox last year, the Tigers or anybody else. This is opening day 2012! We got a job to do, they have a job to do, they are very good! They were the best team we played last year, when we played them the Boston Red Sox were the best team team we played last year in the American League…when we played them.

Of course you can't talk about the Tigers without mentioning Brandon Inge. Inge has turned into the most hated man in Detroit sports and Leyland talked about how much time the new 2nd basemen will see against left handed pitching?

"You know don't start etching everything in stone! I'll feel real good when we play Ingy at second base against a lefty. That's my job; I'll have to do that. You can talk about it until the cows come home but you will be beating a dead horse. The one thing that I have proved since I have got here is that I play everybody. I try to make everybody feel part of the team and everybody will get some at bats. Some will get a lot more than others but I think everybody that has been here will say that they have felt part of the team. So, we'll leave that at that!"

And, this is just the beginning! Leyland will be much more interesting in June and July. And, of course we will bring it all to you.