My friend at The Daily Fungo predicted a lovefest, and here it begins:

WorldSeries.com: Friends for Life, Managers in the Big Game

Danny Knobler on Shelton / Perez
In his blog, Danny Knobler explains why there is no chance the Tigers will leave Neifi Perez off of the roster in favor of Chris Shelton.  Let's hope Sean Casey is in good shape, eh?  Carlos Guillen does well-enough over at first base, but any first baseman could play the position better than Guillen can right now.

TIGERS CORNER: Miller in Town; Will Miner Be Replaced?
Zumaya is fine, Casey may not make the active roster.

Leyland Holds SECRET Practice
Everybody out.

Trammell Sings Praises of Leyland
The Detroit Free Press sure seems to think that Trammell will throw out a World Series ceremonial first pitch in Detroit.

ESPN Page 2: Burning Love for the Tigers
David Fleming writes about his memory of the Tigers winning the World Series in '84.  Meanwhile, I was 2 years old.

Mets, Cardinals Play Game Seven for World Series Berth
Game Seven?  What's that?

If you didn't know already...

The Tigers have a week off between clinching the ALCS Saturday & Game 1 of the World Series this coming Saturday.  Joel Zumaya (wrist, forearm) & Sean Casey (calf) are expected to be available, if not at 100%.

SI.com: Tom Verducci: Biggest Turnaround Ever

Tigers Postseason History

Trammel, Gibson, Parrish Praised for Setting the Table

Leyland: Long Layoff 'Real Dangerous Time'

Tigers, Like a Football Team, Take a Week Off

THE ROTATION

I'll be really surprised if Leyland sticks with the same rotation used in the ALDS & ALCS.  I see this week off as a huge advantage and don't expect rust to be a factor on the mound or at the plate. 

This is how I would set up the rotation:

Kenny Rogers
Jeremy Bonderman
Nate Robertson
Justin Verlander

Kenny Rogers is obviously the hot hand right now and puts the Tigers in terrific position for a Game 1 win; he's also the best hitter in the rotation (though I don't think that is very important).

Jeremy Bonderman is an excellent counter to Rogers and has been more dependable than Verlander, who has been just a little shaky.  Pitching in the #2 slot, Bonderman would not do any pitching on the road; he's the worst hitter of the Tigers starting pitchers.

Nate Robertson is the logical next step as the rotation should be alternated between righties and lefties.

Justin Verlander would see just one World Series start in the #4 slot, and that's fine with me, if for no reason than because he'll go over the 200 inning mark (currently at 196.2 including his post-season innings) for the first time in his career in his World Series start.  He pitched just 130 innings last season.

I'm alive and, of course, I'm thrilled that the Detroit Tigers are going to the World Series.

After ending their seven game win streak in Friday's loss to the Cincinatti Reds, the Tigers have quickly put together three straight.  The Tigers took won the Cincinatti series in dramatic fashion with a 10th inning victory after tying the game in the 9th inning Curtis Granderson home run and a 1-0 shutout on Sunday.

In an 8-0 blowout last night, Justin Verlander pitched his first career complete game, a shutout, and his second straight shutout game; he pitched 8 strong, shutout innings against the Twins on 5/17.

It's only May: hopeful words for the Chicago White Sox and the Cleveland Indians.  The Detroit Tigers remain a full game ahead of the Chicago White Sox and maintain the best record in baseball.  The team ERA has now dropped to 3.18.  True, it is only May, but barring a serious injury or injuries, this team isn't going anywhere any time soon.

OTHER NOTES

TIGERS CORNER: Verlander living up to hype in first season

JON MOROSI: Tigers follow champs' mold

COMING UP

Kenny Rogers (7-2, 2.91 ERA) will seek his 8th win of the season against Runelvys Hernandez (1-3, 6.75 ERA) and the Kansas City Royals.  The Tigers have a good opportunity to post their 5th five game win streak of the season as they play Game 2 of a four game series with Kansas City.  The game starts at 8:10 PM EDT and will be televised on FSN Detroit.

Here are some slightly old articles I meant to link - I'm catching up.

Chris Spurling Pitching Well in Toledo; Tata Struggling
Spurling currently boasts a 1.23 ERA in nine appearances.  In 14.2 innings he has given up just 2 earned runs on 12 hits, striking out 10 and walking 2.  He also has 2 saves.  Jordan Tata, however, is 1-1 with a 7.04 ERA since optioned to the Mud Hens.  In 7.2 innings he has allowed 6 earned runs on 7 hits.  In 2 appearances, he has walked 8 and struck out 10.

Maybin on Disabled List
The West Michigan Whitecaps have placed Cameron Maybin on the disabled list, retroactive to 5/16, with an injury to his right index finger.  The finger has been locking up intermittently, often making it impossible for him to grip a bat.  The injury is strange, but is not believed to be serious.

Let Them Wear Throwback Jerseys
LA Times piece on Jim Leyland and Ozzie Guillen.

Leyland working his magic in Detroit
NBC Sports on Leyland.

Column:Expect Dombrowski to make a significant mid-summer trade

Oh, power rankings, so meaningless; I love you so...

ESPN MLB Power Rankings (5/19)
Detroit #2 and they say they're very close to pulling into #1.

OTHER POWER RANKINGS FROM THIS WEEK:

Dayn Perry: Fox Sports MLB Power Rankings (5/18)
Detroit #1, Chicago #2

Eric Mack: CBS SportLine MLB Power Rankings (5/16)
Has Detroit at #4 and apparently has never heard of Kenny Rogers.

John Donovan: SI.com MLB Power Rankings (5/15)
Chicago #1, Detroit #3

If you haven't been hiding under a rock (maybe you've been in isolation ever since the Red Wings were eliminated?), you're probably aware that the Detroit Tigers are off to their best start in over 12 years.  The Tigers currently sit atop the AL Central Division with the best record in baseball (27-13) and a 1 game lead over the reigning World Series Champion Chicago White Sox.  As buzz about the Tigers builds around the league, reminiscent to many of the White Sox start in 2005, the key to this hot start has been pitching.  The Tigers lead all of baseball with a team ERA of 3.13.

To expect the stellar success on the mound to continue at this pace for the rest of the season for the Tigers would be unrealistic.  Professional baseball teams will find a way to get hits, but know this: The Detroit Tigers have the talent, experience and depth to remain one of the best pitching staffs in baseball this year.  Both in starters and relievers, the Tigers have pitchers waiting to step up, should one or some of the Detroit pitchers falter.

STARTING PITCHING PROSPECTS

Zach Miner
Acquired along with Roman Colon in the trade that sent Kyle Farnsworth to the Atlanta Braves in 2005, Zach Miner has quickly shown that he is ready to perform at a high level by putting up impressive at Triple-A Toledo this season.  In eight starts, Miner carries a 2.18 ERA and a 6-0 record.  In 45.1 innings, he has given up just 38 hits and has piled up 35 strikeouts.  That's nearly a strikeout for every hit.

Roman Colon
Colon, acquired in the Farnsworth trade mentioned above, needed just 2 starts to earn a recall to Detroit.  In 2 games in Toledo, Colon gave up just 4 hits in 6.2 innings and struck out 6.  Colon is currently being used in middle-relief in Detroit, but is capable of long-relief and is viewed as viable prospect as a starter.

Jordan Tata
In an organization which also contained Justin Verlander and Joel Zumaya, Jordan Tata  was Detroit's Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2005.  Tata found his way to Detroit at the beginning of the season as Todd Jones went on the DL and pitched 14 innings allowing 6 earned runs on 9 hits for a 3.86 ERA.  In short, in his first trip to the bigs, Tata rose to the occassion.  In Detroit, he was used in 2 innings of relief per appearance; not exactly long relief.  Tata was sent down to Toledo for some starts and to make way for Roman Colon.

Wilfredo Ledezma
Though he struggled in 2005 before being sent down to Toledo for the remainder of the season, Wilfredo Ledezma is still one of the top starting pitching prospects in the Detroit organization.  This season, Ledezma is 2-3 with a 3.18 ERA through 7 starts.  In his 39.2 innings, Ledezma has allowed 14 earned runs on 37 hits and 11 walks.  Wilfredo Ledezma leads the Toledo Mudhens with 43 strikeouts.

RELIEF PITCHING PROSPECTS

Chris Spurling
Spurling struggled and was sent down early this season, but there is little doubt that he will return to Detroit before the season is out.  His numbers after being sent down would seem to support that idea; since arriving in Toledo, Spurling has allowed just 2 earned runs in 14.2 innings.

Matt Mantei
Mantei flirted briefly with retirement after a discouraging injury in spring training.  Now he is making a pretty convincing case for a comeback.  In 5 innings on 4 appearances, Mantei has allowed 0 earned runs and just 1 hit.

John Ennis
In 18 innings this season, Ennis has posted a 1.50 ERA on 12 hits and 3 earned runs.