Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • 21

BASEBALL DETROIT FREE PRESS WWW.FREEP.COM MONDAY. OCT 1 2007 Granderson calls his season 'amazing' Leyland: Bonds won't be a Tiger next year TIGERS CORNER By JOHN LOWE and JON PAUL MOROSI FRfcE PRUS SPORTS WROTRS SPECIAL THANKS: After Sundas game, Leyland asked the media to convey the Tigers' gratitude for the support of their fans. "I was actually going to write a letter, but I thought that was a little corny," Leyland said. "I can't tell you how much we appreciate this." NO BONDS: Leyland, when asked whether Barry Bonds could be an off-season acquisition: "Barry Bonds will not be a Detroit Tiger next year. End all speculation: He will not be a Detroit Tiger." Carlos Guillen said he would like to play for Magallanes in the Venezuelan Winter League this off-season, as a way to gain more experience at first base.

"I need to get better," Guillen said. teammates after the game and was among the final players to leave the field. "Our team is very close," Rodriguez said. "Our chemistry the whole year was very nice. That's what you see." SHEFF'S SHOULDER: Gary Sheffield said he should know by Thursday whether he will undergo surgery on his right shoulder or rehabilitate the injury instead.

"It's going to be a tough decision either way," Sheffield said Sunday. "It's based on what they (the doctors) tell me, and then I go from there. "The more times you have surgery on something, the more chances you're taking. This (would) be the third surgery I've had on this shoulder." The club has a $13-million option on Rodriguez, but could pay him a $3-million buyout and enable him to become a free agent. Club officials have until 15 days after the World Series to decide; Rodriguez said Sunday that he doesn't know if he will return.

Leyland spoke with Rodriguez on Saturday, but would not reveal any details about their discussion. He called Rodriguez's status "a major Issue that will be handled by people a lot higher up in this organization than me." The decision is not as straightforward as determining whether to bring Rodriguez back for 2008. The team could decline its option and sign him to an extension instead. Rodriguez, who did not play Sunday, hugged coaches and since 1920, when the caught stealing statistic began to be kept. "Andy Van Slyke (the base-running coach) told me I had to be at least 80," Granderson said.

"We worked on knowing the situations and pitches when I could run." PUDGE'S FUTURE: Among the Tigers' potential free agents, Sean Casey learned on Saturday that he will not return in 2008, while pitchers Todd Jones and Kenny Rogers have been told by manager Jim Leyland that they would be welcomed back next year. So, what about Pudge them next year." (Granderson hit left-handers.) I It had been three weeks since Granderson became just the third player in big-league history to have 20 doubles, 20 triples, 20 homers and 20 steals in the same season. He finished with 38 doubles, 23 triples, 23 homers and 26 steals. "I don't know what word I want to use," Granderson said. "I want to say I By going 3-for-3 on steal attempts Sunday, Granderson finished the season 26-for-27 in steal attempts.

The only time he was thrown out was by Tampa Bay in August. For a Tiger with at least 20 steals in a season, it is the best stolen-base percentage CHICAGO Here is a recap of what Tigers centerfielder Curtis Granderson accomplished this season, and what he said about all of it once the season ended Sunday afternoon: I He became a .300 hitter. He entered Sunday batting .299, then went 3-for-4 to finish at .302. "The best hit was the last one, because I smoked the ball off a left-hander (Matt Thornton)," Granderson said. "It makes me more confident going into the off-season about hitting against Casey's final day as a Tiger TIGERS I Wrap up 2007 season with 13-3 victory From Page LB Tigers final grades and BKJJWWI 1 Thome gives baseball's nice guy a present off-season info, plus photo galleries tor every By JON PAUL MOROSI Rfct PRISS SPORTS WRITI.R i A1 ing? Who cares about the past? On this day, though, the numbers and milestones arrived at a breakneck pace and received their due.

A day that dripped with emotion ended with Magglio Ordonez in possession of the American League batting championship and a baseball that bore a 62-year-old's heartfelt handwriting. The best single-season performance I've ever seen Love you. Your manager, Jim Leyland Leyland has seen a lot in his years as a manager. But Sunday was singular. Short of celebrating a postseason berth, he acknowledged, this was probably as good as a season finale could be.

Detroit won its 88th game and left town with an almanac of achievements, with Ordonez's the foremost among them. Earlier in the weekend, he said a perfect end to his season would be a 3-foM performance on Sunday afternoon. And that's exactly what he did. And a fitting coda to his season came in the eighth: He fouled one two-strike pitch, then another, and another and another, before singling to rightfield. Perfect "What did he end up hitting, Leyland asked, correctly citing Ordonez's average, after he game at freep.com became the Tigers' first batting champion since Norm Cash hit .361 in 196L "Pretty impressive." As for the other feats: I Placido Polanco singled to left-field in the third inning, for his 200th hit of the year.

With that, the Tigers had two players with 200 or more hits for the first time in 70 years. Not to be overlooked, Polanco became the first everyday second baseman in big-league history to play an entire season without committing an error. Polanco said he was moved to tears by his teammates' reaction in the dugout. I Curtis Granderson, who began the day at .299, had three hits to finish at .302. It was the first .300 season in his career.

I Carlos Guillen needed to drive in two runs to enjoy his first 100-RBI season. So, he drove in four. Two came on his 2Lst home run a new career high. I Mike Rabelo, a backup catcher who was expected to spend this season in the minors, socked the first home run of his big-league career. It only took him 168 at-bats to do it.

Contuct JON PAUL MOROSI at JULIAN H. GONMIEZDrtroit Free Press Sean Casey was told Saturday that he will not return to the Tigers next year. "I love Detroit and the fans. I'll miss that atmosphere. It's a top-notch organization," he said.

CHICAGO-Sean Casey arrivedatU.S. Cellular Field on Sunday morning to find an unexpected treasure waiting for him. White Sox slugger Jim Thome, who mentored Casey as a young player with the Cleveland Indians, had sent an autographed photo of his 500th home run to the visiting clubhouse. The inscription: To Scan: No one will ever belikeyou. What an example youhave sent to the game! Jim Thome.

Casey is the nicest guy in baseball, according to a recent Sports Illustrated player poll, and the Tigers have benefited from his clubhouse presence since he arrived in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 3L 2006. Thome's tribute seemed particularly poignant on Sunday, one day after Casey was told he will not return to the Tigers in 2008. Casey learned of the team's plans during a meeting with manager Jim Ley-land and presidentgeneral manager Dave Dombrowski on Saturday. "This has been the greatest year and a half of my career," Casey said Sunday. "I just appreciate being over here.

The World Series last year was great. "This is a great bunch of guys in here, man, and a great city. I love Detroit and the fans. I'll miss that atmosphere. I'll miss the staff.

It's a top-notch organization. "I appreciated that they (Leyland and beat Cleveland during his first home stand in Detroit. He squeezed the final out of last year's American League Division Series triumph over the New York Yankees. And his 2006 postseason included the best-ever average by a Tiger in the World Series three extra-base hits in a World Series game (to tie Hank Green-berg's club record), and two World Series home runs (to tie a club record for homers in a postseason series). "For me to have those memories of the World Series and beating the Yankees," Casey said, "I'm so appreciative." Dombrowski) brought me in to say that to me, man-to-man.

That was great. I have nothing but great memories here." Once the club decided Carlos Guillen would move from shortstop to first base next year, Casey effectively lost his spot on the roster. Casey started Sunday as Detroit's designated hitter and drove in a run with a seventh-inning single. He finished l-for-4, to end the year at .296. Casey's time with the Tigers was as memorable as it was brief.

He witnessed Pudge Rodriguez's walk-off home run to ROSENBERG I Will Kenny Rogers return? Jones comes back and Rodriguez comes back and Thames comes back well, at least the Tigers won't have to spend on uniform stitching. Hey, the Tigers won 88 games this year, despite bad health and bad luck. I'd bring most guys back. Except Hanson. That's where I draw the line.

Contact MICHAEL ROSENBERG at 313-224052 or mrosenberg afreepress.com. From Page IB "I'm hoping there will be no issues," he said. I took that to mean that if the Tigers make him a reasonable offer to be in their rotation next year, he will take it. The Tigers would be fools not to bring him back. Their rotation features too many other questions.

Jeremy Bonderman has to bounce back. They need a better season from Nate Robertson. They don't know if Jair Jurrjens or Zach Miner or Andrew Miller can be an effective starter. So if Rogers comes back and St MAXtUSLS Gage Crascant Plaza Opart 7 Oaya Sam-apm 42430 Van Dyka AW utml 586-739-Q7A5 Shiatsu Reflexology Shower on. -Sat 10 am-10 pm 22023 Kalty Rd.

Eastpolrrta 586-552-8670 i sign him to a two-year contract at a lower annual salary. 5. Who's in left? The Tigers don't have an everyday leftfielder. But that isn't really a major concern. They have enough sort-of leftfielders to get by.

Leyland said "Marcus (Thames) is probably going to be there," but Thames can't play 150 games. Ryan Raburn can play there. So can Timo Perez. Maybe Cameron Maybin will be ready at some point next year. The Tigers will probably wing it, which is fine.

6. Kenny Rogers: Do you hold him? Does he fold 'em? And will I ever stop making forced and not particularly funny references to the other Kenny Rogers? Rogers says he isn't sure if he wants to pitch again, but if he does, Detroit is "without a doubt my first option." So what issues might come up when he talks to the Tigers? are good options. They either pay Pudge Rodriguez $3 million to go away or pay him $13 million to come back. By my math, which is basically the same math that the rest of the world uses, that makes this a $10-million decision. Rodriguez is heading to Coo-perstown.

So is a Greyhound out of Manhattan, and I wouldn't want to pay $10 million for that, either. At this point in his career, Pudge is a below-average defensive catcher. He is reluctant to block balls in the dirt. He does not throw out many base stealers. He walked nine times all season.

He has limited power. There is no evidence that he calls a great game. So he is not really worth $10 million. But the Tigers' only other in-house option is a platoon of Vance Wilson, a soon-to-be-35-year-old journeyman coming off surgery, and Mike Rabelo. Rabelo hit his first major league homer Sunday.

"If I ever hit one again," he promised afterward, "it's an accident." I suspect the Tigers will examine the market for a good, affordable free-agent catcher, discover there is no such thing, then either re-up Pudge or try to rtv FOR UFEI" I -f Is Joel Zumaya ready to be the closer? Is Todd Jones likely to leave? Zumaya is obviously the closer of the future. But Jones showed this season that he can still do the job, and if the Tigers make Zumaya their closer, they obviously lose him as their setup man. My suspicion is that the Tigers will try to bring Jones back as a closer-in-transition, with Zumaya getting more ninth-inning opportunities. Jones will surely get an offer to be a full-time closer elsewhere. And then Jones will have to make a decision.

3. Who plays shortstop? Carlos Guillen is moving to first. Sean Casey is moving to another city. This is not what either man wanted. Not surprisingly, both are handling it with class.

The only surprise about shifting Guillen to first is that the Tigers announced it late last week, and added that Ramon Santiago will not be the everyday shortstop. This means the Tigers can't bluff this off-season. Everybody knows they need a shortstop. We'll if Dave Dombrowski Washington Spa Stone Su-am Shower Mature pcn Vam 9pm 7 Days i 58047 Van Dy ke 104 586-786-7422 MEN PROTECT AOAM hnr to pratwi fwt nonti Vou 'K strong frffwitw nvc and support town AO AM Wt re group at hfahry-qtMtttuK' I (f'vona iavWB and (xnwtm I RIGHTS who wiN anfiwor by tittepnonp any of your qwwtiom on Kvw I at no crewae. Call 1 1(248) (Opfi days a wot tMtn-I lnf Accuprvssur Steam ft Showar Undar Now Mantgwmnt" 20453 Schaefer one Mock of 8 Mile 313-862-4568 Lansing (517) 267-ADAM I (616) 827-ADAM (810) 244-ADAM Grand Rapid Flint www Want Stronger and Longer Lasting Erections? For over 15 years, our physicians have provided personalized treatments that help men restore their ability to achieve and maintain a full erection, even when other treatments have failed or caused side-effects Private waiting rooms Sa'e and effective solution for men of all ages Proven results from first visit.

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