Dimitri Young, last month:

We're the Tigers -- not the kittens.

Dimitri Young's Opening Day line:

AB 4, H 4, R 5, HR 3, AVG 1.00

D-Young let his bat do the talking yesterday as he paced a blistering Tigers attack that was simply too much for the Royals young pitching. Detroit won 11-2.

The other big story was the ace pitching of Jeremy Bonderman, who gave up just 1 earned run and struck out in 7 innings on his way to becoming the youngest Opening Day winner since Doc Gooden in 1986.

Add in 60 degree sunshine (in Detroit in April) and you've got yourself a hell of a way to start the season. I am certain that this is merely the beginning of the Tigers' season-long stay in first place.

We also welcomed the two newest Tigers. Troy Percival pitched a scoreless ninth which was good for the fans even if his services weren't really needed. Magglio Ordonez didn't get a hit, but that was OK on this day. I'm sure he'll get his.

I'm also excited about the little community of Venezuelans that the Tigers have built on the team. In addition to Ordonez, Ugueth Urbina, Wilfredo Ledezma, Carlos Guillen, and Omar Infante all hail from the South American country. Sure, there are a few Dominicans on the team. And Pudge is Puerto Rican. But a few teams - most notably last year's Red Sox and their cadre of Dominicans - have fared quite well by building a nucleus of support and understanding for their Latin players. I don't quite believe in "chemistry," but putting guys together who are likely to understand each other certainly seems like it should help build it (if it exists).

Expectations are high this year. Detroit is hosting the All-Star Game. Given some good breaks, the Tigers can definitely challenge the Twins for the AL Central crown. Alan Trammel also has to show he can be more than just the manager that accepts losing a bunch of games with an appropriately stoic attitude. I, for one, am confident that we are witnessing the opening stanza's of the greatest baseball team ever assembled. I've already got my plans to hit the victory parade in Hart Plaza in October.

Oh, and a special note to all you bandwagon fans, hopping on the new trend of calling the Tigers respectable: There's no room for you in Hart Plaza. Until you know the pain of 119 losses, you can't know the true joy of winning it all. We were there at the very lowest point and we'll be there when we reach the mountaintop. And it will be so, so sweet.