Lloyd McClendon

Born on today's date, Lloyd McClendon.

"I learned how to smoke cigars in my underpants." - on what he learned form Jim Leyland

Jim Leyland

Born on today's date, Jim Leyland.

"My new favorite player on this team is Nick Castellanos because his dad is a lung doctor."

"Too many stadiums now are smoke-free by law so I had to do what I had to do!"

Carlos Guillen

Born on today's date, Carlos Guillen.

"How is the offense going to be consistent when you see one guy get three hits and the next day, you don't play the guy? I can't understand that. How is the offense going to be consistent when every day it's a different lineup?" - on manager Jim Leyland's habit of resting players after a good game

Jim Leyland dancing

Truly haunting.

If Jim Leyland was a golfer....

....he would get like 10 penalty shots every round.

"Dropping" cigarette butts all over the course.

Justin Verlander

Born on today's date, Justin Verlander.

"I definitely feel like there's some momentum. We're pitching well, hitting well and playing good defense. That's how you get on streaks." - Justin Verlander

"Momentum is only as good as your next day's starter." - Jim Leyland

Tony LaRussa

On this date in 2002, Tony LaRussa of the Cardinals is named the NL Manager of the Year.

"I want my guys to look like they're stealing on every pitch because if you're playing someone like LaRussa and you do one little thing different when you are ready to steal, he's going to pitch out." - Jim Leyland

Magglio Ordonez retires

"Magglio was a great silent teammate." - Jim Leyland

East meets west

On this date in 1996 at St. Petersburg's Al Lang Field, two Japanese umpires work a game with two U.S. umpires. Osamu Ino is behind the plate as the Pirates beat the Cardinals 11-2.

"I thought they (the Japanese) did a good job. And even if they didn't, you couldn't argue with them." - Jim Leyland

Tony LaRussa is going to "help" the Tigers at spring training?

I see that Jim Leyland announced yesterday that the Tigers will have Tony LaRussa with them in spring training as an advisor in a "non-uniform, non-official" capacity.

Well ok but if we start taking Justin Verlander out in the third inning on a double-switch, then I object.

Also I think the Tigers are pretty competent with phone usage and probably need no advice there.

The Yankees just announced an official team fragrance!

The Tigers already have one, thank you very much!

Happy f@%&!n birthday Jim Leyland!

I got a case of smokes comin' out your way!

Camels! Non-filtered!

Make sure to have some f@%&!n cake and mother f@%&!n ice cream too!

Man, you don't look a day over 90! (in that 5 year old card)

Will Rhymes non-tendered

The inside scoop is that he discovered that one word that "rhymes" with "cigarette" and badgered Leyland with it.

Wouldn't stop.

Leyland was just taunting Ron Washington with the "coke" thing

Use every advantage!

If you didn't understand a word of that Jim Leyland dugout interview....

....don't feel bad.

He's married to the Charlie Brown schoolteacher.

That is what a literal "black lung" sounds like.

Don't be fooled by Leyland....

....touching his chest ALLEGEDLY flashing signs.

He's just feeling for his smokes.

You watch, he will go into the clubhouse soon.

You watch.

"I will wear these underwear until we lose"

"And they will not be washed." - Jim Leyland explaining that he started wearing the same underwear sometime during the current winning streak with no plans to change them until a Tiger loss

At the end, that garment is gonna be the same color as his lungs!

justdiscardthemattheendok?

Way to take a stand!

"I don't think a pitcher should be the Most Valuable Player."

"I will support Justin Verlander for the MVP to the hilt."

Both of 'em!

Profound clubhouse thoughts

"He keeps going out there every day and doing the job." - on Alex Avila