We "Aught" To Look Back at a Decade of Detroit Tiger All-Stars

(Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

Ivan Rodriguez hit 0.308 with seven homers, 39 RBI, and 42 runs scored en route to his third All-Star appearance as a Tiger. Magglio Ordonez made his first appearance as a Tiger, hitting 0.312 with 16 home runs, 62 RBI, and 47 runs in the season's first half.

Kenny Rogers was named the American League starting pitcher after posting 11 wins and a 3.85 ERA before the break. Rogers pitched two innings, giving up one run and striking out one.

Ordonez struck out in his only at bat, and Pudge went 0-2 at the plate.

2007 @ AT&T Park, San Francisco, CA: Fresh off a World Series appearance, the Tigers sent five players to the All-Star Game in San Francisco.

Ivan Rodriguez, Magglio Ordonez, and Placido Polanco were voted in as starters, while Carlos Guillen and Justin Verlander were named as reserves.

Rodriguez came in hitting 0.288 with eight home runs, 46 RBI, and 35 runs scored.

Magglio came in hitting 0.367 with 13 home runs, 70 RBI, and 70 runs scored.

Placido came in hitting 0.335 with three homers, 38 driven in, and 62 runs scored.

Carlos Guillen came in hitting 0.325 with 14 home runs, 67 runs batted in, and 51 runs scored.

Justin Verlander made his first All-Star appearance with 10 wins, a 3.14 ERA, and 97 strikeouts. The Tiger hitters combined 1-7 in the game with Magglio going 0-2, Placido 0-1, Carlos 0-2, and Pudge 1-2.

Verlander gave up one run on two hits in one inning of work.

2008 @ Yankee Stadium, New York, NY: Carlos Guillen was the lone Tiger representative for the American League Squad, hitting 0.284 with eight home runs, 47 RBI, and 45 runs scored.

In his third appearance as a Tiger, Guillen went 1-3 with a walk.

2009 @ Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO:  Curtis Granderson and Edwin Jackson have each been selected to the All-Star Game for the first time in their respective careers.

Justin Verlander will join them, making his second All-Star appearance. Brandon Inge has been selected as a "Final Vote" candidate for the American League.

That makes 19 (possibly 20) all-stars for the Tigers this decade, 14 position players, four starting pitchers, and one relief pitcher.

So, how do this year's players stack up to the Tiger All-Stars of the decade?

Good question.

Curtis Granderson

0.257 batting average ranks 14 out of 14.

Eighteen home runs ranks tied for first out of 14.

Forty-three RBI ranks ranks 10 out of 14.

Fifty-one runs scored ranks tied for five out of 14.

Justin Verlander

3.59 ERA ranks three out of four.

141 strikeouts ranks one out of four.

Nine wins ranks three out of four.

Edwin Jackson

2.59 ERA ranks one out of four.

Ninety-three strikeouts ranks three out of four.

Six wins ranks four out of four.

So be proud when the Tigers are introduced into the game next Tuesday, and remember the years when true Tiger All-Stars were hard to come by. This decade has been a decade of change for the Tigers.

Let's be glad that the change has been in the right direction.

Let's be glad that we can be proud of our All-Stars.

Voting ends on Thursday at 4 pm ET for the All-Star Game's Final Vote. There is no limit to fan voting, so vote for Brandon Inge early and often!

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