"Navigating through the Detroit Tigers lineup used to be a nightmare for pitchers.

There was Magglio Ordonez with his curly locks and lethal swing in the batter's box. Placido Polanco would grind through at-bat after at-bat. Power threats such as Miguel Cabrera, Gary Sheffield and Marcus Thames were up and down the order.

The Tigers scored 821 runs last season, fifth most in baseball.

Detroit leads the American League Central by 2 1/2 games over the White Sox and three games over the Twins heading into the Tigers' trip to the Metrodome tonight. But it's not because they are clubbing opposing pitching staffs into submission.

Ordonez has struggled for most of the season, has cut his hair and auctioned it off on eBay for charity. Polanco is having a down year. Sheffield was released.

The Motown Cats are thriving because of pitching and defense. Their staff ERA of 4.19 is 13th in baseball after their 4.90 mark last season was 27th in the majors.

Their 113 errors last year were tied for fifth most in the game. Their 38 errors this year are tied for sixth fewest.

It's a different Tigers team the Twins will face in a three-game series this weekend."