DETROIT -- Most Tigers players thought Opening Day weather here was bad enough. But as Tigerfest showed Saturday, this is not the time for fair-weather fans. Despite a winter storm that hung over the city all day, dumping nearly a foot o f snow on Motor City roadways, more than 4,000 fans braved the elements to get to Joe Louis Arena for their annual sign that spring is coming soon. While temp eratures outside hovered in the teens, the warm conditions inside proved as muc h of a reminder of baseball season as Nate Robertson's pitching clinic, or Dmit ri Young's autographs. "Just being a nutty Tigers fantatic," said Richard Newhouse of Holland, who dro ve most of the way to Detroit from the western half of Michigan on Friday night before the snow fell. New closer Troy Percival, experiencing his first taste of a Detroit winter afte r spending most of his life and career in California, joked to fans that he cam e to town woefully underdressed. Robertson, who lives in nearby Canton and know s about rough winters from growing up in Kansas, endured a two-hour drive into the city and wasn't sure he'd be able to make it. Given all that, the fans that made it made a strong impression on the players. "It just shows how much passion there is for baseball in this city," Robertson said. "Last year, it really opened my eyes when he had a little bit better weat her and there were over 11,000 people. But to have the turnout we had today was pretty awesome." They brought their optimism with them. While just about every fan interviewed s aid they would've liked to see the Tigers add another free agent, most felt thi s team is better than last year simply through its own development. "I was hoping they'd sign some other free agents, but I think if some of those guys improve, I like their chances," said Daryl Smith of Sterling Heights. "Hop efully [Omar] Infante will improve a little bit, and Inge and Monroe. Hopefully Percival will help. If they do, I'm optimistic." Randy Roach shared those sentiments after driving 2 1/2 hours from his Lansing home for his first TigerFest. "I think they'll be more improved," he said. "Not hing wrong with [Ugueth] Urbina, but Percival is a little better, a little stea dier -- if he's healthy, like Dmitri." Percival told fans during a question-and-answer session he believes Detroit can win the AL Central, repeating a statement he made when he signed in November. "There may be more talented teams out there," he said. "But if we go out and pl ay the right type of baseball, we have as much of a chance as anybody." With more players involved, the Q&A sessions turned out more popular than in pr evious years, giving fans a chance to ask some questions and team officials and players alike to provide some new answers. Some questions were tough. Both president/general manager Dave Dombrowski and m anager Alan Trammell confirmed the team had interest in free-agent outfielder M agglio Ordonez. It was the first fan question of the day, and it carried over t he rest of the afternoon until the final fan questioner asked what an Ordonez s igning would mean for Bobby Higginson. Trammell wouldn't go that far. "We are interested and chatting with him," Tramm ell said of Ordonez, "as are other clubs." Said Dombrowski: "Is this the club that goes into Spring Training with us? Most likely, but not necessarily." For the first time, a good amount of the questions came from kids. One asked Tr ammell how many games he thinks his team will win this year. Another shyly aske d Young if he had any friends on the team, prompting a good laugh from the slug ger. And Robertson enjoyed interacting during the pitching clinic with pitching coach Bob Cluck. But questions and answers were far from the only things being handed out Saturd ay. Thanks to shorter lines, many fans were able to make the full circuit of au tographs from Tigers players and coaches instead of having to pick and choose. More open space on the floor allowed more room for batting and pitching cages, plus the ever-popular kids home run derby. And several youngsters were able to have their faces painted. All in all, it got a lot of people's minds off of the blizzard and put their mi nds onto baseball. Come Monday, the Tigers will take baseball to Detroit neighb orhoods and outlying areas with their annual winter caravan. "We're real excited about the year," Robertson said. -- ★opengoodbook 你什麽时候设我为好友啦?!XD To opengoodbook: 第一次丢你水球之後阿XD ★opengoodbook 我会害羞(跑) To opengoodbook: :P ★opengoodbook 这麽主动...... --

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