Detroit — There was a lot of buzz in the Tigers clubhouse before Thursday’s home opener.
“The kitchen is sick,” Tarik Skubal said.
“Oh my gosh,” Riley Greene said. “The kitchen is incredible. It’s my favorite part.”
“It’s unreal,” Matthew Boyd said.
The Tigers have completely revamped the home clubhouse at Comerica Park. Everything has been upgraded, modernized, reimagined, from the ergonomically corrected chairs and seats, to the lighting, to the paint on the walls, to the various compartments — weight room, training room, performance center and, apparently most especially, the kitchen.
“I had an idea of what I thought this might look like,” said Eric Haase. “But this is a lot better than I was thinking. Like, I know where I’m at in this complex but it’s totally different. I was following Skubal coming in this morning and we were both just wandering aimlessly.
“The food room is fantastic. The layout is great. There’s plenty of places to sit. It’s just completely different.”
Previously, the kitchen was tiny. There were only a couple of tables in the kitchen, so players tended to eat in shifts or get their food in carryout boxes. There were four chefs preparing food for players, coaches and staff Thursday morning.
“I almost slept here last night,” joked manager AJ Hinch. “The work that’s been done by a lot of people and the vision from ownership down is remarkable and we pulled it off in a short period of time. There is a lot of newness around here but the benefit to the players and the commitment to make it better for the players is awesome.
“Everyone came in with a big smile on their face. This is a fun place to come.”
The entrance way to the clubhouse was widened. There are famous pictures on the hallway walls of some of the great moments in Tigers history. The rosters of the World Series championship teams are posted in separate plaques as you walk into the clubhouse.
And, as several players remarked, the lighting inside was considerably different.
“I feel like we’re in space in here,” Greene said. “The brighter colors really stand out to me. We walked in here before and it was to a kind of darker room. The brighter colors, lots of white on the walls, it feels like the energy is higher just walking in here.”
Alex Cora, prophet
Before the game, Red Sox manager Alex Cora was asked about Miguel Cabrera.
“What a player, what a player,” he said. “I still remember that World Series right away, the home run he hit off Roger Clemens to right field. He’s just a pure hitter, up there with (Albert) Pujols. He can hit for average, hit for power, and that uncanny ability for driving in runs.
“I can name a few — Pujols, Juan Gonzalez, Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, and Miguel. When there’s a man on third and less than two outs, they make adjustments on their swing and they drive him in.”
Third inning Thursday, two outs, Spencer Torkelson at second base, Miguel Cabrera slaps a patented RBI single to center. Career hit No. 3,091. Almost like Cora forecasted it.
“I think a few years ago, somebody asked me about Miggy as far as pure hitter and all that,” he said. “It’s like Tony Gwynn with power. Still, at his age, he can still hit the ball the other way whenever he feels like it and get his hits.
“He plays with joy and it’s been a pleasure to see him play.”
Several of the Red Sox players made a point of spending a few minutes with Cabrera around the batting cage before the game. That has always been common practice for visiting players over the years.
“Always,” Cora said. “Cool cat. He had his ups and downs, of course, and I think he bounced back from certain things in his personal life. He’s been a good citizen. He’s been great for this city. Obviously when he got here, the old man (Mike Ilitch) paid him, right? I think it’s one of those contracts, maybe now he’s not the hitter he was, but if you look at it, he performed. He performed.”
Skubal making strides
With the improved facilities at Comerica Park, the Tigers are able to allow injured pitchers Casey Mize and Skubal to stay with the team and do their rehab work in Detroit, as opposed to exiling them back to Lakeland.
“I love being here with the guys,” Skubal said. “Love being able to work with the coaches that I’m going to spend all my time with. I still feel part of the team even though I’m not playing.”
Actually, both Skubal and Mize have spent a lot of time watching teammates’ bullpens and offering whatever support they can.
“I feel like I’m in more of a coaching role right now, but it’s fun,” Skubal said.
As for his rehab, coming back from flexor tendon surgery, it’s going maybe better than he expected. He’s throwing five times a day, long-tossing beyond 125 feet.
“It’s going really good,” he said. “My arm feels great. But this is the hardest part of rehab. The initial part is hard, not being with the team and not being able to play. But the hardest part to me is, you feel great and you have to just stay on the plan.
“You want to keep pitching but you have to stay on course. But I will be back. This is going about as good as could’ve scripted it up.”
cmccosky@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @cmccosky