Goodbye, Mike

This is a sad day for me as a Tigers fan, having to bid the expected farewell to pitcher Mike Maroth. When I was deciding to buy a jersey last year, Maroth was the player's I picked; no one better symbolized the team's rise to success from the despair of 2003. Maroth lost 21 games in 2003, the first 20-game loser since 1980, and never once complained or asked to be taken out of the rotation to avoid the ignominious distinction.

He was a man, on and off the field. The past two seasons, Maroth was the Tigers' nominee for the Clemente Award for his charity work in Detroit.

"Mike Maroth is class personified," Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski said, "he and his wife, Brooke -- the whole family. He's grown into an established Major League pitcher. He's gone through a lot of adversity. He dealt with it front and center. He's first-class in every regard."

I hold a special place for the guys from 2003 that got to be a part of last year's AL champions, particularly Maroth, Brandon Inge, Craig Monroe, and Jeremy Bonderman.

There was no spot left for Maroth with Kenny Rogers' return to the rotation, plus the expected returns of Nate Robertson and Zach Miner, and the emergence of Chad Durbin as a (so far) reliable arm and promotion of young Andrew Miller.

Maroth was 50-62 for the Tigers, but 24-18 since the start of 2005. He's not overpowering or flashy, he's just Mike Maroth, and that's why I loved him. Had it not been for elbow trouble that derailed him last season -- while pitching the best ball of his career -- this trade probably doesn't happen.

The Tigers will get a player to be named later from the Cardinals for Maroth. As for Maroth, he will get a chance to remain a starter and should benefit the St. Louis rotation. Here's wishing him all the best and thanks for being a great Tiger.