DETROIT — The criticism is always there.

It’s there when people and pundits assume it will be easy for the Detroit Tigers — masters of the American League Central for three straight years — to push their streak to four.

And it’s there to add scorn on top of the heap when the Tigers don’t necessarily always run away with it, as they currently appear to be.

“It’s a weak division.”

Coming into Friday’s play, the AL Central was the only division in Major League Baseball with just one team over .500. (The White Sox came in right at .500, with an 18-18 record so far.)

In fact, only the National League Central had as few as two teams with winning records.

Former manager Jim Leyland always got sensitive when the topic was brought up.

His successor does not.

“I didn’t notice it, and I really don’t care. Doesn’t bother me what people say. Our goal is the same, whether people think it’s a good division or a bad division. The goal is to win the division,” Brad Ausmus said.

“In 1997, the Houston Astros played in what was deemed a bad division. I think we won the division with 84 wins. Still won the division. Didn’t make it any less fun winning the division.”

The Astros had the 10th-best winning percentage that season.

The Tigers, for reference, have the best record in baseball, coming into Friday’s games (.667, 20-10). More than half those wins (11) came against AL Central teams, a small slice of the reason that the other teams are .500 or worse.

And factor in this, as well: Teams in the AL Central have the third-best winning percentage (.512, 40-38) against teams from other divisions in baseball. Only the NL East (.550) and the AL East (.520) rank higher, the latter only because of an 0-3 day by AL Central teams.


(hat tip to Chris Creamer for the 

standings after Wednesday’s games)
Records against other divisions:
(Heading into Friday’s games) 
NL East.......44-36..... .550
AL East.......38-35..... .520
AL Central...40-38..... .512
NL West......38-37..... .506
AL West......39-35..... .453
NL Central...25-33..... .431

As I surmised when the question came up recently of whether Miguel Cabrera would join in the Detroit Tigers' champagne celebration after they clinched the American League Central, the answer would be self-evident.

Either he would, or he wouldn't. It really wasn't a question that needed to be asked and answered, because it would be on display for all to see, eventually. And it was.

When the FOX Sports Detroit cameras panned around the Tigers' champagne-soaked locker room Friday night almost all the familiar faces from the franchise were evident, from the players to the front office to the training staff.

But Miggy was nowhere to be found.

Oh, he was there. He talked to MLB.com's Jason Beck for a video, as well as MLIVE's Chris Iott and CBSSports.com's C. Trent Rosecrans for their stories.

But by all reports, he was sporting only a bottle of water.

And good for him.

Not that he needs (or wants) my approval. But it's always good to see someone doing well in a battle as hard as dealing with an addiction — especially when you have to do it on a very public stage, as he is.

Like I said before, it was his call. Glad he made it with such ease and grace. Far more satisfying to pass along positive stories, rather than the disappointing ones we started the season with.