So I caved in.

Yup, I did it. I got in a car, drove myself to the nearest bookstore and shelled out $20 for Joe Torre’s book. I’m only two chapters in, but I must say, I’m hooked.

Let me up front first. I hate the New York Yankees. There’s nothing better than seeing the Yankees lose. If I’m in a bad mood, there’s a good chance my spirits will be lifted by a bad day for the Bronx Bombers. So when I heard about a book where the manager in one of the better eras in Yankee history tears the team apart, I was mildly interested.

So now Torre, Tom Verducci and a publisher have 20 of my hard earned dollars. That’s okay. I’m enjoying the education I’m receiving on how crazy the Yankee clubhouse was from 1995 to 2007.

So that got me to thinking. Am I wrong for buying the book? Does anyone think I got caught up in the publicity and gave into the book-selling machine? Or am I justified?

I’m clearly not alone in this, or these books wouldn’t sell. Somehow, Jose Canseco, Kirk Radomski and others have managed to make a buck off curious fans. But is there any book you would buy if written in the same way?

I know one other book I would purchase off the top of my head. Switching gears to football, Terrell Owens was recently released by the Dallas Cowboys. It proves that many of the reports about the locker room cancer T.O. was had substance. Could you imagine if Wade Phillips or Tony Romo wrote a book about playing with the Cowboys last season? It would be a helluva read.

Maybe I’m crazy, but if tell-all books are people’s way of making a few dollars, I may be hooked.

So, it’s official. The competitive baseball season has begun, sort of. The games may not count, but spring training contests are underway. It’s kind of ironic that the weather here (Kalamazoo, Mich.) is expected to hit mid-40s on a day where baseball is definitely on the mind of many Tiger fans.

Aside from the eagerness of nine innings and the thought of Tiger baseball, there’s a lot of question marks still lingering. Here’s what to watch for as we countdown to opening day:

Pitching – Yes, this one is obvious. Although the dismal 2008 had several factors in its demise, it started on the rubber. It appears as if four rotation spots are locked, with Justin Verlander, Jeremy Bonderman, Edwin Jackson and Armando Galarraga as locks. Or are they? Although a part of the AL Champions last season, Jackson’s sub-4.00 ERA and 14-11 record mean he could have a meltdown. And will Galarraga have a repeat season? This was a guy who came out of the shadows to become the only solid hurler in 2008. Will he return to solitude?

It looks like the final rotation spot will come down to Dontrelle Willis, Zach Miner and Nate Robertson. My money is on Willis. Reports out of Lakeland state that Willis has looked better than he ever has in the Olde English D. Miner has shown that he can be a solid middle-inning reliever, so expect him to reprise that role. Don’t be surprised, however, if Miner starts at some point. He’s shown he can be a spot starter and had success there. As for Robertson, he’s way too inconsistent. He’s due for a good outing every three starts, but that’s not good enough. If Robertson only has to pitch an inning or two, he should contribute in a much more positive way.

Keep in mind that the Tigers still have several attractive pitching prospects that could make the team, even if it isn’t at the start of the season. Rick Porcello dominated the minors last year and is on the fast track to the big show. First-round pick Ryan Perry has shown he has a dangerous fastball and might be in Detroit before anyone realizes it. The wildcard seems to be Fu-Te Ni, a prospect from Taiwan who most people know little about but has seen a lot of attention in the spring. He could be the Galarraga of 2009.

I could touch on the bullpen as well, but let’s save that for another day. That’s a whole post in itself.

Outfield – Still looking to find a position, Carlos Guillen is now adjusting to life as a left fielder. He failed at third base and shortstop, and was not the answer at third with Brandon Inge on the roster. Let’s see how he adjusts to left field.

Guillen will be in the lineup to som extent. There’s no denying that. But if Guillen can’t play left, he might share the DH spot with Gary Sheffield. Marcus Thames, Brent Clevlen and Ryan Raburn all eager to take Gullien’s spot if he’s a bust. Clete Thomas should be there as well, but his injury will sideline him for a good portion of the season.

It might also be noteworthy that Magglio Ordonez is aging and already lacks defensive ability. Don’t be surprised if he plays in right field less this season. The only lock in the outfield for the whole year, as always, is Curtis Granderson.

Offense – Last year, the Tigers sacrificed defense for hitting. That was obvious when Inge was benched, Miguel Cabrera was brought in and Guillen was moved around the horn. This year, Detroit has downgraded hitting to an extent. Pudge Rodriguez was a near-.300 hitter every season, but now he’s gone. Gerald Laird, a catcher not known for his bat, will take his place. Inge also lacks offensive prowess, but is back in the lineup for his skills at the hot corner.

The question here will be the contribution of Gary Sheffield. If he fails to perform, expect him to sit and Guillen to take his spot as the DH. It is obvious Guillen is still thought highly of on this roster because of his bat. The Tigers will try and get another hitter out if Sheff can’t get it done.

Newcomers – Edgar Renteria was a bust last season. Adam Everett, another player known for defense, will share duties with Ramon Santiago this season. It will be interesting to see how Everett adjusts.

As mentioned above, Laird is also new to the team this year. This is his first season as the No. 1 catcher, but does he have what it takes to start every day? His backup, Matt Treanor, is also adjusting to Detroit life after spending last season with Florida.

Pitcher Jackson will also have to get used to new confines. Playing in the relaxed atmosphere of Tampa Bay and Tropicana Field was one thing, but Comerica Park and high expectations will be another. Let’s see how Jackson handles the pressure in an already unsure rotation.

It should be fun to watch the events of this spring and, of course, the regular season. I’ll be back later with my thoughts on this afternoon’s game against the Nationals.