View From The Bleachers

VIEW FROM THE BLEACHERS

By Joel Greer

After finishing in the American League's Eastern Division cellar for two straight seasons, the Detroit Tigers could have expected a cynical crowd to show up for their home opener.

Sure, a small amount of cynicism was present, but for the most part, the 48,612 people who ventured into the aging ballpark at Michigan and Trumbull carne for the pomp of the spring baseball spectacle and to see tor themselves if the Tigers had indeed improved.

For the second week of April, the weather could not have been more perfect. The combination of sunny skies and 60-degree temperatures brought some 20,000 to the ticket booths the day of the game alone. The late arrivals caused long lines at the ticket windows, and an hour before game time, the center field bleachers were almost filled.

They came from all over the state, from Ohio and from across the river in Ontario. They were old, they were young. Many men in the sun-drenched bleachers removed their shirts to get tans, while a few women also took off their shirts to get some publicity for the strip-tease bar where they work.

Signs at all of the entrances proclaimed that bottles, cans, and liquid containers were not permitted, but the bleacher fans did their best to display their bottles of beer, wine and neutral spirits. The usual ballpark smell of hotdogs was accompanied by the odor of cheap cigars and expensive weed.

Despite this carnival atmosphere, there were hardly any signs of rowdiness in the usually rowdy bleachers. Only at the game's outset did the security guards have any real work to do. They chased a group of bleacherites from the center Held scoreboard's platform-and, yes, evicted the topless ladies.

The crowd reacted to those incidents, and cheered when the Detroit Fire Department urged the Tigers to bring the World Series back to the Motor City during the pre-game festivities.

A standing ovation greeted the announcement that Hank Aaron would be in Milwaukee's starting lineup. Aaron, who destroyed one legend and created another by breaking Babe Ruth's career home run record, remarked during batting practice that "Openers are always special." But, despite the pageantry, he added, "you still have to go out and play the ballgame and try to win."

Pete Falkenstein, a fan in his mid-twenties who drove all the way to Tiger Stadium from Ann Arbor, had another suggestion for Hmmerin' Hank. "If Hank Aaron met me under the stands for a toke of gold, he'd be better off. And about the Tigers," he predicted, "They will not finish last."

"Fourth," shouted Rich Byers-a position where many expect the Tigers to finally end up at the close of the season in October.

To reach fourth, the Detroiters most likely will have to beat out Cleveland and Milwaukee. The Tigers bested the Indians 3-1 in the season opener at Cleveland, but it was a different story for the Tigers in their hometown debut.

White Ray Bare pitched admirably for Detroit, Jim Slaton silenced what was supposed to be a formidable Tiger batting order by allowing no runs and just two hits. Milwaukee was able to push across an unearned run in the final inning to give Slaton his second shutout in two pitching starts this season.

Last season was something else for Slaton, however, as he finished the year with eight straight losses.

A speedy turnabout is not at all impossible-at least the Tigers hope so. "With 13 new faces on our club, we've improved more than any club in our division," says Manager Ralph Houk, now in his third season at the helm.

The additions of Alex Johnson, Rusty Staub and Milt May will certainly help the hitting, which slumped to .249 last season-eleventh in the twelve-team league. "We will also have much more maneuverability this year," says Houk, who is platooning Dan Meyer and Bill Freehan at first base and Ben Oglivie and Ron LeFlore in centerfield.

"With a 162 -game schedule, clubs that platoon [playing left-handed hitters against right-handed pitchers, and vice versa] have an advantage," assesses Manager Houk. "Playing every day, players will naturally get tired, and a day off now and then would would prevent that. Platooning will also keep players from playing with minor injuries."

Houk claims, however, that he is not platooning in the true sense of the word. ''Right now, we're playing the players who were hitting the best at the end of spring training. We have to play the club that is most capable of scoring runs."

As in hitting, only one team in the league was worse in the pitching department last season, as the Tigers lost a club-record 102 games. Detroit has traded away perennial leader Mickey Lolich, but the acquisition of starter Dave Roberts and reliefers Jim Crawford and Bill Laxton should bring some improvement.

So on paper, Detroit looks as if it might move up from sixth to fourth this season, something the fans here are asking.

And they won't ask any more than that.

Joel Greer, who lives in Detroit, has written about sports for the Michigan Daily and the Ann Arbor News.