Kenny!

The namesake of my first child keeps on improving, pitching a two inning simulated game two days ago. Kenny Rogers seems to be getting ever nearer to returning, with the next step in his return possibly being a minor league start.

Judging by his comments, Rogers is itching to return.

"I'm trying to rush the process," he said. "The trainers and the team are trying to slow me down a little bit -- which is good. They are equilibrium for me. I want to get back as soon as possible. That's the way I've always worked. You try to get back as soon as possible so you can get out and do your job. I feel comfortable where I am right now, and as long as things keep progressing, I don't see it being that much longer before I can get back out here and help these guys." (Courtesy: Detroit Free Press)

Kenny bonded with us Detroiters last year in the playoffs during his three starts where he was dominant. I'll never, ever forget chanting his name on every two-strike count and when he walked off the field against the Yankees in the ALDS. Or when he poured champagne on a cop's head. I loved that.

Other than the obvious emotional attachments, Rogers will also add another stopper to the rotation. It seems like when things start going wrong, the Tigers only have one guy that they can count on some of the time to get the ship back on track (Justin Verlander. I say sometimes because of last Thursday's Cleveland start. Ugly.), although Jeremy Bonderman is not far away from becoming another one of those guys. Kenny was the rock of the rotation last year, the one we Tiger fans could count on during losing streaks. It'll be nice to have that kind of security back on the team.