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Beyond the Box Score The return of No. 3? Yes, No. 3 will be back in the lineup in 2007, but it won't be Alan Trammell. Gary Sheffield asked for the number when he was traded to the Tigers, and they allowed him to be the first player since Trammell to wear it. Trammell gave Sheffield his backing. "Gary Sheffield is an excellent player, and I think he was a great acquisition by the Tigers," Trammell said. "If he wants to wear my number, I'm honored." The arrival of No. 500? Sheffield has 455 career home runs, which is already the second-most of any player in Tiger history. With a three-year contract, he should become the first player ever to hit a 500th career home run while wearing a Tiger uniform. The arrival of 2.6 million -- or more The Tigers set a Comerica Park attendance record in 2006, and they figure to have a good chance to break it this year. Could they challenge the club record of 2,704,794? It would require the Tigers to average 33,400 fans a night in a 41,070-seat ballpark. Marilyn Monroe in the house At least until Magglio Ordonez hit the game-winning home run that put the Tigers into the World Series, the most magical homer of the Tigers' magical season came on Aug. 30 in New York, when Craig Monroe's three-run shot in the ninth saved the Tigers from a doubleheader sweep. But what was really amazing was that Monroe's mother had come to New York to see the game, and her name really is Marilyn. "Marilyn Monroe is here," Craig Monroe said that night. "Marilyn Monroe is here in New York." As easy as 1,2,3 -- but not 4 After the success the Tigers had with free agents represented by Scott Boras, the surprise is that they didn't sign another one this past winter. After all, the three previous winters, the Tigers had worked with Boras to bring Pudge Rodriguez, Magglio Ordonez and Kenny Rogers to Detroit. Last July, it was those three players who represented the Tigers in the All-Star Game. Practice makes perfect After going 19 years without any need to celebrate, the Tigers got used to it last fall. They went wild after clinching a playoff spot, wilder after beating the New York Yankees and wilder still after Ordonez's home run eliminated Oakland. Alas, there was no fourth celebration. Too bad, because the Tigers had it figured out. That didn't seem to be the case the first time, when the Tigers took quite a while to get going. "When you're not used to celebrating," Vance Wilson said, "you don't know what to do."

The night the Tigers lost the World Series, Justin Verlander started talking about a dynasty. A Tiger dynasty. "Could be," Verlander said. "Absolutely. Definitely." Perhaps he should have waited for the Tigers to win a World Series, but at least you get the idea that the standards have been raised around Comerica Park. The Tigers' amazing trip to October may have been a surprise, but it wasn't a fluke, and the minute it was over the Tigers went to work on trying to get there again. By trading for nine-time All-Star Gary Sheffield, the Tigers addressed what they considered their biggest 2006 weakness: the lack of a fearsome hitter in the middle of the lineup. Not many other changes were deemed necessary, so the Tigers return with virtually the same group that shocked the baseball world last year

Rotation

The Tigers know that it was pitching that carried them to the World Series, and that's why they resisted any temptation to change their rotation. They didn't trade anyone, and they signed Jeremy Bonderman to a four-year contract that ensures the young core will stay together. It is still a young rotation, despite the presence of Kenny Rogers, who will try to duplicate at age 42 what he accomplished at 41. No one else in the rotation has yet turned 30, although both Mike Maroth and Nate Robertson will get there this summer. Jeremy Bonderman has four seasons and 45 wins behind him, but he's still just 24. The day he signed his contract, he said it's time to take "a big step forward." Verlander, four months younger than Bonderman, won 17 games and was the AL Rookie of the Year. But Verlander also took a big step up in innings, and there will be some concern that all the work last year will take a toll this season. Maroth comes back to claim the final spot in the rotation. He was off to a great start in 2006 before bone chips in his left elbow basically ended his season in late May.

Bullpen

If the rotation was the strength of the 2006 Tigers, the bullpen wasn't far behind. And like the rotation, the bullpen returns largely intact, although left-handed specialist Jamie Walker is gone and veteran right-hander Jose Mesa has arrived. Mesa has been a closer through much of his career, but the plan here is that he works in the middle, before setup men Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney and closer Todd Jones. Jones turns 39 in April, but he has 77 saves the last two seasons, and he was particularly effective from the middle of June on. Zumaya excited fans and fellow players with his radar gun readings, which often topped 100 mph and even touched 103 on occasion. Rodney was effective, too, and filled in well when Jones missed the first month of the season with a hamstring injury.

Middle Infield

Carlos Guillen led AL shortstops with 28 errors, leading to talk that he should be moved to first base. Nonetheless, Guillen was the overwhelming choice as Tiger of the Year. He's still here, and he's still at shortstop, and he's still teaming with Placido Polanco at the heart of the Tiger team. Guillen and Polanco are two of the Tigers' most important players, and keeping them healthy is key if the Tigers plan to repeat their 2006 magic.

Corners

The Tigers believed in Brandon Inge as a third baseman, and they still do, so much so that they signed him to a four-year, $24 million contract last fall. The Tigers thought they believed in Chris Shelton as their first baseman, but then he struggled so much that they traded for Sean Casey. The popular Casey batted only .245 during the regular season, but he was welcomed back after going 9-for-17 with two home runs in the World Series. Shelton is still here, but right now he doesn't have a job.

Outfield

Sheffield is an All-Star outfielder, but the Tigers acquired him with the idea that he'll be closer to a full-time designated hitter. That means the outfield remains intact, with Craig Monroe in left, Curtis Granderson in center and Magglio Ordonez in right. Ordonez earned a spot in Tiger lore with his pennant-winning home run, but with three guaranteed years left on his contract, the Tigers sure hope there are more big moments to come. As for Granderson, the Tigers would like to see him cut down on a high strikeout total, and they would also like to decide if it would help their lineup to move him out of the leadoff spot. Monroe always seems to be talked about as a potential trading chip, but he also always seems to be getting a big hit the Tigers need.

Catching

Pudge Rodriguez said last summer that he'd like to finish his career as a Tiger, and he didn't mean that he wants to finish it this season. With the guaranteed part of his four-year, $40 million contract coming to an end after 2007, this will be a big year for Rodriguez. The Tigers will watch him closely, with the knowledge that he'll turn 36 in November but also that he's still an All-Star. He doesn't like to take many days off, but the Tigers feel so comfortable with backup Vance Wilson that they signed him to a two-year extension.

DH/Bench

Sheffield says he's on board with the plan to use him primarily as a DH, and for now that figures to be his job for the next three seasons. That should give Sheffield plenty of time to hit the 45 home runs he needs for 500 in his career. Sheffield can still play the outfield, which should allow manager Jim Leyland to give Ordonez and possibly even Monroe a few days as DH. Leyland would like to be able to make use of his bench, too, but he really wishes he had a left-handed bat there to go to. What he does have are several quality utility infielders, and Marcus Thames, who at times last year demonstrated impressive power.

Management

Dave Dombrowski and Leyland brought a World Series to Florida, and now they've brought one to Detroit, too. And this time, they have an owner who wants to keep the team together. Mike Ilitch also wants to keep his management team together, so days after the World Series he announced that he had extended Dombrowski's contract through 2011. The 62-year-old Leyland may or may not last that long as manager, but he's signed through 2008 and plans to continue at least that long. That's good news for the Tigers; Leyland may well have been the most important person wearing a Tiger uniform last year.

Final Analysis

Can they do it again? Before you answer that, remember that you never expected the Tigers to do it the first time. Getting back to the World Series won't be easy, but with their pitching and their improved offense, no one should be surprised if the Tigers do get back there. One thing is certain: No one is going to ask whether they can finish above .500.

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