Ron Gardenhire spent three years trying to get back to this point, to lead a team onto the fields for Spring Training again, to address a team as its manager again. As he talked with Tigers pitchers and catchers Wednesday morning, he sensed his own nervousness.
“Honestly, I kind of had the jitters when I walked in there,” Gardenhire said. “I just caught myself speaking really fast to the team. I said, ‘This is going to be short and sweet,’ but I knew I was really talking fast, and that was part of my anxiety, ready to go and excited.