DETROIT -- Tigers players and coaches joined the Detroit Economic Club for a luncheon on Friday afternoon at the MotorCity Casino Hotel to heap praise on first-year manager Ron Gardenhire and a team that is so far surpassing expectations set before the season.
During a players-only discussion, Nicholas Castellanos prodded at the notion of a "rebuild" in the works and asked what the most important ingredient is during a rebuild.
Shane Greene answered quickly: "Gardy."
When Gardenhire was introduced by FOX Sports Detroit's Rod Allen for a one-on-one interview, a sustained applause turned into a standing ovation from the sold-out crowd.