Veteran manager Jim Leyland criticized his Detroit Tigers team for lackluster play in an unusual press conference, yesterday.

This journeyman leader said his guys played as if they had already packed their bags for the forthcoming road trip and the current game was unimportant.

Moreover, he said, in the best Theres a new Sheriff in town! tone that he wouldnt permit the losing mentality that has gripped Detroit to persist on his watch.

You have to hand it to this skipper. The season still has 150 games to be played, and Leyland is already jawboning like its already August or September.

The clich that Every game counts certainly means something very real to this guy.

Apparently, hes one manager who isnt afraid to actually kick his multi-millionaires in the rear side every now and then, and you have to admit, its refreshing.

Detroit fans should be proud that their manager is this serious, this soon. Hes setting an expectation level, and he expects his players to live up to it.

Yes, you can enjoy your big bucks, he could be implying, but youre not going to enjoy losing, not while Im around.

We need more of this type of leadership.

Its great for the Tigers, for the fans, and for baseball!