Magglio Ordonez and Johnny Damon are 36. Carlos Guillen is 34. Brandon Inge turned 33 last month. This is supposed to be a veteran Tigers team.
    But it is the kids who are threatening to steal the show. There is a wave of new, young talent sweeping baseball these days, and the Tigers, thanks to some good good scouting and solid player development, have not been left behind.
    Brennan Boesch's name wasn't on anyone's mind in Florida this spring. The Tigers were committed to Austin Jackson, but there was some doubt as to whether he could hit big league pitching well enough to bat leadoff. The back-up catcher's job was up for grabs between Alex Avila and Robinzon Diaz. Don Kelly was on the bubble in the battle for the last spot on the bench, And, from day one, Danny Worth was ticketed for Toledo.
    Now they are all integral parts of the team.
    "We've probably got too many kids, to be honest with you," Jim Leyland admits. "But that's OK. I've got no problem with that.
    "I'd rather have some young guys up here playing than some journeymen making $3, $4, $5 million. I'm all for giving young guys a chance to play. They've got to play sometime."
    Of course, it helps that this batch of  young Tigers have the ability to play up here.
    Boesch has been getting most of the attention, but he's not the only  rookie who is elevating his status in the eyes of the Tigers organization this season.
    As expected, Jackson has come back down to earth after batting .364 in April. But he is far superior to Curtis Granderson defensively in center field. It's not even close.
    "He makes plays that are very difficult look very easy," said Tigers' assistant GM Al Avila, who's own son, Alex, is, at the moment, the team's catcher of the future _ assuming he continues to hit.
    Worth has replaced Adam Everett at shortstop and demonstrated earlier this season that he can play second base, too. "I don't know if anybody has noticed, but he has a helluva arm," says Leyland, one who has noticed. Worth's glove and arm will keep him in the big leagues. The only question is: Can he hit enough to play everyday?
    Second baseman Scott Sizemore, who is batting .328 at Toledo since he was sent down to regain his confidence, will be back.
    And, although he his not a rookie, young Kelly is earning a place for himself as an ultilty man, playing left field, center and right as well as third base and first.
    "He's made some outstanding defensive players and he's not gotten any credit at all," says Leyland. "For what he's supposed to be doing, he's doing it exactly perfect."
    The kids certainly can't complain that they're not getting a chance to prove themselves.
    And they have been warmly received by their veteran teammates.
    "It's important to make these guys feel like they belong," says Brandon Inge, who was himself unexpectedly shoved onto the big league stage in 2001. "They (the veterans) would tell you how hard the game is. While it is, in all reality, it's still baseball.
    "These guys have been good all their lives. Let's try and give 'em some confidence and let 'em roll."
    So far, they are.