DETROIT, MI - The

Detroit Economic Club

invited the Detroit Tigers to a luncheon today as part of annual event where players and managers are asked questions - and often respond candidly - by sports broadcasters, owner Chris Ilitch and members of the audience. Topics ranged from Prince Fielder's hitting woes in Seattle to team president Dave Dombrowski's thoughts on bringing back closing pitcher Jose Valverde.

Here are highlights from today's event:

The Tigers are .500 after 18 games

Leyland was asked about the team's schedule, which has been "challenging" so far this season. The team has 9 wins and 9 losses so far.

"We got a challenge on our hands," Leyland said. "I think we're equipped to handle that challenge. We'll find out," Leyland said.

The Tigers recently dropped four straight, with a loss in Seattle followed by a three losses to the Angels in Los Angeles.

Prince Fielder's struggle in Seattle

In Seattle, Tigers first baseman and slugger Prince Fielder struggled mightily, with a stretch of nine strikeouts in 11 at-bats. Asked about this Wednesday, Fielder joked,

"I think actually there was a hole in my bat, so I got that taken care of." He said it was an unprecedented performance for him, but he is taking it in stride.

"Like I said, I've never done that, but, uh… it was a good experience" Fielder said in jest.

Justin Verlander as a Little League nightmare

Tigers ace Justin Verlander was asked about a rumor that, back in Little League days, there was a child so afraid of facing him that he began to cry when it was his turn at bat.

"Yeah that's true," Verlander said to laughter. "But you got to understand, back then I threw pretty hard and I had no idea where it was going."

Verlander said he accidentally beaned kids all the time.

"The parents actually tried to get me kicked out of the league," he said. "True story."

The Return of Papa Grande

Tigers President and CEO Dave Dombrowski was asked about the team re-signing Jose Valverde, a closing pitcher who in last year's post season allowed nine runs in 2 2/3 innings.

Dombrowski said "Papa Grande" (Valverde's nickname) "has done tremendous stuff" for the team over the last few seasons, despite his slump at the end of last year. Valverde has also since drastically improved in the off season, he said.

"Low and behold, he's throwing 95 (mph) again, " Dombrowski said.

Jim Leyland's superstitions

Tigers manager Jim Leyland was asked if he has any superstitions. He does.

"I normally try to go to the bathroom at the same time every day" before the game, he said, to laughter. "And if we don't have two-ply make sure we get that the night before."

Leyland may not have been totally serious about his bathroom habits, but when it comes to ink pens and line-ups he is absolutely superstitious.

The eight-year team manager said that if a line-up does well, he'll hold on to the pen that wrote it up, and try to write all future line-ups with the same ink.

"Those are really the only superstitions I really have," Leyland said.

Doug Fister prefers napping before games

Tigers pitcher Doug Fister was asked about his routine of napping in the clubhouse before games, and whether it aids his mental preparation.

He said a lot of players listen to loud music to "get jazzed up," but "I found out I am the exact opposite. I got to get relaxed, keep my heart rate low, and pitch real low."

Fister said this habit can lead to some of the players approaching his slumber with, "Hey, you know you're pitching today, right?"

