Ivan Rodriguez says Tigers owner Mike Ilitch deserves a World Series title this year

Former Detroit Tigers catcher Ivan Rodriguez spoke with reporters after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 4 of the ALCS, and the future Hall of Famer says it's time for owner Mike Ilitch to be part of a World Series Championship. The Tigers are headed back to the World Series for the first time since Rodriguez and his teammates advanced to the championship in 2006.

The St. Louis Cardinals dispatched the Tigers in five games back in 2006 to claim the title but Rodriguez says Ilitch deserves a better fate this time around (via the Detroit Free Press):

"I think it's time for him, you know. I think it's the year for him to have a World Series trophy in his hands. I think it's going to be great for him..... He is going to feel very good about that and his family and all the work, all of the hard work that they have done, you know, since a long time ago, a long time ago with their group of people, you know, (Al) Avila, Dombrowski, all of the guys in the front office. They do hard work to become the organization and the team that they have on the field right now, He deserves to be a world champion."

Rodriguez also commented on whether Miguel Cabrera should be honored as the AL MVP. His answer was short, sweet and to the point: "No question about it."

Detroit awaits the winner of the NCLS, and entering Friday night the St. Louis Cardinals lead the San Francisco Giants 3-1 in the series.