On Baseball

This is more than a slight departure from what I normally write about, so hang with me.....

Baseball is a funny sport.

It's a game that can be decided on one swing, a misstep, a bobbled ball and yes, I'm going to go there, on an umps wandering strike zone.

Last night was Detroit's last game for the 2013 season. It's been shall we say, an odd season for the Tigers. Unlike other fans and sports writers (please note, I am NOT putting myself in the same category as a sports writer--I don't know enough stats or random information for that) I refuse to call it a disappointing season.

I've been a fan of the game for as long as I can remember. I know I've talked about it before, but I don't remember a time when I wasn't a Detroit Tigers fan. And any fan will tell you there are ups and downs with your favorite team, things to cheer about and things to groan about. But I'm one of those who goes for the cheers, no matter how dismal things may be.

On paper, this morning the Tigers should be preparing for the 2013 World Series against St. Louis. On paper Justin Verlander should have had another lights out season, with one of the highest win to loss ratios, highest numbers of strikeouts and lowest ERA's. On paper, Miggy should have won the Triple Crown again, Prince (along a few of the other guys) should have had a +.300 avg season been one of the leading RBI's guys in the majors and Peralta's post-drug suspension performance in the post-season should be guaranteeing him another year with the Tigers.

Instead, Verlander had an o.k. season by his standards, Miggy was more of a liability because of his injuries/lack of speed than he was helpful down the stretch. Prince, well, I think we all know how hard it can be with personal matters even if there is a job to be done. Peralta’s future with the organization is up in the air. And instead of getting ready for the seven game set with St. Louis they are packing their bags and heading home for the winter.

But that lack of success isn't the whole picture.

Expectations are hard. Anything short of a World Series win for this team would be a disappointment. They were SUPPOSED to win it all this year. Who cares that there are 20 teams that didn't make it to the post season. Or that they won the AL Central Division for the 3rd year in a row. Or that Scherzer will likely win the CY Young this year (side note: if he doesn't win, I will lose what little faith I have left in the Universe). Sanchez led in the AL with lowest ERA and Miggy had the highest batting average, on-base plus slugging percentage, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.

It would be ridiculous to say that I don’t have an “off-season wishlist” for changes I’d like to see made for this team. They need a closer. I appreciate Benoit’s attempt at filling this role (how the front office thought they could get away with NOT signing someone in the off-season last year is beyond me), but it just didn’t quite work out in the end. A left with a good, consistent bat would be great. And a new lead-off man. Jackson hitting lower in the line-up the last few games was one of the best moves Leyland could have done and it showed in Jacksons patience at the plate. I’m not sure putting him back to lead off would be a great move. There will be many who feel I have left off “a new manager” from my list but on this area I’m torn. I like Leyland. His players like/respect him. I like some of his moves. I like that he is willing to change things up (i.e. the line-up shuffle) and I like that he takes responsibility when things don’t go as planned. I’d be o.k. with him back for 2014 and yes, I am likely the only one.

Last night Justin Verlander posted the following tweet:

I want to thank all of Detroit and tigers fans for the support this year. You all are the best fans in the world! #detroitproud
— Justin Verlander (@JustinVerlander) October 20, 2013

All I can say is “Thank you” back. It’s not the season we wanted, but it was still a good one and I am counting down the days until the 2014 season begins.

Boys of Summer

Thursday, my dad, brother and I made the drive to Detroit to watch the last home game of the regular season at Comerica Park. We've been going to games since I was a kid, making the almost 5 hour drive to Detroit a few times a season to watch the Tigers. This was the first game we've been able to make it recently because of busy schedules, but spending an afternoon with my dad while we watch our favorite baseball team is always worth the trip.

Not only was this game the last home game of the season, it was also the last game of a four games series between the Tigers and the Royals. The Tigers were going for a sweep and also a chance at gaining a half game on the White Sox.

It proved to be a really exciting game. Doug Fister, ( my #2 Tiger) pitched an incredible game, setting a new American League record, striking out 8 consecutive batters. Fielder had a pretty incredible infield double (although he was later quoted as saying "it did get into the outfield a little bit) and Infante finally made a much needed defensive play. The Tigers went on the win the game, 5-4 with a walk off hit by Alex Avila.

As always, I took way too many photographs but I thought I'd share some of my favorites from the day:

Comerica Park

 

     My dad & Brother before the game               Ernie Harwell                                      Sharona

      

Quintin Berry                                             Brayan Villarreal

Luke Putkonen sporting a very stylish Hello, Kitty! backpack
  Bullpen   Doug Fister                                                        Miguel Cabrera   Prince Fielder
  Delmon Young
  Austin Jackson

Infante, Dirks & Cabrera

A trip to Comerica is incomplete without a visit from the Singing Hotdog Guy

  American League Central standings at the end of the game

Music Monday: Step to the Plate

September is here which means I have baseball on the brain 24-7. The Tigers are battling the Chicago White Sox for first place in the Central Division which makes for good, if not stressful baseball.

In honor of my team playing some great baseball, I thought for today I'd go with some of their walk-up songs.

Max Scherzer (37) Pitcher: That's All She Wrote-T.I. Feat. Eminem


Justin Verlander (35) Pitcher: Till I Collapse-Eminem Feat. Nate Dogg


Alex Avila (13) Catcher: I Got Mine-The Black Keys


Miguel Cabrera (24) Third Base: Feeling Myself-Pusha T Feat. Kevin Cossom


Austin Jackson (14) Center Field Ballin'-Young Jeezy


If I had a walk up song, I think I'd have to go with Lose Yourself-Eminem

What would your walk up song be?


Thanks to the Detroit Free Press for putting this list together! Additional walk up songs for the Detroit Tigers can be found here: Tigers Walk-Up Music 2012.

Friday Favorites: The Big D

I've missed a few weeks, but after losing a whole heck of a lot of sleep this week, I have the perfect favorite thing to share this time around.....my love for the Detroit Tigers.

Any baseball fan will tell you, few things are better than an exciting game from your favorite team, especially when those games are played in the post season. And the last week of games from the Tigers as they battle the Texas Rangers in the ALCS have been (mostly) exciting.

I don't remember becoming a Detroit Tigers fan. I've just always been one. The televised games were constantly on at our house and when a television wasn't near by the AM broadcast could be heard in the background of summer afternoons.

When I was 12, my dad took my brother and me to Tigers Stadium for our first game. I will never forget that afternoon while we sat in our seats and watched the Tigers play a game against the Angles secretly hoping to snag a foul ball. I don't remember who won (I'm sure I have the program with the score tucked away somewhere) but I do remember grinning from ear to ear through the entire game. It was an amazing experience that I will never forget and it was all that it took to cemented my love for the team.

Over the years, my dad and I have traveled from our sleepy little town in norther Michigan to Detroit to watch the Tigers play. We been to some pretty great moments in Tigers history--the last game played at Tigers Stadium, Alan Trammell's last game as a player and his first game as a manager and some not so great moments, most notably the ridiculously awful 2003 season where they went 43-119. We traveled first to Tiger Stadium and then to Comerica Park and even traveled to other cities to watch them as the visiting team. But through it all, when others were abandoning the team for better players, better teams and better seasons, my dad and I stuck with the Tigers, a team (which for me) exemplifies the meaning of working hard and refusing to buckle under pressure.

Now, nearly twenty years later, to see the Tigers forcing game 6 in the ALCS, is almost like a dream (no, I have forgotten about their trip to the World Series in 2006). After seeing so many losing seasons it's a place you hoped they'd eventually be and here they are and I couldn't be more excited about it. I can't wait to see how the boys of summer play this weekend and will hopefully be able to celebrate their trip to this years World Series.