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Ugh, thank goodness that that game is finally over. I
don't like the result, but I like the fact that it's
over. This time I didn't fall asleep waiting for the
game to conclude, though the extra innings could have
easily lulled me into a slumber. It was a week of
close games. It's strange that the same team can
score so many runs one game and then be so impotent
the next. That's our Tigers. The most disappointing
game had to be the loss Saturday night in Texas. The
cats blew a ten run lead, and instead of being at
five-hundy, the Tigers are now two games undy.
New Subscribers...
Mark "Wohlers" Yingling
Jon "Steven" Riegle
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Week of 5/5 - 5/11
Record: 2-3 L-WLW-L A very symmetrical week,
indeed.
Undy five Hundy: As mentioned before, the 2-3 week
led to the UFH index jumping to a season high of two.
Not the worst we've ever seen in the month of May.
Up Next for the Tigers...
May 12-13 Oakland
May 14-16 Texas
May 17 no game scheduled....
May 18-20 @Oakland
AL Central Standings
CWS 18 13 -
MIN 18 13 -
DET 15 17 3.5
CLE 13 19 5.5
KCR 10 21 8
Tigers Division (teams near the Tigers)
ANA 22 10 - (tops in baseball)
|
MIL 16 16 6
OAK 16 16 6
DET 15 17 7
ATL 14 17 7.5
3 tied at 8 games back...
Tigers News and Notes: No News
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Tiger of the Week...
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The one starting pitcher to really have a good outing
this week was Nate Robertson. In a real duel with
Kenny Rogers, Robertson lasted 7.2 innings, giving up
only three hits. Robertson struck out seven batters,
and ranks 4th in the American League in that category.
After getting rocked by Anaheim in consecutive
starts, Robertson regained some of the good form that
he was showing in his first few starts. Without those
two games against the Angels, Robertson would have an
ERA of 2.37.
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Commercialization Gone Wild...
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What's next to be commercialized in sports? How about
the bases? As crazy as it sounds, there will be
Spider-Man ads on bases for one weekend in June. This
is pathetic. The first link is reporting that it's
happening, and the following are some opinions from
some sports pages.
(Link Removed: The webpage no longer exists)
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=neel/
040506
http://cbs.sportsline.com/mlb/story/7308448
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/baseball/mlb/
05/06/h2h.spidey2/index.html
Note: MLB has since cancelled the plan to include
Spidey logos on the bases, due to fan backlash. Feel
free to comment on the issue.
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Poll Question...
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This week's question sent in by Anthony Williams...
Here's a question for Tigers Weekly readers, which
Matt is free to include or not in next week's Weekly:
Stephen Roderick has a column at Slate.com today
(5/10) about the cushy tag-along life of the backup
catcher.
Quote:
"Backup catchers are harder to kill than cockroaches
and just as unsightly. The fraternity is the athletic
equivalent of Skull and Bones: Once you're in, you've
got membership until you're 40 or bat below .180."
He characterizes them as the ultimate sports
freeloader. Agree or disagree?
Additional Thought (from Toolie): Who are some of the
worst backup catchers that you can remember? I'm
talking about guys who would be playing AA if they
were at any other position.
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Most Despicable Baseball Person Tournament...
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Note: I do not include all of the votes in the
"Readers Write In" section, but if you write in
reasons why you voted, then I will include them in the
issue. But feel free to just vote without
explanation.
Last Week's Results
George Steinbrenner def. Keith Miller
Rolando Paulino def. Marge Schott
Donald Fehr def. Bud Selig
Pete Rose def. Peter Gammons
John Rocker def. Rob Dibble
All of the matchups except Rose/Gammons were within
three votes. Thanks to all that voted.
Matchups for this Week in the "Other" Bracket
(1) Mo Vaughn vs. (8) Bobby Valentine
Mo Vaughn is the biggest waste of space to ever play
the game. He was huge, and he hung over the plate
like a vulture hovers over carrion. Of course, the
blob wore an elbow pad. He left Boston for the Angels
(and a huge sum of money) and later went to the Mets
to try and resurrect his career. When Troy Percival
was quoted as saying that the Angels wouldn't miss Mo,
and that Darin Erstad was their clubhouse leader,
Vaughn blurted a string of profanities and asked what
Troy Percival had ever done, citing his Red Sox going
to the playoffs for comparison. That year, the Angels
won the World Series.
Bobby Valentine is best known (by me anyways) for his
attempt to sneak back into a game in which he was
managing. Upon getting the boot, Valentine tried the
old "dark glasses and moustache" disguise, and
reappeared on the Mets' bench. Hilariously, the
umpires caught Valentine in the act, and he was fined
for his actions.
(4) Bobby Higginson vs. (5) Karim Garcia
The longest tenured Tiger, Bobby Higginson has not
always lived up to expectations. Making a huge sum of
money (8.8 million dollars), Higginson hasn't had much
of a career since 2000. Not only that, but pretty
much everyone that has ever had some contact with
Bobby (including myself) describes him as a jerk. I
also believe that Higgy was involved with the
stewardess scandal a few years back.
Karim Garcia was once traded to the Tigers for Luis
Gonzalez and cash. Garcia didn't start getting into
trouble, however, until he left the Tigers. Here's
why nominator Steve Sprague thinks Karim should be in
the tournament: "for jumping into the bullpen to help
kick the snot out of a grounds worker who was cheering
his team on. Also, for pissing in the bushes outside
of a pizza restaurant this year in spring training,
and then fighting the guy who yelled at him for it."
(3) Roger Clemens vs. (6) John Kruk
Clemens, the other Sprague nominee, gets this
description: "A famous head hunter who loves ditching
cities and teams almost as much as trying to knock
people unconscious. He ditched Boston for money
(yeah, I know they didn’t want to pay that much but he
didn’t do anything to earn a fat contract the years
before it) and he tried to say he was leaving to win a
title, not sure how he thought he’d win by going to
the Blue Jays who finished under .500 both years he
was there, ditched the Jays to win a title, and then
ditched the Yankees to be with his boyfriend Andy
Pettite. At least now he has to bat, hopefully Prior
or Zambrano gives him a taste of his own medicine."
John Kruk, formerly of the Worst Damned Sports Show
and now a member of the baseball tonight crew, was the
poster boy for the claim that baseball was composed of
fat, unathletic guys.
(2) Barry Bonds vs. (7) Steve Sanocki
Barry Bonds. What can I say about Bonds? Most of you
that have been voting have your own opinion of him,
I'm sure. I'll let you keep those thoughts and make
your decision.
Steve "Stosh" Sanocki is the current head coach of the
Muskegon Catholic Central baseball team and teacher at
MCC High School. Steve also has some experience as an
umpire for the Roosevelt Park Youth Baseball League.
About eight or nine years ago, a budding left handed
first baseman stood at the plate with two strikes on
him. The first baseman was known for his keen eye, as
his second year in pony league he fanned just once.
At this game, Steve Sanocki was handling the home
plate duties. A pitch was delivered that was clearly
low and away. Something must have happened, such as a
bug flying in Sanocki's eye, or a rock falling on his
head, or the start of World War Three, because Sanocki
inexplicably called the eagle-eyed lefty out on
strikes. What is more despicable than cheating a
young ball player on a good at bat? Poor kid...
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Game Linescores...
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May 5: Detroit 3 - Anaheim 6
Starters: DET: Johnson 5IP - ANA: Escobar 5.2IP
DET 000 102 000 3 5 0
ANA 023 010 00X 6 7 0
W: Escobar (2-1)
L: Johnson (1-5)
S: Percival (9)
May 6: no game scheduled...
May 7: Detroit 8 - Texas 7
Starters: DET: Bonderman 5.2IP - TEX: Benoit 6IP
DET 030 200 030 8 10 3
TEX 400 001 002 7 9 1
W: Levine (3-2)
L: E. Ramirez (1-2)
S: Urbina (3)
May 8: Detroit 15 - Texas 16 F/10
Starters: DET: Maroth 4IP - TEX: Dickey 3.2IP
DET 021 3 8 1 000 0 15 16 3
TEX 040 0(10)0 100 1 16 16 0
W: Cordero (1-0)
L: Urbina (1-1)
May 9: Detroit 5 - Texas 3
Starters: DET: Robertson 7.2IP - TEX: Rogers 7.2IP
DET 000 111 020 5 6 1
TEX 020 100 000 3 3 1
W: Robertson (2-2)
L: Rogers (4-2)
S: Urbina (4)
May 10: no game scheduled...
May 11: Oakland 5 - Detroit 4 F/15
Starters: DET: Johnson 5IP - OAK: Zito 7IP
OAK 011 011 000 000 001 5 16 0
DET 100 030 000 000 000 4 14 0
W: Duscherer (1-1)
L: Patterson (0-2)
S: Mecir (2)
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Readers Write In...
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Dan "B-8-2" Kemp
For the poll question:
I hate it when organized sports try to make rules so
that games are played and won in a way that the
organizers (or fans) prefer. I oppose a penalty for
excessive walking. The problem lies not with
intentional walking but in other areas such as Barry
Bonds wearing body armor and possibly using
performance enhancing drugs. If teams were allowed to
pitch to Barry inside and he had to worry about
getting injured, maybe he'd think twice anytime he saw
an inside pitch. Maybe he'd second guess himself a
little more at every at bat. If we have to change
some rules, let's change the rules on the use of
Kevlar. While we're at it, let's screen for steroids
also.
Dan
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Steve "Stone" Sprague
I do think all of the intentional walks hurt baseball.
I don't want to see Bonds stand with the bat on his
shoulder and make his "I'm so good
these guys are scared of me so I better look tough
right now" face. Casual fans would rather see him go
yard, I for one would rather see him strike out, or if
you want to give him a free bag, plunk him. My man
Mark Prior did that last year and all of the Giants
almost cried. Loved it. I don't think they should
give teams a penalty if they use too many intentional
walks, are teams penalized in football for punting
away from Dante Hall? The punishment is giving a guy
a free base when you have a 70% chance of getting him
out, and that's if he is a potential hall of famer,
the odds are greater if he isn't. If they insist on a
punishment they should make any pitcher who
intentionally walks Bonds wear a skirt the rest of the
game.
New predictions for NHL finals, Flyers over Sharks in
6. Roenick gets
his ring.
GO PISTONS!
Steve Sprague
------------------------------------------------------
Chas "Cuyler" Claus
Voting:
(8) Keith Miller over Steinbrenner. Don't get me
wrong, I hate George... but I LOVE to hate him. He
does a damn fine job with his team, he wins games, he
wins championships, and his very presence is good for
baseball because it keeps the fire raging for us fans.
Tring to hate the Yankees without George is like
trying (as a Wings fan) to hate the Avs in the
post-Claude Lemieux/Patrick Roy-era - its do-able, but
not nearly as much fun. Miller stripped 1200 students
a year of the best IM event on campus, other than the
guys football championship under the lights.
(2) Pete Rose over Gammons. Rose is a collossal ass.
I could give a rip about Gammons. Don't like him?
Don't watch Baseball Tonight. Its not like college
hoops where if you want ANY game, you're subjected to
the juvinile whooping of Dick Vitale. ESPN, WGN, TBS,
FoxSportsNet, and any number of local affiliates offer
America's pasttime. Get your fix there.
(6) Bud Selig over Fehr. I'm still pissed about the
All Star Game. I also hate the wild card (skeptics
should read Bob Costas' "A Fan's Case for Baseball" -
a surprisingly readable and down-to-earth book by one
of the biggest egos in sports.)
(5) Paulino over Schott, (8) Dibble over Rocker
Schott and Rocker are both idiots, but basically all
that they did was speak their minds and get trashed
for it. When last I checked, freedom of speech was
allowed in this country. These two get an excessivly
bad rap but I'm sick of Americans being so overly
sensitive about crap like this. Sexual predators are
luring children through the internet, education
success rates are falling like mad, 15 year olds are
having babies and/or aborting them, and we're worried
about a guy who makes insulting comments about the
kind of people one meets on a New York subway?!?!
Have you ever been on a NYC subway (or any other form
of public transportation? Rocker nailed it on the
head... but political correctness had its day once
again. Don't get me wrong, I don't agree with Marge
or Johnny, I just believe in everyone's right to be an
idiot.
Poll question:
1. Walking IS boring, but I don't think that it hurts
baseball.
2. No rule change is necessary, unless you outlaw the
intentional walk altogether... and how would you do
that? The solution is one of two things: the Giants
need to get some players with which to surround Bonds,
or the rest of the NL needs to find someone who can
handle Barry. The guy is good. I wouldn't pitch to
him either.
------------------------------------------------------
Peter "The King" Gregory
O'Toole,
Time to get on the vote.
(1) George Steinbrenner vs. (8) Keith Miller
This is a tough vote. Normally it would be hands-down
Steinbrenner. And I don't care much about the
Highlands softball team dynasty. In fact I don't care
at all. I only played in one softball game at
Hillsdale and my "team" only had 5 or 6 players. So
Stein . . . wait . . .
But I did come away with two tee-shirts from the
softball tournament, and that's not a bad take in the
end. They're pretty quality tees. Though rather old, I
still use them for playing basketball and working out.
So Mil . . . but I do use the shirts for basketball.
Then again, I lose money every time I bet on the
Tigers over the Mariners.
Such a tough call, this one goes to extra innings.
10th. 11th. 12th. 13th. . . In this case I would like
to use my "Bud Selig" clause (see below) and declare a
tie. I abstain from voting.
(2) Pete Rose vs. (7) Peter Gammons
Rose.
(3) Donald Fehr vs. (6) Bud Selig
Selig gave me the loophole for Steinbrenner-Miller, so
I've gotta give him a break. Fehr.
(4) Marge Schott vs. (5) Rolando Paulino
Paulino.
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Dallas "Larry" Senters
the reds and the indians both keeping themselves
in the realm of respectable. i love that. AM radio
giving me doses of both of their games is also quite
nice.
as far as walking bonds...take off his elbow pad and
then pitchers can plunk him instead...see how many
homeruns he hits when he actually has to respect
the pitch high and tight.
that's all
dallas
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Brian "The Saint" O'Toole
Well if you have to put Rocker up against my Dibble I
have to vote for John.
That's bringing out the heavy artillary. Although
thrown balls will break school teachers bones, names
will never hurt New Yorkers! I personally love the
crazy bastard. He is the Chris Jericho of baseball,
although he didn't last that long.
George Stienbrener wins hands down. It's just too bad
Keith had to upset the "herd" with the basketball
tourney. Tell him if he's that interested to take a
team to Belding! Who cares about basketball?
In the battle of the Petes I vote for Pete! I hate
them both. I don't care about Rose. He was much
better for the game than Gammons ever was. Did you
know that Harold Renolds lifetime BA in games where
the tempature is above 90 is . . . !!! WHO CARES! I
hate Peter Gammons!!!
Donald. He works for the crybabies. Drug test them
all. Hang Fehr from a tree for all I care. He is the
front man for these overpaid chumps.
Marge rules! Roland can burn in hell. He and
everyone else knew. Parents setting terrible
examples!
YO BROTHER
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Anthony "Woody" Williams
I'll vote this week, cause I actually know something
about these candidates.
Keith Miller (although I am somewhat grateful that his
decision has allowed the 2000 Highlands to hold the
championship ever since. Full disclosure: I am a
Highlander, just couldn't vote otherwise.)
Pete Rose: completely despicable
Bud Selig: every time I notice him, he's doing
something stupid.
John Rocker: not sure he was quite as bad as he was
made out to be, but still bad enough
I have to abstain on the 4 v. 5, because I know
nothing about either and am too lazy to look them up.
Note that I am honorably abstaining from voting on
something I know nothing about, but the conflict of
interest in the 1 v. 8 match-up did not stop me from
voting. So sue me!
As for walking, it doesn't bother me too much. To be
sure, I'd rather see a "duel" between an ace pitcher
and power hitter, than a walk. But it's an unfair
contest: if the pitcher wins all he gets is one out,
but if the batter wins he's likely to get a home run
and possibly drive in a few. So really I can't
complain that a team would rather walk somelike Bonds.
So no, walking doesn't hurt baseball, at least not
much. And I wouldn't support a rule change to
penalize walking.
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Toolie's Trashtalk...
...and we got no class...and we got no
principles...and we got no innocence...we can't even
think of a word that rhymes...
It feels good to have another semester under my belt.
Now I can focus on things such as...well, school. My
break is short, and the summer will have a good focus
my teaching and on studying for a September exam, but
that shall not deter me from catching my share of
baseball games. Why, this Thursday, there will be a
crowd of us attending the matinee at Comerica. Mike
Maroth on the mound...I am excited.
Great response on the vote this week! Once we get the
results from the "Other" bracket we'll be on to the
second round. Some of you people crack me up with
your reasoning. Keep the good stuff coming.
If they ever change the rules to penalize (more) for
intentional walks, then I'm never watching Major
League Baseball again. Some of you nailed it. There
already IS a penalty for intentional walks...a free
base! If Bonds had a crew around him that could hit,
you'd see this happening a lot less. Blame the Giants
for being so one dimensional on the offensive side.
Schmo's like Jon Miller (voice of the Giants and
frequent partner of Joe Morgan on X-day Night
Baseball) can just fume about their beloved Bonds
getting walked all the time. Though lately, teams
have been doing fine pitching to him. And people were
saying that Bonds was going to hit .400, hah! Take
the armor off, Bondsy. Take it off. Be a man.
The Tigers played a ton of close games this week. It
was exciting to watch, but a little depressing that
they blew the big lead, and that they couldn't score
in the last ten innings. Tuesday, against Oakland. I
just have to remind myself that I never expected the
season to be all peaches and cream, and that
frustrating moments are to be expected. The good
April will make it difficult, however, to swallow the
dry spells.
I think that this was the first week that we've had a
Gus Macker reference. Thanks bro, I got a kick out of
that.
The votes were almost all very close. I had to force
some yos to vote tonight at Maggy's, as going into the
night there were three deadlocked races. Late votes
swung the vote in "favor" of Steinbrenner, Fehr, and
Rocker. The 1 seeds snuck by some stiff opposition.
It will be interesting to see who makes the final
four.
Good night, how long is this Kobe Bryant trial going
to last? I couldn't believe my ears today when I
learned that just today Bryant was entering his plea!
What in the hell have they been doing up until now,
establishing a motive? This thing can't get over soon
enough. I'm sick of hearing Dan Patrick talk about it
all the time. And as a side note, I could do without
Dan Patrick at all. I think he's extremely overrated.
The Tigers should have Dmitri back by the end of May.
As long as they can play .500 ball until they get him
back, that should be considered a big deal.
Reinserting Young back into that lineup will be like a
shot of adrenaline. One less chump to put in front of
opposing pitchers.
And Fernando Vina, you had better get things going. I
have about as much faith in you at the plate as I did
with Dean Palmer.
OK, time to hit the sack. Look for me on Thursday
(though I highly doubt the game will be televised).
I'll be wearing the "I'm With Stupid" shirt.
I'm out.
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Play Ball!
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