And The Side Is Retired

         
              For the last 2 years, I have been trying to collect my thoughts on my experience with the MLB Fan Cave. As you can imagine, it's difficult to summarize such a pivotal moment in my professional and fan life. However, with the announcement of the Fan Cave's remodel/rebrand/restructure, it seems as good a time as any to put my thoughts out there.

             To begin with, kudos to MLB for making this into something. Whomever pitched this grand idea, I hope you were compensated fairly for your creation. It came along at a great time to capitalize on the social media boom in sports. Coupled with willing participants and fun ideas, this was truly a unique experience. I can say that it was one of the top moments of my life to be around so many people that love the game so very much. To be selected out of thousands and recognized for my concentrated madness means the world. So what to do with the news that the Fan Cave is changing formats/strategy. I'm not saying it was gonna live forever, even with/without the Dweller format. Everything worthwhile has a life cycle. But we stand here today to reflect and ponder on this crazy spark of creativity.

              When it was most effective, the Fan Cave was driving the conversation about great plays, hilarious fan/player interactions, and how great it is to watch and follow baseball. You couldn't watch a game of the week, scroll your timeline, or watch The Rundown without noticing the Fan Cave's presence. Videos chronicling the adventures of Bronson Arroyo, Robbie Cano, and Miggy Poco brought a refreshing departure from canned answers and shrugged off interviews. These moments of brilliance would have fallen flat though, were it not for the talents of the Cave Dwellers. Whether it was Ricardo and Ricky stripping for Kate Upton, Shaun screaming "POLICIA!", Ashley burying herself in her blankets, Mina making slow motion music videos, Travis giving Mets fans hope, the comedic antics of Ben Wietmarschen and Nick Mendillo, or Ben Christensen straight up schooling you on everything Baseball, these die hards made this crazy thing work. Even at its least effective, it was still a brilliant example of just how powerful social media can be. While the decline in quality was inevitable, I am surprised that it came so soon. Devolving from a haven to dumping ground, the Fan Cave deserved far better than becoming a backdrop for an MTV2 show hosted by Fat Joe and used for oogling Melanie Iglesias. No longer about fans, the Fan Cave became about pop culture smothering. "Hey, look at this famous person hanging out with a baseball player!"Are you kidding me? "Let's watch Hot Girl #1 talk to Giancarlo Stanton while he hits baseballs in a junkyard."? The Fan Cave has become a joke, a mere shadow of the once exciting and smart venue. We're talking Buckner/Nelly Cruz type choking here, folks. And it's a shame because it didn't have to be this way. The focus should have remained on what these fans do to make baseball enjoyable and meaningful, all the while meeting the stars of Baseball. Not some mutated and tired Survivor contest. The Fan Cave wasn't going to be on TV, it didn't market itself to be a reality series, and it wasn't fully defined. It was constantly evolving and rolling with whatever was thrown at it. In that regard, it showed promise because a baseball season is 162 games of unpredictability. Improvisation is a powerful skill to have in the sports & production realm and the Fan Cave appeared to be wrestling with whether to stick to the plan or go with the flow. It shined most when it was bridging the gap between fans and players. I can't help but wonder what would have been, had that remained the focus. However, what happened happened. Dwellers were chosen, games were watched, videos were made, and memories were created. It got it's licks in but, to be honest, I think it still had some magic left. The Fan Cave was only as good as those who were in it. The fact that for 3 years MLB was able to find and unite some of the most unique and amazing Baseball fans is it's foremost achievement. Whatever it was or was going to be, it should be commended for that.

               To be frank, I didn't think I had a chance to get as close as I did. Don't get me wrong, I take great pride in my work and who I am but let's be real, it was a nationwide contest. So when I was selected to the Top 50, I was blown away. When I made Top 30? Floored. Next thing I know, Tim Brosnan is shaking my hand just before I grab a hot dog next to the guy who is responsible for the licensing of the Tigers hat that I was wearing. Rarefied air, to say the least. Even more crazy was making it to the final round 2 years in a row. Being a part of a movement, an idea to break barriers, was truly amazing. My faith in innovation and creative thinking was rewarded. But getting close and missing out on something this great was not the best feeling. Having it happen more than once was wholly gut wrenching. Not making the Fan Cave did quite the number on me, more so than I expected. That's not to say I wasn't proud of what I had accomplished. In every interaction since, I've been very grateful and happy to have gone through such a wild ride. But like Aladdin, I was now on the outside looking in. I watched as my new friends hung out with my favorite ballplayers, cracking wise (and beers) with them, and making videos I'd give parts of my anatomy for. I can say with utmost certainty that I was both the proudest and saddest dude. Imagine the people in charge saying they're big fans of you, yet they deem you unworthy. Confusing, right? I wrestled with what I could have done and said differently. But I would never stop and will never stop going after what excites me, what drives me, and what sets me on fire. Like many artists know, the pain of coming up short is shitty but......it' also necessary. “...You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call 'failure' is not the falling down, but the staying down.” Mary Pickford said that. So while I didn't get to New York, I refuse to let it mean nothing. Making it to the final round for 2 years helped affirm that I have something special.

Maybe it was for the best.

Maybe the Fan Cave wasn't the place for me.

Gotta admit though....it would have been nice to have found out for sure. Now, the MLB Fan Cave will continue in some form. It's ultimate destiny remains to be seen, but I'm glad I was part of it for the good times. From going to Yankee Stadium hungover and being healed by Nathans Hot Dogs and Cheese Fries, helping design my friend's baseball T-shirts, going to the Crocodile Lounge to have beer and pizza, packing into a hotel room in the middle of the Arizona desert, wearing a bathrobe to breakfast, to my favorite moment, diving head first into the Home Run Slide while video recording Ricardo, who just saw Jered Weaver throw a No Hitter. Feels were had. Yes. The Good Times. But more are to come.

On the flip side, the Fan Cave gave me something. Something that makes up for not granting me entrance into it's hallowed dwelling. It gave me friendships that I might not have ever had the chance to form. I'm beyond grateful for my 2 year Top 30 teammates.

But especially to Kelsey, Ricky, Skips, Smashley, Ricardo, KP, Dave Barclay, Matty James, Megan, Ally, and Shakabrodie. I lost the Fan Cave, but I won you. I have nothing but the utmost admiration, respect, and love for you all. I wouldn't have wanted anyone other that you folk to enjoy the last few years of baseball with and for many seasons to come. You're all legends. And you know what they say about legends. Baseball is just around the corner, and I can't wait to go mad with all of you. Batter up, gang. Batter up.

That's The Ball Game

Over the last 3 years, I've watched the most baseball of my whole life. I went out for an amazing opportunity with the MLB, made life long friends, and watched the Tigers reach the World Series. It's been ridiculous to see the turn around for this team since 2006. So much goes into the team being competitive again, it's easy to take for granted just how hard it is to reach this stage. Back in '06, no one thought they'd get as far as they did. From there, the team knew they could hang with the titans of the game. They brought in the best hitting and pitching and proceeded to string together a current streak of 4 straight Central Titles, 2 A.L. Championships, Back to back MVPs, and Cy Young winners. And still, a Championship title eludes a team that many deemed most worthy. This was a different year from the previous few. The winds of change blew and most knew what was coming, but had no idea of the ripple effect it would have. While it was a thrilling year, it was a frustrating one as well. For every big moment, there was doubt and frustration, plus letting a few key games get away. And for the first time, I got mad. Like, stupid mad about Baseball. For so many years I watched my dad jump off the figurative cliff when it came to the Tigers. (He still jumps that cliff with the Lions.) But I was always upbeat, always looking on the bright side. While that will never change for me, somehow the workload increased. At the end of the day, it's just sports. But it's weird to see how much importance we put on them. I should be mad, cursing, swearing this team off, and throwing my hat down into the dirt.

But I won't do that.

This team still had an amazing season, capped with a division title. There are positives to be acknowledged, but I understand it'll take a while to see them. Today hurts, no doubt about it. But there's work to be done and they'll get right back at it.

I'll paraphrase a really good comic strip I saw the other day:

The human mind wants sports to work so much because the mind works best when it can comprehend. So often we assign narratives to games, so that we have something to go back to, to solve the story when it ends. But sports is chaos. Nothing is guaranteed, despite all the players, stats, projections, and numbers. When the game starts, it's a free for all. It's almost futile to even try to comprehend Sports. Which is why when these moments DO pay off......They are so very very Awesome.

I believe in Detroit, I believe in the Tigers, And I believe us. The championship will come. I just hope we aren't charred, cynical, and heartless husks when it happens. Because when it does happen, IT WILL BE SO VERY VERY AWESOME. I end this note with my all time favorite quote after a loss.


"You Lost Today, Kid. But That Doesn't Mean You Have To Like It."


GO TIGERS

In Other News: Hockey and An Apparent Lack of Professionalism

Hello dear friends,

Over the past 2 months, we've seen some pretty definitive highlight reel hockey. Game 7's, goals that make you squee, and goalies that are demonsrating they've all got their brick wall impressions down pat. But there have also been some bittersweet moments. My Red Wings were eliminated in 4 straight after an amazing Game 1 performance. Needless to stay, I was a little miffed. But, after what it took to get us to the playoffs, I was convinced that this season wasn't a loss. Many of our young guys stepped up, took jobs, and showed they have the drive and skill to become elite. A most pleasant surpise after such a turd sandwich start.

However, there is something that can no longer be ignored. I, like many of my hockey brethren, have noticed that there's a popular rebirth of a very special kind of hypocrisy. Why, it's the ol' "Why Are You Picking On Us For The Shitty Things We Do" fan syndrome. The Bruins won the Cup in 2011, and came close again last year. Most would think that's the sign of a great team and that the fans have nothing to complain or worry about. However, darkness lies beneath.

We start with Lucic's spear. After having a hit finished on him by Danny Dekeyser, Lucic felt his entire family heritage was disrespected. So in an effort to disrespect Dekeyser's family heritage, he decided to unleash a most heinous nut job. Didn't see it? Here it is, with perfect commentary by Ray Ferarro: Milan Lucic Isn't A Good Sportsman

Lucic was then fined, and then gave a perfect hockey answer to try and excuse his actions. "Heat of the Moment" this, "I'm not that type of player" that. This was the Kobra Kai level of deflection. And even better? The Bruin fanbase was 100% on his side. Most were decrying Wings fans saying that they are babies. But some chose this to be a perfect opportunity to try and give the female gender a leg up in the Battle of the sexes. I'm not gonna publish these people's names, but if you follow @Wingingitmotown, you could find what I'm talking about. My thoughts on the subject are this: Each body has an inherent soft spot. To say one is softer than the other is semantics, because I'm pretty sure pain is pain. There's no reason to compare these things. I know how effing terrible it is to land on the jewels. This makes me an expert on knowing this pain. I admit though that I'm not an expert in giving birth or having a time of the month. And as such, I do not claim to know how they feel and I even more so don't comment on them. The whole idea here is, unless you have first hand experience, it's best to just keep to yourself.

Then the insanity rose to a new level in the series between the Habs and Bruins. An historic rivalry renewed, only to be sullied by poor sportsmanship, ignorant fans, and a heaping dose of racism. Ouch Ouch Ouch Ouch Ouch. And so, the series culmintes in a dramatic Game 7 vicory by the Canadiens. Great series comes to an end, one team stays home, another moves on. In the pantheon of sports, there are few rituals as celebrated as the handshake. Yet true to the theme of everything being no longer sacred this year, this holy ritual was tainted. When the series ends, the part that makes this sport so great is the acceptance that you were beat in the confines of the game. The handshake line is the purest symbol of this. Yet Milan Lucic, in his infinite wisdom, saw this as a time to spread more of his lunkheadedness. Dale Weise told the media Lucic's special parting words and all I can say is "What the Flying Hell is Wrong With You, Lucic?" The game's over, you lost, the clock ran out, the other guys won. The second the game ends, you're supposed to turn off the animal and take your handshake. Why would you be surprised if someone raised their hand to your idiocy. Talk smack all you want during the game but the second that game ends, you gotta flush that nonsense. If you said that to Weise with 1 tick of one second left on the clock, he probably wouldn't have said anything. It's because you sought him out in the line to say some stupid junk that he said something. It reminds me of the end of Heavyweights. Camp MVP gets trounced my Camp Hope. Now they want to file a protest for losing. Camp MVP? Boston Bruins? See the similarity? 

But then once again, the Bruins fanbase choose blind faith over cool headedness. Instead of taking a hard look at the way their beloved team handles themselves, they lash out to all those around them. This is why we can't have nice things. The Bruins and their fans need to reevaluate themselves after this. Because there's no place for ignorance like this, period. One of the great aspects of sports is that you recognize it's a game when it's all over. But if you begin to place an imaginary greater importance on this, the line between sanity and insanity degrades. You lack professionalism, Boston. Remove your heads from your collective rears.

It's only game. Why you heff to be mad/threaten people/spread ignorance?

Disney NFL Logos: Off Topic, But Just as Fun and Important

               This time of year is always pleasant because of 3 things: The Holidays, Hockey, and not having to deal with baseball for little bit. I know, it's a somewhat blasphemous statement but hear me out. For 162 games, I scraped, cheered, angered and drove myself up the wall for Baseball. I've done it before and I'll do it again. But the reaso I an keep that endurance up is because of a nice 4 month break. But how to fill that time? Personally, I like to indulge myself in a video game or 2, watch some great holiday movies, and mess around with Photoshop. And since the Lions are having another classic roller coaster season, my Photoshop skills were tickeld when I thought to myself: What would NFL logos look like if imagined with Disney Characters? After some research, several Bond films as background noise, and sitting on my couch, I churned out the following 18 masterpieces. These were the logos deemed most suitable to fit with Characters from the Disney-verse. The rules were strict Disney, no trying to shoehorn new acquisitions into NFL logos here. No Marvel or Lucasfilm. Just straight animation domination.

                                Bagheera - Carolina Panthers

                               

                                Big Al from The Country Bear Jamboree - Chicago Bears

                                Bullseye - Indianapolis Colts

                                Captain Hook - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

                                Diablo, Maleficent's Pet Raven - Baltimore Ravens

                                Classic Disney Font - New York Giants

                                The Seven Dwarfs - Pittsburgh Steelers

                                Hayabusa, Shon Yu's Falcon - Atlanta Falcons

                                Iago - Arizona Cardinals

                                John Smith - New England Patriots

                               Ariel - Miami Dolphins

                                Pegasus - Denver Broncos

                                Peter Pan - Cleveland Browns

                                Sabor from Tarzan - Jacksonville Jaguars

                                Zazu - Seattle Seahawks

                                Shere Khan - Cincinnati Bengals

                                Simba - Detroit Lions

                                King Triton - Minnesota Vikings

So there you have it. If the mood strikes, there could me more from other sports as well. We'll see what happens I guess. Anyways, here's a link to bigger versions, should you want them for your phone or computer: http://imgur.com/a/cygsq#0

Prince, Thundercats, and My Damn Heart.

                About 2 years ago, I walked into work for a shift. I went to my friend Mike Heidner's office to check up on him. As we're shooting the breeze, his phone rings and it's his boss, Mike Happy. (So what? we got a lot of Mikes in the office.) The news was grim. Victor Martinez, during some routine exercise, managed to screw up both of his knees. Good grief, what a blow. Vmart had an amazing debut year for the Tigers, in both production and character. Now he was done for the season, even before the season started. What were the Tigers supposed to do? Diamond Dave Dombrowski knew what to do. He reached under the mattress, into the couch, and behind the fridge to scrounge up 210 Million to reel in Prince Fielder. Problem solved, right? We now had the replacement protection for Miggy, we had more power now, and it was a great story. Hometown kid returns. A newer, crazier, flashier, and ridicuouls era for Tigers baseball had begun. The Rise of the Thundercats. 

                For Prince's debut season, we pretty much got what we expected. Home Runs, RBIs, and a laid back smile. The first series against the Red Sox at home his fort year here was epic. He hit his first dingers at COPA and we steamrolled the Sox. Things looked to be pretty on track. He went to the Home Run Derby in Kansas City and made it rain in right field, eventually winning the Derby. Then the playoff chase began and we watched as he helped the Tigers get their work done to hold off the surprise White Sox to win our second consecutive AL Central division Title. 2 Stellar rounds of postseason baseball later, and catching the final out of the ALCS, the Thundercats were going to the World Series. Detroit was poised to claim it's first championship in 28 years.

                 Then? Nothing. A giant broom with the words "San Francisco" burned into the handle descended from the skies. A ridiculously awesome season, decapitated. A championship, stolen. A Crown, smashed. How could this happen? Why did this happen? Both very good questions. There are the answers you want to hear, then the answers you don't. I did notice that there was a vocal group already calling for Prince's head. I don't usually give these people any thought but given my team just got spanked, I was a little peeved. He just freaking got here. He wasn't the only one that sucked. He'll be better next year. Little did I know, it would be the start of a troubling trend.

                 This year began pretty well for the Tigers. For a team that lost in a most frustrating way, we looked to be back and ready to roll. Such was the case for most of the year but then a decline happened pretty much across the board. Miggy got hurt, Prince was not hitting, Verlander was sputtering, and bottom lineup guys were non-existent. All of those things could be accepted except one. Prince was the sore thumb, both in the lineup and the Tigers money bags. His price tag became blinding by the time the postseason came around. I consider myself to be a lenient and realistic fellow when it comes to sports. How much I invest my interest is always fluctuating. Despite the teams troubles, I wasn't asking for anyone to be dealt and that includes Prince. 

                The ALCS came and went, the Tigers were spent, and left feeling that they let this one get away. While I felt the same, I didn't necessarily think w huge roster shakeup was needed. I was more concerned about the leadership and direction of the team. Notice how teams can change with a few key moves that don't involve shipping a player out? That's how I felt about the Tigers. Maybe a new voice could wrestle the team away from their slump in the postseason. Apparently there was more under the surface. The media weren't the most keen about Prince due to his sometimes rude and noncommittal answers and laid back attitude. Then his postgame comments after losing game 6 became glaring. "It's Not Really Tough, Man. It's Over, Bro." Maybe you say those things a few days after losing. But after just walking off the field? Maybe not the best choice. Then there's the fan opinion, which is as useful as jumping into a volcano. We're all fans, we all have our opinions, our gripes and approvals. But the idea of just shipping Prince out of town seemed a bit rash. I didn't think they would do it.

                Lo and behold, rumors begin to swirl yesterday that a huge trade was on the table for the Tigers. It was a 1 for 1 deal that would bring Ian Kinsler from the Texas Rangers to play second, whilst sending Prince Fielder deep into the heart of Texas. Then Jon Heyman reports it's validity and then the dominoes began to fall. Tigers send out a press release stating the trade is official. Fielder out. Kinsler in. Looking over the deal, it makes sense. Almost too much sense given how well it works for both sides. Tigers get their Second Base position shored up and save a ton of money to be played with later. Rangers get the lefty power they were seeking, in a par that sure to be enjoyed by Prince, seeing as the right field in Arlington was modeled after the place he hit bombs in as a child. You know the place? Tiger Stadium? Win Win. But for me personally, I'm a little confused and frustrated. Prince was a Tiger for just 2 years. After all the pomp and circumstance surrounding his glorious return to the D, he's done. I liked the guy, and partnering him with Miguel Cabrera made them biggest duo since Maris and Mantle, in my mind. They became the Thundercats, a term I came to be obsessed with, and associated with those two the most. Now, they go their separate ways. Watching Miguel tweet photos of him and his new brother was heartbreaking and emotional, wishing Prince the best in his future endeavors. This trade makes sense for baseball, but not for my heart. In the time I've been a Detroit sports fan, I never thought we were the type of city and organization to cast people out for not being good enough. We've always been here with open arms, welcoming those who had either nowhere to go or needed help. Prince had 1 really solid year and 1 shitty year, combined with 2 sub par postseasons. In my mind, that's not enough to get me to pick up the phone. However, Dave Dombrowski is a maverick GM, one with a sharp mind and his eyes on the future. This deal would not have been done had it not made sense. It was a perfect storm trade, with ripple effects that have yet to be determined. You have to tip your cap to a GM that's able to make a deal that can make you better now and in the future. It just sucks that Prince was the commodity in this one. I'm pretty sure this had nothing to do with him and everything to do with his contract. Comments, attitude, and production can all play a factor in a players fate. Did Prince do himself any favors? Maybe yes, maybe no. But his contract was the big point here. With that in mind, we all remember what makes the world go round. I hate to see my Thundercats split up and it will weigh on my mind, come spring 2014. Tigers Baseball wise, it's a great move that works from every angle. Tigers Baseball fan wise? This was a little too early for me. I wish Prince the best of luck in Texas. 

But before I cut this off, for one last time, say it with me:

THUNDER. THUNDER. THUNDER. THUNDERCATS! HOOOOOOOOOOOO

Miguel Cabrera. Beast. Machine. Back To Back Most Valuable Player.

                 Last year, Miguel Cabrera won the first Triple Crown in 47 years. Harold Reynolds said that was the "Clincher" for the MVP. While I may agree with him on some level, I didn't think he needed the Triple Crown to prove his dominance. So we all tuned our TVs and watched as the envelope was opened and Miguel Cabrera's name was proclaimed. Joy and agony, those are the words I think of when I think of last years debate. So many numbers, so many stats, so many closed minds. But the writers spoke with a great volume of votes for Miguel. Some might have thought that was enough to silence the madness. And yet...it lingered.
                 Fast forward to the end of this season. Tigers get eliminated from the ALCS and we're left to wonder what we have to do to win. Just like all things, it was time for reflection, a look back at what happened. We saw Miguel Cabrera put himself on pace to not only win the Triple Crown again, but he was going to do this with better numbers than last year. You know, the numbers that won him the Triple Crown. Were it not for a sports hernia, we all might have seen a rare display of Basbell perfection. Instead we were treated to a guy that, despite injury, still showed up to play. Not only that, he still produced. Unreal. Un. Real.
                  On the other sides, Mike Trout and Chris Davis sit. Chris Davis made some adjustments and flourished. In the words of Carl Spackler, "Cinderella Story, Outta Nowhere." He matched an MLB record for Home Runs at the All-Star break with 37 dingers. That earned him the nickname "Crush", and for good reason. He hit the ball hard as a pull hitter, but it was his opposite field power that stole the show this year. Sure the Orioles trailed off but Davis still kept hitting. And he did it with authority and masculinity. Now there's Mike Trout, the savior apparent for the Halos. He had the most ridiculous rookie season ever and lost. Anyone else could have taken a step back, take a breather and just work on fundamentals. Instead, Trout went out and had a better season. The baseball illuminati looked at Trout and said, "Do it again." Well, guess what? He did it again, and did it better. While the core issue here is Miggy's offense versus Trout's Defense, of course you can dig deeper and show Trout's value goes beyond just his value on the other side of the ball. However, the writers are compelled to look at all facets. So based on that fact, as well as the monster seasons that Davis and Trout had, you can't help but appreciate how awesome it is that Miguel Cabrera won again.
                  Think about that for a moment. 2, TWO, other players had comparable seasons, and arguably better, more complete seasons. Yet Miguel Cabrera is the AL MVP again. Some could say that it was a bias and a unrisky thing to do to vote Miggy again. but I choose to believe that Cabrera showed more heart this year, more fire this year, and more determination this year. He bascially had his legs taken away from him. The Baseball gods weren't ready to let Miguel bring the ethereal world and the real world together with a season for the ages and back to back Triple Crowns. However that didn't stop Miguel Cabrera from looking in their eyes and saying, "Is That All You're Gonna Do?" He went on to keep hitting homers, keep getting on base, and keep putting his team in position to win. He's the player the Tigers need and deserve. This MVP award only confirms what all of us have known: Miguel Cabrera is the best player on this planet, or any planet for that matter. To be the best, you gotta beat the best. That's a slow Thursday for Cabrera. Congrats to him, can't wait to see more in March.

The Sure Thing: Max Scherzer and What Comes Next

               Today, Tiger fans got some consolation. After being dismissed by the Red Sox in the ALCS, The Motor City Faithful were rewarded for something they knew since June. While it's not a World Series Championship, the Cy Young winner once again resides in Detroit. What makes this even more awesome is that, like the MVP debate of last year, we all were sure this was gonna happen. Yes, there were other pitchers that could have easily taken this award. Yes, there were stats and facts that could have swayed this away from Max. However, Max has just as many stats and facts to back up this win. Even better, he had the kicker of that most holy of stat: The Intangible.
               When Max Scherzer was was part of the great Dave Domblockbuster Deal of 2009, he was not the pitcher that we see today. Hell, early on the Tigers had to send him down to Toledo for the great retooling experiment tht every pitcher can go through. Take a step back to take a leap forward. I had the privelege of working on a Tigers Weekly TV show that spotlighted this moment in Scherzer's career. After seeing Max come all the way back from what could have been a death sentence to win the Cy Young, I have to wonder: Are the Tigers extremely lucky? Or has Detroit once again worked itself into having a group of people that are above the crowd? Funny enough, we've seen this story before in the form of another local sports club. You may have heard of them, the Detroit Red Wings?
              The Red Wings were left for dead, a once great franchise now wallowing at the bottom of the standings. Affectionately called the Dead Wings, they had one hell of a dry spell. But the winds of change blew with the purchase of the team by Michael and Marian Illitch. Then the dominoes began to fall with the hiring of Jim Devellano, the clutch pick of Steve Yzerman, the sleeper pick of the millennium in Nicklas Lidstrom and the arrival of the Russian Five. The result? 22 straight Playoff appearances, 4 cups in 11 years, and a return to glory. It now appears that same magic is working for the Tigers. Coming off their third consecutive division title and back to back ALCS appearances, the Tigers have poised themselves for continued success. And this success is attributed to every level of the organization, starting with Dave Dombrowski going all the way down to the coaches. The Tigers have built a winning culture for the Olde English D, just as the Red Wings did. And we all know that old saying...

"If You Build It, They Will Come."

               Max Scherzer is a great pitcher, but there's always a balance that must be reached between talent and discipline. Herb Brooks said, "You do not have enough talent to win on talent alone." Max Scherzer has great talent, but it took the tutelage from some of the great minds in baseball to help him towards the elite level of play that we are seeing from him. This Tigers winning culture can turn so-so skill into great skill. The results are far more than twice over when you have amazing skill to start with. I remember seeing Max in one of his first starts as a Tiger and he was good but unproven. Watching this guy hone, refine, and push himself towards the strong and skilled pitcher he is today has been amazing. Now, he's won the Cy Young and is amid rumors of being traded. Round and round we go. Whetever happens next, we're all gonna look back at this season with fondess, excitement, and pride. Whether it's more skill, more hard work or even the intangible that's gotten him here, I'd like to believe it's the balance of all three. So he's got that going for him...which is nice.
               When you know something is going happen, when you feel deep in your bones that something will come to pass, there is still some small, minute, infinitesimal piece of doubt. But that doubt gets obliterated when you see that thing turn from fantasy to reality. Tigers fans are still waiting for another World Series win. It's nice, however, to be reminded that we still have top talent on this team. It was even nicer to be able to say one of the more gratifying and infuriating statements in all of fandom.

Told ya.

Baseball, Class, The Old School, and Cigarettes

Last night I was watching Superman, the 1978 movie.

I couldn't remember the last time I had seen it in it's entirety. So in viewing the hallowed film, I realized that it's half Gone With The Wind, half Star Wars. The scale and scope of the film is completely ridiculous, made even more amazing by the composing of amazing music from John Williams. Sorry, back to the point. In the first half, Clark returns home from football practice, after having showed us that he's far more powerful than a locomotive. He then begins to talk with his father. It's an honest conversation about the reason Clark is on Earth. Jonathan Kent has always been a wise character, one of good moral standing and true fatherhood. He's always been the constant, keeping Clark clear and focused. Then, as the conversation ends, Clark's challenges Pa Kent to a race for the Barn. It's in that moment that Pa Kent clutches his arm and collapses; one of the most moving sequences in cinema. In the span of a half hour or so, we've seen 2 very key people in Clark's life die and it's heartbreak city both times. It's the one thing that Clark, despite all of his amazing abilities, couldn't stop. Nature. The cycle. Life. After a brief moment of discovery inside the Kent Barn, Clark now knows he must leave to find his purpose. The day that Ma and Pa knew would come had finally arrived. We are greeted with a sweeping shot of the plains, Clark stands stoic on the horizon. Ma Kent goes to meet him and they exchange a few words, chief among them, "Remember Us, Clark.....Always Remember Us."

Fast forward. The Tigers have scheduled a press conference. I knew it would be Leyland-related. Whether he was coming back or not, this felt like the first thing to address just a day or so after being knocked out of Boston. Over the years my opinion of this man fluctuated, but I never called for his head. Even with a few mistakes in huge games during his tenure, I never wanted him canned. He was too much of a baseball figure, a baseball man, to be given the pink slip. If he was gonna go, it was on his terms. And so I watched as Jim Leyland announced he was stepping down. I'd like to think we all hoped this day would have come with Leyland getting another ring around his finger, but sadly, 1997 will be the only one scraping his knuckle. The man who came into our homes and showed us how to play has arrived at the point that all men reach, the point of acceptance that he's got nothing left to offer. A sad, but inevitable milestone. 

He does not, however, leave this post unaccomplished: Two American League Championships, three-straight Division Titles and two World Series appearances, not to mention the knowledge and demeanor passed on to those around him. He came in and laid down the blueprint for us to succeed. While the ultimate goal couldn't be reached, he still used steady (and sometimes shaky) hands to guide this team into a new school era with old school skill. He's my first manager as a fan, a guy who told it like it was. He didn't beat around the bush, and he certainly wasn’t afraid to drop an F-bomb or 12. In this world of grown men being paid to compete in a game they played for free as kids, Jim Leyland knew when to push and when to let go. Do we all wish he was better at it recently? Of course. But time and fate have their own plans. I'll always think of his meals, his stories, his smiles, his tears, his class, his words, his cigs, his heart, and his fire with great fondness, bewilderment, and joy. He's a Tiger forever, and I couldn't be happier. 

Back to my opening thoughts. With the passing of his father and the discovery of the Krypton crystal, Clark is now aware that there's more to his destiny. In order to fully realize this, he must reflect on his past. That whatever he may encounter next, he must remember where he came from. The Tigers have choices to make moving forward. Sure, Jim Leyland is still very much alive and will be taking a job with the team, but for this Tigers team to succeed and forge their new path to glory, they must always remember their past. The story of Leyland's tenure helps fuel the torch to find greatness, and I've said this before and I'll say this again: It's Not About How Hard You Can Hit. It's About How Hard You Can Get Hit, And Keep Moving Forward. Detroit embodies this sentiment more than any other city right now. And we rise because of it. 

It's A Celebration

So Today Is Prince Fielder's Birthday.

It's also another Detroit Athlete's birthday. Small guy, didn't have much of an impact, goes by the name Steve Yzerman.

Anyways, Prince turns [insert age here] and he doesn't show any signs of stopping from being an effective and energetic ball player. Not to mention a boss.

So on this celebratory day, I'd like to show you just how much the Prince has influenced pop culture.

Who could forget his Oscar winning turn as "The Dread Pirate Roberts A.K.A Wesley" in Rob Reiner's "The Prince's Bride"

He would also find success on console gaming as an amazing parkour specialist and supernatural baddie fighter "The Prince Of Persia"

Of course he's in the video and film realm, but did you also know he was the basis for the beloved and long running Sunday Newspaper Comic "Prince Valiant"?

Having taken a break from acting to pursue Baseball, Prince found enormous success on the field. But after being away from the camera, he found himself wanting more from his star studded life and when he had the time, he returned to the big screen in Disney's "Enchanted"

Last and certainly not least, while Prince has been known for his on-field prowess, monster swing and charasmatic smile, we all know what he's made his success on. That's right, the immortal album that has stood the test of time. Winner of 2 Grammy's and nomnated for album of the year in 1984, countless copies sold and a movie to boot, his masterpiece: Purple Rain

Happy Birthday Prince. Your contributions to our culture will never fade. 

GOOOO THUNDERCATS!

The Ballad of the Grande Papa

You saw it happen before your eyes.

The Tigers were just 3 precious outs away from getting out of Oakland. We were ready to crack open the bubbly. Hell, you were ready to go to bed, seeing as how it was on the west coast.

But then, it happened.

Our rock, our door slammer, our animated closer took the mound. We all saw something was off by his wind up. It was not what we were used to. It stuttered, not smooth, almost stalling like a bad gear change. Next thing we all knew, the Athletics had walked off to live another day.

We would go on to win the series but we knew something sucked BIG TIME.

Then came Game 1 of the ALCS. We were leading just fine, 3 outs away form taking a 1-0 lead in the series against the Evil Empire. Then.....it happened again.

What was once a guarantee became a nightmare, all the ghosts of Tiger past popping in for a visit, much like your creepy uncle or stubborn grandparents. "We're still here, thought you'd forgotten about us!" And if you're anything like me you know that feeling and it's just scary. Thought you were you but they just PULL YOU BACK IN.

So Ichiro and Lord Imhotep tie the game and Valverde exits the field. We all didn't know how to feel. Granted, we hung in there as you could hear Yankee pride shatter with Jeter's ankle and we went on to sweep the Pinstripes. 

And as the World Series came and went, so did Valverde. I'd like to think after we got swept, Dombrowski asked Valverde to step into a room, only to find out it was a spinning square to send him into the Phantom Zone.

The Tigers embarked on to the offseason, acquiring something called "Torii Hunter, skilled right fielder" and a new drive to win. Even better? No mention of Valverde. Don't get me wrong, he did amazing things for us, but he's on the way out. An unraveling of that size was only inevitable. By graciously letting this man go without fuss was smooth in my opinion. He crapped the bed, we knew it, and we went our separate ways. Then the speculation of our closing came into the spectrum. Oh good, more theories and conjecture. Close by committee? Billy Goat? Robot Closer? I heard it all. I was actually rooting for Rondon to get the spot. I completely disagree with the way he was handled.

Smart move? Sign Valverde for one more year as insurance but give Rondon a shot. If after a month or two he's not working, slot in Valverde and no one's the wiser. But what did they do? All but guarantee Rondon would be the closer, that Valverde will not be contacted in any way and that we're going to coast to the Series. What happens then? Rondon struggles during the time of year when (you guessed it) EVERYONE STRUGGLES and they get nervous. It's the one time in professional sports where it's good to screw up so you know what's wrong and then you fix it. But what to the Tigers do?  Phil Coke blows ONE save, They pee their pants and do the unthinkable: They re-sign Valverde.

The Phantom Zone mirror has been smashed by the sound waves of Tigers brass crying and now Papa has back. He's up with the big club now after some tryouts in the minors AND HAS ALREADY BEEN ANOINTED AS CLOSER UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

This......frustrates me. Not because I'm scared Valverde could surprise us and make us looks like idiots. Rather, we made ourselves look like idiots by handling this thing like a slippery bunch of coconuts. Do I know what's gonna happen? No. Will it be weird if we get into a save situation tonight and he trots out to the mound? Hell yes.

This will be strange, kids. However, don't expect anything to be spectacularly easy in either direction. If Valverde succeeds, we all look like dummies. If he unravels again, we look like fools. Whatever does, happen, I hope we man up and give the ball to Rondon soon. Never know until you try.

Let's see what happens kids!

Want versus Need

For all of us, we have wants.

A new car, a big house, a private island. Hell, I want a real life Iron Man suit. But one of the great lessons we all learn in life is the difference between wants and needs. Of course, I want a huge theater in my apartment, or a tricked out VW Passat. But do I NEED them?

Take the new iPhone. 

Of course I'd love to be up with the latest and greatest in the tech realm but what am I getting really? With the previous Phone I already have the space to shoot video, have a great selection of my music AND have cool movies to watch. In reality I don't need a new phone. What's funny is this applies to other parts of society. In this case, Baseball.

It's at this point you're probably wondering what I'm going on about.

Well, I'll put it plainly:

Detroit. Needs. This. Championship.

Before we go any further, let me shoot down any negative criticism of the Giants. I like the Giants, if I had an NL team, they'd be up there for consideration. And it's nice to see some competitive baseball on the west coast. Plus, keeping this year of baseball craziness going in the Bay Area should serve as a testament that this game works everywhere.

However.....

The Giants went on an awesome run 2 years ago, Fear The Beard and all. It was great to see the childish Rangers beaten to a pulp. But that's just it. The Giants have won RECENTLY. Now before this gets misunderstood, let me be clear: Winning multiple championships isn't bad, in fact I welcome it. 

But where San Francisco WANTS another title, this year Detroit NEEDS a championship. Yes, it's great that the Giants won at Zombie Baseball and that Marco Scutaro is doing well, especially after an MVP series. But whereas the narrative of Marco Scutaro finally going to the World Series is nice, I'm gonna go ahead and say a city finally going back to the World Series is way more appropriate. Back in 2006, we had a run to the fall classic that ended in what looked like a Globetrotters Game. The Giants have already proven themselves to be a team that can get things done in the Postseason. This Tigers team didn't exactly wow the world during the regular season and yes, we did kinda eff around. Detroit hasn't been so successful after 1984 and since the nightmare season of 119 losses, this team needs to return to greatness. Not just for them, but for the city.

We've all seen the positive effects a championship can have on a city. For Detroit, it means a bit more. We all know what the score has been for Detroit. Bad breaks, an absurd crime rate, unemployment and poor leadership have had this city in a death grip. Indeed there's been unfair press. Ranging from certain people posting 10 year old pics of downtown and labeling them as current to FOX and ESPN's gross agenda to somehow always remind everyone of the riots. Or one rival fan's supremely awful post about our star pitcher Justin Verlander. 

But.... 

There is a renaissance going on here. This has been the grand plan Mike Ilitch has had for some time. Use these great teams to bring people back downtown. For the most part it's worked, starting with the Red Wings in 1996. But there's still ground to make up, still work to be done. I'm not saying a Tigers Championship will cure Detroit.

But it sure as shit will help.

Miguel Cabrera: Beast, Machine, and Triple Crown Winner

                          Ok kids, it's been a great run, but Miguel Effing Cabrera just got the first Triple Crown in 45 years. Even without it, the man is the MVP. Mike Trout is a hell of a ballplayer. He's had a great year, but he's the Rook. If he was a second or third year player, we'd have a race. But Trout is setting records as a rookie. Cabby has been putting up comparable numbers FOR 9 YEARS. Machine doesn't even begin to describe. Trout has a great career ahead of him. But there's a reason there's a Rookie of the Year award. I'm not discounting what he's done. But I find it to be completely insane to see "Experts" use Trout's numbers to discount what Cabrera has done, when no one has done that to Trout's numbers. As I've said before, the MVP does have stats considered, but intangibles make the call. In this case, Cabby and Trout have comparable numbers....

But Miguel Cabrera's character has been strengthened, he's a leader, he battles and has matured into an amazing athlete. Trout got called up and grabbed the Bull by the horns. Cabrera has OWNED the Bull for some time now. I know it's real easy to say that Miggy deserves the MVP because the Tigers are in the postseason and the Angels aren't. But yes, the Angels do have the better record. However, I see that record is just 1 game better, so that argument has gone the way of the dodo. Trout is a very big positive for the Angels to take away from this year. He's an outstanding talent and makes the Angels better. Cabrera, however, put the team on his back. He's the player we needed and deserved. Played through injury and WON THE F***ING TRIPLE CROWN.

For this year, we are extremely fortunate to see 2 amazing seasons for 2 great players. It's made me appreciate the game even more than I thought possible. But you can't become "The Best Hitter on the Planet", win a division title and the first TRIPLE CROWN in 45 years and NOT WIN THE MVP. So for this year, 2012, Miguel Cabrera has got to be the MVP. The dude is a monster and has had an above and beyond career year. Si Motherf***er!

Many Happy Returns

Hello again sports fans,

Well, first I'd like to apologize for my absence.

Sorry.

Well that was easy.

Now here's your long overdue update. In short form.

JV has been a little up and down, the Tigers got their shit together to get above 500 with just 5 seconds left in the first half, The Prince won the Tigers the home run derby, JV blew fire in the All Star Game, they swept the Chi-Sox and headed for the road.

Now, I had some time off so I decided to head to Canada to see the Tigres on their field trip to the great white north. This was supposed to be a normal weekend but I wouldn't be writing this post of that's happened.

I arrived in Toronto via train Friday morn. I hate to be all endorser on you, but the train is seriously the way to go. Fairly great food, smooth ride and seats that recline the way that makes most airplane seats feel like brick walls. So the train dropped me off in the middle of town and proceeded to my hotel. I dropped off my stuff and made my way to a very special place to pass the time until I was to attend a baseball game between the Blue Jays of Toronto and the Tigers of Detroit: The Hockey Hall of Fame.

This place is downright cool. Home of the Stanley Cup and a slew of other awards and plaques, it's the valhalla of hockey. Seeing the great hall and all the inductees was quite a treat. Highlights include Gretzky's 802nd goal net, "The Lucky Loonie", a Neal Peart drum kit, a bank vault with the retired cup bands and ORIGINAL Cup, and last but not least, all the funny pictures of Rick Nash in a Blue Jackets Jersey. On a random note, the last time I was there, the souvenir shop was located in what's popularly referred to as a closet. However, wisdom seemed to have touched the people in charge. The store has since been moved to a much roomier space. Though I will admit, there's still an absurd shortage of Denis Lemieux goalie jerseys. I took my picture with the most holy grail of hockey and headed for the dome.

I was excited to arrive, only to be let down by the information that the Hard Rock Cafe inside the stadium had been closed. I'm a big Hard Rock guy so this news hit me hard. But, the show must go on, I dried my tears and headed inside. My seats for the evenings events were much better than expected. 100 level, row 10, even with 3rd base. JACKPOT. Even more to my surprise, I heard my named called as I neared my seat. I turn to my left and see a familiar bushel of hair. That's right kids, none other than the Shakabrodie himself, Ben Christensen. After the most epic Bro hug imaginable, we took our seats for the game.

Now The Tigers would go on to lose the game but something very special happened to make the night not a total bummer.

Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder hit back to back jacks for the first time this season. Both home runs equaled roughly a bajillion feet. (don't quote me on that)

The THUNDERCATS went yard and I was content. Once the game concluded, I made the pilgrimage to Wayne Gretzky's restaurant. This place is classy as hell, kudos to the Great One on having such a friendly and awesome place to hang out, regardless of a win or loss. I had as much Molson Canadian as I could then made my journey back to my hotel. However, as I exited the bar, I noticed a man bearing a striking resemblance to Joaquin Benoit. And to my shock, it was actually Joaquin Benoit. I gave him the Detroit Nod and then noticed there was another man at the door, bearing a striking resemblance to Duane Below. And sure enough, it was actually Below! I patted him on the shoulder and said good game. He said thanks man. It's the little things guys that make it all worthwhile. I passed out in my room shortly after.

I awoke the next morning to the sound of room service. I got dressed and proceeded to head back to the Dome for what I hoped to be a Tiger retaliatory victory. To make the day even more special, I was excited to meet up with not just Benji Christensen again, but Captain Canada himself, Dave Barclay. After exchanging information, we headed inside to witness what would turn out to be another Blue Jays victory. Damn Damn Damn.

It was an enjoyable time still though, catching up with Dave and Ben on all the happenings around the league. Did you guys hear about Kristen Stewart cheating on Robert Pattinson? Crazy shit.

Anyways, after another frustrating and baffling Tigers loss, I was on the lookout for ways to soother my pain. In excellent display of Canadian Kindness, Dave Barclay invited Ben and myself to a "Shakespeare in the Park" performance of "A Midsummer Night's Dream". Having never seen this show in any way before, I was more than excited to see it in such an intimate setting. Located in High Park, this little amphitheater was the perfect spot to make me forget that Anibal Sanchez had a very pedestrian debut as a Tiger since being acquired from the Marlins. (Or as I like to refer to them, "The Major League Menards" Great deals, or so you think...)

What followed was one of the best night of theater I have ever witnessed. Forget Broadway, this is the stuff that made Broadway what it is today. A classic performed in an excellent setting. The blankets were comfy, the Coca Cola was flowing like waterfalls, and the Barclays were most hospitable to me, an enemy on home soil. It was a very pleasant evening and I couldn't have for anything more. Except, maybe, you know, a Tigers win. Once again, I made my way back downtown to my hotel and walked past the hotel bar. I saw Austin Jackson, Brennan Boesch, Max Scherzer, Quintin Berry, The Prince and Delmon in the lobby. Convinced I was blitzed beyond repair and seeing things, I stared at each one of them for a good 10 seconds, confirming their identities, then went upstairs to fight dragons in my sleep.

I awoke Sunday morning to head to a local establishment called "The Irish Embassy" for Brunch. This place earned my stamp of approval after one bite of their maple and cinnamon apple pancakes. THERE ARE APPLES IN THE PANCAKES YOU GUYS. I finished this feast for kings and head northwest to the humble abode of Dave Barclay to partake in a Podcast. I arrived at Barclay Manor and was greeted by Dave in his socks and then proceeded to the living room. It is there I would meet a man who needs no introduction, due solely to the fact that I have no introduction for him: Paul Frank. Over the next few hours, Ben, Dave, Paul and myself waxed poetic on a number of topics, ranging from Indiana Jones casting surprises, to Nude Andre Dawson. Yup, you read that correctly. The Tigers would make this trip just that much more worthwhile on the strength of Twisted Doug Fister and Jhonny Peralta's 2 homers. One crazy Podcast and copious amounts of Sour Cream and Onion chips later, It was time to head back south to catch my train back to the States. With a heavy heart and satisfied stomach, I bid my personal versions of Doug and Bob Mckenzie adieu and boarded the bus with Ben.

Getting back to Union Station was a cinch. I said my goodbyes to Shakabrodie, who would continue his journey deep into Mordor, I mean, Montreal. I boarded my vessel knowing the trip was a success and plugged in my earbuds to listen to the soothing tones of Wang Chung and Pearl Jam. As I returned to Windsor, I was greeted by the Detroit Skyline. I was back home.

But this trip made me realize just how awesome following local teams on the road is. Baseball has a side that can only be seen while on the road. Of course you know how your team plays at home, but how does this grand game translate to other regions and cities? Sometimes this game can be all at once foreign and familiar. It's amazing how much your perspective changes when you're in someone else's den. Congrats Toronto, you've made it very easy for me to come back to your fair city.

P.S. Would it kill you to play songs that AREN'T by Rush? How about some Neil Young for cripe's sake!

The Blowtorch Deserved Better

The last time JV took the mound, he threw a near No-Hitter.

His follow up to that performance was just as stellar as he only gave up 2 runs.

However, we could only muster 1 run and The Blowtorch took the loss. I would have liked this to be a grandiose post about how we should have won but there seems to be an abundance of those kinds of posts. To keep things sweet, I'm giving JV an 8 on the Verland-O-Meter. Solely because of his 8th inning performance. Dude reached 102 with his fastball and followed up with an 82 mile an hour Curve. The man can take 20 MILES off a pitch.

Ridiculous.

GOOO TIGERS! Yeah....

The Ballad of the Blowtorch

On a whim, I went to the game last night.

I hadn't been to a game in a few weeks so I felt it was time to take a stroll downtown.

I made my way to the Hard Rock Cafe, took the shuttle to the park and settled into my seat. Now, I know everyone could say this but yesterday I had a feeling about something. I didn't know what it was but I felt like something awesome was going to take place.

You got a friday night, perfect weather, A Tigers game and The Blowtorch is on the mound. It just felt......right.

So as I watched the game, I started to notice 2 things going up on the board: Lots of K's and lots of zeroes.

This was nothing new mind you, this is Justin Verlander we're talking about here. But then in the 7th inning, Garret Jones struck out looking and the ump had quite possibly the most electric strikeout call. I feel like it was similar to this:   STEEEEEEEEEERRRIIIIIKE!

So now, S&^# just got real.

Then in the 8th, The Blowtorch carved up McGehee, Mclouth and Barmes. 3 straight punch outs to launch this game into crazy town.



Now the 9th started and everyone was one their feet. Some were on their chairs. I looked around at the crowd and saw a mixture of cheering, nervousness and camera phones. We all knew what was up and all we needed to do was take the ride. Michael McKenry's ground out made it seem like a sure thing then. Pumped beyond pumped. So in walks Josh Harrison to take his cuts agains the Ace.

With just 2 outs from his third No-Hitter, Justin Verlander threw a mediocre pitch. A mediocre pitch that Josh Harrison was able to dink into center field.

The agony and the ecstasy.

This was me for the next minute:



The No-No was Bye-Bye. But then JV just did what he had been doing all night. Induced some ground balls and gave the Tigers a masterful win. A win they sorely needed to keep pace with the Indians.

The last out was made and the whole team came sprinting on the field to show JV his effort was second to none. The crowd was ecstatic and cheering on the man who just dazzled them with pure domination. All I could do was soak in the moment as JV got the high fives he deserved.

Then in a moment all to brief, the jumbotron camera was turned to Justin. The expression on his face was one of bittersweet determination. Yes, he got the win but he was fully aware of what he lost. With the camera still trained on him JV said empahtically, "I'm Sorry". The epitome of class.

Whether it was meant for the crowd or for someone off camera, I'll reply to JV:

No Apologies Needed My Friend

The Blowtorch threw a one hit shut out with 12 K's. The best thing about this guy? He's only 5 days away from trying again. This rocked the Verland-O-Meter for a 9. Bravo Maestro, Bra-Flipping-Vo.

Go Tigers, Go Verlander, Go Detroit! ThunderCats GOOOOOOOOO

I Guess He's Just What We Needed

So you're in a situation where you need to salvage a split against the A's.

Brandon Inge had been striking with a vengeance and the A's pitching had been surprising. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. We put up 10 runs, A's put up 10 runs he very next night.

This was a series that I had hoped would set some things right, I had hoped we could take 3 of 4. But alas, with the whirlwind reunion against Inge and the struggling offense, here the tigers were on the verge of LOSING 3 of 4. 

So again, when you need to split the series, who ya gonna call?

THIS GUY

The MVP, The Ace, The Motor City Blowtorch

Boy oh Boy did this guy throw well. He had 8 K's and threw half a perfect game. I won't waste time spinning the same old yarn about JV. I know he's great, you know he's great, even residents of Asgard know he's great. (Lest we forget, JV is a descendant of the God of Thunder. Don't believe me? Look it up!) (Don't look it up)

The man was on fire and got us the win we needed to split against Oakland. Putting to bed the Inge madness and making us look better, not great, but better. Clutch doesn't even begin to describe.

The man rocks an 8 on the Verland-O-Meter. I hope this guy throw a PG or a NO-NO this year. I want to see if the Verland-O-Meter can take it!

Later this week, I should be able to unveil both my way too early Playoff Bracket AND some crazy trade ideas. Emphasis on the crazy folks, I leave nothing to the imagination. Anyways, Go Tigers and GOOOOO THUNDER CATS!

Better, Closer, Warmer

After a 9th inning snafu that resulted in a walk-off win for the Mariners the night previous, the Tigers needed a boost. Yes, that sentence contained the obvious.

And since we're on the subject of being obvious, it would make sense to also point out that Justin Verlander pitched last night. The Blowtorch rides again.

In the previous post, I had asked that the Tigers to not sit on their hands and to put up some run support for JV. It was quite refreshing to have that request answered in the form of Dirks and Delmon tag teaming to scratch 5 runs across. Ask and ye shall receive.

The Tigers looked like they had a burr in their saddle, something that I seldom see in sports these days. I fear that the days of teams being "OK" with poor games and heartbreaking losses are beginning to outweigh the days where teams would be pissed. JV and the Tigers showed up last night, and they did not disappoint.

The Blowtorch was locked in, making sure the Mariners would not get an easy ride. Things got a bit heated after Leyland was tossed for arguing with the home plate ump. Leyland was tossed and the next batter took his cuts. There was a....generous call in favor of the batter and JV didn't look to happy. It looked like Verlander was seconds away from being tossed as well, but JV's teammates and coaches came to save the day and, ultimately, the quality start of our ace. Though JV would give up 7 hits and 3 runs, he didn't give up anything else. 6 K's would compliment his ability to keep the ship straight and true. His stuff was nasty once again and he definitely gave the speed gun a workout. This was a situation JV has been in time and time again, and he played it the same way he always does.

The Tigers needed a win after a loss. They needed a stopper and The Blowtorch answered the bell. He got win #3 and the Tigers are above .500. Here's hoping we can continue the trend of playing better baseball, but that goes without saying. Yet here I am, saying it. Last night was a wild and difficult ride for our ace but hell if it wasn't entertaining. Plus, he got his first win IN Seattle in 3 years. I render an 8 on the Verland-O-Meter. As I said, The Blowtorch rides again.

Now I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't mention Prince Fielder's home run. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT....

In honor of this most holy lift-off, I present the video that will sweep the nation. At least, that's the goal then! Gooooo ThunderCats!!!! GO TIGERS!