Base Ball Apocalypse

Just My Thoughts–Well the apocalypse didn’t come this weekend but the next best thing did, interleague play. It sounds good in theory, subway series in New York, Cubs play Fenway for the first time in decades and both Ohio teams are contenders this year! But it feels more like the rapture each year. All that happens is the numbers become skewed for the rest of the season. The American League roasters are built around a D.H. and when you take them out you lose a big piece to the line up. Maybe I’d be more open to it if the Tigers didn’t lose to the Pirates every year.

Quote Of  The Day–Things could be worse.  Suppose your errors were counted and published every day, like those of a baseball player.  ~Author Unknown

On This Day In History–

1943	At Comiskey Park, it only takes one hour and twenty-nine minutes for the White Sox to defeat the Senators, 1-0. The 89-minute contest is the quickest nine-inning game ever played in the American League.

Max-A-Million

Just My Thoughts-Max Scherzer got his fifth win last night and is still undefeated for the season. His first season with the Tigers in 2010 was no small feat either, he had 12 wins and 11 loses not too bad for a bull pin guy from the Diamondbacks. Justin Verlander may still be the ace on the mound for Detroit but Max is looking more like a Cy Young candidate as the season progresses.  But we all know baseball is a marathon not a sprint so time will only tell.  Side note, Max has one blue and one green eye.

Quote Of The Day–

Life will always throw you curves, just keep fouling them off… the right pitch will come, but when it does, be prepared to run the bases.  ~Rick Maksian

On This Day In History–

1904

Cy Young tosses the first perfect game in American League history defeating Rube Waddell and the Philadelphia A’s, 3-0. The Red Sox right-hander’s gem is the first perfect game thrown in the majors since the distance between the mound and plate was changed from 45 feet to 60 feet, six inches in 1893.

Go Tribe Go!

Just My Thoughts–I may get a lot of flack from my fellow Tiger fans for this one. Im happy for Cleveland that their Indians are doing so well. They are playing the game the right way and winning, that’s not always the case in sports. Grady Sizemore is healthy and playing better than ever. They have base balls good luck charm in Orlando Cabrera who has been to the post season with every team he’s been with, 8 teams in 14 years!  Cleveland is a lot like Detroit in that their teams and economy struggle so I can appreciate how happy they must be right now.  As long as the Tigers are gonna go out and play bush league ball and get their shirts handed to them at home by the worst team in the league I say GO TRIBE GO!

Quote Of  The Day–You see, you spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball, and in the end it turns out that it was the other way around all the time.  ~Jim Bouton, Ball Four, 1970

On This Day In History–

1901	At Chicago’s South Side Park, the Cleveland Blues (Indians) collect 23 singles as the team coasts to 13-1 victory over the White Sox. Pale Hose hurler Bock Baker gives up all of the one-base hits, a major league record

Just My Thoughts-Tim Lincecum threw a hitless game for 7 2/3 innings last night.  Just another bench mark for the freak to reach in his already storied career.  The big story Monday night was Aroldis Chapman of the Reds  got his heat back and broke his record and the fastest pitch ever clocked on radar at 106mph!

Quote Of The Day–

When they start the game, they don’t yell, “Work ball.”  They say, “Play ball.”  ~Willie Stargell, 1981

On This Day In History–

1927

Calling the play-by-play in the Tigers’ 8-5 victory over the Indians, Edwin Tyson becomes the first person to broadcast a game in club history. The broadcaster begins with what will become his familiar refrain on WWJ, “Good afternoon, boys and girls, this is Ty Tyson speaking to you from Navin Field”.

Happy B-Day Cabrera

Happy 28th birthday to my Tiger José Miguel Torres Cabrera! It just so happens to be my birthday as well. Go get ’em big fella!

On This Day In History-1881

In International League action at McCoy Stadium, the Pawtucket Red Sox and Rochester Red Wings begin the longest professional game ever played; the game is suspended at 4:07 am after playing to a 2-2 tie through 32 innings. The game will be completed later in the season with the Red Sox scoring the winning run in the 33rd inning.

Quote Of  The Day-“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday’s success or put its failures behind and start over again. That’s the way life is, with a new game every day, and that’s the way baseball is.” – Bob Feller

Leyland Wins 1500th

Just My Thoughts-Jim Leyland won his 1500th game as a major league manager Friday night.  Leyland is the 19th manager in history to hit the mile stone.  He started his managing career in Pittsburgh in 1986, then went on to skipper the Marlins in 1997 and got his first  World Series victory.  After six years absent from baseball Leyland came here to Detroit and got us to the world series as the wild card.   Let’s get him in another select club of managers who have won world series in both leagues, Go Get ‘Em Tigers!

Quote Of The Day–Baseball is the only sport I know that when you’re on offense, the other team controls the ball.  ~Ken Harrelson, Sports Illustrated, 6 September 1976

On This Day In History–

1983	Setting a National League consecutive game-played record, Dodgers’ first baseman Steve Garvey appears in his 1,118th straight game.

Jackie Robinson Day

 

On This Day In History–1947 A year before President Truman desegregated the military, Jackie Robinson debuts for the Dodgers becoming the first black player to participate in a major league game this century. In front of 25,623 Ebbets Field fans, the 28-year old first baseman is hitless in three at-bats, but scores a run in the 5-3 Opening Day victory over the Braves.

Quote Of The Day–A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.  Jackie Robinson

Bonds Guilty

 

Just My Thoughts–Barry Bonds was found guilty of obstruction of justice yesterday.  Bonds could face up to five years in prison.  I feel jail time may be a bit much.  I do feel his home run record along with McGwire’s record should be taken back. To me Roger Maris and Hank Aaron still hold these records and any true fan will tell you the same.  As far as Barry’s future in the Hall of Fame I’m not sure how I would vote if I could.  It’s clear that prior to his steroid use Bonds was a five tool player that could make it into the hall.  He did cheat and lie to the fans and under oath.  I think unless Bud Selig lifts Pete Rose’s ban any player found guilty should be banned as well.

 

 Quote Of The Day-Baseball, to me, is still the national pastime because it is a summer game.  I feel that almost all Americans are summer people, that summer is what they think of when they think of their childhood.  I think it stirs up an incredible emotion within people.  ~Steve Busby, in Washington Post, 8 July 1974

On This Day In History–1925 The Indians start the season drubbing the Browns, 21-4 to establish the major league mark for the most runs scored by one club on Opening Day. Cleveland tallies 12 times in the eighth inning with the help of five St. Louis errors.

The Home Team Vs. The Best Team

Today is the first day of The Rangers and Tigers series in Detroit. I’m not as torn as i thought I would be. I always root for my home team first but I know the Rangers are the better team. On paper it should be a closer match up then it will be in reality. The Texans are not just playing great baseball but they are killing the ball. Rangers had their first loss on Saturday the first game of a double-header. It was like they lost one just to get it out-of-the-way because they turned right around and killed the O’s in the second game 13-1. The Tigers on the other hand are making all the same mistakes as last year. Pitchers aren’t making it into the late innings and the bullpen is no relief. the biggest difference is we can’t even take a home series! Some might say the season hasn’t really started and baseball is a marathon not a sprint but there’s a difference between a slump and playing bad. The Tigers are playing bad and unless they step it up will be at the bottom of the weakest division in baseball. The Rangers will go all the way mark my words. They are not only playing well but are on a mission to prove last season was no fluck.

On This Day In History–

1928	On Opening Day, Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker are in the starting lineup for the Philadelphia A’s. It is the future Hall of Famers first game as teammates.

 

Quote Of The Day–

Nolan Ryan is pitching much better now that he has his curve ball straightened out.  ~Joe Garagiola

Great rivals

Just My Thoughts-The Yankees are playing at Fenway this weekend against their greatest rival the Red Sox. I would have to say this is the greatest rivalry in pro sports.  The Sox got their first win on Friday the home opener. I always say I hate the Yankees so much that I’m a Red Sox fan by default. As a Tiger Fan The Cleveland Indians are our rivals but really the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins have been bigger rivals of recent. Never the less a great rivalry can bring out the best or worst in a fan. It’s good to remember it’s only a game and without the enemy there is no competition.  That said, GO BOSOX kill those damn Yanks!

This Day In History–

1959	Nellie Fox, who goes 5-for-7, hits a 14th-inning Opening Day an unlikely home run off Don Mossi to beat the Tigers, 9-7. The White Sox second baseman did not homer in 623 at-bats the last season.

 

Quote Of The Day–

Baseball was made for kids, and grown-ups only screw it up.  ~Bob Lemon