Tigers Weekly 2008 Season

WEEK 15: 7/28/08 - 8/4/08

Ahhhh it's good to be back in the good ole' U.S. 
of A.  First off, my deepest thanks go out to 
Chas "Grey Fox" Claus for picking up my slack 
and carrying the torch for two issues of The 
Weekly.  Judging from the responses I need to 
take some notes and emulate the master a bit 
more.  For those of you who never got to read it, 
his Campus Comments college football 
newsletter was a thing of beauty.  

Speaking of carrying the torch, the Olympics 
have their opening ceremonies on the 8th.  This 
will be the last Olympics to incude baseball as an 
event, so make sure to catch a bit of the action.  
Apparently baseball and softball are the first 
sports to be shown the door since polo in 1936.  
USA needs to atone for their poor showing in the 
World Baseball Classic (which I loved, by the 
way, despite the weird pooling system; Korea 
got a raw deal).  From the schedule 
(Click HERE for schedule) it looks like play
begins on the 13th and the finals will be on 
the 25th.  

This was one of the most interesting weeks for 
the Tigers in 2008, though fans were left with a 
pretty sour taste in their mouths.  First, Todd 
Jones was replaced as the closer by Fernando 
Rodney.  Since the promotion, Rodney has not 
been able to make an appearance without 
surrenedering a run (four hits, EIGHT walks, and 
a hit batter in 4.1IP) and has blown two saves.  
Todd Jones made one appearance after the 
demotion and was then put on the 15-day DL.  
Then, at the trade deadline, the Tigers traded 
Pudge Rodriguez to the Yankees (who are 
without Jorge Posada for the rest of the season) 
for Kyle Farnsworth.  His return to the Tigers 
started well with a scoreless inning in a lost game, 
but Farnsworth was rocked in his second 
appearance, inheriting a 3-1 lead and 
surrendering three runs.  By the end of the week, 
the Tigers had been swept by the Rays; the only 
consolation could be that the Tigers did nothing 
to help the Yankees or Red Sox over the weekend
(ok, maybe they helped the Yankees with the trade?).  

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"Week" of 7/28 - 8/4

Record:  2-5  WLLWLLL-

Undy-Five-Hundy:  The sweep at the hands of 
the best home team in the majors (yes, that's 
Tampa) leaves the Tigers a game undy-five-
hundy.  There hasn't been a lot of glimmers of 
hope since the All-Star break, but this series at 
Chicago could be the start of something good.  
Starting pitching will need to be better, as the 
bullpen has been throwing way too many pitches 
recently.  With Minnesota and Chicago so far 
ahead, though, the Tigers can't afford to stay 
undy much longer if they hope to compete this 
season.

Up Next for the Tigers...

August 5-7  @ Chicago White Sox (1-3 @ MIN, 1-2 @ KCR)
August 8-10   Oakland (0-3 vs. KCR, 0-3 @ BOS)  

AL Central Standings...

CWS  61 49 -
MIN  62 50 -
DET  55 56 6.5
KCR  53 60 9.5
CLE  49 62 12.5

Tigers Division...

ANA  70 42 -

LAD  56 55 13.5
TOR  56 56 14
DET  55 56 14.5
HOU  54 57 15.5
BAL  53 58 16.5

Tigers News and Notes:  The trade of catcher 
Pudge Rodriguez meant that Dane Sardinha had 
to be recalled as the new backup to Brandon 
Inge.  Jonesy went on the DL, giving Clay 
Rapada a brief stint with the Tigers, but he was 
sent back down upon the arrival of the new 
reliever, Kyle Farnsworth.  

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Tiger of the Week...
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Tiger of the Week? Try AL Player of the Month! Miguel Cabrera had a monster month of July, hitting .330 with eight homers, thirty-one RBIs, and fifteen runs scored. His performance won him the award as the top player in the month of July for the month of July.

Click HERE for article from Detroit Tigers.com

It may have taken him a while to get going, but Cabrera seems to be comfortable wearing the Olde English D and will be around for seasons to come. This looks like one long-term deal that Tiger fans will not end up decrying.

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Poll Question...
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Two things:  What are your thoughts on the 
Rodriguez-Farnsworth trade and what needs to 
be done in the bullpen?  Replacing Jones doesn't 
seem to be as easy as the team hoped.  There 
really isn't a good place for Jones if he isn't 
closing, but the first candidate to take over is 0 
for 2 so far.  Jones, on the other hand, closed 
fourteen straight before blowing three of his last 
seven opportunitites.  Rodriguez is a free agent 
after this season.  Was it worth dealing him for 
the help in the bullpen (assuming that Farnsworth 
has the same level of success he's been having 
this year)? 

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Readers Write In...
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Bob "Jerry" Maguire

(from last week...)

AL East = Red Sox
AL Central = White Sox
AL West = Angels
AL Wild Card = Rays
NL East = Mets
NL Central = Cubs
NL West = Dodgers
NL Wild Card = DBacks

AL Champ = Red Sox 

NL Champ = Dodgers
World Series = Red Sox

Tigers' final regular season record: 88-74

- Bob Maguire

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Dave "Achilles" Dixon

AL East = New York
AL Central = White Sox
AL West = Angels
AL Wild Card = Red Sox
NL East = Phillies
NL Central = Brewers
NL West = Dodgers
NL Wild Card = Giants

AL Champ = Angels
NL Champ = Brewers
World Series = Angels

Tigers' final regular season record: 84-78

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Dallas "Big D" Senters...

After being called out so coldly this week...Here 
are my predictions (an ode to the Angels, though 
I don't know why)

AL East = Boston Redsox of Worcester
AL Central = Minnesota Twins of Minnetonka
AL West = Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
AL Wild Card = New York Yankees of the 
Bronx
NL East = New York Mets of Flushing
NL Central = Milwaukee Brewers of  Waukesha
NL West = Los Angeles Dodgers of Compton
NL Wild Card = Chicago Cubs of Gary IN

AL Champ = Angels
NL Champ = Mets
World Series = Angels

Tigers' final regular season record: 84-78

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Derek "The Clone" Muller

Dear Toolie,

I was cruising the West Side a bit last weekend 
and wanted to take advantage of my local 
proximity to hear the Tigers over the airwaves.  
Unfortunately, the only station with Jim and Dan 
between Coldwater and Lansing, and from 
Lansing to St. Joe's, seemed to be 590 
Kalamazoo, and even that was often pretty 
spotty.  Nevertheless, I could pick up Indians, 
Sox, Cubs, and, yes, even Reds games without a 
problem.  Michigan needs to put some serious 
money in their AM bands.

In any case, I was forced to listen to critical 
moments of those painful, painful games Friday 
and Saturday as recounted by Sox announcers.  
These guys were atrocious.  They couldn't help 
but constantly insult all things Detroit.  I tried to 
think of a moment when Jim or Dan, or Ernie, or 
Frank or Larry, ever uttered unkind words about 
other cities and teams, except with a sympathetic 
tone in their voice.  Nevertheless, I endured such 
inanities as the following:

"They've begun demolishing the old Tiger 
Stadium here, and some fans are trying to save 
the field from total destruction.  But I know you'd 
be the first one to jump in and tear it down!"  
"Oh, you know it, I'd love to push the plunger on 
that one."

"I was talking with Jim Price, announcer for the 
other side, who was a long-time average Tigers 
player."

(Of course, calling Jim Price "average" is 
hilarious.  Yeah, his best season he batted .261, 
but he's got a ring.  I guess Steve Stone can talk, 
huh.  He wins the '80 Cy Young, and I guess that 
means everyone else sucks in his eyes.  It's also 
ironic that Stone never won a ring, much less a 
pennant, but also that he spent more time with the 
Cubs than the Sox as a player.)

The Sox announcers were also ridiculing the 
Tigers' official scorer, as they'd done for the 
previous series at CoPa.  This is where I need the 
input of the Weekly and its readers.  They noted 
that in the Friday game, an obvious third baseman 
error by the Sox was credited as an infield hit to 
Sheffield.  Conversely, a tough play for Guillen on 
Saturday was chalked up as an error rather than 
giving the Soxer a hit.  Is this true?  Does it 
sometimes seem like the Tigers' scorer gives 
errors to Tigers rather than hits to opponents, and 
hits to Tigers rather than errors to opponents?  
Or are the Soxers just morons?

D

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Tom "Brookens" Bellsky

AL East = Boston
AL Central = White Sox
AL West = Angels
AL Wild Card = Yankees
NL East = Phillies
NL Central = Cubs
NL West = Arizona
NL Wild Card = Milwaukee 

AL Champ = Boston
NL Champ = Cubs
World Series = Cubs 

Tigers' final regular season record: 88-74 

-Tom 

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Anthony "Ferny" Morano

Ferny writes in:

I had a good laugh at the ranking of the MLB 
staduims. Being a Southern Ca resident now 
going on 14 yrs I've seen my share of both 
Dodger and Angel Games. I do agree that 
Dodger fan is the worst of all time. (Think Raider 
fan watching baseball or Bloods/Crips).  The 
stadium is old and concession lines will cause a 2 
inning delay. 

Now Angel stadium I think should be rated 
higher.

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Jamie "Walker" Rykse

Here are my amazing entries.  When I win the 
grand prize, I am willing to take bets on how long 
I will chew the included gum.

AL East = Tampa Bay
AL Central = Twinkies
AL West = Angels
AL Wild Card = Chicago
NL East = Mets
NL Central = Cubs
NL West = Dodgers
NL Wild Card = St. Louis

AL Champ = Chicago
NL Champ = Cubs
World Series = Cubs

Tigers' final regular season record: 85 - 77

While I have only a measly 4 stadiums under my 
belt, I do have a couple of opinions to offer up.

Chas, it may cause some strain in your 
relationship but on your next visit to Jacobs you 
will be marking it down 2-3 spots.  Only two 
things I liked, sitting in the bleachers with the guy 
beating the crap out of the drums and the stadium 
mustard.  Seriously, stadium mustard should have 
a major impact on the rankings.  While I enjoyed 
many past weekend road trips there, the stadium 
wan't the major yippie factor for me.

A few weekends ago I got to partake in a 20 guy 
bachelor party weekend to Baltimore and watch 
the two Tiger losses.  The rest of the trip was, 
well you know how bachelor parties are.  I really 
enjoyed the ball park.  I say ballpark because the 
tour guide gave us hell anytime you said stadium.  
He was quite adamant that this was a ballpark 
and not a stadium or concert venue (they actually 
don't host concerts).  This was my first ever 
official tour and come to find out almost every 
park does it.  For $5 our group had a 90 minute 
tour which included history and constant quizzes 
about random Oriole and baseball facts.  I was 
actually amused that our group (well 4 or 5 of the 
guys) was able to answer every single question 
correctly.  Here are a few for ya (no googling):

What are the five ways to get to first base without 
actually batting the ball?

What is the minimum number of pitches a pitcher 
needs to be given the win?

What is the maximum number of pitches a batter 
can have (not including non strike foul balls)?

Anyhow back to the park.  Some of my favorite 
items: Variety of food was great (yes I had 
something besides a dog).  A beer vendor that 
came back to our section at the end of his shift 
and thanked us.  Did you know they put up the 
flags in right center in order according to current 
standings?  The little plaques marking each of the 
balls that have made it onto Eutaw street.  
Normally only 1 or 2 a year but in 2008 so far 5 
and we saw the 6th one that cost us on Saturday.   
The elevated bullpen so you could see who was 
getting up.  A couple of places the average joe 
can't go but neat features.  The press box which 
is the closest to the field of any park.  Non ac, no 
netting, great view.  You can actually see dents in 
the doors at the back of the room and holes in 
the drywall from foul balls.  Apparently so far no 
person has been hit but a few laptops have been 
destroyed.  The concourse just for the suites.  It 
is enclosed and has seating areas, bars,
concession and other amenities spread 
throughout.  They host proms, wedding 
receptions and other events in the concourse.  
Which by the way Chas you can also get married 
in the dug out.  All in all I really enjoyed this park 
and yes, Pickles was a favorite watering hole of 
ours as well.  Favorite t-shirt, "Put on your O 
face."  I have never been to a bar where you 
could play beer pong in their outside seating area.  
There is one thing I did not enjoy about 
Baltimore, not only do they have a 2 am last call 
like we do, but they literally chase you out the 
door by 2.  We were not prepared our first night 
with extra brews.  

My other two parks, Wrigley and comerica need 
no further mention.

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Steve "Stone" Sprague

have to agree with the general rankings of the 
Stadiums.  Major disclaimer though, I have only 
been to a game at Wrigley, Comerica, Yankee 
Stadium and Shea Stadium.  I have however 
toured the Sky Dome, but did not see a baseball 
game.  Shea is a dump and it feels like you are in 
a parking garage as you are going up the 
apparently very unsafe escalators (a fan fell to his 
death earlier this season).  The Sky Dome was 
cool because of the five decks, and the Hard 
Rock Cafe in the stadium, but I had no desire to 
ever see a game there.  Comerica Park is a good 
stadium but I wouldn't call it great.  I always 
enjoy seeing games there but there isn't anything 
great about it.  Wrigley Field and Yankee 
Stadium are great because of their history and the 
emphasis on baseball, as opposed to the other 
distractions at newer ball parks.  The general 
theme to the rankings seemed to be an 
appreciation for the older stadiums, Fenway, 
Wrigley and Yankee Stadium were in the
top five for both, and the 60's/70's era stadiums 
such as Shea and the Metrodome were at the 
bottom as they should be.  This is also seen in the 
recent rush by cities to rid themselves of these 
stadiums.  Cincinatti, St. Louis, Houston, 
Pittsburgh, Minneapolis and New York have all 
recently dumped these type of stadiums or have 
plans to in the future. Thanks to both Chas and 
Mike for the rankings.  I have plans to see as 
many stadiums as possible over my lifetime and 
hopefully these lists can help me plan. As for the 
contest I predict the following: 

AL East = Red Sox
AL Central = White Sox
AL West = Angels
AL Wild Card = Rays
NL East = Mets
NL Central = Cubs
NL West = Dodgers
NL Wild Card = Cardinals

AL Champ = Angels
NL Champ = Cubs
World Series = Cubs

Tigers' final regular season record: 84-78

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Toolie's Trashtalk...

So the second evening I was back in the States 
was the first game of the Sox series.  We got into 
Atlanta and had a bit of a layover, so we got a 
snack at Chili's.  1-1 tie as we sat down.  On our 
way out the Tigers were in good shape with a 4-
1 lead.  While our plane was boarding, I called 
Nic "Gilby" Gilbert for an update and the score 
was 5-4 going into the ninth.  My instructions to 
Gilby wwere "Text me when the game is over or 
when Chicago scores."  I get a call while I'm 
seated on the plane (rather quickly, so I was 
anticipating bad news) and I hear that there are 
two outs, nobody on, and Jones has an 0-2 count 
on Carlos Quentin.  Well you all know what 
happened next: base hit, ball, ball, Ozzie argues 
about Jones balking, Dye home-run.  It was a 
rotten flight home.  

Fast forward to Sunday afternoon; Armando 
Galarraga has pitched a gem, leaving the game 
with a 3-1 lead after seven innings.  In comes 
Kyle Farnsworth.  Cue the parade: homer, base-
hit, homer.  Tigers trail 4-3.  Curtis Granderson 
delivered in the ninth with a lead-off homer to tie 
things, and Miguel Cabrera led off the 10th with a 
moonshot.  In comes Rodney:  walk, HBP, sac 
bunt, walk, RBI single, strikeout, walk - ball 
game.  Oh the pain.  

This is a good team.  They are good enough to 
be winning the division.  They have talent, no 
doubt, but they don't have "it."  The 2006 Tigers 
had "it" and it appears the Rays do as well.  "It" is 
the ability to win virtually all the games you should 
and to pull out a good number of games you 
shouldn't.  Sometimes it looks like the Tigers are 
getting "it" together (the 14-12 win over the Tribe 
after falling behind 8-1) but then trouble strikes 
(four game skid).  Leyland was pretty much 
speechless after the sweep in Tampa.  If I were 
him I wouldn't know what to say.  

Now for some positive news:  the majority of the 
Tigers' remaning games will be played at home, 
where they have been much better (seven over at 
home, eight under on the road).  The upcoming 
homestand will feature some mediocre opposition 
(Oakland, Baltimore, Toronto).  Finally, there is 
still time to get back into things with a hot streak.  
However, the Tigers NEED to win this series in 
Chicago.  They really can't afford to go 7.5+ 
games back in the division with so few games left 
versus the two teams they are trying to catch.  

Thanks to the Mariners for coming back on the 
Twins tonight.  With the Tigers and Sox not in 
action tonight, it was the best birthday present I 
could receive.  

I WANT THOSE BASEBALL CARDS...

AL East = Red Sox
AL Central = White Sox
AL West = Angels
AL Wild Card = Rays
NL East = Phillies
NL Central = Cubs
NL West = D-Backs
NL Wild Card = Brewers

AL Champ = Rays
NL Champ = Cubs
World Series = Rays  (in the biggest insult the 
Cubs have yet endured)

Tigers' final regular season record: 84 - 77 (one 
rain-out that doesn't get made up)

Derek, Sox announcers are awful all around, but 
there seems to be some truth to home cooking by 
the official scorer (at least from what I observe).  
As far as AM radio goes, some older Tiger fans 
have sung the praises of old WJR radio, which 
could be heard pretty much state-wide at night. 

That's all for this week, folks.  It's great to be 
back.  Canadian Sportscenter stinks.  You get a 
lot of tennis, soccer, a lot of hockey (that's not 
bad), Tour de France, Blue Jays highlights, and 
you might be lucky to catch a Rockies or 
Mariners game depending on where you are out 
west.  I assume you might see some Twins if 
you're properly located.  You don't get highlights 
of all MLB games, though.  God Bless Baseball 
Tonight (except Eric Young's retarded Souvenir 
City call).  

I'm out...






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