At the end of the Tigers rainbow?

It has been a frustrating year for the Tigers, what do you think is at the end of their rainbow? The playoff’s or a sad third place finish? 

Goodbye Pudge, Thank you Pudge

In 2002, the Detroit Tigers lost 102 games. In 2003, the Detroit Tigers lost 119 games. The outlook looked bleak for Tigers nation. We were the laughingstock of baseball, and it looked as if we would stay that way for a long time.

Then in late January of 2004, our new general manger, Dave Dombrowski made an unbelievable free agent signing. Coming to the Detroit Tigers was future hall of fame catcher Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez!

Tigers fans were overjoyed! He gave Detroit instant credibility. The rest of the league was on notice, the Tigers meant business. We soon after signed Carlos Guillén, then Magglio Ordóñez the following year. The Tigers team was starting to come together. More free agent signings and major trades were all paved by the deal for Pudge.

In 2006, three years after losing 119 games, the Detroit Tigers went to the World Series. This would never have happened if Pudge had not agreed to come play baseball for the Detroit Tigers.

From one Catholic to another, thank you for the amazing memories and good luck in New York.

Detroit Tiger fans take over in Cleveland

It was funny listening to the last inning of the TIgers and Indians game last night. The game was in Cleveland, but during the last couple innings you could clearly hear “Let’s Go Tigers” chants from the crowd. Listen as Dan Dickerson calls the final out and he actually comments on it.

The science of the rally cap

It’s midnight and the Tigers and Indians are still playing baseball. The game has been tied for sometime now and both teams look solid. Entering the top of the ninth, the Tigers were down 10-11. Two Tiger pitchers busted out the good ol’ rally caps, which lead to us tying the game at 11!

We don’t know how or why it works, but it does. And since there are no rules or guidelines as to when it’s appropriate don the rally cap… I decided to make a few.

1. You may not wear a rally cap until the 8th inning. - If you are trailing in the second inning, you best not show your rally cap. All you’ll do is jinx your team. The game just started you putz, fix your hat.
2. Runs – The rally cap only really works when you are down by a couple runs. If you are down by ten, entering the 9th inning, you can but your rally cap on, but good luck – you may need more power then the rally cap can offer.
3. How to wear your rally cap? - The preferred method is simply turning your hat inside out (picture on the right). But many major leagues use push the hat in and wearing it on half your head (like the boys are on top).

 

History of the rally cap from Wikipedia

The first appearance of the Rally Cap was during the 1942 baseball season, when fans of the Detroit Tigers, while in attendance at Tiger Stadium, occasionally would wear their baseball caps inside-out as a makeshift talisman to generate a come-from-behind victory in the late innings of a baseball game.

The superstition spread from the fans to the Tigers players themselves, and rose to national awareness during the 1945 World Series when the Detroit Tigers were playing the Chicago Cubs. The Tigers were tied in Game 5 with the series tied at 2-2. In the 6th inning of that game, the radio announcer mentioned certain members of the Tigers in the dugoutwearing their caps inside out. Subsequently, in that inning of that game, the Tigers scored 4 runs after a ball rolled between the legs of Chicago first baseman Phil Cavarretta.

The Tigers then went on to win the game 8-4. The historic rally led to a Game 7 win, allegedly with the prominent assistance of their “Rally Caps” allowing them to become the 1945 World Series Champions.  The Rally Cap subsequently was adopted by baseball fans internationally, being used to give their team a little extra mojo and come from behind.  

The Rally Cap was later seen and made popular to this day in 1986 when the New York Mets wore them in their come from behind World Series victory over theBoston Red Sox.

Goodbye Todd Jones

It’s been a fun ride, but it’s time for the Tigers to use a new closer. Tonight’s loss to Chiacgo is unforgivable. I’ll write more later, I’m too upset and frustrated right now.

Update

Todd Jones is a great guy. He’s a Christian, and a man who demands respect. I’m on board with all that. Back in 2000, everyone loved him running in from the bullpen after he slammed its door. I emailed him before the start of the season and he actually took the time to email me back. I’ll never forget that, and he’ll always be one of my favorite Tigers.

But it’s time for him to retire and spend that awesome one on one time with the family everyone talks about. The Tigers entered a very important three game series this weekend with the White Sox. We were five and a half games out of first place. A sweep would allow us to cut that to just two and half games and we virtually have a new season.

We were in control of this game tonight.We had a three run lead until a boneheaded error allowed the Sox to cut the deficit to just one run. So we enter the 9th inning, ahead by just one run and Jonesy allows a two run homer with two outs.

Game over, White Sox win, and we are now six and a half games out instead of four and a half. -insert sad face here-

Update – July 27, 2008

Jim leyland announced today the Tigers have a new closer. Fernando Rodney will take the job over from Todd Jones. I want to thank Jim for reading my blog and taking my advice.

The Detroit Tigers after 94 Games

Before the 2008 season began, Sports Illustrated picked the Detroit Tigers to win the world series. Hopes were very high in motown. Before Christmas, general manger Dave Dombrowski made a blockbuster deal with Florida and got Miguel Cabrera & Dontrelle Willis. Doing so however, meant losing two of their biggest prospects in pitcher Andrew Miller, outfielder Cameron Maybin. The Tigers then signed Cabrera to an eight year deal worth 153 million dollars.

With questions marks still in the Tigers bullpen, most people around the big leagues thought they were a lock to win it all. Imagine the shock and horror facing Tiger fans when the team started the season 0-7. April and May were both plagued with mediocre baseball. The team struggled to find its rhythm until June where they broke out with a 19-8 month.  Here is a break down of each month’s win, lose record:

• March: 0-1
• April:  13-14
• May: 10-17
• June: 19-8
• July 5-7

Which leaves the Tigers 47-47 going into the all star break. This is heart breaking because I know the team could have played so much better. 

Jeff’s Midseason Awards

• Most Valuable Player – Offensively: Marcus Thames – He hit 17 home runs already, one less then he hit all of last year! He’s been a vital player in clutch situations, and the Tigers would have been much worse without him.
• Most Valuable Player – Pitching: Armando Galarraga – He’s 7-3 with a 3.27 ERA. He’s constant and steady. Every time he is on the mound, I feel it’s a game the Tigers can win. 
• Least Valuable Player - Offensively:  Gary Sheffield – Our DH has been hurt, but it’s been a very bad half of the year for Gary. Almost makes me wish they would sign Barry Bonds. Bring the drama, Barry can still mash.
• Least Valuable Player - Pitching Staff:  Dontrelle Willis – He’s not even on the team anymore, he’s playing for single A in Lakeland. To think we gave up Andrew Miller (who hasn’t set the world on fire in Florida, but still) for him? Yikes!
• Biggest Surprise Postive - Thames – He’s been awesome.
• Biggest Surprise Negative -Jacque Jones. We trade Omar Infante for him, and now Jones is out of baseball and Imfante is a decent bench player for the Braves.
• Work Horse - Miguel Cabrera, playing in all but 3 games.

The Tigers march to the World Series!

I made this video back in 2006 and forgot about it! AHHH memories! Go Tigers!

Todd Jones as Magglio Ordonez

In the middle of a rain delay, Detroit Tigers closer Todd Jones dons a Maggs wig and shirt and does an awesome impersonation of Magglio Ordonez’s 2006 home run.

This is the original home run that Jones is reenacting. The audio I synced from the radio broadcast. It’s Dan Dickerson making the greatest call I have ever heard.

Chadr from Motownsports.com grabbed this off of his TV.

This is clip from Baseball Tonight.

Chadr from Motonsports.com found another video and sent it my way:

Loyalty to a sports team & My Tigers Resume

Welcome back Curtis!

The Detroit Tigers are on a roll. After a miserable start to the season, the Tigers seem to have found a nice rhythm, and their power has arrived. They’ve scored 37 runs in just the last three games and have won four games in a row! The central division now looks like:

• Chicago White Sox 11-9
• Minnesota Twins 10-12
• Detroit Tigers 10-13
• Kansas City Royals 9-12
• Cleveland Indians 9-12

Everyone’s favorite Tiger, Curtis Granderson is back and his second game was as good as his first! After getting on base all four times at bat yesterday, he had a home-run and a walk today! 

Thankfully, the central division has been horrid this year.  The Tigers are only 2.5 half games out of first place. The Angels and Yankee’s are next up, let’s hope our bats stay alive. 

Why the Tigers are slumping…

 

Live Blogging – Tigers Vs. Indians

My first live blogging! I’ll be watching the Tigers game and updating the post every time something exciting or interesting happens! 

Live Tigers Notes

• The Indians no longer play in “Jacob’s Field” – it’s now called “Progressive Field.” It will be hard not call it “the Jake.”
• Brian Bluhm was killed one year ago today
• The Line ups for the game … 
  Detroit
  C – Rodriguez, Ivan
  2B – Polanco, Placido
  DH – Sheffield, Gary
  RF – Ordonez, Magglio
  3B – Cabrera, Miguel
  1B – Guillen, Carlos
  SS – Renteria, Edgar
  LF – Thames, Marcus
  CF – Inge, Brandon                             

  Cleveland
  CF – Sizemore, Grady
  LF – Dellucci, David
  DH – Hafner, Travis
  C – Martinez, Victor
  SS – Peralta, Jhonny
  1B – Garko, Ryan
  2B – Cabrera, Asdrubal
  RF – Gutierrez, Franklin 

• I’m surprised C.C. is still winless, 0-2!
• After the game, looking back I’m not as surprised. CC was horrible tonight in his third lost. The Tigers made it look like he was pitching with softballs. 

                             

The First Inning

Top

• Snoozefest

Bottom

• Dellucci hits a home run.
• Good Guys 0 – Indians 1

The Second Inning

Top

• Magglio Walks!
• Cabrera hits a home run!!!
• Good Guys 2 – Indians 1
• Carlos strikes out
• Edgar singles
• Thames pops out
• Inge singles!
• 2 men on base, 2 outs
• Pudge lines out to third.

Bottom

• 1,2,3 inning….

The Third Inning

Top

• Left the room, sorry! I missed a good inning! Polanco doubles to left, and Cabrera singles him home!
• Good Guys 3 – Indians 1

Bottom

• And another 1,2,3 inning! Galarraga is un-hittable!

The Fourth Inning

Top

• Inge walks, nothing else happens…

Bottom

• 1 – 2 – 3
• Galarraga has shut down the last 11 Indian batters.

The Fifth Inning 

Top

• Polanco walks to start the inning.
• Sabathia just baulked tying to catch Polanco stealing second base. Polanco is awarded the base.
• Sheffield battles Sabathia after 10 or 11 pitches and draws the walk!
• Man on first and second, no outs.
• Magglio walks!
• Bases loaded, no outs for Miggs!!
• Cabrera hits a single up the middle and scores two! The boo birds come out at “the Jake.”
  
• Good Guys 5 – Indians 1
  
• Guillen singles! Bases Loaded again; no outs!
  
•  Edgar Renteria hits a GRAND SLAM! And there are still no outs! The boo birds are all over the place now! We will get a new pitcher. C.C. is done for the night!
• Good Guys 9 – Indians 1
• Thames singles – still no outs!
  
• Inge hits a double! Man on second and third! NO OUTS!!!
• Pudge strikes out for the first out of the inning and the crowd goes nuts! (They are not happy).
• Okay this is crazy! Polanco hits to third, but when the ball gets back to their catcher, Martinez he just tages the base and not the runner, so he’s safe! They get the runner at third however! 
• Good Guys 10 – Indians 1
  
• Sheffield pops out for the last out of the inning

Bottom

• Here come the Indiands…
• Peralta files out to center field…
• Garko is up to bat, a drunken fan is yelling “you’re the man Garko, ya baby, you do it baby.” Nice…
  
• Garko foul tips it into the glove
  
• 2 quick outs! And forth strike outs for Galarraga!
• Cabrera strikes out looking! Five for Galarraga - 14 in a row for Galarraga!

                         

The Sixth Inning 

Top

• Maggs walks
• Cabrera is human! He strikes out looking.
• Guillen walks, he’s the seventh Tiger to walk tonight! Caroles get’s a pitch runner! Ryan Raburn in the game!
• Renteria walks!
• NEW PITCHER
• Clete Thomas pinch hits for Thames
• Thames pops out to third.
• Brandon Inge up to bat…
• Inge walks with the bases loaded!
• Good Guys 11 – Indians 1
• Pudge pops out… 

 

 Bottom

• Cabrera moves to first base… Raburn to Centerfield, Inge to Third Base
• Here come Galarraga…  14 Straight retired; 5 strikeouts; 0 walks
• 1, 2, 3 inning AGAIN!
• 17 Straight retired; 6 strikeouts; 0 walks

The Seventh Inning 

Top

• Maggs gets a hit!
• Inning ends eventless…

Bottom

• Galarraga hits a batter! They have a runner on base!
• Next batter pops up.
• Galarraga hits another batter! uh-oh…
• Ground out to second! 
• With two outs in the seventh,  Galarraga’s night is over! He pitched amazing in what should be his first major league win! Well done!
• New pitcher is: JASON GRILLI AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
• Now I know we have a 10 run lead, but I’m scared now…
• WHAT A SHOCK! Grilli gives up a Texas League Single. The Indians score a run.
• Good Guys 12 – Indians 2
• Please get Grilli out of this game.
• Batter pops up, inning over.

The Eighth Inning 

Top

• Tigers are next…
• Raburn doubles to lead off the inning!
• Edgar Renteria sigles to center; Raburn scores! That’s 5 RBI’s for Renteria! 
• Good Guys 12 – Indians 2
• Thomas singles to center! That’s three straight hits for the Tigers! Pinch runner for Renteria. 
• Three batters later we have three outs, lets hope Grilli is not back on the mound…

Bottom

• Here comes the Indians
• Ahh, Grilli is back…
• And a surprise to no one, Grilli gives up a hit…
• Next two batters pop out….
• Rod Quote of the Night: “Comerca Park is none for being a pitchers park.” REALLY???
• Another pop out, inning over…

The Ninth Inning 

Top

• New pitcher for the Indians – Masa Kobayashi
• Sheff singles in the lead off spot! His swing looks great! 
• Maggs up next
• WILD PITCH moves Sheff over to second base.
• Magg hits a line shot to third base, easy throw to first for the out.
• Miguel Cabrera up next, will he get his 6th RBI of the night?
• Cabrera gets a hit, but Sheff holds at third base.
• Men at the corners with 1 out.
• Raburn up…
• Raburn hits to second, Cabrera is out at second, but Raburn is safe because Raburn is safe a first!
• Good Guys 13 – Indians 2
• pop up inning over

Bottom

• Easy inning for Grilli…
• He even got a strike out.
• I still wish they’d release him.

TIGERS WIN

Final Notes and Statistics

• Winning Pitcher - Armando Galarraga (1-0) 
• Losing Pitcher – C.C. Sabathia (0-3)
• Doubles: Polanco, Inge and Raburn
• Home Runs: Cabrera and Renteria
• RBI’s – Cabrera (5), Renteria (9), Inge (1), Raburn (1)
• Men Left on Base – 13
• Time – 3 hours 17 minutes

Tigers Winning Streak

The Tigers once again fell behind to the Twins and were in jeopard of losing another close game. A fan in the seats held up a sign that said, “Do the same thing you did last night.” The Tigers did just that, Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run home run in the 8th inning to lead the Tigers to their second straight come from behind win in as many nights!  I was sitting on my couch in the living room and I about fell off it when he jacked it into the seats! My three year old little girl sensing my excitement started jumping up and down screaming, “go tigers, go tigers!” It was an awesome moment – I won’t soon forget!

The Tigers record is now 4-10 – We will be back to .500 in no time! Keep the faith Tiger fans!

 

Tiger End Notes

• Another roller coster ride from Jonesy in the 9th inning!
• Todd Jones recorded his third save (3/3)!
• Clay Rapada looked good and hot his first major league win (1-0).
• Gary Sheffield hit his first home run of the year when the left fielder tossed the ball out of his mit over the fence (1)!

 

The Detroit Tigers, Photoshopped!

Yoda from Motown Sports started a photoshop the Tigers thread. It’s a fun and clever way for us fans to vent some frustration we are feeling towards the team.

The best by far was by 7kidzzz:

Yoda with a funny take on Jason Grilli:

And tim_pop created a new logo for the Tigers:

Update: Here are some of mine, not by best work, but good enough for now…

The Official 2008 Detroit Tigers Website

Comerica Park for the 2008 Tigers

The Tigers are Drowning…

The Tigers are drowning and no ones close enough to them to throw them a rope. After nine games into the season, the Central Division looks like this:

1. Royals – 6-3
2. White Sox – 5-3
3. Twins – 4-5
4. Indians – 4-5
5. Tigers – 1-8

How is this even possible? What universe am I living in? Our first win came after seven straight losses and of course we follow that up with another loss. I wasn’t to pull off seven straight wins but the Tigers are in serious trouble if they don’t come for air soon.

We start an important series tonight against the White Sox in Chicago. Let’s come to the game with our life guard shorts on and revive our beloved team!

Go Tigers! 

 

Update: 4-12-08

The Tigers won! Thanks to all the life guards who helped breath life into our team! 2-8, you can’t stop us now!