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? 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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 any one sports team is pretty hard to justify.  Because the players are always changing, the team can move to another city, you’re actually rooting for the clothes when you get right down to it.  You know what I mean, you are standing and cheering and yelling for your clothes to beat the clothes from another city.  Fans will be so in love with a player but if he goes to another team, they boo him.  This is the same human being in a different shirt, they hate him now.  Boo!  Different shirt!  Boo!” - Jerry Seinfeld, The Label Maker

This little routine by Jerry Seinfeld has always stood out in my mind. It’s true because for my whole life I’ve been a fan of the Detroit Tigers. It doesn’t matter who wears the Old English D, if the player is a Tiger I root for them. Kenny Rogers was not a popular player when he was on the Texas Rangers. Most thought negatively when his name was mentioned, however when he game to the Tigers, he instantly became a hero to the city, (especially after his magical post season in 2006).

It also brings up the question, is it okay to boo your players or team? If your loyalty belongs to the team and not the player, is it okay to boo an individual athlete when they screw up? I think so, because they are disgracing the uniform of your team. Jason Grilli comes to mind; a horrible player, I knew for sure he would give up a lead whenever the brought him in to pitch, so when the fans booed him, he got what he deserved. I personally never boo (except extreme cases), because I always have an optimistic view the team can pull out of whatever funk they are in. 

My Tigers Resume

I got a nasty comment sometime back about how I was fake johnny-come-lately Detroit Tigers fan. He asked me to post where I was in 2003 (the year we lost 119 games). He also wanted to know my Tigers Resume, whatever that means. I’ve never thought about putting a “tigers resume” together, but I’ll bite on his stupid comment and give you my resume. 

I have been a Tigers fan since as long I could remember. Baseball has always been the sport of my heart and the Tigers have always been very personal to me. I’ve been a season ticket holder many times over, including 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2003. I was one of the first fans ever to enter the gates of Comerica Park, we got there on opening day ay 7am and were the first in line! 

Favorite Players

1. Alan Trammell
2. Kirk Gibson 
3. Mickey Tettleton
4. C.J. Nitkowski
5. Travis Fryman
6. Bobby Higginson 
7. Gabe Kapler
8. Robert Fick
9. Brad Ausmus
10. Jose Macias
11. Gregg Jefferies
12. Dean Palmer
13. Todd Jones
14. Jeff Weaver
15. Roger Cedeno
16. Brandon Inge
17. Justin Verlander
18. Ivan Rodriguez
19. Curtis Granderson
20. Kenny Rogers
21. Magglio Ordonez
22. Placido Polanco

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.