A happy halloween to all of my blog readers out there. However you may celebrate the holiday, I hope it is worth your while. My Halloween will be rather uneventful, not by choice. I have to work afternoon shift tonight, so I will be missing out on all of the trick or treaters, parties, and Halloween reveling. But don't worry; there's always next year. :-P
Yesterday I was just getting into some of my favorite trick or treating memories. One year, my dad took me trick or treating; and this had to be when I was around four or five. We went to all of the houses in the neighborhood where he once lived. So naturally, he would visit with the people when I went trick or treating. We even visited my step-grandmother and grandpa. Sadly, my grandpa would die just a year or two later and I don't have too many memories of him. In fact, that Halloween memory is pretty obscure now. But at least I have that one and a couple of other memories of him; no matter how obscure they are. The majority of those people my dad and I visited that night are now gone, so it's really nice to have a memory of them, as well. At least I was able to meet with them once in my lifetime.
The next memory isn't exactly just one memory, but a culmination of many. Just the feeling of getting out, going through my hometown trick or treating with a bunch of other kids in darkness with the guide from the street lights, kids yelling "trick or treat," and hearing the voices of the people who's doors we were knocking on ... it's something you never forget. Another memory was when my friend, Brian and I, went trick or treating at this one old lady's home in my town. She was well known, and everyone called her "Granny" because she was such a personable person and would wave at anyone driving by. She mistook Brian as being someone else with a similar costume (I think he was a vampire) and refused to give him candy because he had already gotten candy from her. Well, he was pretty ticked off at her but I was happy. She gave me candy at least.
I must end it here. Once again, Happy Halloween. :-)
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Monday, October 30, 2006
Halloween
I tell ya, Halloween was one of the holidays I really looked forward to when I was younger. I think what I found most exciting about it was the trick or treating. My earliest memories are when my sister and I would go around town trick or treating. But then she got too old for it and then my dad took me. Not long afterwards, my best friend Brian and I went together (his mother drove). It was that way until we both became too old for it. The 6th grade was the last year I went trick or treating (that year I was rather hesitant to go, but my sister's boyfriend at the time basically dragged me out, for whatever reason).
I don't know what it is, but when you reach a certain age (11 or 12 it seems), you feel you're too old to dress up and go trick or treating. I don't know if we're in a hurry to grow up, feel embarassed about having friends see us, or we're just letting the tweenage angst get to us; whatever it is, we just don't go anymore. And some of it has to do with how it's portrayed on TV and the influence of friends. I know back at that age, I remember hearing many kids saying they were too old to dress up (and sadly, some were already getting involved with alcohal and having their own parties). It's just one of those things I guess; no kid can really ever avoid it.
Probably some of my all-time favorite costumes were a ghost (complete with white make-up covering my entire face), a pirate (way before the Pirates of the Caribbean movies), and a firefighter (complete with a real fire-house and nozzle, fireman's helmet, rain coat, and various other gear). For some reason I can't really remember any other characters I became during Halloween. I guess they weren't really all that memorable and have became easily forgotten. And it wasn't just about the trick or treating, either. It was also about picking out your costume, carrying it with you to school, dressing up and seeing all of your friends in different costumes as well. Last year I wrote a blog on how we all dressed up (in elementary) and paraded throughout the school showing off all our costumes to the big kids. Then we would have our Halloween parties in our classrooms, complete with candy, other goodies, games, and music. There was nothing like Halloween at school. Everything about the day just seemed so abnormal and you knew it was anything but a normal school day. Then once school was let out, we all knew it wouldn't be long before we'd get to go trick or treating.
I plan on writing more regarding some of my favorite trick or treating memories tomorrow in Part 2 of my annual Halloween blog. Stay tuned! :-)
I don't know what it is, but when you reach a certain age (11 or 12 it seems), you feel you're too old to dress up and go trick or treating. I don't know if we're in a hurry to grow up, feel embarassed about having friends see us, or we're just letting the tweenage angst get to us; whatever it is, we just don't go anymore. And some of it has to do with how it's portrayed on TV and the influence of friends. I know back at that age, I remember hearing many kids saying they were too old to dress up (and sadly, some were already getting involved with alcohal and having their own parties). It's just one of those things I guess; no kid can really ever avoid it.
Probably some of my all-time favorite costumes were a ghost (complete with white make-up covering my entire face), a pirate (way before the Pirates of the Caribbean movies), and a firefighter (complete with a real fire-house and nozzle, fireman's helmet, rain coat, and various other gear). For some reason I can't really remember any other characters I became during Halloween. I guess they weren't really all that memorable and have became easily forgotten. And it wasn't just about the trick or treating, either. It was also about picking out your costume, carrying it with you to school, dressing up and seeing all of your friends in different costumes as well. Last year I wrote a blog on how we all dressed up (in elementary) and paraded throughout the school showing off all our costumes to the big kids. Then we would have our Halloween parties in our classrooms, complete with candy, other goodies, games, and music. There was nothing like Halloween at school. Everything about the day just seemed so abnormal and you knew it was anything but a normal school day. Then once school was let out, we all knew it wouldn't be long before we'd get to go trick or treating.
I plan on writing more regarding some of my favorite trick or treating memories tomorrow in Part 2 of my annual Halloween blog. Stay tuned! :-)
Saturday, October 28, 2006
It's Over
It's amazing how sports consumes your life when one of your favorite teams is in the playoffs. Before this season, I never really cared much for watching baseball on TV. I would watch it when nothing else was on, but it was never really my preferred sport. How quickly things change in a year. When you finally have a good team to watch, it's amazing how fun the game can be. However, the Tigers performance in the World Series was not much fun for me. But to be honest, I'm not going to be too negative of how things ended. Because not me or many other people could've pictured the Tigers being as good as they were this season. 2005, they managed to scrounge up 71 wins. 2006, they win 95 games, win the wildcard, beat the Yankees when everyone counted them out, win the American League Pennant, and earn a trip to the World Series. And after their 119 loss season three years ago, 2006 made it even more special.
Baseball hadn't consumed my life for a very long time. Probably not since I was little when I watched Cecil Fielder, Alan Trammell, and Lou Whitaker play at the end of their careers. Even then, there's not much I remember about those seasons. I was never interested in watching a sub-500 baseball team. Whether that makes me a poor fan or a bandwagon fan, I don't know. I don't consider myself a poor fan, just waiting for the right time to root on my favorite team again. Maybe I wasn't publicly rooting for them, but deep inside, I always hoped for a winner and rooted the Tigers on even in defeat. I still wore my Tigers shirts and caps with pride, even though there wasn't a reason to wear them. Now there's a reason to wear them all of the time; and my support for them will no longer waver, even during the tough times.
A lot of Tigers fans might feel depressed today. In fact, I was feeling quite upset about the turn of events last night after the game. But I don't feel that way at all today. I am proud of the Tigers and what they gave their fans this season. Just look at the St. Louis Cardinals. Two years ago, they were swept from the World Series by the Boston Red Sox. That had to be a lousy feeling for them; knowing they were so close to getting a championship. Two years later, they finally got their championship. I bet the feeling of losing the World Series two years ago never left them, and they remembered it this year. They will get their rings, and I have every reason to believe the Tigers will get theirs someday, too.
The Tigers roster should remain fairly intact for many years to come. Their pitching rotation is exceptional and they should only have to make a few tweaks here and there as the years go by, mainly to the bullpen. As long as Kenny Rogers continues to pitch well, you keep him in Detroit. Same goes with everyone else. With Verlander only a rookie, I am sure we'll be watching him for awhile. I think next year will be Todd Jones' final year in baseball. He may not even finish out the year with the Tigers, as Joel Zumaya will become the Tigers regular closer. Oh man, what an important piece he'll be for years to come in that role. As for the Tigers line-up, I think a few new pieces need to be added. It might be necessary to upgrade at first base, even though Sean Casey was awesome during the World Series. He's getting to be too injury prone and unreliable defensively. However, I would like to see him possibly become a utilityman for the Tigers, if he's willing to accept such a role with the team. If not, he'll likely move on with another team. We have many talented prospects in the minor leagues, and we might see them fill a permanent role on the Tigers roster in years to come. The years to come look bright for the Tigers.
Here's to the Tigers in 2007! GO TIGERS! :-)
Baseball hadn't consumed my life for a very long time. Probably not since I was little when I watched Cecil Fielder, Alan Trammell, and Lou Whitaker play at the end of their careers. Even then, there's not much I remember about those seasons. I was never interested in watching a sub-500 baseball team. Whether that makes me a poor fan or a bandwagon fan, I don't know. I don't consider myself a poor fan, just waiting for the right time to root on my favorite team again. Maybe I wasn't publicly rooting for them, but deep inside, I always hoped for a winner and rooted the Tigers on even in defeat. I still wore my Tigers shirts and caps with pride, even though there wasn't a reason to wear them. Now there's a reason to wear them all of the time; and my support for them will no longer waver, even during the tough times.
A lot of Tigers fans might feel depressed today. In fact, I was feeling quite upset about the turn of events last night after the game. But I don't feel that way at all today. I am proud of the Tigers and what they gave their fans this season. Just look at the St. Louis Cardinals. Two years ago, they were swept from the World Series by the Boston Red Sox. That had to be a lousy feeling for them; knowing they were so close to getting a championship. Two years later, they finally got their championship. I bet the feeling of losing the World Series two years ago never left them, and they remembered it this year. They will get their rings, and I have every reason to believe the Tigers will get theirs someday, too.
The Tigers roster should remain fairly intact for many years to come. Their pitching rotation is exceptional and they should only have to make a few tweaks here and there as the years go by, mainly to the bullpen. As long as Kenny Rogers continues to pitch well, you keep him in Detroit. Same goes with everyone else. With Verlander only a rookie, I am sure we'll be watching him for awhile. I think next year will be Todd Jones' final year in baseball. He may not even finish out the year with the Tigers, as Joel Zumaya will become the Tigers regular closer. Oh man, what an important piece he'll be for years to come in that role. As for the Tigers line-up, I think a few new pieces need to be added. It might be necessary to upgrade at first base, even though Sean Casey was awesome during the World Series. He's getting to be too injury prone and unreliable defensively. However, I would like to see him possibly become a utilityman for the Tigers, if he's willing to accept such a role with the team. If not, he'll likely move on with another team. We have many talented prospects in the minor leagues, and we might see them fill a permanent role on the Tigers roster in years to come. The years to come look bright for the Tigers.
Here's to the Tigers in 2007! GO TIGERS! :-)
Friday, October 27, 2006
On the Brink
The Tigers are in a position they did not want to find themselves in...down three games to one with game five being in St. Louis. The Cardinals have a chance to win the World Series at home in Busch Stadium. However, that will depend on a couple of factors, including the weather. Today is supposedly going to be the worst of the three rainy days in St. Louis. Actually, I was rather surprised last night's game was held because of the gloom and doom weather forecasts. Knowing the outcome now, I kind of wish last night's game was postponed.
One word to describe last night's game for me: heartbreaker. I missed the majority of the game because of work, but thankfully someone was keeping us updated on the score during our shift. First it was Tigers ahead 1-0, then 3-2. Then I listened to the game on the radio coming home from work, and that's when the wheel's came off. Fernando Rodney, who's an excellent pitcher but a terrible fielder, threw the ball over the first baseman's head (it looked like Polanco, strangely enough, from the replays) and into right field, allowing the tying run to come home. Then another run comes in for the Cardinals, and it's now 4-3. I just had a feeling it wasn't going to be the Tigers night, but then some hope. In the top of the eighth, Pudge hits a double for the Tigs, and he FINALLY broke out of his postseason slump. Next batter, Brandon Inge. He smacks a double himself, bringing Pudge home and now the game is tied! I thought the Tigers were gaining important momentum and were about to open the game up wide open. But they couldn't bring Inge home; even with 0 outs, and the inning ends on a double play.
Then came the Cardinals, effectively getting to Joel Zumaya and scoring the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth. Craig Monroe just missed catching a fly ball by David Eckstien in left field, but the ball hits the top of his glove and falls to the field, allowing the run to come home and the score now being 5-4. From the seventh inning on, it was a devestating turn of events that left any Tigers' fans sick. It just wasn't the Tigers' night and the Cardinals took advantage of the Tigers' miscues and win the game.
I tell ya what, St. Louis has been getting all of the breaks in this series. I can't tell you how frustrating it was when Zumaya pitched and saw a couple of his pitches called balls. But when the Tigers were batting, those same pitches were called strikes. I do not want to blame the umps for the Tigers failings, but it was obvious from game four that Zumaya in particular was squeezed on a couple of those pitches. It was an unfortunate turn of events and that's what lead to him walking the first batter in the eight inning. How can you forget Granderson's fall in center field. Another routine fly ball that ends up turning into disaster for the Tigers. Of course the wet field from two days of rain in St. Louis hasn't helped matters, but if Craig Monroe caught his fly ball and the same for Granderson, last night's game just might've been a Tigers victory. The same goes for Rodney; if he would've properly fielded that ball and thrown it perfectly to first base, then nobody would be complaining about the Tigers' pitchers causing all four of the Tigers' errors in the World Series. But it's a painfully obvious stat today, now that the Tigers are training 3-1 in the series.
So the all-important game five is tonight in St. Louis. The Cardinals have an opportunity to win the World Series on their home field in front of their fans. Former Tiger Jeff Weaver will pitch for the Cardinals, while Justin Verlander goes for the Tigers. Many are questioning Jim Leyland's decision to go with Verlander in game five since he struggled in his last outing against the Cardinals. But why go with Kenny Rogers in such a hostile environment, especially after "smudge-gate"? I don't know that I particularly agree on going with Verlander, but I certainly agree on saving Kenny Rogers until game six in Detroit. I think Verlander is worn out from this season and may be running on fumes. However, I hope he has just enough to pitch a good game for the Tigers and keep the Cardinals from scoring very little. When Verlander has his best stuff, he's dominating. Hopefully Placido Polanco will contribute in tonight's game and be the last of the Tigers to break out of their offensive slump. We also need to get Magglio Ordonez going tonight as well, since he really hasn't done a whole lot in the World Series, either. If we can score a lot of runs early, then tonight's game will be in the bag for the Tigers and a return trip to Detroit is guarenteed.
At least prove Gene Wojciechowski wrong and bring the series back home to Detroit (check ESPN.com regarding the article). :-P
One word to describe last night's game for me: heartbreaker. I missed the majority of the game because of work, but thankfully someone was keeping us updated on the score during our shift. First it was Tigers ahead 1-0, then 3-2. Then I listened to the game on the radio coming home from work, and that's when the wheel's came off. Fernando Rodney, who's an excellent pitcher but a terrible fielder, threw the ball over the first baseman's head (it looked like Polanco, strangely enough, from the replays) and into right field, allowing the tying run to come home. Then another run comes in for the Cardinals, and it's now 4-3. I just had a feeling it wasn't going to be the Tigers night, but then some hope. In the top of the eighth, Pudge hits a double for the Tigs, and he FINALLY broke out of his postseason slump. Next batter, Brandon Inge. He smacks a double himself, bringing Pudge home and now the game is tied! I thought the Tigers were gaining important momentum and were about to open the game up wide open. But they couldn't bring Inge home; even with 0 outs, and the inning ends on a double play.
Then came the Cardinals, effectively getting to Joel Zumaya and scoring the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth. Craig Monroe just missed catching a fly ball by David Eckstien in left field, but the ball hits the top of his glove and falls to the field, allowing the run to come home and the score now being 5-4. From the seventh inning on, it was a devestating turn of events that left any Tigers' fans sick. It just wasn't the Tigers' night and the Cardinals took advantage of the Tigers' miscues and win the game.
I tell ya what, St. Louis has been getting all of the breaks in this series. I can't tell you how frustrating it was when Zumaya pitched and saw a couple of his pitches called balls. But when the Tigers were batting, those same pitches were called strikes. I do not want to blame the umps for the Tigers failings, but it was obvious from game four that Zumaya in particular was squeezed on a couple of those pitches. It was an unfortunate turn of events and that's what lead to him walking the first batter in the eight inning. How can you forget Granderson's fall in center field. Another routine fly ball that ends up turning into disaster for the Tigers. Of course the wet field from two days of rain in St. Louis hasn't helped matters, but if Craig Monroe caught his fly ball and the same for Granderson, last night's game just might've been a Tigers victory. The same goes for Rodney; if he would've properly fielded that ball and thrown it perfectly to first base, then nobody would be complaining about the Tigers' pitchers causing all four of the Tigers' errors in the World Series. But it's a painfully obvious stat today, now that the Tigers are training 3-1 in the series.
So the all-important game five is tonight in St. Louis. The Cardinals have an opportunity to win the World Series on their home field in front of their fans. Former Tiger Jeff Weaver will pitch for the Cardinals, while Justin Verlander goes for the Tigers. Many are questioning Jim Leyland's decision to go with Verlander in game five since he struggled in his last outing against the Cardinals. But why go with Kenny Rogers in such a hostile environment, especially after "smudge-gate"? I don't know that I particularly agree on going with Verlander, but I certainly agree on saving Kenny Rogers until game six in Detroit. I think Verlander is worn out from this season and may be running on fumes. However, I hope he has just enough to pitch a good game for the Tigers and keep the Cardinals from scoring very little. When Verlander has his best stuff, he's dominating. Hopefully Placido Polanco will contribute in tonight's game and be the last of the Tigers to break out of their offensive slump. We also need to get Magglio Ordonez going tonight as well, since he really hasn't done a whole lot in the World Series, either. If we can score a lot of runs early, then tonight's game will be in the bag for the Tigers and a return trip to Detroit is guarenteed.
At least prove Gene Wojciechowski wrong and bring the series back home to Detroit (check ESPN.com regarding the article). :-P
Thursday, October 26, 2006
In the Midst of All that Rain
So game four of the World Series was postponed last night due to inclement weather in St. Louis. Major League Baseball officials were hoping to get in the game last night because the next few nights are looking like wash-outs as well. This goes to show you that playing baseball during mid to late October isn't exactly a good idea. If you don't have rain, it can either be snow or too cold. Either start the season earlier when the games don't mean as much (and if there are cancellations, at least you can have more double-headers) or shorten the season. I am sure if a dozen or so games are permanently removed from the schedule, it will help accomodate the post-season and the World Series. Potentially waiting for another World Series game after three days of rain-outs is quite foolish. It's time the World Series gets started in early October when the weather is a little bit better.
I am not sure whether waiting around for dry weather for several days is a good thing for the Tigers. You see what happened after they had to wait a week for the World Series to start. Personally, I think having the one day off after game three would really help the Tigers. However, if it's extended to two or even three days in between games, that could have a negative effect on them. I just hope the Tigers can break out of their offensive slump. Jim Leyland has made a few tweaks to the batting order for game four, so hopefully those changes will be positive for the Tigers. And you have to hope Jeremy Bonderman is lights out on the mound. This is the first time he's had to pitch on the road during the playoffs, so it'll be interesting to see how he handles the crowd on the road (as well as the waiting game to pitch).
But of utmost importance is the Tigers bats. They have to absolutely get going, otherwise this series won't be coming back to Detroit. Placido Polanco hasn't been able to hit in the World Series, nor has Curtis Granderson. And Pudge Rodriguez ... man oh man, no hits since game one of the ALCS! The Tigers were only able to muster three hits in game three against Chris Carpenter (two from Sean Casey and one from Brandon Inge). You certainly aren't going to win any games if you only have three hits. I think what also hurts the Tigers in St. Louis is not having the DH. Their ninth bat is the pitcher. Nate Roberston laid down an impressive bunt to advance a runner in game three. But unfortunatley, that is usually all the American League pitchers are able to do when batting in a National League park. Obviously it would help the Tigers tremendously to have Marcus Thames, Alexis Gomex, or Infante DH and put the bat on the ball. However, that is not possible when playing the NL rules. But when you need a pinch hitter and use him when the pitcher is supposed to bat, that means the end of the pitcher's night. It happened in game three and will likely happen during the next two.
Obviously it's not do or die time for the Tigers yet, but it's getting close. You certainly do not want to be down three games to one when the Cardinals could potentially clinch the series at home in game five. It's absolutely important for the Tigers to get some hits early and put runs on the board. Jeremy Bonderman must pitch well; allowing two runs or less, in order for the Tigers to have a chance. With the way the bats have gone cold lately, the fewer the runs the Cards put up the better. If the Tigers win game four; it's down to a best of three. I know they can do it and soon all of this talk of Kenny Rogers using pine tar, or the Tigers offensive struggles will be behind us. Hopefully we won't have to dwell on the things that went wrong for the Tigers and enjoy a World Series victory in the off-season.
I am not sure whether waiting around for dry weather for several days is a good thing for the Tigers. You see what happened after they had to wait a week for the World Series to start. Personally, I think having the one day off after game three would really help the Tigers. However, if it's extended to two or even three days in between games, that could have a negative effect on them. I just hope the Tigers can break out of their offensive slump. Jim Leyland has made a few tweaks to the batting order for game four, so hopefully those changes will be positive for the Tigers. And you have to hope Jeremy Bonderman is lights out on the mound. This is the first time he's had to pitch on the road during the playoffs, so it'll be interesting to see how he handles the crowd on the road (as well as the waiting game to pitch).
But of utmost importance is the Tigers bats. They have to absolutely get going, otherwise this series won't be coming back to Detroit. Placido Polanco hasn't been able to hit in the World Series, nor has Curtis Granderson. And Pudge Rodriguez ... man oh man, no hits since game one of the ALCS! The Tigers were only able to muster three hits in game three against Chris Carpenter (two from Sean Casey and one from Brandon Inge). You certainly aren't going to win any games if you only have three hits. I think what also hurts the Tigers in St. Louis is not having the DH. Their ninth bat is the pitcher. Nate Roberston laid down an impressive bunt to advance a runner in game three. But unfortunatley, that is usually all the American League pitchers are able to do when batting in a National League park. Obviously it would help the Tigers tremendously to have Marcus Thames, Alexis Gomex, or Infante DH and put the bat on the ball. However, that is not possible when playing the NL rules. But when you need a pinch hitter and use him when the pitcher is supposed to bat, that means the end of the pitcher's night. It happened in game three and will likely happen during the next two.
Obviously it's not do or die time for the Tigers yet, but it's getting close. You certainly do not want to be down three games to one when the Cardinals could potentially clinch the series at home in game five. It's absolutely important for the Tigers to get some hits early and put runs on the board. Jeremy Bonderman must pitch well; allowing two runs or less, in order for the Tigers to have a chance. With the way the bats have gone cold lately, the fewer the runs the Cards put up the better. If the Tigers win game four; it's down to a best of three. I know they can do it and soon all of this talk of Kenny Rogers using pine tar, or the Tigers offensive struggles will be behind us. Hopefully we won't have to dwell on the things that went wrong for the Tigers and enjoy a World Series victory in the off-season.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Game 2 Win/Game 3 Preparation
After a lackluster performance from the Tigers in game one following a week layoff, the team finally found their true form and earned a win in game two of the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. The game wasn't without its moments of suspence or controversy, however. Kenny Rogers pitched another gem, going eight innings and allowing only two hits and no earned runs. So far in the 2006 playoffs for Kenny, he has a 0.00 ERA and has gone 23+ innings without earning a run. It is one of the greatest playoff performances from a pitcher of all time. However, I have a bad feeling that Kenny's achievements during this season's playoffs will be tarnished forever because of the substance on the palm of his pitching hand; discovered during the first inning of game two. It was brought to everyone's attention by FOX analyst Tim McCarver who pointed out the brownish-looking smear resembling pinetar. It was rather noticable in the first inning, but had virtually vanished in the second. Kenny was ordered to wash his hands off between the first and second innings, otherwise St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony LaRusa would've no doubt pursued the issue further and might've gotten Kenny ejected from the game. It must be noted that without the substance on his hand from the second inning on, Kenny still pitched an amazing game. So with or without it, it was still the same Kenny Rogers that stimied the opponents bats this postseason.
Unfortunately, several key Tiger players have strugged so far in the World Series. Placido Polanco, the Tigers MVP during the ALCS, has not been able to make any key hits thus far. Curtis Granderson has done the same, even striking out frequently like he had done during the regular season. And Pudge Rodriguez ... what can you say? He's struggled the whole playoffs! Just two hits during the entire ALCS and no hits thus far in the World Series. One of these games he's going to break out of his slump and hopefully sooner rather than later. However, you want Pudge out there behind the plate, even if he's struggling at the plate. In game two, you saw some bright spots in Craig Monroe, who hit ANOTHER homerun. So far, Carlos Guillen has been the MVP for the Tigers in the World Series, just a homerun short of the single in game two. Even Sean Casey, who missed most of the ALCS because of a torn calf muscle, helped deliever a key hit in game two that brought home the third and final run for the Tigers. Final score: Tigers 3, Cardinals 1.
Oh, I can't forget about Todd Jones' less-than-stellar pitching in the ninth inning for the Tigers. After getting two key outs, he ended up allowing one run to come home, causing a key error after not fielding an infield hit, and loading the bases that potentially could've ended up losing the game for the Tigers. However, he finally ended up getting the final out and ending any thoughts of a comeback by the Cardinals. It was definitely one of them heart-racing, nerve-wracking moments that you never want to see. Honestly, I was like "oh no, here we go losing game two!" But thankfully, that did not happen. I don't know why it always happens to Todd Jones, but he's definitely earned his nickname "the rollercoaster" after two such performances in the playoffs. Actually, I was quite surprised Kenny did not finish the game after the way he had been pitching. I think Jim Leyland may have realized afterwards that it might've been better that he did!
Game three heads to St. Louis tonight where Tigers lefty Nate Robertson faces off against the Cardinals' ace Chris Carpenter. From what I have heard, Carpenter has had an excellent playoffs and the Tigers had better be ready to face him. Robertson has done reasonably well in the playoffs, although he has the highest ERA of all the Tigers' pitchers. He is a lefty, which should help against the Cards,' who have struggled against left-handed pitching during the regular season. As long as they pitch around Pujols and the rest of the Tigers' defense stays on its toes, the Tigers should earn another win and have a lead of 2-1 in the series. However, the Tigers need some of their key bats to come alive (as mentioned earlier in this blog). Otherwise this series may go to seven games. I figure if the Tigers have come this far, they might as well win it all.
GO TIGERS!
Unfortunately, several key Tiger players have strugged so far in the World Series. Placido Polanco, the Tigers MVP during the ALCS, has not been able to make any key hits thus far. Curtis Granderson has done the same, even striking out frequently like he had done during the regular season. And Pudge Rodriguez ... what can you say? He's struggled the whole playoffs! Just two hits during the entire ALCS and no hits thus far in the World Series. One of these games he's going to break out of his slump and hopefully sooner rather than later. However, you want Pudge out there behind the plate, even if he's struggling at the plate. In game two, you saw some bright spots in Craig Monroe, who hit ANOTHER homerun. So far, Carlos Guillen has been the MVP for the Tigers in the World Series, just a homerun short of the single in game two. Even Sean Casey, who missed most of the ALCS because of a torn calf muscle, helped deliever a key hit in game two that brought home the third and final run for the Tigers. Final score: Tigers 3, Cardinals 1.
Oh, I can't forget about Todd Jones' less-than-stellar pitching in the ninth inning for the Tigers. After getting two key outs, he ended up allowing one run to come home, causing a key error after not fielding an infield hit, and loading the bases that potentially could've ended up losing the game for the Tigers. However, he finally ended up getting the final out and ending any thoughts of a comeback by the Cardinals. It was definitely one of them heart-racing, nerve-wracking moments that you never want to see. Honestly, I was like "oh no, here we go losing game two!" But thankfully, that did not happen. I don't know why it always happens to Todd Jones, but he's definitely earned his nickname "the rollercoaster" after two such performances in the playoffs. Actually, I was quite surprised Kenny did not finish the game after the way he had been pitching. I think Jim Leyland may have realized afterwards that it might've been better that he did!
Game three heads to St. Louis tonight where Tigers lefty Nate Robertson faces off against the Cardinals' ace Chris Carpenter. From what I have heard, Carpenter has had an excellent playoffs and the Tigers had better be ready to face him. Robertson has done reasonably well in the playoffs, although he has the highest ERA of all the Tigers' pitchers. He is a lefty, which should help against the Cards,' who have struggled against left-handed pitching during the regular season. As long as they pitch around Pujols and the rest of the Tigers' defense stays on its toes, the Tigers should earn another win and have a lead of 2-1 in the series. However, the Tigers need some of their key bats to come alive (as mentioned earlier in this blog). Otherwise this series may go to seven games. I figure if the Tigers have come this far, they might as well win it all.
GO TIGERS!
Sunday, October 22, 2006
World Series Time!
The Major League Baseball playoffs have reached their pinnicle; a match-up between the very best of the American League vs. the best of the National League, appropriately titled the "World Series." Game one of the World Series started last night and if you are a Tigers fan (like me), it didn't start the way you would've liked. A lot of people thought the long rest in between games would not hurt the Tigers. In fact, it had been seven days since the Tigers last played; the day when they swept the Oakland A's in the ALCS. Needless to say, the Tigers were absolutely flat. They struggled at the plate; their pitching wasn't up to snuff, and they were basically out of it from the first few innings of the game. If you were a Tigers fan, you were disappointed by game one and thought it was rather boring (at least I did). They just didn't show much heart and failed to do what they did best during the previous seven games of the playoffs.
Justin Verlander, the Tigers ace rookie pitcher, took the loss for the Tigers. After they took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, the Cards tied the game up in the top of the 2nd from a home run. It appeared that Verlander was struggling a bit and leaving fastballs out over the plate. Although Verlander did have a number of strikeouts, it was a stat ignored thanks to the number of runs he had earned. The two-run homer he had given up to Pujols was the back-breaker, in my opinion. All of the momentum that the Tigers had was completely gone after the home run. And they definitely never regained any kind of momentum, nor passion, the rest of the game. They just weren't into their usual playoff mode. Hopefully that'll change in tonight's game two contest.
I was so disappointed, and quite frankly, bored with the game that I ended up falling asleep on my couch. I found myself waking up to a 5-1 game and Jason Grilli pitching with two runners on. I knew it would not be a good omen when I saw Grilli pitching, so I pretty much gave up on the game and went straight to bed around 9:30 (it doesn't help working five 10-hour shifts in a row). I was hoping for a miracle comeback, but I knew those chances were very slim. Sure enough, when I woke up this morning, I found out that the Tigers had lost 7-2. Even some of the so-called baseball experts were beginning to be concerned about the Tigers and their lack of spunk in game one. But folks, it was only game one. Do you honestly believe the Tigers will make it two-straight lackluster games in their own home field? I can't say that it won't happen, but I honestly have faith to say they will make it much more exciting and play exactly like they have been. I mean, the entire state of Michigan and Tiger fans throughout the world are depending on it!
With Kenny Rogers pitching tonight, I am pretty confident that the Tigers will set things right and tie the series up at a game a piece. He has been the Tigers most reliable pitcher so far in the playoffs (who would've thought, eh?). I believe the Tigers' bats will come alive, too, with ALCS MVP Placido Polanco having another huge game. And tonight we should see the return of Joel Zumaya. Tigers even things up 1-1 tonight, I can feel it. :-)
Justin Verlander, the Tigers ace rookie pitcher, took the loss for the Tigers. After they took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, the Cards tied the game up in the top of the 2nd from a home run. It appeared that Verlander was struggling a bit and leaving fastballs out over the plate. Although Verlander did have a number of strikeouts, it was a stat ignored thanks to the number of runs he had earned. The two-run homer he had given up to Pujols was the back-breaker, in my opinion. All of the momentum that the Tigers had was completely gone after the home run. And they definitely never regained any kind of momentum, nor passion, the rest of the game. They just weren't into their usual playoff mode. Hopefully that'll change in tonight's game two contest.
I was so disappointed, and quite frankly, bored with the game that I ended up falling asleep on my couch. I found myself waking up to a 5-1 game and Jason Grilli pitching with two runners on. I knew it would not be a good omen when I saw Grilli pitching, so I pretty much gave up on the game and went straight to bed around 9:30 (it doesn't help working five 10-hour shifts in a row). I was hoping for a miracle comeback, but I knew those chances were very slim. Sure enough, when I woke up this morning, I found out that the Tigers had lost 7-2. Even some of the so-called baseball experts were beginning to be concerned about the Tigers and their lack of spunk in game one. But folks, it was only game one. Do you honestly believe the Tigers will make it two-straight lackluster games in their own home field? I can't say that it won't happen, but I honestly have faith to say they will make it much more exciting and play exactly like they have been. I mean, the entire state of Michigan and Tiger fans throughout the world are depending on it!
With Kenny Rogers pitching tonight, I am pretty confident that the Tigers will set things right and tie the series up at a game a piece. He has been the Tigers most reliable pitcher so far in the playoffs (who would've thought, eh?). I believe the Tigers' bats will come alive, too, with ALCS MVP Placido Polanco having another huge game. And tonight we should see the return of Joel Zumaya. Tigers even things up 1-1 tonight, I can feel it. :-)
Monday, October 16, 2006
AL Champs!
How "sweep" it is. The Tigers will get to display a new championship banner in Comerica Park next season, whether they win the World Series or not. Yesterday, in dramatic fashion, the Tigers re-wrote the history books and defeated the Oakland A's 6-3 and swept the ALCS 4-0, becoming the American League Champions. Game four was not typical of the previous three because Oakland was the team to score first. Oakland's pitcher, Dan Haren, pitched a heck of a game, getting the Tigers to strike out or ground out frequently. Meanwhile, Jeremy Bonderman did not have the best stuff, especially during the first inning. He left balls over the plate and did not have great command of his pitches. Two runs would score on Detroit in the first and with Haren pitching great, it looked as if the Tigers might be in for a long game.
After the first inning, Bonderman settled down and pitched quite good. He did give up a home run to Jay Payton in the fourth inning; but that turned out to be the final blemish for Jeremy. In total, Bonderman pitched six and one-thirds inning, was charged with eight hits, three earned runs, and three strikeouts. The Tigers bats finally came alive, and Haren became vulnerable. The Tigers would score two runs in the fifth and Haren would give up the tying run in the sixth off a home run from Magglio Ordonez. That home run would knock Haren out of the game.
As the game progressed, it definitely appeared as if this one would go right down to the wire. The bullpen for both teams pitched spectacularly. The Tigers would end up leaving the bases loaded in the bottom of the seven after Carlos Guillen hit into a double play. The A's would do the same in the top of the eighth, after Tigers' pitcher Jason Grilli walked three Oakland batters on 12 pitches with two outs. Wilfredo Ledezma came into the game and got the final out with a pop-up to Pudge Rodriguez. From that point on, neither team would score until the bottom of the ninth.
For some reason, I had a feeling that the Tigers final game of the ALCS would be something magical. And with the team up three games to none against Oakland in the series, why waste an opportunity to sweep and give some momentum back to the opponent. The Tigers were known throughout the regular season for some of their amazing comebacks. Game four of the ALCS would not disappoint. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Craig Monroe hit a single. Then Placido Polanco, the Tigers ALCS MVP, also hits a single. Then up to bat, Magglio Ordonez. For most of the ALCS, the Tigers did not see many hits from Magglio until game four when he nailed a homerun over the left field wall earlier in the game. Magglio became the hero of game four. With a 1-0 against Oakland's closing pitcher, Huston Street, Ordonez smacks the ball into the left field seats. There was absolutely no doubt about it being a home run. As soon as it left his bat, everyone in the ball park and everyone watching at home knew it was out. The Tigers would win the game with a walk-off homer. There's nothing more dramatic when it comes to winning a baseball game than to do it with a walk-off home run. It will become a moment that every Tigers fan will remember for a very long time.
I was pretty close to my prediction regarding game four, although I did not think Magglio would be the one to break out of his slump. Pudge Rodriguez didn't do a whole lot for the Tigers during the ALCS, which is certainly disappointing for the team leader. Carlos Guillen struggled during the series but helped the team in game four by getting on base a couple of times (base on balls and a single). The A's were the team to come out of the gates first, scoring in the first and fourth innings. But the Tigers were never out of it.
Now it's on to the World Series; the Tigers' first since 1984. Game one begins Saturday, October 21 at 8:00 PM in Comerica Park. We do not yet know who our opponent will be, as the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets are still at it, with the series tied at two games a piece. The NLCS could very well end up going seven games. It'll be interesting to see if either NL team the Tigers face will be tired coming into the World Series, with the Tigers well-rested. Time will tell, and further blog postings will appear regarding the World Series during the next week as the Tigers try to win their first championship in 22 years.
After the first inning, Bonderman settled down and pitched quite good. He did give up a home run to Jay Payton in the fourth inning; but that turned out to be the final blemish for Jeremy. In total, Bonderman pitched six and one-thirds inning, was charged with eight hits, three earned runs, and three strikeouts. The Tigers bats finally came alive, and Haren became vulnerable. The Tigers would score two runs in the fifth and Haren would give up the tying run in the sixth off a home run from Magglio Ordonez. That home run would knock Haren out of the game.
As the game progressed, it definitely appeared as if this one would go right down to the wire. The bullpen for both teams pitched spectacularly. The Tigers would end up leaving the bases loaded in the bottom of the seven after Carlos Guillen hit into a double play. The A's would do the same in the top of the eighth, after Tigers' pitcher Jason Grilli walked three Oakland batters on 12 pitches with two outs. Wilfredo Ledezma came into the game and got the final out with a pop-up to Pudge Rodriguez. From that point on, neither team would score until the bottom of the ninth.
For some reason, I had a feeling that the Tigers final game of the ALCS would be something magical. And with the team up three games to none against Oakland in the series, why waste an opportunity to sweep and give some momentum back to the opponent. The Tigers were known throughout the regular season for some of their amazing comebacks. Game four of the ALCS would not disappoint. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Craig Monroe hit a single. Then Placido Polanco, the Tigers ALCS MVP, also hits a single. Then up to bat, Magglio Ordonez. For most of the ALCS, the Tigers did not see many hits from Magglio until game four when he nailed a homerun over the left field wall earlier in the game. Magglio became the hero of game four. With a 1-0 against Oakland's closing pitcher, Huston Street, Ordonez smacks the ball into the left field seats. There was absolutely no doubt about it being a home run. As soon as it left his bat, everyone in the ball park and everyone watching at home knew it was out. The Tigers would win the game with a walk-off homer. There's nothing more dramatic when it comes to winning a baseball game than to do it with a walk-off home run. It will become a moment that every Tigers fan will remember for a very long time.
I was pretty close to my prediction regarding game four, although I did not think Magglio would be the one to break out of his slump. Pudge Rodriguez didn't do a whole lot for the Tigers during the ALCS, which is certainly disappointing for the team leader. Carlos Guillen struggled during the series but helped the team in game four by getting on base a couple of times (base on balls and a single). The A's were the team to come out of the gates first, scoring in the first and fourth innings. But the Tigers were never out of it.
Now it's on to the World Series; the Tigers' first since 1984. Game one begins Saturday, October 21 at 8:00 PM in Comerica Park. We do not yet know who our opponent will be, as the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets are still at it, with the series tied at two games a piece. The NLCS could very well end up going seven games. It'll be interesting to see if either NL team the Tigers face will be tired coming into the World Series, with the Tigers well-rested. Time will tell, and further blog postings will appear regarding the World Series during the next week as the Tigers try to win their first championship in 22 years.
Saturday, October 14, 2006
The Clincher
Sorry for not updating the blog after the Tigers game one win over the Oakland A's earlier this week. I have had a few busy days here; but I am now fitting in some time to preview game four of the ALCS. As you can see, I have been doing a better job of updating this new blog more than old one. You can be sure more blog postings will come during the next few weeks. This, being my fifth blog posting, is the most I've ever written in a month! So that is definitely a good sign.
For those who have been watching the ALCS, how can you not gloat about the Tigers and their awesome pitching staff? It's no wonder the team is in the position that it's in. I thought game one was a lot closer than the score indicated. Nate Robertson's pitching was somewhat erratic at times and he was losing control of some of his pitches. The A's managed to get people on base during most of the game; yet the Tigers kept the A's off the board until late. The final score, Detroit 5 - Athletics 1. Brandon Inge was the true hero of the game with some significant base hits after he had slumped during the ALDS. Nate Robertson had a key inning where runners were on 2nd and 3rd with no outs. Jim Leyland came to the mound and had a talk with Nate. He then proceeded to strike out the side. Like I said, his pitching performance wasn't stellar, but he did just enough to win the game for the team. That, and his teammates really supported his case.
Game two produced the most offense of the series, thus far. Detroit's ace and rookie pitcher Justin Verlander took the mound. Just as with Robertson, Verlander did not have his best stuff. His pitching command was off and he was not getting the ball in its proper places. Verlander paid a few times, especially with Milton Bradley who hit one of two home runs against Verlander (Bradley's other home run came against Ledezma). In fact, after Bradley's first home run, the Tigers found themselves behind, 3-1. But just as in the Yankees series (game two, to be exact), the Tigers came roaring back. Their offense really stepped up with Verlander struggling a bit. Todd Jones lived up to his nickname (rollercoaster) in the ninth inning after getting two outs and loading the bases. "The Big Hurt" Frank Thomas came to bat and flied out to center, ending the game for the A's. Final score; Detroit 8, A's 5.
After a day off, game three took place in Detroit with the starting time changed to 4:30 PM because, according to Major League Baseball, a concern regarding the weather. Temperatures were in the middle 40's with brisk winds, causing wind chills to dip in the 20's. Fans and players alike bundled up in the cold and enjoyed an afternoon game of October baseball. Once again, Kenny Rogers was dominant on the mound, pitching a two-hit shutout against the A's. The Tigers scored three runs; two in the first and the third later in the game from a home run by Craig Monroe. Fernando Rodney has been absolutely lights-out in his relief appearances in the playoffs thus far. He came into the game during the eight and helped produce a double play that helped ended the scoring threat of the A's. Todd Jones came in the ninth and helped stymie the A's offense. Final score; Detroit 3 - A's 0.
Game four gets underway in a little less than 20 minutes. Jeremy Bonderman pitches for Detroit; and they are looking for him to have another brilliant outing in a playoff clinching game. Expect to see Bonderman give up a few runs, but Detroit's offense really comes alive. I expect a big game from Pudge Rodriguez and Carlos Guillen; who have basically been non-existent in this series. I predict the Tigers scoring over five runs in this game and sweeping the A's to give them their first World Series birth and AL Pennant since 1984. Before the series started, I predicted the Tigers winning the series in six, but that would mean them having to travel back to Oakland in order for that to occur. Let's not let that happen! It sounds to me as if Oakland has already conceeded the series to the Tigers, anyways. GO TIGERS! :-D
For those who have been watching the ALCS, how can you not gloat about the Tigers and their awesome pitching staff? It's no wonder the team is in the position that it's in. I thought game one was a lot closer than the score indicated. Nate Robertson's pitching was somewhat erratic at times and he was losing control of some of his pitches. The A's managed to get people on base during most of the game; yet the Tigers kept the A's off the board until late. The final score, Detroit 5 - Athletics 1. Brandon Inge was the true hero of the game with some significant base hits after he had slumped during the ALDS. Nate Robertson had a key inning where runners were on 2nd and 3rd with no outs. Jim Leyland came to the mound and had a talk with Nate. He then proceeded to strike out the side. Like I said, his pitching performance wasn't stellar, but he did just enough to win the game for the team. That, and his teammates really supported his case.
Game two produced the most offense of the series, thus far. Detroit's ace and rookie pitcher Justin Verlander took the mound. Just as with Robertson, Verlander did not have his best stuff. His pitching command was off and he was not getting the ball in its proper places. Verlander paid a few times, especially with Milton Bradley who hit one of two home runs against Verlander (Bradley's other home run came against Ledezma). In fact, after Bradley's first home run, the Tigers found themselves behind, 3-1. But just as in the Yankees series (game two, to be exact), the Tigers came roaring back. Their offense really stepped up with Verlander struggling a bit. Todd Jones lived up to his nickname (rollercoaster) in the ninth inning after getting two outs and loading the bases. "The Big Hurt" Frank Thomas came to bat and flied out to center, ending the game for the A's. Final score; Detroit 8, A's 5.
After a day off, game three took place in Detroit with the starting time changed to 4:30 PM because, according to Major League Baseball, a concern regarding the weather. Temperatures were in the middle 40's with brisk winds, causing wind chills to dip in the 20's. Fans and players alike bundled up in the cold and enjoyed an afternoon game of October baseball. Once again, Kenny Rogers was dominant on the mound, pitching a two-hit shutout against the A's. The Tigers scored three runs; two in the first and the third later in the game from a home run by Craig Monroe. Fernando Rodney has been absolutely lights-out in his relief appearances in the playoffs thus far. He came into the game during the eight and helped produce a double play that helped ended the scoring threat of the A's. Todd Jones came in the ninth and helped stymie the A's offense. Final score; Detroit 3 - A's 0.
Game four gets underway in a little less than 20 minutes. Jeremy Bonderman pitches for Detroit; and they are looking for him to have another brilliant outing in a playoff clinching game. Expect to see Bonderman give up a few runs, but Detroit's offense really comes alive. I expect a big game from Pudge Rodriguez and Carlos Guillen; who have basically been non-existent in this series. I predict the Tigers scoring over five runs in this game and sweeping the A's to give them their first World Series birth and AL Pennant since 1984. Before the series started, I predicted the Tigers winning the series in six, but that would mean them having to travel back to Oakland in order for that to occur. Let's not let that happen! It sounds to me as if Oakland has already conceeded the series to the Tigers, anyways. GO TIGERS! :-D
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Nearly Game Time (Game 1 of ALCS)
Game one of the ALCS is about to start. I've been checking out a lot of various baseball media websites and checking the "expert" picks. I'd say the majority of the picks are split between the two teams - yet maybe a slight edge for the A's. Many are saying it'll be a six or seven game series. The Tigers and the A's match-up fairly evenly. It will definitely be an interesting series for sure. If the Tigers can game a split in Oakland, they will be in great shape (as what occured in the Yankees series). But the ALCS is a seven-game series, so a little more work is involved in winning a series. The Tigers can do it, and tonight's starter, Nate Robertson, is due for a big game performance. We've already seen it from Kenny Rogers and Jeremy Bonderman in the previous series. I think it will be Nate's time to shine.
One of my favorite sports programs that I watch daily (or at least try to) is Pardon the Interruption on ESPN. I've been a watcher from the very beginning, and the show never grows old. Today, the show featured a discussion about baseball and the ALCS. Richard Justice from the Houston Chronicle first discussed the Yankees and their decision to bring Joe Torre back. Then they discussed the ALCS and the match-up between the A's and the Tigers. I am happy to announce that all three men, Justice, Tony Kornheiser, and Micheal Wilbon all picked the Tigers to win the ALCS, but in a coin flip (because it's going to be THAT close). I have to give mad love to those guys for picking the Tigers - it was unanimous! I also must mention TK and Wilbon have talked about the Upper Peninsula on a couple of occasions on their show in the past and absolutely loving it here (they really loved the golf courses). I am definitely a big fan of theirs for this and because they do an awesome job on PTI.
Meanwhile, on the show that comes on before PTI, three of the columnists on "Around the Horn" picked the A's over the Tigers. The lone supporter for the team from Detroit is none other than Woody Paige. During the all-star break, Woody predicted that the Tigers would fall out of playoff contention by the end of the season. Well they did fall off some, but not enough to eliminate them from the playoffs. After the Yankees series, he changed his tune and is now a Tigers supporter. Way to go Woody!
Be sure to check out tomorrow's blog regarding my reactions to game one of the ALCS.
One of my favorite sports programs that I watch daily (or at least try to) is Pardon the Interruption on ESPN. I've been a watcher from the very beginning, and the show never grows old. Today, the show featured a discussion about baseball and the ALCS. Richard Justice from the Houston Chronicle first discussed the Yankees and their decision to bring Joe Torre back. Then they discussed the ALCS and the match-up between the A's and the Tigers. I am happy to announce that all three men, Justice, Tony Kornheiser, and Micheal Wilbon all picked the Tigers to win the ALCS, but in a coin flip (because it's going to be THAT close). I have to give mad love to those guys for picking the Tigers - it was unanimous! I also must mention TK and Wilbon have talked about the Upper Peninsula on a couple of occasions on their show in the past and absolutely loving it here (they really loved the golf courses). I am definitely a big fan of theirs for this and because they do an awesome job on PTI.
Meanwhile, on the show that comes on before PTI, three of the columnists on "Around the Horn" picked the A's over the Tigers. The lone supporter for the team from Detroit is none other than Woody Paige. During the all-star break, Woody predicted that the Tigers would fall out of playoff contention by the end of the season. Well they did fall off some, but not enough to eliminate them from the playoffs. After the Yankees series, he changed his tune and is now a Tigers supporter. Way to go Woody!
Be sure to check out tomorrow's blog regarding my reactions to game one of the ALCS.
Monday, October 09, 2006
Vision
Having the ability to see is something very important to us all. Unfortunately, there are those that do not get to share in this luxury, so our vision is something very important. We all need to take care of our eyes any way we can. Today, I had my two-year eye examination. I am a frequent wearer of glasses and without them, I'd be blind as a bat. Although an eye examination is no fun and can be a hassle, it really is important in the long run. Not only does diabetes run in my family, but glacoma, macular degeneration, and cataracts. So needless to say, getting an eye exam is a high priority for me. I went through a variety of tests on my eyes, including getting them dialated. Thankfully it was cloudy outside so the real brightness of the sun did not disturb me. Yet it was still very irritating on the eyes and I had to lay low for most of the day, staying in near-complete darkness. However, putting up with this for one day is better than an eternity of blindness.
I did need a new pair of glasses as the lenses on my old ones are heavily scratched (thanks to dropping them a few times on a cement floor). I remember as a young kid during the fifth and sixth grade, I was terrified of wearing glasses and was worried at what the other kids would say when I had them on. Looking back at it now, I can't believe how stupid I was. I didn't get the confidence to wear them in school until I was in junior high. By then, my vision had gotten significantly worse from not wearing glasses that I needed to get stronger lenses. If I could do it all over again, I'd wear my glasses right from the start and maybe my eyes wouldn't be in as bad of shape as they are now. Oh well, at least I still have my vision. I know we all take our eyes for granted, but I sure am glad I started wearing my glasses before it may have been too late.
I did need a new pair of glasses as the lenses on my old ones are heavily scratched (thanks to dropping them a few times on a cement floor). I remember as a young kid during the fifth and sixth grade, I was terrified of wearing glasses and was worried at what the other kids would say when I had them on. Looking back at it now, I can't believe how stupid I was. I didn't get the confidence to wear them in school until I was in junior high. By then, my vision had gotten significantly worse from not wearing glasses that I needed to get stronger lenses. If I could do it all over again, I'd wear my glasses right from the start and maybe my eyes wouldn't be in as bad of shape as they are now. Oh well, at least I still have my vision. I know we all take our eyes for granted, but I sure am glad I started wearing my glasses before it may have been too late.
Sunday, October 08, 2006
A Proud Fan
Well, it is the day after the Tigers shocked the world and defeated the almighty New York Yankees in the best-of-five American League Divisional Series. I can't tell you how thrilled and excited I am right now at seeing the Tigers in this position. It has truly been a long time coming. The last time the Tigers won a playoff series was 1984; their last world series championship. Hopefully we are heading in the same direction as we did in 1984. It would really put an exclamation point on the magical season that the 2006 season has been.
The Tigers entered the postseason with a five-game losing streak against the Toronto Blue Jays and the Kansas City Royals. Nobody expected the Tigers to lose one game against Kansas City in their final homestand of the season, let alone the entire series! With Minnesota losing, the Tigers had a plethora of chances to win their first AL Central Division title. But it just wasn't meant to be. They ended up winning the AL Wild Card and were poised to face the New York Yankees in New York to start the ALDS. If they had become AL Central Champs, they'd start the ALDS at home against the Oakland A's. Needless to say, it did not work out that way. However, the A's ended up sweeping the Minnesota Twins and we beat the Tigers. Maybe this was how things were supposed to end up.
I must admit, I was not very confident of our chances coming into the series with the Yankees. How could you not feel this way, especially after losing the final five games of the season and seeing how horrendous the pitching looked during those games. I was content with winning one game against the Yankees. Let's be honest, the national media amped up the Yankees as being the "best line-up ever assembled." They also have a $200 million payroll, the highest in all of major sports. It was pretty easy to see why nobody gave the Tigers much of a chance. Unfortunately I let myself believe all of the hype that the national media gave the Yankees and figured we were doomed. Many of the so-called baseball experts predicted a sweep. So when we won game two in New York 4-3, I was thrilled. I remember thinking to myself, "well, we won a game. That's pretty good." Then came game three in Detroit where Kenny Rogers would end up facing Randy Johnson. The national media were at it again, putting a microscope on Kenny Rogers and his difficulties against pitching in the playoffs and the Yankees. He once pitched for the Yankees during the mid-1990's when the Yankees won a bunch of World Series titles. They one those titles without Kenny, as he did not pitch well in any of his performances. The national media pounced on this fact and basically figured the Tigers would have no chance because of it. They thought Kenny would fail and the Tigers would end up losing. Ohhh, were they ever wrong. Kenny pitched a gem; some would say he pitched the game of his career. Nearly eight innings and zero earned runs. His teammates put up six runs to support his cause, and the Tigers won game three 6-0. It was truly a special night and one to remember.
Then came game four, and slowly but surely, some of the baseball experts began to consider the Yankees vulnerable. The Comerica Park crowd during game three was absolutely nuts in supporting the Tigers, which really helped to motivate the team. In fact, all of the momentum seemed to be with the Tigers. The Yankees star-studded line-up was flailing and not producing the big hits when they needed it. Game four proved to be just as magical for Detroit. Tigers' ace Jeremy Bonderman pitched a gem, upon the heels of Rogers' stellar game. Bonderman retired the first 15 New York batters and had a no-hitter going into the top of the six. Jeremy would later give up a run on four hits, but he went into the top of the ninth with a seven run cushion on the way to another Tigers victory. The Tigers would win game four 8-3 and send the Yankees back home to New York and another failed attempt at a world series championship. The victory celebration after the game was truly something special. Instead of the team celebrating their series victory amongst themselves in the clubhouse, they brought the celebration onto the field with the fans. Many of the players brought out champaigne bottles and ran around the stadium in a victory lap, spraying the crowd. During a moment after the game, Tigers manager Jim Leyland went to kiss members of his family, and then kissed the brim of a fan's cap on his way back towards the dugout. Kenny Rogers climbed to the top of the Tigers dugout and sprayed fans with champaigne, and then poured some on a state police trooper who was there for security. It is something I had never seen in my life and a moment I will never forget. The victory in game four against the vaunted Yankees ranks as one of the biggest Detroit sports thrills in my life, and is probably one of the most significant moment in Detroit Tigers baseball history! Yes, it is that huge, especially for a team that hasn't been to the post season in 19 years. A new generation of fans now know what it's like to see a winning baseball team represent the city of Detroit and the state of Michigan. Seeing last night's celebration really made me want to be there live and in person. Too bad I live eight hours away.
After the Tigers stunning series victory against the Yankees, many people are left to eat crow, including all of ESPN's baseball analysts. I love it when the "experts" are proven wrong - and this time, quite badly. Many even had the Yankees winning the world series! Oh how wrong they are. The Tigers move to the American League Championship Series to face the Oakland Athletics. The Tigers and A's pretty much split the regular season series against each other as both teams are fairly similar. The Tigers head out to Oakland and play game one Tuesday night at 8:00 PM (EDT). This is such a special season for the Tigers and after beating the Yankees, I think nothing can stop them on their way to the world series. Yes, the A's will put up a fight, but with the pitching staff stepping up, I think the Tigers will shut the A's down. My prediction is the Tigers winning the ALCS in six games and head to the world series, their first since 1984. It would be fitting, especially after a magical season that 2006 has been.
More blog postings later on the Tigers improbable run in the 2006 playoffs!
The Tigers entered the postseason with a five-game losing streak against the Toronto Blue Jays and the Kansas City Royals. Nobody expected the Tigers to lose one game against Kansas City in their final homestand of the season, let alone the entire series! With Minnesota losing, the Tigers had a plethora of chances to win their first AL Central Division title. But it just wasn't meant to be. They ended up winning the AL Wild Card and were poised to face the New York Yankees in New York to start the ALDS. If they had become AL Central Champs, they'd start the ALDS at home against the Oakland A's. Needless to say, it did not work out that way. However, the A's ended up sweeping the Minnesota Twins and we beat the Tigers. Maybe this was how things were supposed to end up.
I must admit, I was not very confident of our chances coming into the series with the Yankees. How could you not feel this way, especially after losing the final five games of the season and seeing how horrendous the pitching looked during those games. I was content with winning one game against the Yankees. Let's be honest, the national media amped up the Yankees as being the "best line-up ever assembled." They also have a $200 million payroll, the highest in all of major sports. It was pretty easy to see why nobody gave the Tigers much of a chance. Unfortunately I let myself believe all of the hype that the national media gave the Yankees and figured we were doomed. Many of the so-called baseball experts predicted a sweep. So when we won game two in New York 4-3, I was thrilled. I remember thinking to myself, "well, we won a game. That's pretty good." Then came game three in Detroit where Kenny Rogers would end up facing Randy Johnson. The national media were at it again, putting a microscope on Kenny Rogers and his difficulties against pitching in the playoffs and the Yankees. He once pitched for the Yankees during the mid-1990's when the Yankees won a bunch of World Series titles. They one those titles without Kenny, as he did not pitch well in any of his performances. The national media pounced on this fact and basically figured the Tigers would have no chance because of it. They thought Kenny would fail and the Tigers would end up losing. Ohhh, were they ever wrong. Kenny pitched a gem; some would say he pitched the game of his career. Nearly eight innings and zero earned runs. His teammates put up six runs to support his cause, and the Tigers won game three 6-0. It was truly a special night and one to remember.
Then came game four, and slowly but surely, some of the baseball experts began to consider the Yankees vulnerable. The Comerica Park crowd during game three was absolutely nuts in supporting the Tigers, which really helped to motivate the team. In fact, all of the momentum seemed to be with the Tigers. The Yankees star-studded line-up was flailing and not producing the big hits when they needed it. Game four proved to be just as magical for Detroit. Tigers' ace Jeremy Bonderman pitched a gem, upon the heels of Rogers' stellar game. Bonderman retired the first 15 New York batters and had a no-hitter going into the top of the six. Jeremy would later give up a run on four hits, but he went into the top of the ninth with a seven run cushion on the way to another Tigers victory. The Tigers would win game four 8-3 and send the Yankees back home to New York and another failed attempt at a world series championship. The victory celebration after the game was truly something special. Instead of the team celebrating their series victory amongst themselves in the clubhouse, they brought the celebration onto the field with the fans. Many of the players brought out champaigne bottles and ran around the stadium in a victory lap, spraying the crowd. During a moment after the game, Tigers manager Jim Leyland went to kiss members of his family, and then kissed the brim of a fan's cap on his way back towards the dugout. Kenny Rogers climbed to the top of the Tigers dugout and sprayed fans with champaigne, and then poured some on a state police trooper who was there for security. It is something I had never seen in my life and a moment I will never forget. The victory in game four against the vaunted Yankees ranks as one of the biggest Detroit sports thrills in my life, and is probably one of the most significant moment in Detroit Tigers baseball history! Yes, it is that huge, especially for a team that hasn't been to the post season in 19 years. A new generation of fans now know what it's like to see a winning baseball team represent the city of Detroit and the state of Michigan. Seeing last night's celebration really made me want to be there live and in person. Too bad I live eight hours away.
After the Tigers stunning series victory against the Yankees, many people are left to eat crow, including all of ESPN's baseball analysts. I love it when the "experts" are proven wrong - and this time, quite badly. Many even had the Yankees winning the world series! Oh how wrong they are. The Tigers move to the American League Championship Series to face the Oakland Athletics. The Tigers and A's pretty much split the regular season series against each other as both teams are fairly similar. The Tigers head out to Oakland and play game one Tuesday night at 8:00 PM (EDT). This is such a special season for the Tigers and after beating the Yankees, I think nothing can stop them on their way to the world series. Yes, the A's will put up a fight, but with the pitching staff stepping up, I think the Tigers will shut the A's down. My prediction is the Tigers winning the ALCS in six games and head to the world series, their first since 1984. It would be fitting, especially after a magical season that 2006 has been.
More blog postings later on the Tigers improbable run in the 2006 playoffs!
Friday, October 06, 2006
New Blog Location
Well, after about a month, I have decided to officially move my blog away from WordPress. I had become tired of their service and after I could no longer recover my log-in and password information (despite many attempts to use their "lost password" service), I decided it was time to make a switch. Blogger looks like it will be a much better option for me. It even has a way to customize templates with ease, which is something I look forward to using very much. I will adjust all of the links to the various sites where I have the blog linked so it will take you to this location. All of my existing blogs will be archived on WordPress, so those will still be available to read from. In the meantime, here is a blog that I wrote just a few days ago that I posted on myspace (since I could not access my account on WordPress) about my beloved baseball team, the Detroit Tigers, and their success during the 2006 season. This particular blog was written prior to last night's amazing 4-3 victory over the New York Yankees in the ALDS playoffs. I was hoping for one win; and I got it! Nothing makes me prouder than to see the team I root for win against the hated Yankees. Enjoy, and I look forward to writing to you more here on Blogger. :)
10-4-06:
It's not often that I write about sports in my blog; that is unless one of my favorite teams just so happens to be doing well. Such is the case with the Detroit Tigers. I have been a life-long fan of the club and I can remember many fond memories of listening to legendary radio broadcaster Ernie Harwell calling the games when I was younger. However, I can never remember a Tigers' team playing in the playoffs. I recall a few good seasons when the team actually got above the .500 mark; but that was in the early 1990's. I was five years old when the Tigers last were in the playoffs, that being 1987. I have no recollection whatsoever of that year and the Tigers' achievements. So needless to say, after 19 years of baseball futility, it's actually nice to see my team playing well into October.
My parents had a tremendous love for the team back when I was little. They always had the games on the television, always listened to the games on the radio whenever we weren't near a television, and we always kept track of the team. Every summer for awhile, we managed to watch them play in Milwaukee against the Brewers. That was where we saw them play the most; as Detroit was just a bit too far away, as was the case with Minneapolis. However, we did take a trip down to Tiger Stadium and watch the Tigers play. I can remember the moment as my dad pulled up near the stadium in Detroit and seeing this gigantic while building rise up to the sky. We had to go over a busy Detroit freeway in a pedestrian overpass and we could see many different buildings from that vantage point. As we neared the stadium, one of the ticket vendors told my dad he couldn't bring his movie camera into the stadium, so he had to go back to the car and drop it off; then meet us back in front of the stadium. I remember the festivities outside of the stadium; and it was just like a party atmosphere. Once we entered the inside of the building, it had this distinct smell that is hard to describe. You had to be there in order to know what I mean. It was a mix of hotdogs and old building smell ... anyways, it was very unique and indescribable. As we walked through the corridor in the interior of the stadium, it had this hallow sound and TV monitors echoed the pre-game festivities that were taking place prior to the game. Once we found where we were going to sit, I remember walking uphill to our seats and then I saw it ... the bright green, well manicured grass that the Tigers played on. It was perfect in every sense of the word. I remember being in complete awe as I gazed around the field, noting every significant feature of the stadium that I remember seeing on television and now being able to witness in person. It was truly stunning and one memory that I will never forget. Now that the Tigers no longer play in Tiger Stadium and with it scheduled to be demolished, it's even more special to me. We never did make it back to Detroit since that one visit to Tiger Stadium, but we're hoping to see Comerica Park one day.
One of my fondest memories of old Milwaukee County Stadium was when Cecil Fielder, one of the Tigers all-star players back in the late 1980's and early 90's, blasted a homerun out to left field. It wasn't your ordinary run-of-the-mill homerun that landed in the seats. No, it went over the seats, over the left field wall of the stadium, and into the parking lot! That was an incredible moment. I can always recall many Tiger fans in attendance at the games in Milwaukee, so we never felt left out there. I remember the old-style scoreboard that they used as well as this old freakish-looking tower out into right-center field (I think). And of course, how can you forget Bernie the Brewer going down the slide whenever the Brewers hit a homerun (not a good thing for the Tigers, mind you). We haven't been back to Milwaukee since the new stadium was built, and it makes it even more difficult now that the Brewers play in the National League. They were once American League rivals of the Tigers for many years.
It has been a long time since I've been able to enjoy a Tigers team with the success the 2006 club has had. There have been many 100+ loss seasons that were hard to take. Many of those seasons I did not really follow the team that closely. The games would be on the television, but I always remember telling myself "ah well, another loss today," and then promptly changing the channel. That certainly was not the case this year. Many-a-nights I was glued to the TV watching the team win game after game, some of them more dramatically that the others. The end of the season was a bit of a disappointment, especially after they gave up the division crown to the Twins on the very last day of the season. But nontheless, this was something I hadn't seen the Tigers do in a very long time - in fact, not since I was a boy. So no matter their downfalls and their expected first round departure in the playoffs (to the mighty Yankees), I am still proud of the team and excited what lies ahead. Heck, it was 19 years in the making.
10-4-06:
It's not often that I write about sports in my blog; that is unless one of my favorite teams just so happens to be doing well. Such is the case with the Detroit Tigers. I have been a life-long fan of the club and I can remember many fond memories of listening to legendary radio broadcaster Ernie Harwell calling the games when I was younger. However, I can never remember a Tigers' team playing in the playoffs. I recall a few good seasons when the team actually got above the .500 mark; but that was in the early 1990's. I was five years old when the Tigers last were in the playoffs, that being 1987. I have no recollection whatsoever of that year and the Tigers' achievements. So needless to say, after 19 years of baseball futility, it's actually nice to see my team playing well into October.
My parents had a tremendous love for the team back when I was little. They always had the games on the television, always listened to the games on the radio whenever we weren't near a television, and we always kept track of the team. Every summer for awhile, we managed to watch them play in Milwaukee against the Brewers. That was where we saw them play the most; as Detroit was just a bit too far away, as was the case with Minneapolis. However, we did take a trip down to Tiger Stadium and watch the Tigers play. I can remember the moment as my dad pulled up near the stadium in Detroit and seeing this gigantic while building rise up to the sky. We had to go over a busy Detroit freeway in a pedestrian overpass and we could see many different buildings from that vantage point. As we neared the stadium, one of the ticket vendors told my dad he couldn't bring his movie camera into the stadium, so he had to go back to the car and drop it off; then meet us back in front of the stadium. I remember the festivities outside of the stadium; and it was just like a party atmosphere. Once we entered the inside of the building, it had this distinct smell that is hard to describe. You had to be there in order to know what I mean. It was a mix of hotdogs and old building smell ... anyways, it was very unique and indescribable. As we walked through the corridor in the interior of the stadium, it had this hallow sound and TV monitors echoed the pre-game festivities that were taking place prior to the game. Once we found where we were going to sit, I remember walking uphill to our seats and then I saw it ... the bright green, well manicured grass that the Tigers played on. It was perfect in every sense of the word. I remember being in complete awe as I gazed around the field, noting every significant feature of the stadium that I remember seeing on television and now being able to witness in person. It was truly stunning and one memory that I will never forget. Now that the Tigers no longer play in Tiger Stadium and with it scheduled to be demolished, it's even more special to me. We never did make it back to Detroit since that one visit to Tiger Stadium, but we're hoping to see Comerica Park one day.
One of my fondest memories of old Milwaukee County Stadium was when Cecil Fielder, one of the Tigers all-star players back in the late 1980's and early 90's, blasted a homerun out to left field. It wasn't your ordinary run-of-the-mill homerun that landed in the seats. No, it went over the seats, over the left field wall of the stadium, and into the parking lot! That was an incredible moment. I can always recall many Tiger fans in attendance at the games in Milwaukee, so we never felt left out there. I remember the old-style scoreboard that they used as well as this old freakish-looking tower out into right-center field (I think). And of course, how can you forget Bernie the Brewer going down the slide whenever the Brewers hit a homerun (not a good thing for the Tigers, mind you). We haven't been back to Milwaukee since the new stadium was built, and it makes it even more difficult now that the Brewers play in the National League. They were once American League rivals of the Tigers for many years.
It has been a long time since I've been able to enjoy a Tigers team with the success the 2006 club has had. There have been many 100+ loss seasons that were hard to take. Many of those seasons I did not really follow the team that closely. The games would be on the television, but I always remember telling myself "ah well, another loss today," and then promptly changing the channel. That certainly was not the case this year. Many-a-nights I was glued to the TV watching the team win game after game, some of them more dramatically that the others. The end of the season was a bit of a disappointment, especially after they gave up the division crown to the Twins on the very last day of the season. But nontheless, this was something I hadn't seen the Tigers do in a very long time - in fact, not since I was a boy. So no matter their downfalls and their expected first round departure in the playoffs (to the mighty Yankees), I am still proud of the team and excited what lies ahead. Heck, it was 19 years in the making.
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