Detroit Tiger season Predictions

Although the Tigers trail in the 7th against the Yankees on opening day, I think they'll have a decent year again.

There is no reason they shouldn't compete for the division title. As long as Cabrera isn't planning to be "Duh Winning" all season, he's too talented to fall off that much.

I predict they'll be in the division chase throughout the season, with the White Sox and the Twins. I think they'll pull it off, finishing 92-70 1 game ahead of Chicago.

A quick loss in the playoffs to the Red Sox closes out a relatively successful season.

Ideas stolen from other web sites - Flip Flop Fly Ball

Stumbled on Flip Flop Fly Ball this morning. Lots of very cool charts and graphs - mostly baseball related.

I stole this idea about comparing his age to the Yankees and did the same for me and the Tigers.

Cabrera, wtf

Did you hear about Miguel Cabrera's run-ins (yes plural) with the POlice this weekend. They came and kicked him out of the White Sox hotel in Birmingham where he was drinking with his buddies from the Sox. Then they were called to his home to break up a fight between he and his wife.
The fact that he went 0-11 in the series makes a little more sense now. Being hung-over and scratched up from the fight with his wife.
Hopefully he can pull himself together and play well Tuesday, otherwise he's in for a LONG offseason.

worst play-by-play combination ever

Since Dan Dickerson is apparently only doing home games since he blew out his knees, that leaves Jim Price as the primary play-by-play voice of the Tigers on the road. His primary color man (who also does 2 innings of play-by-play) is John Keating from FSD.

These guys are horrible. Price is barely acceptable as a color guy, but he cannot carry pbp. Then when Keating does his 2 innings, it seems like Price may have been the best announcer ever.

Why can't they convince Ernie Harwell to come out of retirement and fill in? I'd take Pat Caputo and Dennis Fithian.

I like being able to hear the Tigers at work, I just wish I could hear the White Sox announcers instead.

tigers

I caught a little of the game, but I didn't see you. I hope they checked you out and made sure you don't have swine flu. At the clinic, I mean.

HAHAHAHAHAH. Never a dull moment.

Tiger game

Hoot and I are heading to the Tiger game today. There is an on-field "clinic" before the game - so we're going to make it down on the field.
Look for us on Fox!

April in the D

The Tigers seem to have started nicely. I would give full credit to this point to improved pitching. Other than Verlander and 1 or 2 bad relief outings the pitching staff has been very good. Secondarily, the defense is greatly improved all along the left side with Inge back at third, Santiago and Everett at short and Anderson (not so much Guillen) in left. The signs are there for much improvement, but it is only April...
The Pistons will be done in a week or so, I think it is time for Dumars to get more heat. From the revolving door of coaches to trades and draft picks that don't seem to provide much help, he needs to start putting up.
The Wings will go as far as their defense holds up. It would be nice if Osgood could be the worst goalie to win 3 Stanley Cups...

The Bird

My first Tiger game (in 76, I believe) was also significant for Fidrych. We sat in box seats and I got an autograph by him in my program. Of course, he was just scribbling them without looking at what he was signing, so it happens to be upside down. I remember that he took his time when he was signing baseballs. If only I had a baseball....

My second Tiger game (in 77?), I have this memory that Fidrych was a relief pitcher. I never hear that he was doing relief, but that is my memory. It may be wrong.

Fydrich

I was shocked to hear about the death of Mark Fydrich. He was probably the first Tiger I remember. The first game I went to was June 20 1977 he pitched against the Hated Yankees. I remember driving down to Tiger Stadium and standing in line to by tickets the day before. The game was on ABCs Monday Night Baseball - which was about as big as MNF at the time. Howard Cosell was in the booth etc.
We sat in the second to last row of the upper deck right behind home plate. I remember Billy Martin was the manager for the Yankees at the time. He was expected to be fired any day. The Tigers fans gave him the second biggest ovation other than Fydrich. I didn't know why, but he had been the manager of the last Tigers Division Champs team in '72.
I learned to keep the boxscore with my dad's help. Somewhere in my parents house we must have the program.
The Tigers led 2-1 in the 8th when the Yankees brought in their feared pinch hitter Cliff Johnson. I had to go to the bathroom... My dad reminded of me of this for a long time. The Bird Struck him but all we heard was the cheers of the crowd. I'd never seen a trough urinal like they had in the Stadium.
I see by the Googled box score the Yankees only got 3 hits. Reggie Jackson knocked home Thurman Munson on a sacrifice fly. Steve Kemp and Aurelio Rodriguez had the Tigers RBIs scoring Tito Fuentes and Jason Thompson.
The 1977 season was the last time Fydrich saw any real success. His injury in the spring of that season never really healed. But his 1976 season was magical. 19-9 2.34 era. on a 57th place team that had lost a team record number of games the year before.
If you look at the wikipedia account of his 1976 season you really see how ridiculous his season was. At least 2 of his losses were 1-0 or 2-0. He pitched two 11-inning complete games for victories and 24 total complete games.
I'll close with a line from John Greenleaf Whittier:
For of all sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are these: `It might have been!