We bid adieu to small ball, double switches, and sure wins. Say goodbye to the National League for another year

It's been a damn successful few weeks for the Tigers, to say the very least. They finished their run 'round the National League with a 13-5 record, their season record over .500 and find themselves back in the AL Central race. Not bad, huh?

As the Tigers won't face MLB's JV squads for another year, it's worth looking back and asking, "what have we learned?"

1. The Tigers are actually a pretty good baseball team. Too bad it took half a season for them to realize it. 

2. They could/should be even better than they are, save for injury. Ordonez, Willis, Bonderman, Rodney, Zumaya, Sheffield, Inge, Granderson, they have all missed/are missing significant amounts of playing time thanks to extended stints on the DL. Any team in baseball would have trouble winning conisitently with that amount of walking wounded.

3. Detroit's farm system wasn't quite as barren as we originally believed. Armando Galarraga, Eddie Bonine, Clete Thomas, Fredie Dolsi, Matt Joyce, Casey Fossum, Dane Sardinha, Michael Hollliman, Brent Clevlen, all have had their moments to shine. (Some more than others, obviously)  Look at that list of players, would you have imagined ANY of them significantly contibuting to the 2008 Tigers?  Me neither.  Some are up to stay, others are role players temporarily helping out during an injury crisis, but all have contributed.

4. If the Tigers played in the NL full time, we'd already be licking our chops, and saving up for playoff tickets.  Hell, if the KC Royals played in the NL, their fans would be doing the same. 

5. I'm not kidding when I call the NL MLB's junior varsity. They play the same game, are competitive playing amongst themselves, but just don't have the same talent level as the varsity, aka the AL. For example, Detroit had a lineup full of backups facing the Rockies in the final game of the series (Another of Jim Layland's infamous "Sunday lineups"), yet still beat them fairly easily. 

6. Speaking of the Colorado Rockies, how in the Hell are they the defending NL champions? One crazy ass, fluky, never to be repeated, season ending winning winning streak carried them all the way to the World Series. From what I've seen over the past 3 days, the 2008 version of the Rockies will be extremely lucky to sniff .500, even in the inferior NL.

7. AL style baseball is a better game, making for better teams. I know, I know, there are some of you out there who enjoy the small ball and strategy of the NL. I'm not one of them. Yes, there is a place for small ball, but only in certain extenuating circumstances. I still think back to the San Francisco series, where the Giants had their number 3 hitter sacrifice bunting in the 2ND INNING. The 2ND INNING folks! I wouldn't call a man on 1st with no one out in the 2ND INNING extenutating circumstances. If Earl Weaver were dead, he'd be spinning in his grave. That small ball insanity may fly in the NL, but it'll have you laughed out of the AL. THE 2ND INNING!

8. The Tigers' 2008 season starts tonight. Out of their next 8 series, which  would take them to the end of July, the Tigers play 6 within the division. Talk about a gauntlet. But now is the time to truely make their move. Will the Tigers need to play .770 ball, as they have over the past 3 weeks? It would be nice, but no. All the Tigers need to do is stay within shouting distance of division lead. They finish July where they are now, 5 games back of the divison lead, the Tigers will have a great shot at making the playoffs. Considering their awful start, having a shot would be quite the accomplishment.

Why did the Pistons even bother show up for the draft?

Walter Sharpe and Trent Plaisted? Who? What? Huh?



So the Pistons traded out of the 1st round, and drafted a narcoleptic who bounced around the NCAA and a Mormon. You can call me underwhelmed. You can call me Ishmael. You can call me a cab. You can call me anything but impressed. Tonight was a total waste of time for Pistons fans.



With the 29th pick overall, I honestly wasn't expecting much from this draft. But I was expecting something. But a reach and a stiff? That's nothing.



Other than saving themselves from having to shell out a 3 year guaranteed contract (Which never hurts), the Pistons got absolutely no help for the '08-'09 season from this draft. In fact, I believe it's safe to say they got no help for the '09-'10 season as well.

Plaisted is whiter than I am, and I'm as white bread as can be. 

He's BLINDINGLY white...

Sharpe's college days...

 

The Pistons ended up getting a couple of D-leaguers who have absolutely no chance in Heaven or Hell of contributing this year, next year, and probably the year after that. From what I've read and heard tonight, this draft was all about the sleeper, Sharpe. (Ha! Sleeper! Get it?) If one or the other do somehow develop, it'll be...Hell, who am I kidding?



After this, (Sarcasm on) I'm waiting on pins and needles for the 59th pick. (Sarcasm off)



I know, I know, Joe Dumars has a plan. He's one of the best GM's in the NBA. I'm sure he had legitimate reasons for the moves made in tonight's draft. He must have seen something in these guys, especially Sharpe. I keep telling myself "In Joe I trust, in Joe I trust." But why does he have to make it so damn HARD to do so with drafts like this?

Gary Sheffield has something in common with Mark Twain

That being the reports of Sheffield's demise, just as Samuel Clemens', were greatly exaggerated.

Since his return from the DL, Sheff has been an offensive force of nature, a masher of prodigious proportions, and the reason the Tigers took 2 of 3 from the Cardinals.

A .462 BA, 2 home runs, game winning and tying hits the last 2 days shows he is once again healthy. Small sample size, I know. But this is the weapon I expected to see this season, much in the way Sheffield's bat carried the Tigers from May through July in '07.

Sheffield to Cardinals pitching:
"See those left field seats? I'm taking your poor ass shit deep!"

Seeing a pain free Sheffield rake has you wondering why the Tigers waited so long before placing him on the DL. Before he FINALLY went on the disabled list in late May, it had gotten to the point you could predict Sheffield's at bats. A 10 hopper to the left side of the infield had become his M.O. When the Tigers needed a big hit, Sheff would hit into a big double play. It was sad to watch a great player struggle like an overmatched rookie.

I realize Sheffield thought he could play with the pain, but he was hurting the Tigers more than he was helping. Actually, he wasn't helping at all, but ballplayers want to play, no matter what. And if there is one thing Sheffield is, he's a ballplayer. A God damn good ballplayer...When he's healthy.

I place more blame on the Tigers for allowing Sheffield to struggle with the pain in his shoulder for far too long. I know it's tough to tell a hard-headed, strong-willed, hall of fame caliber athlete he needs to sit and rest. Especially when that athlete is pushing his 40's.

No team should ever let a player call the shots. From all accounts, Sheffield was calling the shots in regard to playing everyday, despite his obviously damaged shoulder. If there is one flaw in Jim Leyland's managing style, it's letting the veterans have a little too much rope in those sort of situations.

Better late than never, I guess. I just wish the Tigers had been more proactive in "handling" Sheffield, and his balky shoulder. A little "tough love" would have gone a long way in getting him healthier, sooner. It would have gone a long way in improving the Tigers' record as well.

Answering the Detroit Tigers burning questions: The Tigers should join the NL edition

After a successful 4-2 west coast swing (one that could have been 6-0, save for a pair of Fernando Rodney 8th inning implosions), the Tigers are back home to finish off interleague play against St Louis and Colorado.

In winning 8 of their last 10, and 12 of their last 15, the Tigers find themselves only 3 games under .500, a mere 5 games back in the Central, and for all intents and purposes, back in the division race. My saying the season was over 2 weeks ago sure looks silly now, huh?

Let's answer some burning questions before the fire goes out, shall we?

Gary Sheffield is being recalled from his minor league rehab, even though he only went 2-13 during his minor league stint. Are you good, bad, or indifferent about Sheffield's return?

I'm good with this, with one large caveat. Sheffield's shoulder best be totally and unquestionably healthy. Otherwise it'll be just more of the same. I've seen enough of those weak ground balls to the left side of the infield.

When healthy, Sheffield is, by far, the Tigers' best option at DH.

What about The Hammer? Won't Sheffield's return take away at bats from Marcus Thames?

I don't see how it will. Thames has earned his playing time in left field, he's going nowhere. He'll be backed up by Clete Thomas and Ryan Raburn. Sheffield is strictly a DH, as it's been proven, time and again, he's too fragile to play in the field. Sheff is out of the outfield picture.

Thus, Thames' playing time should not be affected at all by Sheff's call up. If it is, Jim Leyland should be considered certifiable.

Why are you fine with Sheff's return? He was a black hole in the lineup!

Thanks to Sheffield's health (or should I say, lack thereof) and severe under performing from everyone else who has regularly played DH, the Tigers have gotten no production from the position. DH remained a black hole with Sheffield on the DL. Jeff Larish, who has gotten most of the DH AB's in Sheffield's absence, has struggled to hit .200, with an awful .273 OBP.

Even though he hit only .213, Sheffield managed to put up a decent .344 OBP. Even when he was not hitting, Sheffield's excellent eye still got him on base at a respectable clip. That alone will increase the production from the DH spot. If he's healthy, I'll bet the farm Sheffield's average won't remain in the low .200's.

(As I write this, it's just been announced the Jeff Larish era is, for the time being anyway, over. Sheffield has officially been activated, and Larish optioned to Toledo.)

So, what of Larish?

Larish showed flashes, but not often enough, as his .200 average attests. It's obvious he still needs seasoning.

More importantly, if Larish is to remain a prospect in the Tigers' system, he needs to switch positions. At the very least, he should learn another position, either right, left or 3rd base. Larish is NOT going to play 1st base on a regular basis for the Tigers, as he's blocked by Miguel Cabrera, and his $151 million contract. I'm confident in saying, barring injury, Larish will never play 1st on a full-time basis in Detroit.

If Larish continues to hit AAA pitching like he was before his cup o' coffee in Detroit, he's more valuable to the Tigers is as trade bait. He's a prime candidate to be included in a trade deadline deal to obtain pitching. (Yes, that means I think the Tigers will be buyers at the trade deadline.)

Fernando Rodney and Joel Zumaya are back in the bullpen, and the results have been mixed, at best. Rodney can't seem to throw a strike, and was the direct cause of the 2 losses on the west coast trip. Zumaya hasn't been a whole lot better. He's been unable to controll his curve, allowing hitters to sit on his fastball. Can the Tigers entrust late inning leads to either pitcher?

First off, I have to say...Thank God for Freddy Dolci. The kid has done nothing but impress after being thrust into the late inning set-up roll. Without his contributions, I shudder to think what the Tigers' record might be.

I won't call Rodney a lost cause, but his current ERA of 135.00 (!!!) has me wondering. That said, the Tigers cannot chance using him in late inning situations. Not till he fixes his control issues. Thanks to their awful start, the Tigers don't have much room for error, and can't afford running a question mark out to the mound as the 8th inning set-up man.

The question remains, can Rodney find his control? I have no idea, but until he does, it's mop up duty for the man with the once killer change up.

The bigger shame over Rodney's struggles is the Tigers may end up losing Denny Bautuista. There's just no room for him with the return of Rodney and Zumaya. Speaking of which...

I'm more bullish on Zumaya. Surprisingly, he hasn't lost any velocity on his fastball after the shoulder surgery. He's consistently in the high 90's, and occasionally touching 100, but big leaguers can hit a triple digit fastball when they know it's coming. I'm willing to give Zumaya a little more slack than Rodney, as you can't teach 100 MPH fastballs.

What made Zumaya so devestating was his knee-buckling breaking ball. Unfortunately, he hasn't had the command to be able to throw it for strikes.

It's also worth remembering Zumaya has barely pitched since 2006. After appearing in 62 regular season games in '06, he's played in only 30 since. In many ways, Zumaya remains a raw pitcher who needs to reign in his immense talent.

Once again, just as in '06 and '07, the Tigers seem to play their best against NL teams. Can the Tigers petition the commissioner to join the National League?

The Tigers sure seem to perform damn well whenever they play against NL teams, don't they? (Well, save for the pesky little aberration called the 2006 World Series) They just rampage through the NL like Sherman through Atlanta.

Can we ask the Brewers to come back to the NL, and have the Tigers take their place? Even if that means the Tigers have to play that awful NL style baseball. Wait a sec...

Then again, I think back to one of the Tigers' west coast games when the Giants had their number 3 hitter SACRIFICE BUNT (I believe it was Randy Winn) early in the game. I hate teams wasting an out anytime, but having your 3 hole hitter sacrifice bunt in the 4th/5th inning goes against all I hold dear and holy about baseball. It's insanity. NL ball drives me NUTS, and I'd have to watch it for 6 months?

As much as love the Tigers beating up on the NL, I also love the DH and 3 run home runs.
Thinking about the NL's strategy insanity brings me back to my senses, and has me appreciating the AL style of power baseball all the more.

"Catholic — which I was until I reached the age of reason." RIP George Carlin

I was lucky enough to see George Carlin live, about 15 years ago at Bally's in Vegas. Being a huge fan, I tipped entirely too much money at the door in order to be able to sit literally at the foot of the stage. Best money I EVER spent.


Carlin closed the concert that night with his famous, and still funny, "Baseball and Football" bit. On the night of his death, it seemed fitting to post his take on the stark differences between my two favorite sports on TWFE. Call it my small way of honoring a great comedian, a man who was also a bastion of free speech.

Baseball is different from any other sport, very different. For instance, in most sports you score points or goals; in baseball you score runs. In most sports the ball, or object, is put in play by the offensive team; in baseball the defensive team puts the ball in play, and only the defense is allowed to touch the ball. In fact, in baseball if an offensive player touches the ball intentionally, he's out; sometimes unintentionally, he's out.

Also: in football,basketball, soccer, volleyball, and all sports played with a ball, you score with the ball and in baseball the ball prevents you from scoring.

In most sports the team is run by a coach; in baseball the team is run by a manager. And only in baseball does the manager or coach wear the same clothing the players do. If you'd ever seen John Madden in his Oakland Raiders uniform, you'd know the reason for this custom.

Now, I've mentioned football. Baseball & football are the two most popular spectator sports in this country. And as such, it seems they ought to be able to tell us something about ourselves and our values.

I enjoy comparing baseball and football:

Baseball is a nineteenth-century pastoral game.
Football is a twentieth-century technological struggle.

Baseball is played on a diamond, in a park.The baseball park!
Football is played on a gridiron, in a stadium, sometimes called Soldier Field or War Memorial Stadium.

Baseball begins in the spring, the season of new life.
Football begins in the fall, when everything's dying.

In football you wear a helmet.
In baseball you wear a cap.

Football is concerned with downs - what down is it?
Baseball is concerned with ups - who's up?

In football you receive a penalty.
In baseball you make an error.

In football the specialist comes in to kick.
In baseball the specialist comes in to relieve somebody.

Football has hitting, clipping, spearing, piling on, personal fouls, late hitting and unnecessary roughness.
Baseball has the sacrifice.

Football is played in any kind of weather: rain, snow, sleet, hail, fog...
In baseball, if it rains, we don't go out to play.

Baseball has the seventh inning stretch.
Football has the two minute warning.

Baseball has no time limit: we don't know when it's gonna end - might have extra innings.
Football is rigidly timed, and it will end even if we've got to go to sudden death.

In baseball, during the game, in the stands, there's kind of a picnic feeling; emotions may run high or low, but there's not too much unpleasantness.
In football, during the game in the stands, you can be sure that at least twenty-seven times you're capable of taking the life of a fellow human being.

And finally, the objectives of the two games are completely different:

In football the object is for the quarterback, also known as the field general, to be on target with his aerial assault, riddling the defense by hitting his receivers with deadly accuracy in spite of the blitz, even if he has to use shotgun. With short bullet passes and long bombs, he marches his troops into enemy territory, balancing this aerial assault with a sustained ground attack that punches holes in the forward wall of the enemy's defensive line.

In baseball the object is to go home! And to be safe! - I hope I'll be safe at home!

Here's George performing "Baseball and Football" from one of his many HBO specials.



In closing, I can only say...No, I HAVE to say...Shit, piss, fuck, cunt, cocksucker, motherfucker and tits!

RIP George. Fuck...

Rob Parker plays GM. TWFE goes on "Epic Fail" alert!

The worst columnist in America, and Joe Dumars' media mouthpiece, "sooper geenus" Rob Parker, claimed in a recent column that knew what moves the Pistons needed to make in order to get back to the NBA Finals.

Hold it! Before we see how Parker plays pretend GM, let's wait just a second...

I have a question.

Why would anyone, let alone a world class NBA GM known for being a shrewd judge of talent, listen to a functionally retarded moron who has claimed the following:

• Tommy Amaker was a good coach who should not have been fired.

• The Pistons won big in 2007 BECAUSE of Flip Saunders.

• The Tigers should attempt to sign Brett Tomko, Kris Benson or Shaun Chacon to solve their post 2006 season starting rotation issues.

• Chris Webber, a player on the bad side of being washed up, should be brought back for a 2nd go-round by the Pistons.

• Jeff Weaver is clearly a better pitcher than Jeremy Bonderman.

• Dmitri Young could still solve his problems, both personal (beating up women, substance abuse) and professional (unable to hit his immense weight), while still playing for the Tigers...Who happened to be in the MIDDLE OF A PENNANT RACE!

• And most infamously, called Dave Dombrowski the worst GM in Detroit. Even worse than the porn 'stached goon in Allen Park.

With evidence of Parker's immense lack of sports knowledge out of the way, let's check out his 5 point plan to "fix" the Pistons.

1. Bust up the guards: Parker advocates trading either guard, makes no difference which.

Easier said than done. Chauncey Billups has a hard to trade long-term contract and Rip Hamilton is the Pistons' only consistent scorer. I agree Rodney Stuckey has a very bright future, but you'll still need to find another guard. I'll give Parker a smidgen of credit, this seems to be the most likely scenario.

2. Snag a real center: Parker believes the Pistons should trade for...Jamaal Magloire?

Snag a real center? A legit NBA Center? And that's Magloire? Excuse me for a second...

BWAAAAHAHAHA! HAAAAAHAAAAHAAAA! Sniff...Whew...

I apologize, I'm back. Where were we? Oh yeah, Jamaal Magl....BWAAAHAHAHA!

Sorry about that. As for getting a good center? If there is one thing rarer than a GOOD Rob Parker column, it's finding a legitimate NBA center available on the open market. Nice thought, but it'll take a miracle, or a moronic dumb ass of a GM the Pistons can sucker into a lopsided trade, for Dumars to pull that one off.

3. Wallace needs focus: In Parker's words, "If that happens, Wallace can help."

Focus? That's an awfully generic, catch-all term, don't you think? It's like saying "Rasheed should try harder!" I don't think "focus" is the issue. It's his personality of wanting to be a piece of the puzzle, rather than the focal point. That isn't going to change. Ever.

Let's be real. Sheed is Sheed, period.

Realistically, he's the Pistons best bargaining chip thanks to his expiring contract. In fact, I wouldn't have an issue if the Pistons ended up keeping Sheed, for 2 reasons. He would never bring enough in return thanks to his occasional knucklehead ways, and having that HUGE salary cap slot open up after the season when some very nice free agents will be available.

4. Go after Bonzi Wells: Parker wants the swingman targeted in free agency to backup Tayshaun Prince.

Another knucklehead? Christ, how difficult does Parker want Michael Curry's first season to be?

There's a reason Wells will be playing for his 6th NBA team in 2008, and it's not because he can score. And even that's overstated, as Wells hasn't averaged double figure points in 3 seasons. Personally, I don't want the aging, overrated head case anywhere near Maxiell, Amir, Affalo and Stuckey. Wells isn't needed on a team that needs to get hungrier, younger and smarter. Wells would make the Pistons older, dumber and crazier.

Finally, we have number 5...

5. Hang on to Prince: Parker says, "Prince is so good, you almost take him for granted." He also goes back to his breakout '03 playoff performance, and the block on Reggie Miller in '04.

As good as Prince has been, he seems to have plateaued. Notice Parker brings up events from 4-5 seasons ago? Not anything from more recent playoff disappointments? If trading Prince as part of a package that nets the Pistons get a big time player in return (Tracy McGrady and Amare Stoudarmire are 2 names I've heard tossed around), as in the immortal words of Hawk Harrelson, "He gone."

Prince will never be an primary offensive option, and though solid defensively, he's not the stopper he was once made out to be. Prince is a complimentary player, a role player. A very good role player, but a role player all the same.

I'd be perfectly happy if Prince remains a Piston, but...If you have to include a role player as part of a trade which nets you a star, you do it. No if's, and's or but's about it.

So what do I think of Parker's playing pretend GM? After reading the 2008 Pistons would incluse Bonzi Wells, Jamaal Magloire, while trading one of the guards for no one in particular, making Sheed "focus" and Prince a focal point, I have only one thing left to say...

Thank God Joe Dumars only uses Parker as his media lap dog, rather than as a personnel evaluator.

Talking Tigers: 5th starters, position changes and The Hammer

As the Detroit News' baseball columnist, Lynn Henning, no longer does his burning questions bit, he left me in the lurch! But that hasn't stopped him from doing a similar style column today, done in a long form format. He's left an opening for a rebuttal! Let's see how far I can "rebut," shall we?

What to do about a fifth starter...

The Tigers' front office made the anti-climatic announcement today, Jeremy Bonderman is out for the season. Thus, the Tigers are officially looking for a 5th starter.

Henning, as he is often wont to do, picks a bullpen pitcher to champion. In this case, it's Chad Durbin Casey Fossum. It's almost as if Henning has dug up one his "Bench Kenny Rogers and make Chad Durbin the 5th starter" columns, and just replaced the particulars.

I'm still not sure why left-hander Casey Fossum isn't getting a look. He is 30 years old with seven big league seasons in his rearview mirror. He is a left-hander. He pitched -- and started -- during a splendid spring at Triple-A Toledo. He is a couple of years removed from shoulder surgery, which is about the amount of time necessary for a pitcher to totally recover from a procedure so serious.

Normally I would rail against such a column. But in this case, with no prospects who would be considered ready to move up to the big club, Fossum is pretty much the only option. At least the only experienced option, as Fossum has a fair amount of big league starting experience under his belt.

Unfortunately, his past stats as a starter are nothing special. They're pretty damn bad, actually. Fossum is a mediocre version of Nate Robertson.

The Tigers find themselves in quite the rotation predicament. They got lucky once this season, as no one saw Armando Galarraga stepping into Dontrelle Willis' spot, and becoming a stopper. Hell, I'm not yet convinced he won't come back to earth. Even if Galarraga is the real deal (He sure looked the part today), I'm damn near positive Fossum isn't. Honestly, do you really expect the Tigers to have lightning strike twice? Me neither.

Which is why, the more I think about it, I'm warming to the idea of signing Freddy Garcia. He has a track record of success, and is more likely to be successful over the long haul. (If his shoulder is healthy, which remains to be seen.)

Fossum could work out a a spot starter for the time being, but I don't want to see him in the rotation when August rolls around. (The Tigers playing meaningful games late in the season doesn't seem so far fetched now does it?) Let's roll the dice with Garcia. Like I said yesterday, it'll only cost the Tigers money.

Sorting out the position puzzle...

Henning is pretty happy with the Tigers infield. He's almost giddy!

Miguel Cabrera has settled in at first base, not only because he is hitting the way he was bound to hit, but because he is getting noticeably comfortable -- and adept -- at playing his new position.

No arguments from me. Cabrera will never be a Gold Glove, but he looks at home playing 1st base. Much more so than at 3rd. Plug Cabrera into the lineup everyday, and let him do his thing...Which is hit a TON.

Carlos Guillen, a skilled professional, has done what talented, veteran players tend to do: He has adjusted, as well, and is playing a strong third base.

Leyland jerked Guillen around like a puppet on a very short string, playing "Where's Waldo Carlos?" on a daily basis.

"You're the 1st baseman for the remainder of your contract! Uh, I misspoke. You're the 3rd baseman for the foreseeable future! Not so fast, I meant to say you're the full-time left fielder! Umm, never mind. Just go back to 3rd, OK?"

Good Lord, if my head is spinning, what about Guillen's? Now that he's settling in at 3rd, he's playing adequately. Like Cabrera, Guillen will never be a Gold Glover, but he'll more than make up for any fielding miscues with his bat. I'm just fine with that, and I'd hope the Tigers finally are too.

Factor in Leyland's clever decision at catcher -- splitting time between Pudge Rodriguez and Brandon Inge -- and an infield that had everyone covering their eyes a couple of weeks ago has since settled down nicely and effectively.

With Pudge sitting every other day, the extra rest seems to have invigorated him. Since the platoon with Inge went into effect, Pudge's average, and more importantly, his OBP, have been steadily on the rise. Hey, his OBP is over .300, what more do you want?!

Really, it was too much to expect any 36 year old catcher, even one as prideful as Pudge, to play everyday. With Inge FINALLY coming to his senses, the Tigers are set for the season at catcher. Pudge is more productive, Inge is playing on a regular basis, everybody's happy!

Why did it take so long to give Marcus Thames a shot?

Christ, the blogosphere has been saying the same thing for a couple of seasons now. Actually, if "The Hammer" (As Ian has taken to calling Thames) were a left handed bat, he would have been in the starting lineup that much sooner. We never would have lived through the Jacque Jones era, short as it was...

Henning has his own theories...

This is an easy question with complex answers. The biggest reason a guy who seemingly hits home runs every other time at bat hasn't played regularly in his four years with the Tigers is because he has indeed tended to wear down (check second-half season statistics). But that might have been then. What's happening now is that a 31-year-old Hercules is about as dangerous and as energetic of a slugger as there is in baseball.

Yes, we all know Thames tended to come back to earth later in the season. But don't forget, he was playing the best baseball of his career last August before he hurt his hamstring. Thames had showed no signs of slowing down before the injury.

Henning looks back to a past Tiger comparable to Thames, Ben Oglivie. He was another late bloomer who had his best years after the Tigers gave up on him.

Then the Tigers traded Oglivie to the Milwaukee Brewers ahead of the 1978 season. Oglivie hit 29 home runs in 1979, 41 in 1980 and 34 in 1982. Note that he turned 31 ahead of the 1980 season -- the same age as Thames in 2008.

Appears to be an apt comparison to me.

The Tigers traded Oglivie to Milwaukee for starting pitcher Jim Slaton. Oglivie went on to become an important part of the "Harvey's Wallbangers" Brewer teams, having his best pro seasons in his early to mid 30's.

Despite Oglivie's sucess, it still would have been a fair trade, as the younger Slaton, a former All-Star in his contract walk year, won 17 games in his first season in Detroit. But his first season was also his last season as a Tiger, as Slaton immediately re-signed with the Brewers when he became a free agent. (This was back in the days where the Tigers weren't exactly players in the free agent market.)

If Thames is even close to the power threat Oglivie wbecame, and all signs point to YES (YES, YES, a thousand times, YES!) ,the Tigers will be just fine in left...As long as there is a decent outfield glove backing Thames up, that is...

Answering the Detroit Tigers burning questions: NL baseball is a soul sucking endeavour edition

As it's been a couple of weeks since the last round of burning questions, and the Tigers are showing signs of life, and could be turning their season around...Let's light this candle...

When it was announced Jeremy Bonderman was out for the season, you said the Tigers' "season was over." They then went out and won 6 straight games, looking to all the world like the team we thought they were the darlings of the off season. Have you changed your mind about writing off the Tigers, Mr. Chicken Little?

Honestly, I never should have said it to begin with, as saying something so absolute goes against my normal "Let's not panic" attitude.

When the Tigers opened the season so horribly, and damn near every Tigers fan was wanting to break up the team and fire Jim Leyland, pronto, I tried to not go off the deep end. Here's what I said about the Tigers on April 9th.

If they are struggling by the time the All-Star game rolls around, double digits back of 1st place, I'd feel safe in writing them off. But baseball is a funny game. The Tigers could, just as easily as they have suffered through a 7 game losing streak, whip around and run off a 7-8 game winning streak. Especially once they get past their gauntlet of an April schedule.

Yet, a couple of weeks ago, I went all Chicken Little, and dived off that same deep end...

Well, that's all, folks. A bad season, a nightmare season, just got that much worse. If this isn't the last nail in the Tigers' coffin, there sure as Hell can't be many more left.

Between a suddenly looking aged, badly under performing offense, a shaky bullpen besieged by injuries to their 2 best set up men, and a rotation that has BOTH underperformed and been besieged by injuries, can we seriously expect this team to recover enough to make a run at the playoffs?

Being in a division filled with underachievers has helped immeasurably, but recover they did, at least in a small way. Over the past week, the Tigers did have that winning streak I talked about back in April, and are only 6.5 games back of the White Sox. They aren't out of the woods by any means, as Fernando Rodney's less than impressive return cost the Tigers what would have been their 7th win a row, but they've demonstrated the season is far from over.

With your mea culpa out of the way, let's move on to the latest and greatest. What's your thoughts in regard to media reports of the Tigers showing a keen interest in Freddy Garcia?

I have to say I'm not surprised. Not so much that it's Garica they are looking at, but the fact they have to be on the prowl for starting pitching. The Tigers have been hit by a perfect storm when it comes to their pitching staff. It's been one crisis after another, though some were expected, but most were not...

• Trading most of their top pitching prospects in the trades for Edgar Renteria and Miguel Cabrera.

• Thinking they wouldn't miss those prospects due to Dontrelle Willis being included in the Cabrera trade.

• Injuries to Rodney and Joel Zumaya throwing the pitching staff into chaos.

• The bullpen becoming baseball's version of musical chairs.

• The starters underperforming as a unit, lead by Justin Verlander's 9 (!!!) losses.

• As kyptonite is to Superman, the strike zone became to Willis.

• Bonderman's blood clot.

So the news coming out the Tigers are looking to buy some starting pitching should have been expected.

As for their search leading them to the doorstep of Freddy Garcia? I have no idea if Garcia has recovered from the shoulder issues that made him a MASSIVE bust in Philly. Even so, I don't have a problem with the Tigers taking a flyer on Garcia, as I'm thinking it would be a low risk, high reward sort of signing.

Give Garcia a minor league deal, and see if he can show flashes of his 1999-20006 form. If so, get his ass to Detroit ASAP. It's a win-win. Garcia will be back in the bigs pitching for his next contract, and the Tigers have a top of the rotation starter that only cost them money. when you are spending $138 million, what's a few million more, right?

Brandon Inge and Pudge Rodriguez have are now fully sharing the catcher position, playing on alternating days. Is Inge the Tigers' catcher of the future?

Let's do the math, shall we?

Inge is owed 2 more years on his contract at $6 million per, making him untradable. His bat is not acceptable for a 3rd baseman, but much more palatable for a catcher. Inge seems to finally realize catching is the best way he can remain an everyday player at the major league level. He is saying all the right things about catching, claiming he'll do whatever the team asks.

Rodriguez is what he is, a rapidly aging, very highly paid, but no better than average at best, catcher. His bat closer to being a liability than a threat. Pudge's defense, while still acceptable, is not what it once was, world-class. The odds say this is the 1st ballot hall of famer's last season wearing the Olde English D.

Catching is at a premium in MLB. The Tigers have no real catching prospects in their system. To trade for one would cost them talent they aren't willing to give up. Going the free agency route isn't much better. If the Tigers had not picked up Pudge's contract, he still would have been the number 1 free agent catcher available. I think that says it all about using free agency to fill the position.

Once you look at the options, it really becomes a no-brainer. Of course Inge will be the everyday catcher in 2009. The Tigers really don't have any other choice. At least not one that's realistic or cost effective.

Though...if Pudge is willing to come back at a much reduced rate of pay, I'd be willing to talk about his coming back. But considering the dearth of big league caliber catching, some team is likely desperate enough to give him a one big albatross of a contract

What about Marcus Thames?

His last 7 hits have all been home runs, and he's gone yard in 4 straight games. Thames is on one Hell of a streak, huh?

I've said it over and over and over, the man will hit 40 bombs if given the playing time. Hell, he'll go deep 20 times if only by accident. He can hit .220 for all I care, as long as he slugs a ton. Actually, when you think about it, Thames is the only pure power hitter on the roster. He could go deep at any time, in any situation.

Thames has hit more home runs (12) than both Magglio Ordonez and Cabrera (10), in less than half their at bats (113 to 262 and 257, respectively). This season Thames has an insane at bat to home run ratio of 1 HR per 9.4 AB's. I doubt he keeps up that pace, but Thames' career average of a HR every 14.5 AB's certainly is attainable. That's 35+ home runs when given 500 at bats.

Shoot, Thames has hit 30 bombs in his last 362 at bats, going back to the start of 2007. That appoximately 1 HR every 12 AB's. That's a man you have to keep in the lineup, ya think?!

Leyland needs to keep Marcus in the lineup as his every day left fielder, and not just give the media lip service...Unlike every other lineup move the Marlboro Man has claimed to have set in stone, only to change his mind the next day.

One more thing...

What do you think about the National League style of baseball?

It's overrated! Everything about the NL's so-called "strategy" is overrated. So is the double switch, sacrifice bunts, small ball, the constant parage of pitching changes and pitchers flailing away helplessly at the plate. I can't stress it enough, NL ball BLOWS!

Give me the DH, 3 run home runs, the bunt rarely being used or needed, and not yanking your starting pitcher after the 5th inning anytime you are down a run or 2, every day of the week.

I apolgize...

Well, I'm back!

I was only going to take a day or two away from blogging, and it turned into a week.

First off, I wanted to thank those who touched base with me over the past few days, concerned over my disappearing from the web without much of a trace. It's noce to know you're missed...

I also want to apologize to you readers, who come by every day, Hell or high water. I should have let you know I was not going to be writing for a week. You deserve better, and I'm sorry.

As for why I dropped out of the loop, and took some time away from the blog? There were a couple of reasons.

One, I felt a little burned out on blogging, and to an extent, sports. I wasn't enjoying writing, which is really saying something. Add that to my belief that some of my recent posts weren't as good as they should, or could, be, it was apparent I needed to step away from the PC. So I did, post haste.

I didn't stop watching sports, as I've been glued to the Tigers' recent surge, kept one eye on the NBA Finals and watched damn near every hole of the US Open. But I stopped reading sports blogs (Save for the Detroit blogs, I wasn't that much off my rocker!) and only glanced at the fishwrap sports pages. It was all becoming white noise to me, so I went cold turkey when it came to sports punditry. To my surprise, I didn't miss it. I'm sure that means something, though I'm not sure what.

Contributing to my need to reassess things is the fact I sometimes have to battle feeling down about my physical situation, and it very occasionally gets the best of me.

My arthritis keeps me home every day, unable to drive or work. Over the past few years, I've gone from having an active life to being, for lack of a better term, a shut-in. To say I can go more than a little stir crazy is an understatement. I normally deal the best I can, and the blogging helps greatly. Unfortunately, I've been mentally out of sorts for the past few days, feelin sorry for myself, and not really in the mood to do much of anything, let alone write. I know better than to let life get to me, but there are times I can't help it. You just have to fight through it, which I'm doing.

So after all the self-reflection, I'm doing OK. I'm fine and dandy. Well, maybe fine, not quite so dandy. I'll be back to blogging about sports, and the all the BS that goes with it, tomorrow. Anyway, that's more than enough of my bitching and moaning.

Funny, the Tigers go on a winning streak, play their best baseball of the season, the moment I write off their 2008 as done. Let's hope I'm not a jinx, as I plan on going nowhere.

Answering the Detroit Tigers burning questions: Steve Blass Disease edition

As Dontrelle Willis went down in spectacular flames in his latest start, not getting out of the 2nd inning, I felt the need to do a quick round of burning questions. Shoot, we all have them after the D-Train was D-Railed, D-Stroyed and D-Feated.

Dontrelle Willis' pitching line against the Indians:

1.1 IP, 3 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 5 BB, 2 HR, 2 SO, Pitches-Strikes 64-27.

After this latest debacle, Willis has pitched 11.1 innings this season, and has walked 22 batters. 2 an inning? What the Hell?

What the Hell, indeed. Willis' outing against the Tribe was one of the ugliest you'll ever see from a starting pitcher. Willis couldn't find the plate with...Screw it, I'm out of comparisons. Willis couldn't find the plate, period. When he did somehow get a ball near the strike zone, it was a grooved meatball over the heart of the plate the Indians crushed.

If it wasn't so sad, it would be...No, it's just sad.

To watch such a nice guy, a pitcher who is a credit to the game of baseball, lose the ability to throw strikes is an awful thing to watch. There's no humor in it.

So why don't the Tigers just cut his ass? Send him to Toledo? Trade him? Just get rid of him!

Because he's guaranteed $29 million greenbacks, for one thing. That makes him an untradeable albatross. Willis is baseball kryptonite. If the Tigers could find a trading partner, they would have to pick up the vast majority, and more likely all, of that contract. It's not going to happen.

As for releasing him, even for a very rich man like Mike Ilitch, that's too big a contract to eat. It would make any owner choke.

As for sending Willis down, as a 5 year vested veteran, he cannot be sent down to the minors without his approval. (But don't quote me on the exact details in regard to roster rules) You just can't say, "See ya in International League!" What I am sure of is you can't give him a bus ticket out of town to Toledo unless he agrees. The Tigers should have a long sit-down with Willis, and convince him he needs to go back to the minors and work out his issues, otherwise they have no choice but leave him on the roster. Or as much as I hate to say it, hope he gets injured

They could try to hide him as the highest paid bullpen long man in history. They could keep rolling him out there every 5th day, and hope for the best. There really isn't any good scenario in using a pitcher who can't throw strikes.

I think we can all agree that sending Willis out to the mound again in his current state would be akin to sending a lamb to slaughter. It won't last long, it'll be gruesome and there will be blood shed.

It's obvious Willis going down to the minors and working out his issues would be best for all involved. But if he won't go, and he has every right to say no, the Tigers are, for lack of a better word, screwed.

So what do you do with Dontrelle Willis?

The Hell if I know. If you watched Jim Leyland talking to the media after the game, the Tigers don't either, as he outright refused to talk about Willis' outing.

The D-Train has "IT," doesn't he?

I think so. From everything we've seen, it sure looks like Willis as come down with the dreaded "Steve Blass Disease." I can't think of a better explanation, as Willis is perfectly healthy (Or so we're told).

From all accounts, there is no cure. A few sufferers immediately come to mind.

• The poster boy, Blass, never recovered. He nearly won a Cy Young in 1972, yet was out of baseball by 1974.

• The most recent case, the Cards' Rick Ankiel, ended up back to the low minors, and became an outfielder.

• Mark Wohlers was a young, fireballing, shut down closer for the Braves from 1995-1997, getting 97 saves. Wohlers was essentially done after going wild in '98. He bounced around, trying to hang on, and was out of baseball for good after the '02 season.

• The Tigers had another case back in the early 80's, with closer Kevin Saucier. (One of my all time favorite Tigers, by the way) It got to the point where he was afraid to pitch, thinking he would kill a batter, as Saucier had no idea where the ball was going. "Hot Sauce" was out of baseball within a year.

I can't think of any seemingly healthy pitchers, who abruptly lost the ability to throw strikes, and got that ability back. Damn, it doesn't look good for the Tigers or Willis, does it?

Answering the Detroit Tigers burning questions: The Tigers are at a crossroads edition

With the first place Chicago White Sox coming to town for 3 games, and my saying this season is toast over the weekend, it's a good time for another round of burning questions...

Al, last Saturday you went all dramatic, full of doom and gloom, and claimed the season was over, then the Tigers end up taking 2 of 3 from the Tribe this weekend. Still feel the same way?

As of today, Monday, June 9th, 2008, I sure do. (Of course, as your typical knee-jerk, reactionary blogger, I do reserve the right to change my mind.)

Sure, the 2 wins, one in the Tigers last at-bat, and the other a possible coming out party for Freddie Dolsi, were nice, and desperately needed. But the Tigers still have to leapfrog 3 teams in the Central, are still 10 games back of the White Sox, have a .419 winning percentage, and are 10 games under .500. The Tigers have a long way to go before I can buy into the idea they can salvage their season.

Think about it. General consensus is the Tigers need to win at least 90 games to contend for a playoff spot. To just contend, in order to win 90 games, the Tigers would have to finish the season 64-36. Meaning they have to play 28 games over .500 for the next 100 games. That's a mighty tall order for a team barely playing .400 ball.

So? Don't you think the Tigers are capable of playing .640 ball from here on out?

Capable? Going by track records, past performances before this season, and if they stay healthy, yes. I'd say it's possible. But is it probable? Going by their current performance, injuries, slumps, and general malaise in 2008, no.

The odds increase in the Tigers favor if Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney, as rumored, return in the next few weeks. (Though that also means there's going to be a logjam in the pen, it's going to be an interesting decision as to who gets sent down. I say Miner and one of the lefties, probably Fossum.) Those odds increase even more so if the offense finally comes around, and it has shown recent signs of life. So as dire as things appear, there have been some encouraging signs.

But...I know, there's always a but...

• The Tigers are without their number 2 starting pitcher in Jeremy Bonderman, and their DH, Gary Sheffield. (Though many would say Sheffield's injury was a blessing, giving the Tigers an excuse to get him out of the lineup)

• Dontrelle Willis was OK in his first start back from the DL, but was still more wild than actually effective.

• New multi-gazillionaire Miguel Cabrera has been closer to Sean Casey than Albert Pujols in offensive production at his new position.

• If you go by the constant shuffling around the diamond, Carlos Guillen has taken Brandon Inge's place as the man without a position.

• Watching Todd Jones close is scarier than watching an Eli Roth film.

• Several players expected to come through (Granderson, Polanco, Pudge, Renteria, Verlander, Robertson) are having down (Some are extremely down) seasons.

• None of the minor league position call ups (Joyce, Raburn, Clevlen, Larish and to an extent, Thomas) have really broken through as a long-term solution to what ails the Tigers. Though one call up has been a marvelous surprise. Armando Galarraga has saved the Tigers' bacon by pitching very well as part of the rotation. With Bonderman out, he's a starter for the duration. But he's been the only surprise...
  

As you can see, the Tigers have issues. More issues than a contending team should expect. After reading the above bullet points, do the Tigers have to look of a team that could play 30 games over .500 from here on out?

OK, you have a point. So what's next? What about a trade or 3?

There is no "next."

There will be no trades. Not of anyone who's part of the core, anyway.

The Tigers really don't have many options. I seriously doubt they do much at the trade deadline as buyers or sellers. Their hands are tied for several reasons.

The Tigers won't likely be buyers as they used up most of their tradeable commodities in the Cabera/Willis/Renteria transactions. There's some talent in the minors, and their recent amateur draft got raves, but there's not much in he way of current prospects the Tigers can, or would be willing, to trade. Unless Detroit throws caution to the wind, and increases their already bloated payroll by picking up another team's salary dump for essentially warm bodies, there isn't much else they could do.

They aren't going to be sellers either, as the Tigers have committed to this group of players, Hell or high water, thru 2009. Let alone there's the fact the way they've been playing you'd be trading when their value is low, so the Tigers would be getting pennies on the dollar in any trade involving one of the veterans. I can't see them suddenly change their long-term plans midyear, and blow up this team after half a season, their record be damned.

What's your outlook for the next few weeks?

The Tigers have reached a crossroads of a sort. They need to do more than tread water during a long homestand, with a first place team in the Central in town for 3 games.

They are gradually running out of time. Look at the numbers, the season is almost 40% gone. Over what's left of this home stand, and then the upcoming 2 weeks of inter-league play (Where they've punished their NL opposition the past 2 seasons.), the Tigers need to win, and win in bunches.

The Tigers need...No, they have to put together a winning steak. A stretch where the Tigers go 15-5, 20-8, 25-10. No more of this win 2, lose 5, win 1, lose 2 stuff. The Tigers need to win several games in a row, win several series in a row. They have yet to put together a long, consistent stretch of good baseball this season. It's time they do.

Tonight would be as good as anytime to start, as they could take 3 of 4 from the Indians, and then have 3 games at Comerica with the first place ChiSox. Winning both series, and shaving a couple of games off of their lead would be welcome. When you are playing a team that could bury you in the standings if they sweep, beating them wouldn't only be welcome, it's absolutely necessary.

If the Tigers fall flat during this home stand, especially over the next 3 games against Chicago, there will be plenty more in the way of fans, media and observers saying the 2008 season is over...

The season is over...But I'm not talking about the Red Wings

I'm here not to praise the Detroit Tigers, but to bury their sorry asses.

Be honest, you know it's true...

I was going to wait for the end of this 10 game homestand before I made any decision about the Tigers' chances for salvaging something, anything, from the 2008 season. It's entirely possible they could run off a long winning streak. Anything's possible, right?

Even after last night, another game where the Tigers' offense was M.I.A., giving Justin Verlander no support in losing to the Tribe, dropping to 10 gamers back in the division, and 12 games under .500, I was going to withhold judgment for at least another week. Despite how bad they may be playing, there's no sense of being overly rash on June 7th, 2008. I wasn't going to write the Tigers off with 4 months left in the season.

Then I saw the following headline from Billfer pop up in my Twitter feed...

Jeremy Bonderman out for season

Jeremy Bonderman is officially out for the season due to circulatory problems in his shoulder.

Bonderman was examined yesterday at the Detroit Medical Center and it was determined he has a blood clot of the axillary vein due to thoracic outlet compression syndrome. Bonderman underwent a thromblysis last night, followed by an angioplasty this morning at the Detroit Medical Center, performed by Dr. Monte Harvill under the supervision of team physician Dr. Stephen Lemos. He will undergo further examination of his condition at a later date.

This is devastating news for a team that has been pretty much devastating.

Devastating, indeed. The number 2 starter is out for the season with what could have been a life threatening injury.

Well, that's all, folks. A bad season, a nightmare season, just got that much worse. If this isn't the last nail in the Tigers' coffin, there sure as Hell can't be many more left.

Between a suddenly looking aged, badly under performing offense, a shaky bullpen besieged by injuries to their 2 best set up men, and a rotation that has BOTH underperformed and been besieged by injuries, can we seriously expect this team to recover enough to make a run at the playoffs?

Let's put it this way. The following scenarios have a better chance of occurring than the Tigers have at winning the Central.

• Hilary Clinton has a better chance at becoming the Democratic presidential nominee.

• The Detroit Lions have a better chance of winning the Super Bowl.

• Matt Millen has a better chance at joining MENSA.

• A Pistons head coach has a better chance of lasting more than 3 seasons.

• There's a better chance of Sidney Crosby and Michel Therrien admitting the Red Wings outplayed the Penguins.

• Mike Ilitch has a better chance of making an edible Little Ceasers pizza.

• There's a better chance Jim Leyland would give up smoking.

• There's a better chance Pudge Rodriguez has a 2 walk game before he retires.

• There's a better chance of Placido Polanco's head shrinking.

• Whomever ends up as the QB of the Lions has a better chance of making the Pro Bowl.

• O.J. Simpson has a better chance of finding the killer of his wife.

• Paul Pierce has a better chance of winning an Oscar...Oh, wait...

I think you get my point. The odds are damn long, and getting longer by the day, of the Tigers making the playoffs. Even having a .500 record is becoming more of a reach at this point. They've gone from the penthouse to the outhouse in less than 3 months.

I held out at least of semblance of hope the Tigers could turn their season around, irrational as that thought might have been. But Bonderman going down, the 2nd pitcher in 2 years to develop a blood clot in his pitching shoulder (And just what were the odds of that happening?), was my breaking point.

I'm waving the white flag, throwing in the towel, tapping out. It's time to admit the playoffs aren't in the cards for the Detroit Tigers in 2008.

Before the start of the season, I would have bet the proverbial farm the Tigers would have remained in contention till September, let alone up to the All-Star break. Yet here we are, the 2008 season over, and it's not even close to the 4th of July.

Without the Red Wings and Pistons to divert our attention from the ongoing carnage happening nightly at Comerica Park...

It's going to be one God damn ugly summer.

Hockey players see Paul Pierce, and LAUGH

In the aftermath of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals, it's beginning to leak out just how badly injured some of the Red Wings players were. According to the News' John Niyo, there were many Wings dealing with severe injuries...

Injuries? Yeah, they had a few. More than a few, actually. Talked to a champagne-soaked trainer, Piet van Zant, in the Zamboni entrance a couple hours ago and his initial response was, "Everybody was playing through something." But then he rattled off the abridged version:

Tomas Holmstrom was playing with a sports hernia (for a long time) and a torn hamstring.

Valtteri Filppula wasn't practicing because of a fairly significant knee injury.

Brad Stuart also was playing with a knee injury that would've had him sitting in the regular season. Darren Helm limped out of there tonight with a nasty Charley horse.

And, yes, there was more than just concussion-like symptoms plaguing Johan Franzen, but van Zant said the team and Franzen will wait a day or two before explaining what exactly went on with that whole saga.

There's more than that, obviously, but it gives you an idea of just why we call this the toughest trophy in sports to win.

Honestly, that's par for the NHL course. It's what they do.

From the Maple Leafs' Bobby Baun scoring the winning goal in game 6 of the 1964 Stanley Cup Finals while skating on a BROKEN LEG, to Steve Yzerman winning the '02 Cup despite a severe knee injury that required 3 surgeries after the season, playing 23 playoff games on essentially one leg, hockey players traditionally play through the worst of injuries. In fact, they may be the toughest athletes on earth. At the very least, hockey players are on par with football players when it comes to playing in pain.

Then last night, I was half watching the NBA Finals, and was witness to one of the most embarrassing displays of histrionics ever: Paul Pierce acting as if his leg had been amputated with a rusty cleaver after tweaking his knee.

Pierce was carried off the court, and taken to the locker room in a wheelchair. At first, you had to think Pierce, in going through such dramatics, must have blown out every ligament in his knee.

But wait! A few minutes later, after thinking Pierce had suffered a career ending injury if you go by his actions, is suddenly hale and hearty enough to come skipping out of the tunnel, and on the bench? Pierce played the rest of the game, looking none the worse for wear. Boston's fans were then chanting "Willis Reed!" Please...

Today, I hear the comparisons coming out of Boston and the national MSM that Pierce's re-entering the game was similar to the Willis Reed's? What an insult to Reed! Reed played in game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals for the Knicks on literally on one leg, thanks to a painfully torn thigh muscle. Pierce's tweaked/sprained knee does not come close to equaling what Reed went through.

Pierce = Pussy

Reed could have been a hockey player with that sort of pain tolerance. Paul Pierce has the pain tolerance of an infant with a slight case of diaper rash.

Before the series started, I wasn't all that excited by the NBA Finals, as I knew we were going to be inflicted with forced nostalgia, ABC/ESPN trying to invoke memories of the Lakers-Celtics battles of the 80's. In my mind, the finals were just a matchup between 2 loathsome teams, and 2 even more loathsome fanbases.

After last night's display of wussitude, I'm rooting for the Lakers to kick the collective asses of both the Celtics, and of their mangina, Paul Pierce.

After watching the Wings and Penguins leave body parts on the ice over 6 games, seeing Pierce cry his crocodile tears was nothing less than an embarrassment.

Z, Ozzie, Babcock's hair and other post Stanley Cup thoughts

1. Last night cemented in my mind, once and for all, who's the best player in the NHL. Henrik Zetterberg is the best human hockey player in the world, Savior Sid be damned. (Excluding Nick Lidstrom, of course. He's scarily inhuman in his effectiveness.) Hockey is a two way game, and Sidney Crosby is still a one way player. You can never say that about Zetterberg. (Or most any Red Wing forward, for that matter.)

When the Wings needed to kill a 5 on 3, Z was the one Wings forward on the ice. Whenever the Penguins were on the penalty kill, any kill, Crosby was comfortably ensconced on the bench. I think that says it all.

When a game/series/title is on the line, your best players have to be on the ice as much as possible. Zetterberg, and this goes for Pavel Datsuyk as well, can be used on the ice at any time, in any situation. Even the great Steve Yzerman had to learn to be a two way player, as did the Wings' wonder twins. Once Crosby learns that, the NHL best look out...

2. I've read that some find the Red Wings' style of play "boring" and "machine-like." To be honest, I find the old school dump and chase style of hockey excruciating to watch. To me, watching the Red Wings possess the puck, their speed combined with precision tape to tape passing, resulting in an offense that's always a threat to score from anywhere inside the opposition blue line, is how hockey is supposed to be played. They are the closest thing around to the go-go, high scoring NHL teams of the 80's.

I hope this past series, between a pair of teams that believe in puck possession instead of the obsolete dump and chase, is the future of the NHL. I love the rough stuff as much as anyone, and there should always be a place for fighting in the NHL. But I prefer even more the long stretches of end to end action, with a constant barrage of scoring chances. If this is the future of the NHL, the league will be in good shape.

If you didn't enjoy this series, you'll never be a fan of the game.

3. Say what you will about the Red Wings as an organization in regard to their off the ice activity (They tend to take their fans for granted, ticket prices are outrageously high, do little in the way of promotion), when it comes to their on ice product, there may not be a better run team in sports.

Yes, the Wings had an definite competitive advantage when they could outspend nearly every team. They could throw money at their mistakes, fix roster issues on the fly. But have that advantage taken away, yet still remain elite in the salary cap era? That is a mind-boggling accomplishment by GM Ken Holland.

A well run franchise is a well run franchise, salary cap be damned. The Red Wings are primed to stay at the top of the NHL, considering they will be approximately $16 million (!) under the salary cap going into the off season. They will be able to pay their own free agents and extend Zetterberg, yet still be able to make a splash in free agency if they feel the need. (For example, you know the Sabres are scared to death the Wings are going to make a run at Ryan Miller after next season.)

Could Detroit sign an impact player this summer, like a Mats Sundin? Say a Marian Hossa? It's not out the question. The rest of the league should be quaking in their skates.

The Red Wings may not win the cup every year, but to be a legitimate title threat every season since the early 90's is an amazing run of pure win.

4. Mike Babcock has amazing hair. Not a strand was out of place last night, even with the champagne spraying everywhere. His hair almost as impressive as his coaching ability, which is really saying something...

5. After watching the Red Wings leave everything on the ice, play insanely hard for 2 months, and winning it all, you can really see where Joe Dumars is coming from in his wanting to shake up the lethargic Pistons.

The Pistons play with such a nonchalance at times, even in the biggest of games, it's almost stomach turning. The Red Wings are the polar opposite, never seeming to give less than 100%. The Pistons only did when...Well, you never knew when they would give their all. Which is we are likely to see a radically different Pistons team in '08-'09.

6. The one player I was really happy for was Chris Osgood, and not only because he can now nail any Downriver puck bunny he sees fit for the rest of his days. Why then? Because you can tell he loves being a Red Wing, it means everything in the world to him to be allowed to wear the winged wheel. You can't say that about many pro athletes...

7. Gary Bettman is, and always will be, an ass.

Thank you Red Wings

You embody everything that's good about Detroit. The Stanley Cup is back home. Way to go, gentlemen. Way to go.

Go Wings!

Don't expect much in the way of posting today.

I'd like to get my thoughts out there on the Wings (Go Wings!), Tigers (What the HELL?) and Pistons (What to do?), but I'm too God damn exhausted. I had to drag my gimpy ass all around SE Michigan getting my groceries, shopping and errands done for the month today, then put it all away. When you have arthritis, believe me, it's a freaking chore! Now I have to make dinner, and to be honest, I don't feel like it. I don't feel like doing much of anything. Anyway, enough bitching and moaning from the gimp...

So I'm going to chill for a few hours till game 6 of the Stanley Cup finals starts. So if I do end up posting, it'll most likely pretty late, once the cup has been won...I hope.

Another Pistons coach gets the ziggy: The Flip Saunders era is over

Mlive has a short paragraph up from A. Sherrod Blakely stating Flip was considered a flop. He's out. According to a breaking news email from WDFN, a presser is scheduled for 2PM. But the more stunning news is who will be his replacement...

It's official now.

The Pistons have fired Flip Saunders after three seasons in which he led the team to the Eastern Conference finals.

No replacement has been named, but a press conference announcing Michael Curry as the new coach is expected sometime this week. (Big Al: bold is my emphasis)

Michael Curry? The former Piston who has played with many of the core? The same Curry WHO HAS NO HEAD COACHING EXPERIENCE?

I've rarely questioned anything Joe Dumars has done, especially when it comes to coaches. But hiring Curry, who has next to no coaching experience (1 year as a Pistons assistant), let alone head coaching experience, seems like a massive leap of faith on Dumars' part. Massive.

I'm not surprised, or even close to upset, Saunders is gone. I'm fine with it, as it's obvious the team didn't respect him. Not that Flip isn't exactly the best motivator around either, as I doubt he could fire up a fasting fat man to eat a pizza. It was time for him to go.

But hiring Curry? With a core group of starters who are known coach killers? A group of players who believe they run the show, not the coach? I got to ponder this one.

This best not be the only move coming this off season. I can't see a rookie head coach starting the season with this headstrong, difficult to motivate, roster.

34.7 damn seconds...

Detroit was only 34.7 God damn seconds away from winning the Stanley Cup. 34.7! Now there's a game 6 back in Pittsburgh. Unbelievable.

This was your typical Red Wings playoff loss. Out shoot, out hit and out play the opposition, dominate in almost every damn phase of the game, save for one. On the scoreboard. Oh yeah, some acrobat named Fleury should get some credit as well. Hell, give Fleury all the credit. Without him in net, the Wings are drinking from the Stanley Cup 2 hours ago.

The players were getting sloppier and the ice was getting worse by the OT, so you knew a game going this long would end on someone's mistake. I was just hoping the killer mistake wouldn't be made by someone on the Red Wings.

Unfortunately it was, one Jiri Hudler.

His silly, accidental double minor high stick early in the 3rd OT was the game right there. No way could you expect the Wings to kill 4 minutes... Hell, they could only kill a few seconds.

Kudos to the Penguins for their herculean effort. They live to skate another day. But before we lose all perspective after a tough loss, let's remember, the Pens have to come up with that sort of effort 2 more times.

Realistically, the Penguins have only a punchers chance to win this series, and actually managed to land one. A haymaker, to say the very least. But they have to land knockout punches twice more, and against a team as driven and talented as the Red Wings, it's likely too tall an order.

In the end, I'm disappointed, but not worried. If there is one team that will bounce back from a night like this is the Red Wings. They are up 3-2 in this series for a reason. That reason being the Red Wings are obviously the deeper, better team. If the Wings continue to play their game, play like they have all series long, I honestly believe all the the Pens accomplished was delaying the inevitable for a couple of days.

But still, 34.7 fucking seconds.

God damn it.

Do this long-time Red Wings fan a favor - Do NOT take this team for granted!

I've been trying do come up with a post about the Red Wings chances of taking the Stanley Cup tonight. I don't want to come off as this game being fait accompli, as I'm sure the Penguins would have something to say about it. God forbid I jinx the the Wings.

So rather than talk about the game, I'm just going to say something to Wings fans. Enjoy this run of sustained excellence. Do NOT take this team for granted, as we often have a tendency to do.

I know many fans tend to believe the Red Wings' being one of the best teams in the NHL is a God given right. Many of you younger fans have never known the Red Wings to be anything other than a class organization where nothing short of the Stanley Cup is a serious disappointment.

I want to remind you it wasn't always that way.

As someone who's been around long enough to remember the "Darkness with Harkness" years of the 70's and the "The Dead Things" era which lasted well into the 80's, there was a time where even the thought of the Wings being considered a model franchise was sheer, unadulterated lunacy.

It wasn't all that long ago where any discussion of the Red Wings making the playoffs were laughable. The Wings? In the playoffs? Come on! Never gonna happen! The playoffs are for GOOD organizations. That wasn't the Red Wings.

The Wings were the red-headed step kid of Detroit sports for 15-20 years. A franchise that never made the correct decision, refused to spend money, made short-sighted trades destined for failure, where the playoffs weren't a certainty, but an extremely rare occurrence that was bound to end well short of a title.

Why else would you think Bill Lochead's goal clinching a first round playoff win in 1978, a goal that meant little in the NHL scheme of things, meant so much to this fanbase? For many of us, it was literally the only highlight of our collective misspent youth as fans of the Red Wings. The ONLY highlight.

We're living in a different era now. MUCH different. The Wings are the class of the NHL, and on the verge of winning their 4th cup in my lifetime, and 11th overall. If you had told me such a thing was possible even back back in the mid-80's, when Steve Yzerman's career was just taking off, I would have laughed in your face. It would have been unfathomable to someone accustomed to the Wings long being the NHL's laughingstock.

Hell, I would have been happy if the 1997 Stanley Cup was the only one the Wings won. But on the verge of winning 4 championships in 11 seasons? Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined such a thing was possible, let alone expected.

With the Wing on the cusp of the cup, try to remember this may never happen again. Do not treat a Stanley Cup run like it's an ordinary occurrence. Because it's NOT. It NEVER is...

All that's left to say about tonight is...

GO WINGS!

I don't care, and you can't make me!

There's a few things in sports that seem to be hot ass topics, but I couldn't give 2 shits about. You realize that means I have to give my opinion on said topics, right?

Mixed martial arts on CBS: Hard to believe CBS, a network whose demo is even older than me, was the broadcast outlet for something that skews so damn young. I didn't see the Elite XC show because I was at a benefit Saturday, and the only TV there was tuned to, obviously, the Red Wings.

(Note from Big Al: Not that I was able to watch much of the Wings game either, as the alcohol was flowing and the bullshit was being slung as I was talking to friends I hadn't seen in quite some time. I finally got to see "The Kill" or "The Shift" //I've seen both used in regard to Hank Zetterburg's Conn Smythe worthy 5 on 3 penalty kill// Sunday morning. All I can say is...WOW! But I digress...)

To be honest, I had totally forgotten MMA was making it's mainstream TV debut this past weekend. But from reading the blogosphere the last few days, as damn near EVERYONE has an opinion about what transpired, it seems I'm in a very small minority. Then again, I'm already in a very small minority, being an older sports blogger who remembers when boxing was king. Which also explains my "meh" feeling when it comes to MMA in general.

I'm not a hypocrite. I'm not going to call MMA barbaric, call for it to be banned. If so, then you'd have to say the exact same about boxing. As I consider boxing a sport, then MMA is as well. Sure, it's a violent sport with vastly different rules than boxing, and the fighters have a different skill set, but it's a sport all the same. A bloodsport, but still a sport.

I was able to see some of the Elite XC fights via the miracle that is the world wide web. From my admittedly uneducated in the ways of MMA view, by far the best match was between 2 women. Women put on the best, most evenly matched, fight? Good Lord, this was the best MMA has to offer?

To a person like myself, to whom MMA is more show than legitimate sport, and the type of sports fan they want to convert, the overall show featuring an overrated Kimbo Slice, wasn't the best way for the somewhat marginalized MMA to reach out. They did not put their best foot forward.

So to hear the complaints from the blogosphere claiming Kimbo Slice is an internet creation, with no true skills other than looking like a bad ass and having the ability to brawl, and is fighting nothing but washed up tomato cans? That fights were stopped at the wrong time for the wrong reasons? That the under card was full of total mismatches? That the most exciting thing to happen was seeing some poor soul's ear explode into a mass of bloody cartilage?

The first thing that comes to my mind is, "Sounds exactly like boxing...at it's worst."

To break out the hairy old cliche', the more things change, the more they stay the same. MMA apparently is just like boxing. As much as both bloodsports strive to become mainstream, neither will ever become more than a sideshow to stick and ball sports.

It's a damn shame the lousy MMA event had considerably more viewers than the hockey on NBC. The players on the ice were world class, unlike the stiffs they rolled out on on CBS.

The Lakers-Celtics "Rivalry": First off, I'll admit my bias. I'm not a fan of either team in the NBA Finals. Of course I'd have preferred the Pistons to have made the finals instead. But it's not the teams themselves that have me going. It's a specific kind of hoopla surrounding the final that, as Peter Griffin said on Quahog 5 News, "Grinds my gears."

I'm not looking forward to being beat over the head by the MSM and NBA with a so-called rivalry that hasn't actually been a rivalry since Larry Bird and Magic Johnson were in their primes. You know it, and I know it, even if ESPN/ABC attempts to convince us otherwise. No matter how many ways they try and spin it, events of 20-25 years ago do not a rivalry make.

Rather than sell the fact the best 2 teams in the NBA are facing each other in what should be an entertaining series, the powers that be would rather sell a NBA that no longer exists, except in the memories of those of us who were lucky enough to have lived through it.

For example, I have ESPN News on right now, and the 4 letter their talking heads recalling their "Favorite Lakers-Celtics rivalry moment." Every "moment" comes from the 80's. My God, I just saw a clip of Kurt Rambis, for chrissakes! Enough already!

When you have to reach back to 1987 for something memorable between the 2 teams, that isn't a rivalry. It's past history.

Big Brown's hoof: I don't care for horse racing. I never watch horse racing. I'd only be interested if I have a betting slip in one hand, and a beer in the other. Even then, I'm more interested in the beer.

Horse racing is dead and buried. Has been for years. But the MSM tries to resurrect it every spring.

For reasons I don't attempt to comprehend, the MSM is trying to make horse racing into something it isn't. Something that fans of stick and ball sports care about. Note to the media: We don't. Degenerate gamblers do, and that's about it.

The public at large only cares, remotely at that, about the Triple Crown races. Even then, only if a horse wins the first 2 races. If Big Brown hadn't have won the Preakness, who would pay attention to the Belmont?

So Big Brown has a cracked hoof? I feel for the horse, but so what? I'm more worried about the welfare of the horse, than his winning essentially a meaningless race.

There's no such thing as "The sport of kings." Horse racing is nothing more than an event for richer than sin horse owners to blow their money upon, and gamblers to do the same. Nothing more. It sure as Hell isn't a sport. So please don't try to convince me otherwise.