This game is over: 3rd quarter Lions - Eagles thoughts

Good thing I have the DVR running, as Lions - Eagles may end up as one of those "Don't delete till I say so" games, joining Justin Verlander's no-hitter.

Lions will be kicking off, Eagles start at the 20. Here we go, best buckle up, it's going to be a bumpy ride...

McNabb continues from where he left off, completing a 4 yard out, 2nd and 6. WOW! Westbrook only gets 5 yards on a swing pass!!! That was sarcasm, folks...

3rd and 1, and Lions tackle Langston Moore busts up the Westbrook run for a loss!

HOLY SHIT, BATMAN! We just saw the Lions defense 1st 3 and out! After the punt, it's Lions' ball at their own 29.

The Lions come out with 1 WR? What the Hell? Tatum Bell up the gut for 7. It's Bell again for 14 yards! 1st and 10 at the 50. Still 1 wide out, and it's Furrey. Kitna finds Furrey at the Eagles' 29!

Now it's Jones up the gut for 2 yards. It's as if Martz is trying to slow the game down. 2nd and 8, and Kitna is blindsided! Backus left Kitna's backside wide open. 3rd and 16 after the sack...

Kitna scrambles for a short gain, but there is a flag on the play. Offsides on the Eagles. It's 3rd and 11. Williams is back in for the Lions. Kitna has plenty of time, but hits Furrey a couple of yards short of the 1st down.

Lions MVP Jason Hanson is in for the long field goal attempt..It's up...and is wide left from 46 yards! Jesus H. God Damn Christ...

Eagles take over at their 36.

Westbrook stuffed on 1st down, but McNabb hits Curtis for 12 and a 1st down. How can you not cover a slow, white wide out? It's mystifying!

On 2nd and 8, McNabb hits Wolverine Jason Avant for another 1st down. Swing pass to Westbrook, and he breaks a tackle in the backfield, and takes it 9 yards. A run that bounces outside gets the 1st down, Philly 1st and 10 at the Lions 20. Lions defense is nothing more than a rumor.

McNabb continues nickel and dimeing his way down the field, hitting the TE for 8 more yards. The Lions still can't stop Westbrook, as he picks his way for the 1st down at the 8. Incomplete pass! Only because of a Lions penalty on Fernando Bryant. Philly 1st and goal from the 4.

Incomplete McNabb pass on 1st down, only his 2nd of the game! He had 18 straight completions before that misfire. Definitely video game style football...

On 3rd down from the 2, it's Buckhalter between the tackles, and there is a gaping maw of a hole for him to run through...That was too fucking easy for the Eagles on the goal line. Buckhalter was barely touched on the TD run...

Now 49-21 Eagles with 2:24 left in the 3rd quarter.

No way the Lions can even make a game of it at this point. Even if the Lions could continue to score, the defense couldn't stop me from gaining 125 yards on the ground. And I suck...

Defensive coordinator Joe Barry should be held accountable for such a lame defensive performance. I wonder how accountable his father-in-law, Sgt. Marinelli, will actually hold him?

After the kickoff, Lions will start at their 26. I'm beginning to develop carpal tunnel...

Another odd formation, with a TE lined up as a fullback. Kitna hits Bell for 12 yards and a 1st down. Bell on a draw, fools no one, 2 yard gain. We hear from Fox that Westbrook is hurt... Hey, fair is fair, the Lions are without Johnson.

Kitna hits Williams over the midd...No, he drops another pass! 3rd and long, Williams is brought down immediately after catching a short pass. And he gets up verrrrry slowly...

After the Lions punt, Philly has the ball at their own 23. A pass to...Who else...Curtis, moves the ball to the 31.

Mercifully, the quarter is over with the Eagles winning 49-21.

It's officially a defensive debacle: 2nd quarter Lions - Eagles thoughts

As we start the 2nd quarter, the Eagles are at the Lions 45, 1st and 10. On 2nd down, Buckhalter goes left, and isn't stopped till he gets to the Lions 11! Shit...

On 2nd and 10, McNabb is hit hard after he releases the ball by DeWayne White, but it makes no difference, as Curtis is wide wide wide open in the end zone. Another easy TD. 28-7 Eagles.

This is a disaster for Detroit. Same old, same old, they can't handle prosperity...

Philly is averaging almost 9 yards a carry. This is like watching the Oregon Ducks dismantle the Wolverines defense. Yes, it's that bad! It's that embarrassing! The Eagles are doing whatever they want, whenever they want.

It's obvious that the defense is going to be of no help, so it's up to the offense. The Lions start at their own 20, and they need something, anything, to spark them. So to get Detroit fired up on 1st down, Kitna...Is sacked.

2nd down, McDonald is open down the left sideline, but Kitna misses him... On 3rd down, Kitna has no chance, scrambles right, and is sacked for a 10 yard loss! The Lions look absolutely feeble against a decent Eagles team. The Vikings and Raiders are nowhere close to being as good as Philly.

After the punt the Eagles will start in Lions territory, at the 43. I sense another score coming.

McNabb fades back on 1st down, sets up with literally no pressure, AND NO ONE COVERS CURTIS! He's wide wide wide wide wide open on the left side, you'll never see an easier43 yard TD. 35-7 Eagles. With 11:32 left in the 2nd quarter!

Jesus Christ, this is nothing short of a debacle for the Lions. I told everyone not to buy into the Lions hype.

On 1st and 10 from the 20, it's Kitna to Calvin Johnson for 19 yards. A swing pass to Jones takes the Lions into Eagles' territory. And it's a false start on...Guess who? George Foster? I knew you'd figure that one out!

A short pass gets the 5 yards back, it's 2nd and 10. Kitna's hit, and he fumbles! But he recovers... Still, a 5 yard loss. 3rd and long...Kitna throws it up for grabs deep! It's Calvin Johnson with a circus catch at the 11! He's still down...Shit! From the replay, it's got to be just that the wind was knocked out of him, as Johnson landed flat on his back. A great catch, to say the very least...

Hell, back from commercial, and Johnson is still down! SHITSHITSHIT!!!

Now he's up, but walking slowly under his own power. Christ, that was a scare...

1st down, Williams drops a sure TD! But McDonald has his back, as Kitna hits McDonald for the 11 yard TD pass. Both former Rams WR's, Curtis and McDonald, are putting on quite the show today... 35-14, Eagles.

Well, the offense got back on track, but can the defense do anything? Oh Hell, Johnson is riding the golf cart to the locker room. Fuck! He may be done for the day...

The Eagles will start on their own 22. OK, this is just getting stupid silly. Westbrook takes a screen pass for 43 yards to the Lions 31! Good fucking Lord...

Word from Fox is Calvin Johnson has a back injury, going for x-rays. It would be typical Lions luck if Johnson end up missing a significant amount of time. Wonderful, now Ernie Sims is shaken up...

McNabb is 11-12 for 245 yards. And the half is not close to being over... The Lions D is an utter joke. As if to confirm that thought, Wesbrook breaks off another long run, taking the ball to the 7.

McNabb drops back..He's hit by Cory Smith...Fumble! Lions ball...No review? Nope, McNabb's arm was not going forward! Lions get a break!

On 2nd down...Kitna hits Williams on a 5 yard slant...And Williams runs away from the Eagles' defense!!!! 91 yard TD pass!

35-21 Eagles. But can the Lions defense get another stop? To their credit, the offense is trying to make a game of it...

On the kickoff, Buckhalter bungles the return, indecisive as to downing the ball, runs it out, and is stopped at the 11! McNabb scrambles for a short gain on 1st down. But Westbrook is unstoppable, it's another long run, this one for 17 yards. He's over 100 yards on the day.

On 2nd down from their 37, McNabb scrambles...Looks...And finds you know who. Curtis is open at the Lions 46. Curtis now has 9 catches for...Get this...205 yards!

Guess what else folks. I have Curtis on one of my fantasy teams. Think I thought to play him? Hell no...

You have got to be kidding me! Westbrook takes a swing pass, the Lions miss several tackles, Westbrook breaks 3 on his own, and takes it to the house. Pitiful display of tackling by the Lions. Absolutely pitiful. That was jaw droppingly bad defensive play by the Lions.

To make things even worse, Sims is dinged up again on the play as well.

42-21 Eagles. McNabb has 335 yards passing, and the HALF ISN'T OVER. I'm at a loss for words at this point...

1st down at the the Lions' 25. Williams catches a 7 yard pass. 2nd down...Yep, you know it, you expected it, a false start on Wilson. An incomplete pass is nullified by an Eagles penalty, 1st and 10 on the 33.

Sideline pass to Williams goes for 9 yards. Williams is up to 167 yards in the day. Kitna looks DEEP! But misses Williams. Luckily it turns out, as he was double covered. 3rd and 1, just over a 1 minute left.

Kitna hits Walters for a 1st down, ball now at the Eagles 46. McDonald catches another, a 23 yard catch to the Eagles 22! Time out Detroit! This is a God damn video game, not real football...

Incomplete pass on 1st down... Near pick on a slant on 2nd down... That was too close. 3rd and 10.

ARRRRRRRGH! Kitna scrambles right, and throws it up for grabs in the end zone. You know the result, Eagles pick. Kitna with his 3rd end zone pick in 3 games. That was a stupid, silly pass, one a veteran should never have tried. I could make a religion joke here, but I'll hold back...

Eagles take a knee, half is finally over. 42-21 Eagles. I'm fucking exhausted... So are the Eagles, after gaining 473 TOTAL YARDS! Not that the Lions were too shabby either, with 290 total yards.

The stats are arcade like...

Westbrook 102 rushing, 98 receiving. Curtis 205 receiving. McNabb 332 passing. Kitna 314 passing. Williams 167 receiving.

That's in one fucking half! I'm flabbergasted. The doofs on Fox say we may see 100 points combined. Personally, I think we'll see that from the Eagles themselves!

On to the 3rd quarter!

That sucked: 1st quarter Lions - Eagles thoughts

Lions start at the 20, and we're off...To a lousy start, as Kitna is sacked. 2nd down is more of the same, as Kitna barely escapes the Eagles' rush. and throws the ball away. A 3rd down incompletion ends a not very impressive 1st drive. Kitna was running for his life every time he dropped back.

A team that claims to be the Eagles, but are wearing strange Swedish flag colored unis take possession after a Lions punt. I have to put on sunglasses to even look at the screen. I'd be better served with a blindfold.

2 passes and a run have the Eagles to the Lions 25. Brian Westbrook takes a handoff to the left, and is barely touched as he strolls into the end zone. You won't see an easier score. Now that's the Lions I expected to see this season. The Lions' offense consisting of Kitna scrambling to save his skin, and the opposition being a hot knife to the Lions defense being the hot butter.

7-0 Philly. It's going to be a loooong afternoon if this continues...

Lions 1st and 10 at their 26. A Bell run get stuffed and mounted, giving the Lions a 3rd and 10. Christ...

Kitna is hit as he throws off his back foot...But he finds Roy Williams on a crossing pattern! 55 serpentine yards later, carrying the ball like a loaf of French bread, Williams is tackled at the Eagles 23. Nice, nice play!

Another pass, and Kitna finds McDonald, as he takes it to the 3! What an off season pickup Shaun McDonald has been...

Holy mother of God, the Lions are on the verge of evening up the game! Which they do, as the first time this season Kevin Jones touches the ball, he takes it between the tackles for the score!

7-7 game, and the Philly crowd is stunned into silence.

The Swedes will start at their own 23. A short run, and a throw away on a heavy rush later, it's 3rd and 7. Bah... McNabb hits Brown on a slant for 19. I have a feeling that the Lions D will have trouble getting off the field today.

McNabb channels back to the day he ran wild against the Wolverines, and runs for 8. Tack on 5 yards on an illegal contact penalty against the Leo's, and the Eagles are in Lions' territory. A long run by Westbrook takes the ball to the Lions' 29! Westbrook is going to have a monster day, the Lions can't stop him.

A run and a pass have the Eagles 3rd and short. it's 3rd down? I'm guessing the Eagles will convert...Which they do on an off tackle run.

Pitch to Westbrook, 10 more yards down to the Lion 5! He's going to have a 200 yard day at this rate. Now it's Westbrook to the left, he stretches...Ball is slapped loose, Lions recover, but it's called a TD! Expect a challenge, as it was damn close...And there's the red flag. Last week was a game management fiasco for the Lions, at least this challenge was done in a timely manner.

Let's hope Marinelli's luck at challenging plays has changed. But I'm going to say it's too close to call, and the play will stand as called. Which it does... 14-7 Eagles.

Westbrook already has 64 yards and 2 TD's rushing, with just under 4 minutes left in the 1st. There's going to be more of the hot knife/butter thing...

Lions start at their 25. 2 incomplete passes leave them with a 3 and 10. Slant to McDonald falls harmlessly to the ground. It wouldn't have counted anyway, as the Lions were in an illegal formation. A WR didn't line up correctly, and we can tell Kitna is lucid today, as he's pissed! No post concussion syndrome here...

Eagles start at their 32...McNabb goes DEEP! He sees Kevin Curtis running by the safety in a middle seam, and hits him in stride...Easy, easy TD.

21-7 Eagles. Let me channel my inner Dennis Green in regard to the Lions' defense. "THEY ARE WHO WE THOUGHT THEY WERE!"

The Lions start, and end, at their own 35, as they have a very quick 3 and out. Philly takes over at their own 22 with 1:48 left in the 1st quarter.

Holy shit, McNabb hits Curtis, who's wide open in the middle of the field for 20+ yards. Then it's Curtis for 8 more. Curtis has 6 catches for over 130 yards. IN ONE QUARTER! Kevin Curtis?

The 1st quarter mercifully ends with the Eagles in Lions territory once again.

That was the worst the Lions have looked since the exhibition season... The offense did nothing much, and the defense was garbage.

I've just read the worst baseball column ever...

Want to know why the MSM gets mocked, reamed, and laughed at on a regular basis? Because of lazy, under researched, knee-jerk, and outright idiotic columns such as today's Kevin Hench Fox Sports column.

In an article titled "These players choked down the stretch," Hench's number 1 and 2 were Gary Sheffield and Jeremy Bonderman. I'm warning you now, you''ll feel your IQ dropping precipitously just reading this piece of bandwidth wasting tripe...

Gary Sheffield, Tigers

For the first four months of the season Sheffield was making the Yankees regret trading him. In August and September he's made the decision look pretty shrewd. On Aug.10 he was hitting .291 with 24 home runs and had the Tigers in the thick of the pennant chase. Since then he's sandwiched two punchless stretches around a trip to the DL. In his last 88 at bats, he's hitting only .159 with one home run as Detroit has faded badly. His slugging percentage over that six-week stench, er, stretch is a meager .205. That's an awfully big chasm to have in the 3-hole in a pennant race.

Jeremy Bonderman, Tigers

He wasn't around for the final twitches of the death rattle, having succumbed to a sore elbow. But perhaps no Tiger — even Sheffield — is as much to blame for the almost incomprehensible stretch fade of the defending AL champs as Bonderman. Following a July 19 no-decision, he was 10-1 with a 3.54 ERA. After that — Tiger fans avert your eyes or grab a bucket — he was 1-8 with an 8.23 ERA

Has Hench even looked into why Sheffield and Bonderman had awful second halves? It's would have taken him a 30 second Google search to find out why. I guess the use of facts to back up your opinion is lost on this "Columnist." (Term used only because Fox calls him as such)

If Hench had done that 30 second Google search, he would have learned that Sheffield is playing through a shoulder injury severe enough that it will require either surgery, or months of rehab? That Bonderman had been trying to pitch through an elbow injury, an injury that he didn't tell anyone on the Tigers about because he knew it was severe enough to have him removed from the rotation?

In what world does "Injury = Choking?" Only in the short bus riding world of Kevin Hench.

I'm guessing that Hench knows that Sheffield and Bonderman are hurt. I have a good idea as to why Hench didn't mention the injuries. Because it wouldn't have allowed him to use them as part of his column's flawed premise.

So what do you do if facts don't allow you to make your argument credible? You "Rob Parker" your column. "

To "Parker" a column is to do the following: "Stats or factual events won't back up your POV? Then either ignore them, or use small sample sizes, problem solved."

This was a textbook example of "Parkering." Hench did Parker proud with this utter waste of a column.

I can't say enough what an outright piece of tripe Hench wrote. Hackery at it's lowest...

Answering the Detroit Lions "Burning questions" - Week 2 weekend edition

The Lions are 2-0, and the talk of Detroit, if not the nation. Despite their being undefeated, no one is sure if the Lions are for real. So questions are raised, and need answering. As is the norm, Detroit News columnist Terry Foster dishes out the "Burning questions" on the weekend, and I attempt to make sense of them.

This week, Foster fires from the hip, answering questions in regard to what Mike Martz may have up his tricky sleeve, the Lions running game, or more correctly, the lack thereof, black QB's under pressure, and Roy Williams' mouth. On with the inquisition!
Burning questions as the Lions put their 2-0 record on the line at Philadelphia: Q: The Lions surprised Minnesota by running a no-huddle spread offense. Can we expect the same against Philadelphia?

Foster: Maybe. But it would not surprise me if the Lions' offense gave the Eagles a different look. In fact, expect it. Detroit's players and coaches say they can give opponents a variety of looks.

Offensive coordinator Mike Martz wants to keep defenses guessing. This is one reason Martz crams so much information into his players. He wants them to be prepared for anything.

The Eagles' secondary is beat up, and it's Football 101 to attack a team's weakness. If the Lions go no-huddle, it means they'll be facing a beaten up defense that won't be able to rest much.

Big Al: Your guess is as good as mine as to what we might expect out of Mike Martz's offense. For all I know, the crazy super genius could come out of the tunnel and scream, "The no-huddle is nothing! Stop this, you sum bitches! What about the wing-T? Wishbone? Veer? Spread? Single wing? Run and shoot? Try and stop me!!! BWAHAHA!"

Well, I'm overstating things just a trifle. But you know Martz will come out with some wrinkle the Eagles haven't seen yet seen, and may not expect. When it comes right down to it though, the Lions strength is in their wide receivers, which they have both in quantity, and quality.
So you know the Lions are going to throw the ball, and throw it a ton.

Martz will have something up his sleeve tomorrow. All I can say is that his offense has been highly entertaining, and becoming more and more productive. The Lions are going to score points, probably a lot of them. No matter what team is on the other side of the ball.

Q: The Lions didn't try to run the ball much against Minnesota. Don't you have to establish the run to win?

Foster: So far that has not been the case. If you toss aside quarterback scrambles, the Lions only ran 16 times against the Vikings. Starting tailback Tatum Bell was not thrilled, but said he will remain patient and try to stay within the game plan.

The Lions probably will run a little more against the Eagles, mostly because they want to give their third opponent a new look.

The Lions say they will be able to run the ball more effectively this season because the offensive line is better. I'm not convinced of that, and that's why they need Kevin Jones back in the lineup.

Big Al: I've said this several times already this season, and I'll say it again. You can't use what don't have. The Lions don't have a running game. Not in the traditional sense, anyway.

There's no running game for several reasons. Their best running back is still recovering from his severe foot injury. From what we've seen in the 1st two games, the O-line is vastly better at pass blocking, than run blocking. The wide receivers, as a unit, may be the best in the entire NFL, so you are more likely to use them, than your running backs. Mike Martz 's offensive philosophy is pass first, run never.

It's hard to win in the NFL without a running game. Truthfully, it's hard for any 1 dimensional team to win in the NFL. But to say you need the run to set up the pass is antiquated thinking.

The Lions have won 2 games so far being a pass first team. Actually, for all intents and purposes, they've been a pass only team. I don't see that changing anytime soon, so we'll see if the Lions can continue to win while defying that old school, conventional thinking about needing the running game to win.

Keep one thing in mind. If there is a coach in the NFL that can turn conventional thinking on it's ear, it's Mike Martz, super genius.

Q: What can we expect of Jones this week?

Foster: Not much. The Lions say he will take 15 snaps, and the way Martz is running the offense, that could mean a whopping one or two carries.

The Lions must bring him back slowly, and they seem to be doing that by limiting his practice time.

The foot is a concern, but the main thing is Jones is not in football shape yet. You do not want to run the risk of having a tired running back fumble or miss an assignment.

Jones says his foot is sore sometimes when he wakes up in the morning, but the man is still hanging in there. It's one day at a time, one step at a time, and we probably won't see Jones at 100 percent until next season.

Big Al: I'm not expecting much out of Jones. As Foster says, he's not in "Football shape." I'd be surprised if he even carries the ball. I'm thinking he may be used in passing situations. But in Martz's pass insane offense, every down is a passing situation.

I'll put it this way. Who would you rather have as the 3rd down back? Brian Calhoun, or Kevin Jones? If they think Jones is healthy enough to play 15 snaps, but not healthy enough for full time duty, then why not use him in situations where he can get the ball in space, not having to worry so much about contact?

It almost certain that Jones will play sooner than later, even if he's not going to be 100% anytime this season. I'm quite curious to see how he gets used against the Eagles.

Q: What quarterback is under the most pressure in the NFL?

Foster: It's Donovan McNabb, and there isn't a close second-place QB. He is injured, his star running back, Brian Westbook, is banged up, and the Eagles don't want to go 0-3. < style="font-style: italic;">Plus he has the added scrutiny this week of the fallout from the comments on race he made during the HBO interview.

All eyes are on McNabb. How does he handle it? I believe he fails. This is too much of a burden for him to overcome.

Big Al: QB is the most pressure packed position in all of sports. Just ask Joey Harrington. He's said as much in Detroit, Miami, and now Atlanta.

Now take the pressure Joey Blue Skies has felt in those cities, then turn that pressure up a several points on Donovan McNabb in Philadelphia. We all know how notorious the fans are in Philly. The take no prisoners Philly fans booed Santa Claus and Mike Schmidt, for Christ's sake. Just playing in Philly is pressure enough.

Then add his controversial quotes about black QB's facing more intense scrutiny than their white counterparts on top of that. Then add the fact that that the Eagles, who were favored to make the playoff before the season, have started 0-2, looking quite bad in the process. Don't forget that the Eagles drafted McNabb's odds on replacement, Kevin Kolb, in this past draft. The whispers are already starting in Philly as to when in this season Kolb will start a game.

Losing to the long downtrodden Lions would exacerbate McNabb's already shaky status, accelerating his downward slide in the eyes of Philadelphia fans. A few more bad games, and the Eagles may move McNabb out from under center, and for that matter, out of Philadelphia at the end of the season.

So yeah, I'd think it's safe to say that McNabb is the QB with the most pressure upon him in the NFL.

Q: Did you hear that Roy Williams said Calvin Johnson could have had 200 yards receiving against the Vikings?

Foster: Yeah, I heard it. Let me steal a line from our friend in the media, Tigers reliever Todd Jones: Take with a grain of salt.

Williams is young and enthusiastic and loves to hear himself talk. He was simply trying to pump up a teammate.

The funny thing, Williams told me last week that Johnson isn't comfortable with the offense yet, and he can't wait to see him play in it next season.

Big Al: Roy Williams says a lot of things. Often without thinking about the consequences. Often without thinking, period. Remember the "We're close to scoring 40 points a game" quote last season? Uh...Yeah, Roy. Whatever...

I will admit that his quote about trying to get out of bounds in order to keep keep his face pretty after having his helmet ripped off during the Vikings game was pretty damn funny...

Honestly, I don't make much of this sort of thing. It's not a big deal. Locker room quotes are overrated, anyway. I'd prefer it if Roy just caught the God damn ball, and let the rest take care of itself. But all the talk is just Roy being Roy. If Williams needs to pull quotes out his ass to keep himself fired up enough to continue playing at a pro bowl level, then yack away!

Answering the Detroit Tigers' "Burning questions," volume 11

Do you know what time it is? No, it's not time for me to bitch about the Lions. It's not time for me to make some lame 70's pop culture reference. It's not the time on TWFE when we dance...

What it is time for is the 11th round of me answering Detroit News columnist Lynn Henning's Burning questions!

In this edition, it's all Jim Leyland, all the time. How anyone could seriously take umbrage with the Marlboro Man is beyond me, but Henning does his best in coming up with devil's advocate style questions On with the smoky inquisition, and let's take down those strawman arguments!

Burning questions after the Tigers finally got dismissed from the playoff race

Q: So what grade does Jim Leyland get as manager in 2007?

Henning: The same grade his team gets: We'll give them a collective B.

Big Al: Sounds about right to me. He's going to finish in 2nd in the central, and a few games out of the wild card. Considering the overall circumstances, I doubt he could have gotten much more out of this Tigers team.

Q: How can you reward failure? They didn't make the playoffs? They were outhit, outpitched, outmanaged, outmarketed, outadministered, and outownered by the Cleveland Indians. Leyland and his players should be ashamed.

Henning: You're right. They need to study 2006 and do the things they did when they were all geniuses. Making sure to tell Kenny Rogers not to get hurt would be wise in that respect. The same advice should be given to Joel Zumaya and Gary Sheffield.

Big Al: I'll put it this way. Jim Leyland didn't become a crappy manager over the off season. He's the same guy, using the same basic strategy, as he was in 2006.

Leyland's a great manager, perhaps the best in all of baseball. Much like any head coach or manager in any sport, Leyland didn't deserve all the accolades he received in 2006, and he dosen't deserve much of the criticism some showered upon him in 2007. You're only as good as you players, and between injuries, decline, suckage, and plain old bad luck, the Tigers weren't as good in '07 as they were in in '06.

For example, the fact Brandon Inge went from a dangerous number 9 hitter to an offensive back hole in a 12 month period, was no fault of Leyland's.

Q: You're using injuries as an excuse. This team and this manager failed. Failed! You thought Leyland did a good job this year?

Henning: I didn't see him do anything different than he did in 2006. At some point, the players and their health levels enter into the equation -- like to the tune of about 96 percent. Do you think Eric Wedge of the Indians did anything noticeably different this year in terms of administration and strategy than he did last year, when the Indians were 78-84?

I'll tell you what he did differently: He watched Fausto Carmona turn into a machine in the starting rotation and Rafael Betancourt preserve him from the consequences of a mediocre closer in Joe Borowski. He did a good job, too, in allowing his general manager, Mark Shapiro, to find a new second baseman in Asdrubal Cabrera after Josh Barfield flamed out.

Wedge has been a solid manager. This year, he had more solid players. The Tigers were too banged up to overcome a better Indians team. But the reason wasn't Leyland.

Big Al: I'll ask you this. Who would you rather have running your team, Wedge or Leyland? I bet EVERY team in MLB would say Jim Leyland. I bet every team in MLB would take Jim Leyland over whomever they currently have running their teams, no ifs, ands or buts about it.

In regard to Wedge, it's amazing how much better a manager he became when his players performed up to their capabilities. Hell, the fans in Cleveland were ready to run Wedge out of town on a rail after the Indians underachieved last season. This season, he could be elected governor.

As for this year's Tigers, a combination of Sparky Anderson, Casey Stengel, the kid who ran the Twins in "Little Big League," Lou Brown, and Tony LaRussa's brain in a pickle jar would have had trouble overcoming all the Tigers' injuries this season. The Tigers were in the hunt till the last 2 weeks of the season, while using a makeshift lineup for the vast majority of the year. I think that's testament to Leyland's ability.

How do you think an in over his head clown like Luis Pujols would have done? Or an inexperienced Alan Trammell? The Tigers would have given up weeks, if not months, ago.

Q: You're giving the manager a pass. Did you see some of those lineups he put out there? Did you see some of those pitching changes?

Henning: Sure, and I didn't have many problems on many days, except for some of the same subjective differences that you're always going to have with any manager over a 162-game season.

Big Al: I disagreed with some of the Marlboro Man's lineups as well. Unfortunately, the same basic strategies that worked in 2006 didn't work quite as well in 2007. I'd blame that more on the players, than the manager.

It's not as if we are going to see anything different in how Leyland runs his team in 2008. He'll be the same manager he was the past 2 seasons, and I'll wager that he'll have the Tigers, once again, in contention all season as well.

Q: But did you see some of those batting orders?

Henning: You're talking about days when Mike Rabelo was in the lineup for Pudge Rodriguez and when someone such as Ramon Santiago was playing shortstop and Mike Hessman was playing third base or first base.

Funny how many people have told me that Santiago needs to be the regular shortstop in 2008; that Hessman should be the regular third baseman; and that Rabelo is definitely a better catcher than Rodriguez.

Everybody's got an opinion on the roster, batting order, lineup, and on the issue of pitching changes in a particular game.

The only thing that makes any difference is, at the end of the day, if your team has won. If so, a fan's second-guesses become muted or they are forgotten altogether. If they lose -- and losing probably occurred for reasons having to do with player performances -- then those managerial bones of contention become federal cases.

Big Al: Do I have issues with batting Sean Casey 3rd when Sheffield was hurt? Or batting Marcus Thames in the 2 hole when Placido Polando is out? Sure, and most everyone else does, too. But you can't argue with 95 wins last season, and what will probably be close to 90 this season. Leyland has his reasoning for his sometimes odd batting orders (He doesn't like to move players out of their "Comfort zone," thus Carlos Guillen hitting 5th all season rather than being shuffled around when injuries hit), and he's not going to change now.

You can't expect Leyland to play older players with injury histories like Magglio Ordonez, Pudge Rodriguez, and Gary Sheffield 162 games. You just can't play them every day, even in September. You have bench players for a reason. You just have to try and place them in situations where they have the best chance to be successful. For the most part, Leyland does just that.

And anyone who says Mike Hessman or Mike Rabelo should be playing regularly needs to have their heads examined.

Q: But why rest your stars in important games?

Henning: The manager is on the record as saying these words: I manage for the season, not for one game. Experience has taught him -- and all big league managers worth a hoot -- that you absolutely must rest some regulars more than others during the course of a season.

If you don't, you will likely pay a steep price in September. The one thing you can't say about the Tigers during the past few weeks is that they wore down. Rodriguez looked as fresh as he did in June or July, which is saying something for a catcher who is almost 36 years old.

I can hear it now had Leyland gone 150 or more games with his everyday regulars: The manager burned them out. He wore them down. He treated them like machines. No wonder they got swept by the Indians.

Big Al: I agree with much of what Henning said. Most players aren't robots, Cal Ripken, of Lou Gehrig. They need to sit for various reasons. Health, rest, slumps, injury, past history with a specific pitcher.

For that matter, sometimes you need those bench players to produce in tight, important situations throughout a season. I wouldn't expect a player to come off the bench, after sitting for weeks, and be able to help you win a game. There have been games that were won in thanks to big contributions of bench players like Thames, Mike Rabelo, and Ryan Raburn.

Leyland knows when to ride those guys, and when to ease off on their use, to prevent them from being exposed.

One more thing. When you look at the 2007 Indians, you'll see Eric Wedge is going to have played his lineup's big 5 (Martinez, Blake, Peralta, Sizemore, and Hafner) at least 145 games. That just might come back to haunt them in 2008.

Q: But what about pitching changes? Bunting and baserunning? Undisciplined hitting? Bad bullpen performances? You're saying the manager bears no accountability there?

Henning: The manager does not pitch or hit. He oversees the players who perform and whose skills will determine 99 percent of games and their outcomes.

If Leyland were doing a bad job of managing, it would be acknowledged as such across the board. But ask any opposing manager where Leyland sits on the list of guys they most hate to manage against.

He finishes in the top two or three on anyone's ballot, and No. 1 with most of his colleagues. He managed thousands of games in the minor leagues and has now managed 2,500 in the big leagues.

If you're looking at Leyland as the Tigers' problem in 2007, we weren't watching the same games.

Big Al: From the looks of the question, it's obvious Henning has been reading the message boards!

First off, I agree with Leyland's baseball strategy the vast majority of the time. He's loath to use small ball, unless absolutely necessary. He rarely gives up an out by bunting. Leyland is more from the Earl Weaver school of baseball, that your best weapon is the 3 run homer. He'll often let a starting pitcher try to pitch out of their own jams. He's not afraid to be unorthodox, and buck conventional baseball wisdom, such as visiting the mound, or even pulling a pitcher, in the middle of a count. Leyland's seen it all, and done it all.

Leyland knows exactly what he is doing when he reams a player, or the team as a whole. He's not going to go off half cocked, and alienate his players by doing or saying something stupid that could easily come back to haunt him. Leyland has a legitimate reason behind all his actions, and everything he says. He's aware of the consequences if he makes a bad move, or says the wrong thing.

After years of questionable, and at time outright awful, managing, I really can't see anyone in their right mind thinking the Tigers would be able to find a better manager than Jim Leyland.

Dear God NO! I warned you all about the Lions, and do people listen?

As soon I finished my "Another One Bites the Dust" post, about not buying into the Lions hype, the Fanhouse found this "Gem" of a Detroit Lions fan made fight song called "MARINELLI-YA!" The performer? A young "Rapper" named Lionfan941.



I shudder to think what may be next if the Lions actually beat the Eagles...

Beware of the Detroit Lions, and their fast starts - Remember "Another One Bites the Dust?"

What in the Hell is going on in this town?! Most EVERYONE is picking the Lions to beat the Eagles. How short are the memories in Detroit?

Locally, as is their wont, they are buying into a pair of wins that could easily be mirages. The Vikings and Raiders may be the 2 worst teams in football, and the Lions struggled to beat both. That's not stopping the local MSM from jumping on the rapidly filling bandwagon, though.

On Fridays, the local fishwraps have their "Experts" pick the NFL games, and the predictions are stunning, considering most picked the Lions to lose 10 games before the season started.

The Killer? Lions will win. The Little Fella, The Big 10 Hater, and Cotsonika? Lions, Lions, and Lions. At the News, they still haven't quite bought into the Lions fast start, with only Terry Foster is calling for a Lions win, as O'Hara, the functionally retarded hack, and Wojo are picking the Eagles.

Even a few of the national pundits are joining the party. Peter King? Lions. Bill Simmons picks against the spread. The Eagles are +6.5, yet he says take the Lions and the points.

Doesn't anyone remember the Lions' historical tendency to buy into their own hype?

When it comes to the Lions, one thing has always been true over the years. The Detroit Lions can't handle prosperity. Never have, never will. Go back through the years, and the Lions always manage to lay an embarrassing egg after a good performance. Even as recently as last year, when the Lions followed up a solid, though a losing, effort against the Seahawks, with a blowout loss against the Bears that exposed them for what they were. Awful.

Fans are hoping against hope that this season's fast start is the harbinger of good things to come. One good, and one average performance has many fans, desperate for a winning season, expecting, at the very least, a .500 season. The Lions' fanbase is thinking, "This time, it's going to be different!" As you have seen above, the MSM is falling into the same trap. Thing is, I've seen it all before. In my mind, it's "Here we go again."

Let's go back to the long ago days of 1980. The Lions lucked into drafting the great Billy Sims after their horrendous 2-14 1979 season. Sims immediately became one of, if not the best, running back in the NFL. Sims exploded on the scene, with a 140+ yards rushing, and 3 TD's, leading the Lions to a blowout win over the defending NFC champions, the Los Angeles Rams.

With Sims rampaging through the league (He ended the season with over 1900 total yards, and 16 TD's. I still mourn the day Sims tore up his knee, prematurely ending what would have been a hall of fame career), he led the Lions to a 4-0 start. The Lions became the talk of the nation.

This was heady territory for the Lions, and they didn't handle it well, as it led to...Something they soon came to regret.

"Another One Bites the Dust."



Once Jimmy "Spiderman" Allen's tune hit the streets, the 4-0 Lions quickly became the 4-1 Lions, losing in blowout fashion to the Atlanta Falcons. 4-1 soon became 7-7, and even winning their last 2 games could not get Detroit into the playoffs. They lost the division to the God damn Vikings, while the Rams and Eagles took the wild card berths. The 1980 season turned into a HUGE disappointment.

From that point on, the Lions developed, and deservedly kept, the reputation that they were a team that couldn't finish what they started.

After looking at the Lions from a historical perspective, and living through past fiascoes, you can see why I'm not yet ready to dive headfirst into that rapidly filling bandwagon. The Detroit Lions of past seasons have proved true the old adage, if you don't learn from history, you are doomed to repeat it. The Lions have continually repeated history...

Sunday will tell us if Rod Marinelli is well on his way to changing the Lions' traditional proclivity for believing their own press clippings. To be honest, I'm deathly afraid that Sunday night we will see history repeat itself, and we'll be saying, "It's the same old Lions. Why did I think this season would be any different?"

A message from Matt Millen to the Lions' internet fanbase

Ha! HA! HEE! BWAHAHAHA!

Look who's laughing now, you bunch of no-nothing, computer loving, fancy boys! Screw all you haters! And most of all...Screw the God damn bloggers!

You know what you bloggers can do?! Go run to your mom's basement, and blog THIS, you typing in your underwear, tough guys hiding behind a keyboard, never played a game in your life, blogging morons!

The Detroit Lions are in 1st place! Blog that, asswipes!

My Lions, Mr. Ford's Lions, the Detroit Lions, are 2 and 0! That's 2 wins, and zero losses! Zip! Less than 1! A big fat ZERO!

Matt Millen is a NFL laughing stock NO MORE! Guess who gets the last laugh? Not the bitchy bloggers! ME! Matt Millen! Mr. 2 and 0!

What did I hear all off season from you bunch of know-it-alls? The Lions would go 0-16, be an embarrassment to the NFL, and the city of Detroit! That I was a moronic boob who didn't know his ass from a wide receiver! That the Lions would never win under my regime!

What do have to say now? Huh? What's that? I can't HEAR YOU! Where's all the "Fire Millen" chants?! Fire this, you fickle SOB's! I'm the toast of the NF Fuckin' L!

The sky's the limit! Detroit Lions are above the fold, baby! Front page on the dot com's! Cover of Sports Illustrated! The lead story on Sportscenter! The Lions highlights aren't lumped in with the hockey scores and soccer news anymore! I'm prime time!

The NFL is going to regret not putting the mighty, Matt Millen led, Detroit Lions on Sunday or Monday Night Football! A winning Lions team = RATINGS BONANZA!

When things get slow during a Sunday night blowout, who are Al and John going to talk about? ME! M-A-T-T-M-I-L-L-E-N! And the DETROIT LIONS! That's who!

You know what else, Nancy boys? I'm a mover and a shaker! I'm a doer and a fixer! I'm a rocker and a roller! I make things happen! I'm a WINNER! I ROCK!

As for you internet guys? You SUCK! Because I'm Matt Millen, and you're NOT!

We're going to the playoffs baby! Done deal! WHOOOOOO! Whaddaya got to say about that, blogger boys? You got nuttin'! YOU GOT NOTHING! NOTHING! Print that on your blogs, suckers!

I got 2 words for you! "Eat Me!" BWHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! See you in the funny papers, Mr. I Got No Life So I Rip The Lions!

Sincerely,

Matt "Mr. 2 and 0" Millen

You can't always get what you want...

...And as much as I wanted to see a 1987 style comeback from the 2007 Tigers, I've come to grips with the fact that it's not going to happen. The Tigers needed to sweep the Indians, and as we have seen over the last two nights, that ain't going to happen.

For me, tonight's loss was it. The game that shut the door, closed the window, the final nail in the coffin, the final goodbye, and any other metaphor you might care to use to describe the end.


As much as I want to deny it, and say it isn't so, I have to finally admit that a playoff berth just isn't going to be in the cards. Detroit's too far back, with too little time left, and to make matters worse, the teams ahead of them just aren't losing.

That scenario doesn't add up to the Tigers making the playoffs with a crazy mad rush, nipping the Yankees or Indians at the wire. What was once possible, is now a pipe dream.

With the Tribe and Yanks both winning tonight, it's going to take a Jon Kitna concussion recovery type "Miracle" for the Tigers to make the playoffs. I don't see that happening, as how many miracles can 1 city get?

For the last time, I'm breaking out the timeless quote from Pvt. Hudson in "Aliens."

Game over man, game over!

The season's over too, man, season's over...

More fuel for the 1st base fire

The Tigers' Carlos Guillen spoke to the MSM before tonight's game, and the main topic appears to have been his possible move to 1st base.

Guillen sounds as if he's not ready to play 1st on a full time basis.

When asked about the prospect of becoming Detroit’s regular first baseman next year, Guillen said, “It’s not what they asked me when I signed the contract. I can play first base, but my question is, ‘Who are they going to bring (in)?’ If they’re going bring in a shortstop, he’d better be a Gold Glove, and a pretty good hitter, because we’ve got (Ramon) Santiago.

“I said I’d play first base at the end of the contract – not at the beginning.”

Guillen's got a point, most any shortstop in MLB would be a downgrade, especially with the bat. For argument's sake, let's take a look at the upcoming crop of free agent shortstops.

David Eckstein (33)
Cesar Izturis (28) - $5.45MM club option for '08
Juan Uribe (29) - $5MM club option for '08
Omar Vizquel (41)

I'm not adding Alex Rodriguez to the list, as it's a virtual lock that the Tigers won't be able, or even have the opportunity, to sign him. I'm not saying they won't do their due diligence, and give Scott Boras a call. Dave Dombrowski would be negligent in his duties if he didn't.

Let's get serious. A-Rod to Detroit is not going to happen. Now that we have A-Rod out of the mix, let's move on...

I can only think of one word after looking at that short list... "Eww."

Anyone there you'd rather see as the Tigers' 2008 shortstop over Carlos Guillen? Obviously, his replacement is not coming to Detroit via free agency.

Methinks Guillen has seen that list too, thus plans on playing another year or two at short. The odds of the Tigers acquiring an A-list shortstop via a trade, such as Miguel Tejada, seem pretty damn long. I just don't see that sort of trade happening when there is still some tread left on Guillen's cleats.

I'm buying into the idea that in '08, Detroit's shortstop position will manned by a Guillen - Ramon Santiago combo, with Santiago starting a game or two a week, and playing in the late innings. Basically what Jim Leyland has been doing for the past few weeks. Going by the above blurb, Guillen seems to approve of the current status quo as well.

I can live with that proposal. It's a better option than moving an All-Star player to a position that he doesn't yet want to play, and replacing him with an older, very light hitting free agent.

I hope that Guillen's comment will finally put to rest the idea of his moving to 1st base full time for (At least) another year. I think we're all tired of the speculation, and Guillen is as well.

As to who plays 1st base for the Tigers next year? That's another post...

Where does faith end, and proselytizing begin?

Jon Kitna told the media yesterday that the reason he recovered so quickly from a concussion was thanks to a "Miracle," and being touched by "The hand of God." It was in thanks to Him, that Kitna so quickly recovered, and led the lions to victory.

"That's really what it is. You can call it whatever it is, whatever the official diagnosis of it, whatever it was. But I've never felt anything like that, and then for it to clear up and go right back to as normal as I can be, is nothing short of a miracle in my life. I just definitely feel the hand of God."

So it wasn't a just slight concussion, a minor injury that only a takes short amount of time on the bench to recover fully from the effects? Rather, it was a full blown, a feeding the masses with a couple of fish and a few loaves of bread, miracle? I think Kitna is using the term "Miracle" somewhat lightly...

If Kitna believes that's so, and his faith helps him win games, that's fine by me. More power to him, as I'm sure his faith is one of the reasons why he is such a good leader. I'm also quite aware that he's a born again Christian, and born again Christians are expected to preach to, and attempt to convert, non-believers. I, and many others, either have no interest in being converted, or have their own reasons as to why we question religion.

Personally, I'd advise Kitna to keep further "Miracles" to himself.

He's opening up a HUGE can of worms in bringing his faith to the forefront. Kitna saying God cured him has me, someone who was raised in the Catholic church, saw the church's hypocrisies as an adult, and now questions religion in general, asking some hard faith based questions...

Why did He "Cure" Kitna? Why not me? Because he's a Christian, and I'm not? He's a believer, so that gives him a leg up on being healed? Aren't there millions of people in the world who need to be cured of much more dire afflictions than a minor concussion?

As someone afflicted with a life altering disease, a disease I didn't ask for, has no medical cure, totally changed my life for the worse, and wouldn't wish upon anyone else, the thought of Kitna saying his concussion recovery was due to being touched by God, when that God leaves me, and countless others, in a great deal of pain every day, pisses me off to no end.

I'm not sure if I really have the right to be pissed, and realize that I'm treading into very sensitive waters, but pissed I am. I can't help it. That's how divisive religion can be.

I still have reservations, but I'm beginning to warm up to the fact that Jon Kitna is the Lions QB. He showed more, as much as I HATE to use this term, heart, in the Vikings game than Scott Mitchell did in his entire Lions career.

Kitna plays with a verve and guts that enables him to produce at a level higher than his average talent would normally allow. He's the most effective leader the Lions have had under center since...Since...Since...That I have to think, and think hard, and still can't name a Detroit QB who was the unquestioned leader of the team, says volumes about Kitna, past Lions teams, and their long history of mediocre quarterbacks.

But the fact that Kitna is the driving force behind the Lions should not allow him to use that stature with the team, or the fanbase, to drive his religious agenda. Considering that he wears a cap with the cross prominently displayed on the front at every opportunity, will thank God at the drop of said hat, and will proselytize in the presence of the media (Such as the "Touched by God" quote), it's obvious that Kitna does have a agenda.

I'm also concerned that his religious fervor will ultimately divide the locker room, between the "God squad" types, and the non-believers. All is well and good now, with the Lions winning. But what happens when the inevitable losing streak comes along? Will they blame God? Blame those who don't believe in their God, or in any God? Will the losses just be God's will?

Then there is the question of team bonding. Terry Foster wrote today it was hard to find players to talk to on Mondays, because many of them were at a Kitna led bible study group. But what if a player doesn't go to bible study? Will he be, or at least feel as he's being, ostracized? Does that make him an outsider? Since he's not in the clique, will that player not to be trusted on the gridiron? It's a slippery slope.

We've already seen much the same happen in MLB, specifically with the Colorado Rockies. Players and front office types claimed that they don't push their faith on anyone, but wouldn't you think that it would be damn uncomfortable to play on that team if you didn't share their intense beliefs? Would an atheist or a Muslim fit in, or even want to play there?

I have problems with those who take their religious beliefs, and the same goes for those who lack them, and throw their beliefs back in my face. That goes for sports, entertainment, politics, the media, in any walk of life.

If religion works for you, wonderful! If it doesn't, great! Believer or non-believer, we should just try to be the best person we can be, and treat others as we would want to be treated. I just believe religion is an intensely personal thing, and it should remain that way.

Now I'm going to head off, and pray to God, Jesus Christ, Buddha, Zeus, Allah, the Flying Spaghetti Monster, and to any other convenient deity, that the Lions beat the Eagles this weekend.

Hey, if it helps...

Thoughts running through my mind as Casey Blake's home run ball carried over the wall...

I hate Casey Blake.

I hate the Cleveland Indians.

I hate that Indians' shortstop with the goofily misspelled first name.

Kenny Rogers did not deserve to lose this game.

Joel Zumaya is not ready to be the Tigers' closer in 2008.

What was Cameron Maybin thinking? You NEVER run on a ball hit in front of you. NEVER!

It'll take a biblical style miracle for the Tigers to win the Central division.

Their wild card chances took a huge hit too.

This might be it. Yankees are winning big. Season over?

SHITSHITSHIT!

I hate Casey Blake.

Answering the Detroit Tigers' "Burning questions," volume 10

The Monday festival of "Burning questions" at TWFE continues, with the Detroit News' Tigers expert, Lynn Henning's Q & A.

Henning, for the most part, avoids beating dead horses, save for bringing up Timo Perez's chances of being on next season's roster. Well, what are you going to do? Other than attempting to make some sense of Henning's thoughts...

Burning questions after the Tigers somehow swept the Twins at Minnesota -- for a second consecutive time -- and now dive into a not-so-typical three-game series against the Indians:

Q: Why did the Tigers insist on making Sunday's game against the Twins so tense with their bullpen antics in the late innings of a 6-4 victory? Can't this team handle a four-run lead?

Henning: The suspicion here is that the Tigers knew the Indians had lost and that they simply wanted to get the game over with. They were ahead, 6-2, heading into the seventh and you could sense that all the relievers -- Tim Byrdak, Fernando Rodney, Joel Zumaya and Todd Jones -- were hurrying to put down the Twins and get to Cleveland. That had to have accounted for some of their wildness in walking four batters in the eighth.

Big Al: The Tigers won, didn't they? 6-2, 6-4, doesn't make a whit of difference, a win is a win. The bullpen scared me out of my wits, to be sure, but they did finish off the Twins.

Considering that victory gave the Tigers a sweep of a Twins team that has traditionally owned the Tigers at the BaggieDome, in the middle of a pennant race mind you, I'm not going to bitch about a near blown save.

I think Henning is reading too much into the late inning "Struggle." Yes, the Twins loaded the bases twice late in the game. The Twins are a prideful major league team, with some very good players, I doubt anyone was expecting them to meekly go down quietly late in the game.

Not every win is going to be a thing of beauty. Ugly wins count exactly the same in the standings. I don't see a category for "Style points" in the standings, do you?

Q: Why was Tigers manager Jim Leyland being so patient with his pitchers after they ran into trouble Sunday?

Henning: Because with no off-day today, he needed his bullpen as fresh as it could be for the Indians series. When nobody could find the strike zone, Leyland had no choice but to use pitchers he would have preferred resting. He knows what's at stake during these next three days in Cleveland. It's the equivalent of a playoff series for the Tigers. Leyland wanted his bullpen at full strength.

Big Al: I'm sure that the Marlboro Man was managing with the Indians series in mind. He has to, as their playoff lives are at stake. I'm sure he would have preferred to not use Zumaya on Sunday, or pitch Jones 3 nights in a row. His hand was forced with the wildness of his relievers, making Leyland use a couple of pitchers that he hoped not to.

It's getting to the point of the season where there is no tomorrow. The Tigers can't afford to lose ANY games. When there's less than 2 weeks left in the season, and the Tigers' playoff hopes are hanging on by a thread, you do what you have to do to lock down an important win.

Patience is one thing, risking your season to save someone for tomorrow, though a loss may make tomorrow moot, is another.

Q: How will the Tigers fare against the Indians in a series where the pressure is all on Detroit?

Henning: In the Tigers' favor is the fact they are finally playing in mid-September the way they were expected to play the past two months. Healthier players is the biggest reason why things have improved, beginning with Kenny Rogers and his return to the rotation and extending to Gary Sheffield's presence in the batting order.

Rogers has calmed down the starting pitchers and given Detroit some desperately needed reliability on the days he pitches. Sheffield factors heavily in Detroit's offense even when his shoulder is hurting and he's not hitting home runs. All season long his walks have been vital to Detroit's rallies.

Big Al: Detroit's been playing with a big sense of urgency for a few weeks now, so they will be well prepared for this series. The Tigers are as healthy as they are going to get this season, and know what they need to do.

In winning their last 4 series, an 8-2 record in their last 10 games, and an 11-4 record in September shows that the Tigers are taking care of business, and are coming into the Cleveland series as hot as they've been all season. They could very easily sweep the series, and at least win 2 of 3.

Unfortunately, the Tigers' margin for error is virtually gone. A couple of losses, especially in a row, could end their season prematurely. Winning this series against the Tribe will go a long way in making sure that doesn't happen.

Q: What do we make of the matchups at Cleveland? Who has the edge?

Henning: Only because Fausto Carmona is not scheduled to pitch, the Tigers have an excellent shot at winning a tough road series. Kenny Rogers vs. Paul Byrd tonight is likely to be Detroit's advantage. Justin Verlander vs. Jake Westbrook on Tuesday also ranks as a Tigers edge. C.C. Sabathia vs. Nate Robertson on Wednesday is why the Tigers need at all costs to win the first two games if they're going to be serious about closing Cleveland's 4 ½-game heading into the regular season's final week.

Big Al: First off, I agree that the Tigers got a big break in missing Carmona. As I'm writing this, the Tigers are beating the Tribe 5-2 going into the the 8th inning, and Kenny Rogers has once again shown how important he is to the Tigers' chances. He's done his job, and done it well in out pitching Byrd tonight.

Rogers' injuries have been the biggest reason the Tigers are scrambling in September. If he was healthy, The Gamber would have stopped a couple of those August losing streaks. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I hope Kenny Rogers retires a Detroit Tiger. After another productive season or two, of course..

Obviously, Veralnder has the edge over Westbrook. You have a Cy Young contender facing a journeyman, and Verlander has been light out in his last 4 starts. He's turned it up a notch in September, and has been a true stopper.

It's the Sabathia - Roberston matchup that has me worried. You just don't know which Robertson is going to show up from one start to the next. He could throw 7 shutout innings, or just as easily get knocked out of the box in the 3rd. Leyland will have him on a much shorter leash than The Gambler or Verlander.

The Tigers can beat Sabathia, but don't ask me to put money on it that they will. Sabathia is an excellent pitcher, and one of the AL Cy Young favorites for a reason. The Tribe really only need to get one win in this series, and Sabathia is their best bet to get it.

Q: What is the rest of baseball thinking about the Tigers right now? That the playoffs are a dream? That they could be baseball's season-ending surprise?

Henning: In most cases, the latter. The Tigers have a batting order no one wants to face through the first five hitters: Curtis Granderson, Placido Polanco, Gary Sheffield, Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen.

They have a talented starting rotation that, in the case of this week's Cleveland series, features two left-handers who can give the Indians trouble. They have a dynamite bullpen that is versatile and powerful.

And their defense isn't going to do you many favors. Notice, too, that when Ramon Santiago plays shortstop, a few more plays are made. It has done nothing to discourage ideas that Carlos Guillen is on his way to first base, for the most part permanently.

Big Al: Other than the clueless doofus at MSNBC that claimed the Tigers have undergone one of the worst collapses in history, and whom Kurt of "Mack Avenue Tigers" so ably eviscerated in a way that would make the gang at "Fire Joe Morgan" proud, I think most observers realize that the Tigers are finally healthy, thus playing well again, and are a very dangerous team.

Are they a perfect team? Hell no! They are quite flawed. (Quite fittingly, as I typed that line, Joel Zumaya just gave up a game tying home run in the bottom of the 8th, it's now tied at 5) But so is most every other team in the major leagues.

The Tigers are a team that could do quite a bit of damage over the last couple of weeks, as the talent is there. But considering their flaws, and injuries, they could just as easily lose a few games in a row, and the season will be over.

Q: Where does Timo Perez fit into the scheme of things, now, and looking toward 2008?

Henning: What's surprising about Perez is that he had plenty of big-league experience before the Tigers signed him last winter to a minor-league contract, but that his numbers had been in steady decline during his most recent years with the Mets, White Sox and Cardinals. This year, at age 32, he seemed to be reinvigorated. He hit the ball hard all season long for Triple-A Toledo. And now he's doing the same thing for the Tigers while providing a key left-hand bat.

The Tigers will happily consider him part of the mix heading into spring camp. He has been absolutely indispensable in September.

Big Al: Here we go again... Perez's 3 hot weeks at the plate is not going to erase 7 previous seasons of suck. Timo Perez is not the 2008 solution in left field. Which are you going to believe, his hot September, or his 1600 previous major league at bats?

His value is entirely in his average. He's not an especially good fielder, nor a speedburner. Perez doesn't hit for power, doesn't walk, and before September '07, didn't hit for a high average.

I just described a clone of Sean Casey, and no one wants him back either. I would hope that the Tigers don't change their off season plans in looking for a left hand hitting left fielder, just because Timo Perez had a 1 good month. If they do, I have serious issues with how the Tigers' front office is being run.

Unless you're Barry Bonds. and/or chemically enhanced, players don't get better at age 32. Especially marginal to below average major leaguers like Perez.

Q: So, do the Tigers come out of Cleveland any closer to the Indians?

Henning: The thought here is that the Tigers will win two games and be trailing the Indians by 3 1/2 games Wednesday night. That's a lot of ground to make up over the regular season's final 10 days.

Detroit's best chance remains a wildcard spot. But the Yankees aren't going to be giving much ground these next two weeks. The Tigers, however, might have gotten hot in the nick of time. Some of us remember 20 years ago when Detroit made up 3 ½ games in a week on Toronto and stole a playoff spot. The difference: The Tigers swept Toronto in the final series of the season, in Detroit. It explains why this week's showdown at Jacobs Field means everything.

Big Al: I have to say that I finally agree with Henning, that the wild card is the Tigers best shot at a playoff berth. Winning the Central is a pipe dream, even if the Tigers sweep the Indians.

I think the Tigers can take 2-3 against the Tribe. Unfortunately, that's not going to be good enough. They have to take all 3 to have any shot at the Central title, and that shot will still be long. It will make the Tribe, and the city of Cleveland, awful nervous, as anything can happen. I'm one of those who remember 1987, and has witnessed "Anything" actually happening...

Let's say the Tigers do take 2 of 3, that would help immensely in the race for the wild card. But they will still need lots of help in catching the Yankees. Watching the Red Sox gag away 2 wins over the weekend was just painful to watch. If the BoSox had played even remotely well, rather than the choke artists they are traditionally known to be, the Tigers could have easily have been only 1.5 games behind the damn Yankees going into tonight.

That didn't happen, and the Tigers still need help. Their August swoon kept them from controlling their own destiny. Those ugly 6 weeks are haunting the Tigers now, and will till the end of the season. If they don't make the playoffs, we can only look back at August 2007, and wonder, "What if?"

Addendum: 11:15PM: That was a painful loss to watch, and it's going to be very hard one for the Tigers to recover from. It might be the back breaker, the game we look back on and say, "Remember when Blake's ball carried over the wall? That's when the season ended."

The Tigers have been overcoming adversity for months, how much more can they realistically overcome? It's do or die at this point, and they really need to put the next two games in the win column. If they can only win one, or God forbid, get swept? Even the most optimistic of fans will have trouble believing the playoffs are still a possibility.

Answering the Detroit Lions' week 2 "Burning questions"

It's a "Burning questions" Monday at TWFE. First, we delve into Detroit News Lions beat writer Mike O'Hara's Q & A. The flammable topics include Josh McCown, backup QB's, the Lions missing ground game, and Kevin Jones' foot.

As my fingers are in much better shape than Jones' surgically repaired foot, it's time to answer some questions!

Burning questions from the Lions' 20-17 overtime victory over the Vikings Sunday at Ford Field:

Q: Who should be in the spotlight for Sunday's game?

O'Hara: Win, lose, tie or forfeit by the Lions, it didn't matter. It had to be everyone in the front office who was responsible for leaving the Lions' so vulnerable at backup quarterback. That's president Matt Millen and everyone in the personnel department.

When Jon Kitna went out in the second quarter because of a suspected concussion, the Lions were left with J.T. O'Sullivan as the backup.

No knock on O'Sullivan, but the backup quarterback should have been Josh McCown, now with the Raiders. He started for the Raiders against the Lions on Week 1 and completed 75 percent of his passes.

The Lions traded McCown and wide receiver Mike Williams to the Raiders on draft day for a fourth-round draft pick. It was a risky move then, and it looks worse now.

Big Al: Other than Jon Kitna, who was marvelous, it was obviously J.T. O'Sullivan. I said in my live blogging that the McCown trade had quickly come back to bite the Lions on the ass. Kitna going down is the Lions worst case scenario.

As soon as O'Sullivan entered the game, all Lions fans knew that the team was in deep trouble. If Kitna remains in the game, I think the Lions win easily. We all saw what actually happened. For every good pass, O'Sullivan would throw 2 ill advised ones.

The QB "Duel" between O'Sullivan and Tarvaris Jackson was no duel, but an exercise in futility. Neither looked like legitimate NFL QB's. The fact that Jackson was just as likely to throw to a Lion as a Viking was the main reason the game stayed close. If the Vikings get any kind of decent QB play, they could easily have pulled far enough away from the Lions to make Kitna's late game heroics moot.

I find it hard to believe that Mike Martz, a coach with a (Somewhat deserved) genius reputation, thinks his mega-complex offense can be run properly by a reject from NFL Europa, who has spent more time auditioning for NFL teams, than actually playing for them. That's "Hubris" defined.

The Vikings game confirmed what most everyone suspected to be true. The Lions are truly Kitna's team, and if he goes down for a significant amount of time, they'll struggle to win any games he may miss. The 2007 season will get real ugly, real quick, if O'Sullivan or Dan Orlovsky have to take over under center.

Q: Why was it wrong to trade McCown?

O'Hara: McCown had starting experience with Arizona before signing with the Lions as a free agent last year, and he had a year working under offensive coordinator Mike Martz in Detroit.

The pick the Lions got for McCown and Williams was used to take cornerback A.J. Davis of North Carolina State. He was so bad that he was let go on the final cut, signed to the practice squad and got cut again. He wasn't even good enough to practice against J.T. O'Sullivan.

Without McCown, the Lions had rookie Drew Stanton, now on injured reserve, and Dan Orlovsky, who barely played for two years and has had limited practice the last month with a jammed big toe.

Big Al: Two reasons. J.T. O'Sullivan and Dan Orlovsky. Compared to McCown, who's now started for 2 teams in the league, the Lions pair aren't as talented, and have NO significant regular season experience. None. Zero. Zip. Nada.

They should be emergency 3rd string QB's, learning the game from the sidelines. Period. Actually, that position should have been held by Drew Stanton, minor knee surgery be damned.

Common sense says that you keep McCown for 1 more season, and Stanton should have been the number 3 guy. But we are talking about the Lions, known for making ludicrous decisions, any common sense in short supply.

As it was common knowledge, if the beat writers were to be believed, that Stanton would have been healthy by opening weekend, the Lions don't have to put him on the IR in the preseason if McCown was still around. They could have easily afforded to keep him on the 53 man roster, then deactivate him on game days.

Instead, the Lions are gambling on Kitna staying healthy, and backing him up with a pair of never-gonna-be's. It's a risky, risky gamble, as we found out Sunday. The Lions definitely dodged a bullet.

The fact that the Lions cut the player they drafted with the pick received for McCown makes the trade that much more idiotic. Just another in a series of stupid moves by their incompetent boob of a GM.

Q: But didn't McCown want to be traded because he knew his only chance to play in Detroit was if Kitna got hurt?

O'Hara: Yes, but McCown was one of the most popular players on the team, right behind Kitna. They were best friends.

McCown would not have caused problems had he remained in Detroit. He's too much of a team player for that. He would have stuck it out and left after this season, when his contract was up.

Big Al: Why would McCown want to become known as a malcontent? He's playing for his next contract. Let alone the odds were damn good that McCown would have gotten some significant playing time, as few QB's are physically able to take every snap. We saw that PT become available Sunday.

I agree, McCown was a team player. He proved that by playing wide receiver at times last season. So I doubt he would have tried to torpedo the Lions' locker room harmony. He'd bide his time in Detroit for one last year, and moved on in the off season, like any other professional.

Q: How much blame does O'Sullivan get for his performance Sunday?

O'Hara: He doesn't get off the hook. He was in over his head. But it's like filling an Indy racer with regular gas and expecting to compete.

The people in charge make decisions, and they have to be accountable.

Big Al: In over his head? O'Sullivan is in so deep, he's in the Mariana Trench. You can't blame O'Sullivan for being put in a bad situation. That' goes on the heads of Marinelli, Martz, and their incompetent buffoon of a GM.

Still, O'Sullivan is the 2nd string QB for the foreseeable future, and he has to preform better when called upon. At the very least, he cannot turn the ball over. O'Sillivan's fumble that the Vikings converted for a TD could easily have been the kiss of death.

O'Sullivan needs to thank Kitna for bailing his practice squad talent level ass out.

Q: With Kitna out until midway through the fourth quarter, why didn't the Lions rely on their running game?

O'Hara: Because they don't have one. It's worse than last year, when it ranked last in the league.

Big Al: What running game? You can't use what you don't have.

The Lions have a running game in name only, as positive yards only come through QB scrambles, and the very occasional trap or draw that works because the Lions throw the ball 90% of the time.

I haven't seen anything resembling a running game anytime this season, including the exhibitions. In fact, I don't expect to see a consistent one anytime this season, and a healthy Kevin Jones won't change my mind.

Even when Mike Martz had a top tier back in Marshall Faulk to carry the ball in St. Louis, he didn't rush the ball all that often. Faulk would still get his 20-25 touches a game, as Martz would get him the ball in space, using swing and screen passes. You could call those glorified handoffs that counted as pass attempts in the box score.

I seriously believe if Martz had the opportunity, and was left unchecked, he'd throw the ball 100% of the time. Since that's unrealistic, I would like to see him involve the running backs in the offense a little more, especially when Jones is back in action.

Q: Running back Kevin Jones might play in next week's game at Philadelphia. Is it too soon for Jones to test his injured left foot?

O'Hara: The test has to be in practice, not in the game.

If there's the slightest doubt whether his left foot is strong enough to stand up to game conditions, then he has to be held out.

Big Al: Yes, it's too soon. I do think the Lions brain trust believe otherwise. Considering how the running game has been non-existent, I'm sure the Lions are will to try anything, even Kevin Jones and his untested foot.

I'll be surprised if he's any more successful than Tatum Bell, Brian Calhoun, and T.J. Duckett have been. In part because his foot, and mostly due to the Lions offensive line. They do a good job in protecting the QB, but their run blocking has been only a rumor.

Q: Jones grew up in the Philadelphia area. Shouldn't there be some extra motivation for him to play?

O'Hara: Yes, but motivation has to be tempered by reason. Jones hasn't gone through surgery and rehabilitation to get ready to play one game. If it were a playoff game it would be one thing. It's not even close to that.

It's the third game of the season, with 13 more left -- and many more seasons left in Jones' career.

If anything, the fact that Jones might want to play in Philadelphia should make the Lions even more cautious that he might be pushing the envelope.

Big Al: I'm sure Jones is desperate to get on the field, and not only because the game is in Philly. He's a football player, and a pretty good one at that. Jones wants to play, and play no matter what, his gimpy foot be damned. Anyone who's played the game at any level knows how much fun it is on the field, and that you would do anything to get yourself on it.

I know in high school, I did things in order to play that most any doctor today would have advised against. My knees constantly ached in school. (Turns out it was a symptom of what ultimately afflicts me today, but back then the local horse doctor just called them "Growing pains") I'd get cortisone shots, have them drained constantly, and ice and heat my knees down every night after practice at home. I was in a great deal of pain, but all I wanted to do was play on Friday night.

Now take that feeling, and multiply it exponentially in the case a top professional athlete like Kevin Jones. I'm sure Jones would sacrifice his future health to get himself on the gridiron. It's up to the Lions doctors, front office, and coaching staff to make sure that he doesn't.

It's a fine line to walk, as you have to balance Jones' health with the fact that he'll help the Lions win games. I'd think it's short sighted to take a valuable commodity like Jones, and risk it by playing him before he is actually ready. 1 or 2 more games won't make that much, if any, difference in the odds of the Lions beating either Philly or Chicago.

I'll agree that Jones is a good back, but he's still not fully recovered. The lisfranc injury is not one you take shortcuts with, as the only thing that will help Jones get fully healed at this point is more time.

Give me a 100% Bell and Calhoun over a 75% Jones.

Last team to score really does win the game! - Detroit Lions OT thoughts

The Vikings win the toss, and since Marty Moronwheg is nowhere to be found, they will receive.

Figures. Now Hanson kicks it long and straight, touchback. The Lions D needs to come up big.

Huge Lions rush, Jackson is hit as he throws, incomplete pass...And he's hurt! Jackson takes himself out of the game. What do you know? Brooks Bollinger is still alive, and he's backing up Jackson. He converts on a 3rd and long. Shit.

Flags everywhere, the big money guard, Steve Hutchenson, called on the false start. Ugly game for both teams, penalty wise.

Swing pass to Peterson goes for another 1st down. Christ almighty, get a God damn stop!

White and Bailey combine for a sack! 2nd and 13 from the Viking 46. Short pass to the 50 gives the Vikings another 3rd and long. The Lions NEED a stop...FUMBLED SNAP! LIONS BALL!

Shawn Rogers with the recovery at the 50! Let's see if Kitna can finish off the Vikings, I think he's the only one who wants to win this cluster of a game.

Kitna's pass is batted back in his hands, and he takes off around the right end, somersaulting his way to the Vikings 42! Kitna is going to kill himself! Wow, what a play! A fluky play, but Kitna made something happen. It leaves a 3rd and 2.

The Hell with the running game, it's 4 wides on the field. Kitna's in the shotgun, and he takes off again, screws doing the slide, and crashes his way to a 1st down! The crowd, and the Lions themselves, are going apeshit over Kitna's theatrics!

Say what you will about Kitna as a QB, the Lions aren't in a position to win without him. This has been the guttiest performance by a Lions QB since...Well, I can't remember seeing such a gutty performance by a Lions QB! This is no Scott Mitchell under center...

Holy shit! It's Calhoun on a sweep around right end for 17 yards! He's out of bounds one the Vikings 17! Will the Lions kick?

Marinelli isn't going to fuck around, here's comes Jason Hanson! It's a 37 yard kick...Hanson doesn't miss this time, his kick is dead on, and through the uprights! What a finish to a wild game!

Game over, final score is Lions 20, Vikings 17. Detroit is 2-0, and in 1st place in the NFC North! I'm speechless.

I think I may just have to take back everything I've ever said about Jon Kitna. He is the uncontested leader of this Lions team, and they don't win this game without him. Maybe that's just the excitement talking, so we'll see...

One final thought. I think it's safe to say the state of Minnesota is quite pissed at the great state of Michigan tonight...

Last team to score wins! - Detroit Lions 4th quarter thoughts

Here we go, another nail biter for the Detroit Lions...

The Vikings convert their 3rd and short to start the quarter, but are then forced to punt. Troy Walkers brings it back to the Lions 35. Let's see if O'Sullivan can keep the ball out of the mitts of Minnesota defenders...

Not a good beginning, false start Lions, on Tatum Bell? You know the God Damn Snap Count!!! Jesus. 2nd down, O'Sullivan holds on to the ball, rather than unload it, SACK! Does O'Sullivan have to ability to feel the pressure? It sure doesn't look like it.

3rd and long again, a screen never develops properly, O'Sullivan throws a lollipop Bell can't handle, Lions have to punt. After a punt, fumble, Vikes recovery, and a block in the back, the Vikings will start very deep in their own territory. Let's see if the Lions defense can get a turnover here, or at least a 3 and out, as their offense isn't doing much of anything.

So much for the 3 and out, as Peterson converts for a 1st. If I'm Brad Childress, I put the game in Adrian Peterson's hands, because Tarvaris Jackson is going to kill you.

The sloppy play continues, with another Vikings false start. Could there be good news for the Lions? FOX shows Kitna warming up on the sidelines. I never thought I'd say this, but..."Oh please, please, please, please, Sgt. Marinelli, put Kitna back in!!! That's only if you want to win..."

3rd and 6, here we go...OOOHHH, Jackson rolls out, and throws another ugly ass moonball! It's picked by Bashir! Number 4 on the day for Jackson! Who needs a punter when you have Tarvaris Jackson?

Yes! Kitna's back under center! In the shotgun, if you want to be all semantical. Just like that, 2 quick completions, a 5 yard face mask penalty, and the Lions are on the Vikings 45.

Whoa! Johnson on the out, breaks a tackle, Lions on the Vikings 26! YESNO! SHITSHITSHIT! Kitna hits Williams on the slant, and he fumbles... Vikings ball. Just under 7 minutes left...

Can the Lions D get the much needed 3 and out? Nope, Vikings convert on 3rd and 3, 5:30 left, now on their own 33. Nice play by...Fernando Bryant? He busts up a run for a loss!

It's 2nd and 12, after an short completion, we have another 3rd down conversion attempt. 3rd and 5 for the Vikes... Jackson rolls right, no one open, Dewayne White with the sack! Vikings punt, it's a boomer, touchback, Lions ball on their own 20.

20 yard pass, Kitna to Johnson, wide open in a seam! It's Williams on a slant, he holds on to the ball this time, another 1st down! Lions on the Vikings 43, 2 minute warning! Whatever happens from here on out, the Lions have to HOLD ON TO THE DAMN BALL!

Slant to Furrey for 8 yards, time out Detroit... 1:26 left. It's getting tense, and the Lions get called for 12 men in the huddle? What the HELL? 2nd and 2 becomes 2nd and 7. Shit!

Incomplete pass leaves the Lions with a 3rd and 7 from the vikings 41. It's an end around to Megatron! Johnson gets to the imaginary yellow line! Wait, it's under review... Johnson looks like he might have been juuuust short. Damn. Then again, who knows what the ref will see...IT STANDS!

1st and 10 from the 35, slant to Williams is tipped at the line... False start? Jesus!

2nd and 15, Kitna dodges the rush, and tip toes his way to the 30. No way O'Sullivan makes that play. 3rd and 6, a Bell run is stacked up at the 30, and here comes the Lions MVP, Jason Hanson. It's from 47 yards...and it knuckles left...

You have got to be kidding me!

Come on! A Vikings screen brings the ball to the Lions 42! What the Hell? A spike, and it's 2nd and 10. A quick pass to the 32, another spike, and here comes Ryan Longwell to kick a 52 yard field goal...IT HITS THE LEFT UPRIGHT!

We have OT.

Does anyone want to win this game?