It's Cloudy in Detroit

The Tigers have 112 games scheduled on television this season. A Major League Baseball schedule calls for each team to play 162. According to my math, 162-112 equals 50. This means 50 Tiger games will not be seen by fans from their couch. Reasons for this outcome do vary: the franchise called off negotiations with the interested affiliate, Mike Illitich prefers the other team he owns, and my favorite, the interest in the team has declined over the years. All of these are accurate assessments. I'd like to offer my opinion on what has contributed to this decision.

In Detroit, it's very fashionable to rip up the Tigers. It happens all the time, and for good reason. The team hasn't had a winning season since 1993. If you listen to local sports talk radio grease balls, they take it a step further and fire shots at the sport itself. They barely acknowledge the existense of a team in Detroit, as they'll talk about football in March instead of Spring Training. Grease such as this isn't worth the saliva in our mouths so we shouldn't acknowledge them either.

So we have a piss poor team and an example of reprehensible media coverage. Put these two together and you may be able to understand why the franchise is scared to have their games televised. The ratings would endure a severe beat down. What has to change of course is the team needs to start being a contender again so the fair weather in Detroit can change to sunshine.

Izturis Move Watch (Pt. 1)

From Dodgers.com:

Furcal injured: Shortstop Rafael Furcal, on a catchup training schedule after January knee surgery led to a sore throwing shoulder that has healed, suffered back spasms returning to first base on a pickoff throw and pulled up sore going to third base on a J.D. Drew double. He scored on a wild pitch with a head-first dive, then left the game and underwent three hours of therapy.

Little said he was day-to-day. Furcal said he had worse back spasms while with the Braves and missed two games. He said he still expected to be ready for Opening Day.
Furcal's injury basically assures a roster spot to Ramon Martinez, who took over for Furcal and homered on Tuesday, although nobody with the club has told Martinez anything. He and reliever Brian Meadows have escape clauses allowing them to leave if they are not guaranteed roster spots by Wednesday.

Take the Tour

Oh what a wonderful stadium. I really wanna get myself in one of these "Hollywood Bowl" type boxes. What will I store on the little rack?

1. Scorecard?
2. Hat?
3. Binocs?

Click on the title of this post to take the official Dodger Stadium refurbie tour!

The Miracle of Soriano

You'll play the 7 for $10 mills and you'll like it.

Freedom, Fastballs and the Fukudome

Tonight's the night. Japan v. Cuba for all the marbles. It's the Free World v. the Fidel World. It's Capt. Oh v. "A Bunch of Guys Who 90% of Which Would Be Millionaires". It's the aforementioned J. Miller/J. Morgan on ESPN.

And...it's this man.












Buzz.

The Cheeky Genius of Jon Miller

Some of us have already discussed this in person, but I'll now go blog with it: Next time you're watching a game on ESPN being called by Jon Miller and Joe Morgan, pay close attention during the segment when the camera is on them in the booth.

Morgan is obviously uncomfortable with the situation, and always refuses to discuss anything other than baseball. But Miller always takes this moment to play a little game. He'll look directly at the camera as long as he can before almost laughing. You can tell he's reached his limit when he looks away and breaks into a sly little grin.

He did it repeatedly during the rain delay in the Japan-Korea WBC semifinal tonight. Joe was almost aghast at being on camera for so long. But Jon played the eye-contact game a good half-dozen times during the delay. It's crack-up hilarious.

I'd love to know the story behind this entertaining piece of schtick.

*****

Also, pay attention next time Miller tries to get Morgan to discuss anything other than baseball. It's a riot:

JON: So here we are in the top of the fourth at Shea Stadium, where the Beatles played the first ever stadium rock concert in 1965. I never saw them myself, but I bet it was a heckuva show. Joe, you ever see the Beatles?

JOE: Look at the outfield shift Willie Randolph is using for Miguel Cabrera. He has Carlos Beltran way over in right ...

Meh-he-co!

Was it just me, or did Vernon Wells actually hit the game-tying/winning hit last night if his bat didn't shatter? A solid hit to left-center became a sad little double-play ball.

Furthermore, the U.S./ESPN/"that one umpire" team's triumphant crawl to the semis was cut short by a Mexican team that didn't even have a chance to go anywhere.

Three hits total.

U-S-A.

Ken Rosenthal seems to understand the situation.

More importantly, Dominca v. Cuba = buzztastic! And Japan v. Korea is the matchup that the world really deserved.

Another Classic, Another Flip-flop

Now that Korea snuck past the Japanese in Wednesday evening action (available live on XM!) I'm changing my tune and cheering for Old Glory in tonight's game against Mexico.

Considering we've got Roger on the mound, chances are the final four will be:

• Cuba
• US
• Dominica
• Korea

Love it. This guarantees a US/Dominica v. Cuba game. Let's hope for both. Or I could just check the schedule. But I don't wanna. Cuz I'm in Mr. Mond's pool and I ain't got time...

Breaking News On Bonds . . .

Yes, The Onion's writing is often prescient and smart; that's part of what makes it so funny. But this article on Barry Bonds captures the entire situation as well as anything I've read, humorous or otherwise. It sums up what bothers fans everywhere so much: we’re not idiots and when baseball management or baseball players ask us to ignore our sensory perception, it’s insulting. I mean, I used to make this same joke but about Jose Canseco . . . in the early '90s! Even then, the idea that we were just supposed to pretend guys weren't juicing was funny precisely for its absurdity. This is a great, great article. I’m going to attach it to my refrigerator, perhaps with some sort of magnet.

Defense Wins Championships

The WBC is on time.

I feel like I speak for Ben and Scott when I say, this brand of baseball is good for the soul. Far from a bunch of b-list wanna-bes playing with a bunch of surly MLB stars, this event features some top notch play from virtually every position (when the US isn't on the field, that is).

We took in Japan v. Mexico at the Big A in lovely Anaheim, Calif. and were treated to crisp infield play, wicked clutch pitching and solid fan involvement from start to finish. Plus, you may have seen me waving a Japanese flag on TV if you happened to be in Tokyo yesterday.

Apparently, according to the impenetrable code of how one wins advancement in the WBC, the win by Japan hurt the US chances of advancement to the semi-finals.

I say: "Who cares?"

The US is certainly not playing their A game and most on the team probably don't give a care about it -- preferring to retreat to the normal regimen of AARP sponsored tailgates, sit-ups and flying medicine balls in the Cactus and Grapefruit leagues. Thanks for coming, guys.

The rest of us can now quietly enjoy the real pros here -- Dominica, Japan, Korea and PR. Anyone who saw David Ortiz hit that 500 foot bomb off Cuba knows this is gonna be good -- without bad calls, griping MLB owners and A. Rod ruining it for everyone else.

USA = Bad

The ink on our tickets to Tuesday, March 14ths "Japan v. Pool B Winner" isn't even dry before the U.S. screws the pooch against the flippin' Canadians of all people.

So now Mike and Ben and Scott need:

• Mexico to beat those horrible Canooks (preferably with a bunch of runs)
• The U.S. to beat the S. Africans (preferably with no runs for the S. Africans)
• No further complexities to be uncovered in the "tie-break" rules
• A free t-shirt wouldn't hurt
  

WBC = Good

David Ortiz sets all the haters straight.

I don't get how any baseball fan could not like this. Spring Training is the definition of meaningless, yet is still an injury threat (didn't our boy Werth get his hand chopped off last year in Fla?). This is a great event that will help spread the game and all that, but more importantly, it's fun to watch.

USA v. Mexico yesterday was great. DR v. Venez was too. I think I even watched some China v. Tapei and liked it.

Tigers in 2006?

From ESPN.com's Jayson Stark:

"They're quite a match, this team and this manager. In 14 seasons as a manager, Leyland has never been given a team capable of winning -- and not won. Go back and take a look some time. The Tigers, meanwhile, haven't had a winning season -- with any manager -- since 1993, under Sparky Anderson. That was seven managers ago."

Bonds, Bonds, Bonds

Let's talk seriously here gents.

"Depending on the substance, Bonds used the drugs in virtually every conceivable form: injecting himself with a syringe or being injected by his trainer, Greg Anderson, swallowing pills, placing drops of liquid under his tongue, and, in the case of BALCO's notorious testosterone-based cream, applying it topically."

And then:

"Through 1998, for instance, when he turned 34, Bonds averaged one home run every 16.1 at bats. Since then -- what the authors identify as the start of his doping regimen -- Bonds has hit home runs nearly twice as frequently (one every 8.5 at bats)."