4.05.2008

"Opening Weak": The 2008 Detroit Tigers

Click the title for a great and sober round-up from our former Deacon -- Lynn Henning of the Detroit News -- on the damage the Detroit Tigers are doing to themselves by losing their first four -- now make that -- first five games.

Huddy's Amateurish Thoughts Here:

1. Magg's et al...Please Don't Swing @ Pitch #1: In 2006, the namesake of my daughter (partially kidding) spent the first half hacking away and finding little success. He's looking very much the same way this year, killing rallies with no-out double plays in the 1st inning yesterday and in the 8th today...both off weak slaps at 1st pitches. Clete Thomas hacked at #1 in the 9th with two men on, Guillen and M. Cab did it in other innings...all to similar fates just upon a quick review. There's plenty more in there.

2. Bullpen: Why take Willis out with a 2 run lead after he's thrown a 1-hitter (with like 8 walks, of course) on 80ish pitches? For Zach Miner? Let Dontrelle either fight it out or lose it. He earned that right. Leyland yanked him for our sad-sack bullpen help after Thome crushed a double that was the first hit and the first run.

3. Leyland: A team this good mathematically shouldn't start 0-5 @ home against losing teams more than maybe 2 or 3 times out of 100. So chances are fairly high that something is "wrong." And that goes to preparation and that goes to my hero James "Awesome" Leyland. But he's on the ball so he'll get it fixed...still, this stretch isn't making his job any easier. But I'd still bar fight anyone who speaks ill of him...if I could bar fight. Maybe I'd just insult you under my breath once I was safely in the car.

4. Detroit Fans (an unfair, lashing-out from Hud): Maybe it's the LA Dodger mentality that has seeped into me, but I boo the 2nd Highest Paid Team in MLB when they stink up the field. It's not impolite to boo your team when they are bad. As an athlete, wouldn't you rather hear your fans venting than sitting on their hands? If this were Yankee Stadium, that team would know they better show up to play when they don the home jersey and trot out. AND QUIT SELLING OUT LIONS GAMES!!!

5. Baseball: What kind of cruel game is this?

2 comments:

somebodytogobackintimewith said...

It's so damn early.

But if that middle relief doesn't improve it's going to be a loooong season for the Tigers, I don't care who's managing.

I would be a kind of surprised if the W. Sox made the playoffs. But they - along with every other team in the central including the Royals - are equipped to murder sucky pitching.

So that's got to get fixed. Time for bed.

Scott William Baird said...

My observation is that this will all be a distant memory when the weather (in Michigan) gets warm.