Lotsa Goodness in Tigs v. Diamondbacks -- Bunts, Rules and Jonesy

If the Tigers are a legitmate contender, their performance in Phoenix might just be the first evidence we've seen. The Diamondbacks are the real deal so far this season, and the Tigs have played them very strong for two straight. Losing a squeaker yesterday and winning their first "solid" game I've seen. 3-2. Well done.

In fact, this was their first win in over 40 games when they've scored 3 or less.

Better than this, however, was a rules quirk I learned today about bunters. In the 8th Inning, the Diamondbacks got Stephen Drew on as the leadoff guy. Hudson then came up to bunt him into scoring position. On a 2-1 count, Hudson pops up the bunt. Pudge lets it drop and the Tigs ended up with a double play. (See pics below)

Pudge lets the pop drop...as Hudson stews at his mistake.

...and picks off Drew who was in a pickle at first to start the 2-4-3 DP.

Turns out, a batter attempting a bunt loses the protection of the infield fly rule. I've seen a lot of popped up bunts, but never saw this. And I certainly didn't know the rule, making my decision to leave the gray pants in the closet a wise one. So many awesome rules!

Better yet, Todd "The Cooler" Jones came in, hit the leadoff guy in the 9th and had his usual high-wire act ending up getting the final out in Maggs glove on the right field warning track. Which inspired this celebration on his part, paying homage to his teammates who have started wearing high socks as a "team" thing. Jones reports he doesn't own a pair of high socks. (Yes, those are NBA logo socks)



It's been a long journey to get here. It started poorly back in '01. Not a big fan. And it wasn't great in '06. Then at some point in the postseason, with a playoff game against the A's in the balance -- bases loaded with the Big Hurt batting -- I realized he is perhaps the most even keeled baller I've ever witnessed. Last year, after giving up two runs and loading them up with the game on the line, he got the last out and did a mock "fade-away jumper" pose. This year, he's just taking his shirt out the moment the game is over. Yes, we've had our moments. But now, so many years later, I love Todd Jones.

Darn You Boys: Why DET Sucks to Watch

The Year of 1,000 Excuses?

There's no beating around the bush on this one...I hate watching the Tigers play so far in 2008. In fact, you might say I haven't found this level discomfort on my couch with the Olde English "D" on the screen since the horror of 2003. There's some magic, but there's more phoned-in effort than is statistically possible. Errors are losing games. Starting pitching offers a quality start once every 9 games or so. Worst of all, the 2007 team was shut out 3 times. I'm pretty sure this team has close to 5 or 6 already...and MLB pitching has not improved quite that much in the off-season.

It is important to note that being schitzo is a Tiger tradition dating back to the Magical Season of 2006, when the same team that dominated the Majors from April to July took a gigantic flop to end the year, dropping a series against the awful KC Royals at home to eventually lose first place in their division on the very last day of the season. And last year, the Tigs played great and flubbed down the stretch and against division rivals to miss a return trip to the post-season. And despite all this, I enjoyed watching the Tigers more than ever. (I also love watching the Dodgers, despite similar underachieving fates in a few recent seasons.)

So what's different this year? That would be a payroll of $130 million, a lineup of three or more Hall of Famers, darn-near double digits of All-Stars and a preseason swagger worthy of the Bronx Bombers.

Who knows what will happen. But the scrappy, loveable Tigs are getting perilously close to turning in a pathetic, Country Club-type season of elitist moping. They're not just underachievers, they're starting to look like wimps. And that is something that just won't fly in Motown...or in Glendale, where I chose to spend my Extra Innings feed elsewhere.

The Pudge that Roared 'n' More

"Mortgage the Stadium and sign Pudge Rodriguez." M. Hud, November 2003

Few things get the blood going for a fan like seeing their team stink up the field against all expectation, going 2 and 10 to begin what was supposed to be a magical season. But those few things include seeing that team start Lucky 13 just as stinky, commit three errors, go down by a lot of runs through 7...AND then blast the cover off the ball for the first time this season!

1. Fire and I. Rod: Pudger. I was just saying to Gaines over some sweeeeeeet Intelligentsia shots how surprised I was that Pudge hadn't lost his temper during this losing streak. But after he drilled a triple to tie up the score in the 8th inning today, he showed that same fire we've come to expect with a fist pump, point to the sky and high five with hyper-cool 3rd Base Coach Gene Lamont. He then executed a Kobe-esque slide into home plate with the go ahead run, popping up seamlessly into a clench fist pose. Well played.

2. Saito: On a micro-level, watching T. Saito of the Dodgers blow his save opp tonight was in the same league of shocking that the Tigers start has been. Saito was throwing BBs at the Pirates and had some sick looking stuff. Then some hump batting 4 for 38 took his first offering about five rows into the right-field bleachers with two on and two out. Yipe.

3. Tippy Canoe: Robinson Cano, or "Canoe" as DJ once called him in an interview, came off the bench and shot an OT HR to RF. That's a good way to jump start his season, I think.

4. The Royals! They're good, brother. And when they're not playing the Tigs, I find myself pulling for them ala Tampa Bay's DEVIL Rays.

5. Great Moments in Plate Etiquette: Two things I haven't seen before. First, some guy in some game (I forget where) honestly took a full second to admire his SINGLE he roped to RF. Second, Manny Ramirez crushed a double in the Tigers first win a few day ago. The moment it left his bat, he could be seen visibly chewing his gum before taking off down the base path. Now THAT is dialed in. (UPDATE: I dug it up for the single admiration. It was OAK v. CLE on Saturday, and I think this is Emil Brown pinch-hitting an RBI. From another game with Brown hitting an RBI against the Chi Sox, he kind of did the same thing. Look how far that ball has traveled in the pitcher's eyes without any movement from Brown.)

Wake Me When 2008 Starts

...and don't forget to tell the Tigers.

"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?

2008 is Grrrrrreat!

Whatever, dude.

Here's a few things on my mind.

1. Shutout? If it weren't for Edgar Renteria (aka "the other guy we got" in Detroit) the Tigers would have been NO HIT by the combined pitching power of the Kansas City Royals. Three hits and no runs? I hate to care this much about Game #2 (Game #1 was awesome, despite the loss...) but the 2008 Detroit Tigers should be able to put up at least one against Koufax on his finest day. Land!

2. Reyes of Confusion: Those ads for MLB 2K8 with Jose Reyes and the disembodied voice of Denis Leary just don't make any sense. I get a guy smashing a cheap little boom box with a bat that he'd just been stroking with a towel (should be funny, but I don't get it.) And we even get Mr. Met with his head in an ice bucket (this should be better even than the WKU red lump). But I don't get it. I miss the Baseball Tonight guys playing out classic scenes from baseball movies.

3. Fukudome Me? Fukudome You, Pal! What a debut for everyone's (read: my) favorite rookie...3 for 3, with a bunch of RBIs, 8 total bases and an entire stadium of drunks still thinking they won that game.

4. Larry Bowa v. Ed Montague: I've gotta say...seeing a guy get his stir-ups in a bunch on April 1 is kind of a new thing for me. But Larry Bowa was born angry and the sun never sets on his temper, I'm gathering. As reported on this blog earlier this spring, MLB wants base coaches in their designated boxes in addition to wearing their hard hats. With a runner on 2nd, that puts 3rd Base coaches like Bowa in a tough spot because of the angle required to judge balls to the outfield. Long story short, Montague (11) wanted Bowa in the box, Bowa wanted Montague to clam up. I love every part of this and I'm sure both gents would agree over a brew in a month or two...each did their jobs. But beyond the greatness of seeing a base coach care enough to hoot and holler and get tossed this early over a minor issue...appreciate the professional job done by Montague...having a tough nut like Bowa screaming at you like a crazy person is more rattling than I care to imagine. But with 31 years under his belt, Montague doesn't break character, wince or even afford Bowa the satisfaction of even a decent frown. He just tosses the old salt and walks right back to his position without batting an eye. BAD ASS!

5. Wait For It: The big leaguers like to tell young Umps to take their time making a call. You build the anticipation of the call (my theory) and then deliver it. Either way, they consider it good form to pause a moment after the ball hits the glove -- lest you risk calling what you were anticipating the pitch to be. Tim Welke (3) took his sweet time making the ball or strike call in Detroit on Opening Day and caught a number of batters ushering themselves to 1st thinking they'd earned a walk only to be punched out or otherwise detained by a "late" right-hand strike call. This starting off to first whenever a ball on the corners passes by on a 3 ball count seems new to me...did guys always do this? It really honks Umps off. So why are more guys doing it?