So here we are heading into the last month of baseball. The Tigers appear to be pulling away in the Central, but with what has happened in recent years, who knows. They are playing every one extremely hard, from a sweep of Cleveland last week, to winning games against Kansas City in the late innings. Last night, Ramon Santiago hit a walkoff bomb in the tenth inning. Today, Victor Matinez saved the day with a game-tying double in the eighth. Depending on what the Indians and the White Sox do today, this win leaves the Tigers with a five or six game lead going into September.
Enough about baseball because... FOOTBALL IS FINALLY HERE!!!!
The Michigan Wolverines begin their season and the Brady Hoke era on Saturday. After three horribly awful years with Rich Rodriguez, the Maize and Blue look to get back to traditional smashmouth Michigan football. With a potential Heisman quarterback in Denard Robinson, the Wolverines will pit their high octane offense against the traditionally tough defenses of the Big Ten. The big question heading into the season is their defense. In a conference where defense rules, Michigan's defense will need to be noticeably improved in order for them to have a chance at an eight or nine win season.
Pro football is only one week away! This year, the Detroit Lions finally seem to be on the right track. With one of the best defensive lines in the NFL and a much improved secondary, the Lion's defense is the best Detroit has had in a looooooooooooooong time. Undoubtedly, whether Matthew Stafford can stay healthy is the key to the Lions playoff hopes. Barring an injury to him, Calvin Johnson, and a couple other players, the Lions have as good a chance as any to make the playoffs.
And no, Ndamukong Suh is NOT dirty.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Tigers Mid-Season Report Wrap-up
As the All-Star break comes to a close, it's time to finish our discussion about the Tiger's first half with a little about the defense.
The defense hasn't been great, especially at second with Raburn and when Magglio plays in right. Cabrera isn't the greatest defensive player ever, either. The pitchers have accounted for quite a few errors too. At the other positions, defense has been stellar. Jackson gets to every ball even remotely close to him. Wells has been known throughout the Minors for his defensive play. Avila is one of the best defensive catchers in the Majors. Inge is above average at third, although he hasn't been as good as usual, with eight errors. Boesch has greatly improved in the outfield, and Kelly and Santiago have been good where ever they play. The Tigers as a whole are 24th in the Majors in errors, with 62 botched plays. Rayburn, Inge, and Cabrera lead the team in errors, with nine, eight, and seven, respectively.
If the offense keeps hitting, and the pitching and defense get better, the Tigers have a great shot at the playoffs. They will probably have to go after someone before the trade deadline, and that player could possibly be the difference for the Tigers. Right now, we just have to hope that all facets of the game come together at one time and they won't have the second half collapse that they are known for.
The defense hasn't been great, especially at second with Raburn and when Magglio plays in right. Cabrera isn't the greatest defensive player ever, either. The pitchers have accounted for quite a few errors too. At the other positions, defense has been stellar. Jackson gets to every ball even remotely close to him. Wells has been known throughout the Minors for his defensive play. Avila is one of the best defensive catchers in the Majors. Inge is above average at third, although he hasn't been as good as usual, with eight errors. Boesch has greatly improved in the outfield, and Kelly and Santiago have been good where ever they play. The Tigers as a whole are 24th in the Majors in errors, with 62 botched plays. Rayburn, Inge, and Cabrera lead the team in errors, with nine, eight, and seven, respectively.
If the offense keeps hitting, and the pitching and defense get better, the Tigers have a great shot at the playoffs. They will probably have to go after someone before the trade deadline, and that player could possibly be the difference for the Tigers. Right now, we just have to hope that all facets of the game come together at one time and they won't have the second half collapse that they are known for.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Tigers Mid-Season Hitting Report
With the All-Star break officially upon us, we'll continue our examination of the Tigers first half play by looking at the hitters.
Infielders:
1B: Miguel Cabrera (.311, 18 HR, 59 RBI) has been Miguel Cabrera. He has been the Tigers most consistent hitter, has the most HR on the team, and is dominant in RBI situations. While his average is not the best it has ever been (although anybody would like a .311 hitter on their team), I expect that it will go up in the second half and he'll end up hitting about .330 with 35-40 HR.
2B: Ryan Raburn (.213, 8 HR, 31 RBI) has some problems. He is constantly pulling the Tigers lineup down, and is not that great defensively. We have seen him have streaks where he is hitting with the best of them, but unless he can break out of the slump he is in, the Tigers have better options for second.
3B: Brandon Inge (.184, 1 HR, 17 RBI) has had a terrible year, and should not be playing. He is hitless for the last five games and has not hit a home run since April. Granted, his mononucleosis is probably slowing him down, but unless he shows that he has something left in the tank, Don Kelly, Danny Worth, or even prospect Francisco Martinez are all better options at third.
SS: Jhonny Peralta (.312, 14 HR, 50 RBI) has been the year's surprise at short. Acquired from the Indians last year in a trade, Peralta was expected to be let go at the end of the season. Instead, he played so well that the Tigers decided to sign him for this year. And has he ever played! Other than Cabrera and Martinez, Peralta has been the Tigers best hitter, and has really settled into the 6 and 7 spots in the lineup.
C: Alex Avila (.286, 10 HR, 46 RBI) has had a breakout year at catcher, and was selected to start in the All-Star game. After hitting .300 for most of the year, Avila has cooled off a bit, but he should be a consistent .270-.300 hitter the rest of the season, and is a key part of the bottom of the lineup.
DH: Splitting time with Avila at catcher, Victor Martinez (.316, 6 HR, 50 RBI) has made a huge impact in the Tigers lineup. Batting directly after Cabrera, Martinez has caused other pitchers to throw to Cabrera, and not intentionally walk him. Of all the "big" offseason pickups in the Majors, V-Mart is the only one who has played extremely well. He will be a big part of this team going forward.
Outfielders:
CF: Austin Jackson (.245, 4 HR, 23 RBI) strikes out waaaaaay too much (100 already). Aside from that, he has the potential to be an amazing hitter, and when he gets on a streak, he is unstoppable. This is only his second year in the big leagues, but Jackson has piled up countless amazing catches in the outfield, with his amazing speed allowing him to take away numerous doubles and triples. Jackson hasn't been great at the plate, but he will get better, and if he gets on base, the Tigers usually score.
LF/RF: Brennan Boesch (.306, 12 HR, 44 RBI) was sensational when he was called up last year, hitting well over .300 with a lot of bombs. Sadly, he was a disaster after the All-Star break. This year he has been much more consistent and is a valuable hitter in front of Cabrera. Barring another post All-Star slump, Boesch will be a great boost to the lineup, and should be a critical part of a run for the postseason.
RF: Magglio Ordonez (.217, 3 HR, 14 RBI) has not been as bad has his numbers indicate. His ankle was hurt for the first part of the season, and the Tigers put him on the DL. After coming back, Ordonez has hit the ball hard everywhere, except that they were right towards defenders. Once the hits start dropping in, Maggs will be hitting up a storm, and could easily hit over .300 after the break.
OF: Andy Dirks (.254, 6 HR, 17 RBI) and Casper Wells (.259, 4 HR, 12 RBI) have shown that they can hit consistently. Wells can play anywhere in the outfield and has a great arm. Dirks is not as good defensively, but has the potential to be quite a hitter. These two are valuable off the bench, and when Boesch or Ordonez sit, Dirks and Wells pick up the slack, and have even shown that they could fill in for the rest of the season if needed.
Utility:
Don Kelly (.245, 3 HR, 11 RBI) can play anywhere. Literally. He's played every position, including pitcher, during his career. When someone needs a rest, whether it be infield or outfield, Kelly is ready to play, and does a respectable job where ever he is. This year, he has obtained the majority of his playing time at third while Inge was injured. He played a lot better than Inge, and probably should start at third every day.
Ramon Santiago (.225, 1 HR, 8 RBI) plays either second or short, and provides switch hitting at the plate. He has been valuable to the Tigers through the years, but is starting to show his age.
Danny Worth (.300, 0 HR, 3 RBI) has spent most of the year in the Minors, but he has hit .300 in 30 AB, and is a better option than Raburn or Inge at their respective positions.
There have been a couple other call-ups, but these players have been sent down after a few games. Will Rhymes is probably the closest to the Majors, hitting over .300 at Triple A.
For the most part, the hitting has been pretty good (with 4 and at times 5 players all hitting over .300), but Raburn and Inge are holding the lineup back. Unless they start hitting consistently or someone else takes over for them, the Tigers can probably throw out any hope of making the playoffs.
Infielders:
1B: Miguel Cabrera (.311, 18 HR, 59 RBI) has been Miguel Cabrera. He has been the Tigers most consistent hitter, has the most HR on the team, and is dominant in RBI situations. While his average is not the best it has ever been (although anybody would like a .311 hitter on their team), I expect that it will go up in the second half and he'll end up hitting about .330 with 35-40 HR.
2B: Ryan Raburn (.213, 8 HR, 31 RBI) has some problems. He is constantly pulling the Tigers lineup down, and is not that great defensively. We have seen him have streaks where he is hitting with the best of them, but unless he can break out of the slump he is in, the Tigers have better options for second.
3B: Brandon Inge (.184, 1 HR, 17 RBI) has had a terrible year, and should not be playing. He is hitless for the last five games and has not hit a home run since April. Granted, his mononucleosis is probably slowing him down, but unless he shows that he has something left in the tank, Don Kelly, Danny Worth, or even prospect Francisco Martinez are all better options at third.
SS: Jhonny Peralta (.312, 14 HR, 50 RBI) has been the year's surprise at short. Acquired from the Indians last year in a trade, Peralta was expected to be let go at the end of the season. Instead, he played so well that the Tigers decided to sign him for this year. And has he ever played! Other than Cabrera and Martinez, Peralta has been the Tigers best hitter, and has really settled into the 6 and 7 spots in the lineup.
C: Alex Avila (.286, 10 HR, 46 RBI) has had a breakout year at catcher, and was selected to start in the All-Star game. After hitting .300 for most of the year, Avila has cooled off a bit, but he should be a consistent .270-.300 hitter the rest of the season, and is a key part of the bottom of the lineup.
DH: Splitting time with Avila at catcher, Victor Martinez (.316, 6 HR, 50 RBI) has made a huge impact in the Tigers lineup. Batting directly after Cabrera, Martinez has caused other pitchers to throw to Cabrera, and not intentionally walk him. Of all the "big" offseason pickups in the Majors, V-Mart is the only one who has played extremely well. He will be a big part of this team going forward.
Outfielders:
CF: Austin Jackson (.245, 4 HR, 23 RBI) strikes out waaaaaay too much (100 already). Aside from that, he has the potential to be an amazing hitter, and when he gets on a streak, he is unstoppable. This is only his second year in the big leagues, but Jackson has piled up countless amazing catches in the outfield, with his amazing speed allowing him to take away numerous doubles and triples. Jackson hasn't been great at the plate, but he will get better, and if he gets on base, the Tigers usually score.
LF/RF: Brennan Boesch (.306, 12 HR, 44 RBI) was sensational when he was called up last year, hitting well over .300 with a lot of bombs. Sadly, he was a disaster after the All-Star break. This year he has been much more consistent and is a valuable hitter in front of Cabrera. Barring another post All-Star slump, Boesch will be a great boost to the lineup, and should be a critical part of a run for the postseason.
RF: Magglio Ordonez (.217, 3 HR, 14 RBI) has not been as bad has his numbers indicate. His ankle was hurt for the first part of the season, and the Tigers put him on the DL. After coming back, Ordonez has hit the ball hard everywhere, except that they were right towards defenders. Once the hits start dropping in, Maggs will be hitting up a storm, and could easily hit over .300 after the break.
OF: Andy Dirks (.254, 6 HR, 17 RBI) and Casper Wells (.259, 4 HR, 12 RBI) have shown that they can hit consistently. Wells can play anywhere in the outfield and has a great arm. Dirks is not as good defensively, but has the potential to be quite a hitter. These two are valuable off the bench, and when Boesch or Ordonez sit, Dirks and Wells pick up the slack, and have even shown that they could fill in for the rest of the season if needed.
Utility:
Don Kelly (.245, 3 HR, 11 RBI) can play anywhere. Literally. He's played every position, including pitcher, during his career. When someone needs a rest, whether it be infield or outfield, Kelly is ready to play, and does a respectable job where ever he is. This year, he has obtained the majority of his playing time at third while Inge was injured. He played a lot better than Inge, and probably should start at third every day.
Ramon Santiago (.225, 1 HR, 8 RBI) plays either second or short, and provides switch hitting at the plate. He has been valuable to the Tigers through the years, but is starting to show his age.
Danny Worth (.300, 0 HR, 3 RBI) has spent most of the year in the Minors, but he has hit .300 in 30 AB, and is a better option than Raburn or Inge at their respective positions.
There have been a couple other call-ups, but these players have been sent down after a few games. Will Rhymes is probably the closest to the Majors, hitting over .300 at Triple A.
For the most part, the hitting has been pretty good (with 4 and at times 5 players all hitting over .300), but Raburn and Inge are holding the lineup back. Unless they start hitting consistently or someone else takes over for them, the Tigers can probably throw out any hope of making the playoffs.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Tigers Mid-Season Pitching Report
Well, the first half of the season is over and the All-Star break is upon us. The Tigers have had an up (Verlander's no-hitter) and down (a couple of long losing streaks) year so far, but with a majority of the remaining games against the AL Central, they are in a perfect position to clinch their first playoff spot since 2006.
Over the next few days, we'll be taking a look at some of the Tigers players and their performance in the first half, and what needs to happen after the break in order to make the playoffs. Today we'll look at the pitching.
Starting Pitching:
Justin Verlander (12-4, 2.15 ERA) has been absolutely remarkable. After a so-so start, the 6'5" righty has taken his game to a new level. Verlander has gone 9 consecutive starts while pitching at least 7 innings and allowing 2 earned runs or less. That is tied for the most in Tigers history. In a year where he has pitched the second no-hitter of his career, Verlander shows no signs of slowing down, and is presently the favorite to win the Cy Young.
Max Scherzer (10-4, 4.69 ERA) like the Tigers, has had an up and down year. After starting 6-0, Scherzer started slowing down and had a few bad outings. Just now he seems to be getting on track, and has had quality starts his last two games. As we saw last year, Scherzer has the potential to be lights-out, and he'll need to find some of that stuff if the Tigers want to compete for a spot in the playoffs.
Rick Porcello (8-6, 4.78 ERA) undoubtedly holds the key to the Tigers rotation. His first few starts were pretty good, but he was beat up during interleague play, despite getting a couple hits. He is turning it around, but unless we see more of the stuff we know he has, the Tigers do not stand a good chance of making it to the playoffs.
Brad Penny (6-6, 4.50 ERA) has had some great starts and some absolutely horrible starts. He has been better of late, and he needs to keep it up if the Tigers want to win in the second half.
Until recently, the fifth spot in the rotation belonged to Phil Coke (1-8, 4.88 ERA). His first year as a starter did not turn out so well, and after many consecutive bad starts, has been moved back into the bullpen, where he is amazing. Charlie Furbush (1-3, 4.03 ERA) and Andy Oliver (0-1, 6.52 ERA) have each started a couple games, but have not put up very good numbers, and are back in the Minors. Unless the Tigers can find someone to fill the fifth spot, it will continue to hold them back, and may keep them out of the playoffs.
Relievers:
What can I say? Jose Valverde (24 for 24 saves, 2.70 ERA) has been perfect in save opportunities. Almost all of his runs have come in non-save situations, where he should not be pitching (thanks a lot, Leyland). Papa Grande and his antics on the mound have been a staple in the ninth inning for the Tigers.
Joaquin Benoit (that's pronounced WAHkeen benWAH for all you wah-wah music effects fans out there) (2-3, 4.24 ERA) has pitched much better than his numbers suggest. Benoit has been quite good as the primary setup man for Valverde. After a terrible start, Benoit has settled down and is looking more like the amazing pitcher he was last year. While he is not quite there yet, he is on his way, and will be an integral part of the Tigers bullpen in the second half.
Al Alburquerque (5-1, 2.79 ERA) and his slider have burst onto the scene with 47 strikeouts in 29 innings. From Double A last year to one of the best relievers in 2011, Alburquerque has impressed everyone with his amazing slider and above average fastball. Although he is on the DL right now, it is only a minor injury (probably from throwing too many sliders), and Alburquerque should be back up and striking out hitters soon after the break.
(Bonus) Don Kelly (0-0, 0.00 ERA) has been insane! After coming in in the ninth inning and getting one out, he is now considered the best pitcher on the Tigers roster! Really though, he is amazing, and has played all nine positions on the field.
The rest of the Tigers relievers have been up and down the whole year. Ryan Perry (0-0, 7.17 ERA) and Daniel Schlereth (0-1, 4.91 ERA) just can't get going. David Purcy (1-1, 4.86 ERA) has the potential to be very good, and has show some good stuff. The other relievers have been up and down between Triple A and the Majors. The bullpen can be very good, while at other times it is downright awful. The Tigers need a little more of the former if they expect to be in contention come September.
Overall, the Tigers pitching has been mediocre. They have the potential to be one of the better pitching staffs in baseball, but the bullpen needs to be a little more consistent, and and a fifth starter must be found. The pitching will definitely define the Tigers second half, and will be the key part of their run for a berth in the playoffs.
Over the next few days, we'll be taking a look at some of the Tigers players and their performance in the first half, and what needs to happen after the break in order to make the playoffs. Today we'll look at the pitching.
Starting Pitching:
Justin Verlander (12-4, 2.15 ERA) has been absolutely remarkable. After a so-so start, the 6'5" righty has taken his game to a new level. Verlander has gone 9 consecutive starts while pitching at least 7 innings and allowing 2 earned runs or less. That is tied for the most in Tigers history. In a year where he has pitched the second no-hitter of his career, Verlander shows no signs of slowing down, and is presently the favorite to win the Cy Young.
Max Scherzer (10-4, 4.69 ERA) like the Tigers, has had an up and down year. After starting 6-0, Scherzer started slowing down and had a few bad outings. Just now he seems to be getting on track, and has had quality starts his last two games. As we saw last year, Scherzer has the potential to be lights-out, and he'll need to find some of that stuff if the Tigers want to compete for a spot in the playoffs.
Rick Porcello (8-6, 4.78 ERA) undoubtedly holds the key to the Tigers rotation. His first few starts were pretty good, but he was beat up during interleague play, despite getting a couple hits. He is turning it around, but unless we see more of the stuff we know he has, the Tigers do not stand a good chance of making it to the playoffs.
Brad Penny (6-6, 4.50 ERA) has had some great starts and some absolutely horrible starts. He has been better of late, and he needs to keep it up if the Tigers want to win in the second half.
Until recently, the fifth spot in the rotation belonged to Phil Coke (1-8, 4.88 ERA). His first year as a starter did not turn out so well, and after many consecutive bad starts, has been moved back into the bullpen, where he is amazing. Charlie Furbush (1-3, 4.03 ERA) and Andy Oliver (0-1, 6.52 ERA) have each started a couple games, but have not put up very good numbers, and are back in the Minors. Unless the Tigers can find someone to fill the fifth spot, it will continue to hold them back, and may keep them out of the playoffs.
Relievers:
What can I say? Jose Valverde (24 for 24 saves, 2.70 ERA) has been perfect in save opportunities. Almost all of his runs have come in non-save situations, where he should not be pitching (thanks a lot, Leyland). Papa Grande and his antics on the mound have been a staple in the ninth inning for the Tigers.
Joaquin Benoit (that's pronounced WAHkeen benWAH for all you wah-wah music effects fans out there) (2-3, 4.24 ERA) has pitched much better than his numbers suggest. Benoit has been quite good as the primary setup man for Valverde. After a terrible start, Benoit has settled down and is looking more like the amazing pitcher he was last year. While he is not quite there yet, he is on his way, and will be an integral part of the Tigers bullpen in the second half.
Al Alburquerque (5-1, 2.79 ERA) and his slider have burst onto the scene with 47 strikeouts in 29 innings. From Double A last year to one of the best relievers in 2011, Alburquerque has impressed everyone with his amazing slider and above average fastball. Although he is on the DL right now, it is only a minor injury (probably from throwing too many sliders), and Alburquerque should be back up and striking out hitters soon after the break.
(Bonus) Don Kelly (0-0, 0.00 ERA) has been insane! After coming in in the ninth inning and getting one out, he is now considered the best pitcher on the Tigers roster! Really though, he is amazing, and has played all nine positions on the field.
The rest of the Tigers relievers have been up and down the whole year. Ryan Perry (0-0, 7.17 ERA) and Daniel Schlereth (0-1, 4.91 ERA) just can't get going. David Purcy (1-1, 4.86 ERA) has the potential to be very good, and has show some good stuff. The other relievers have been up and down between Triple A and the Majors. The bullpen can be very good, while at other times it is downright awful. The Tigers need a little more of the former if they expect to be in contention come September.
Overall, the Tigers pitching has been mediocre. They have the potential to be one of the better pitching staffs in baseball, but the bullpen needs to be a little more consistent, and and a fifth starter must be found. The pitching will definitely define the Tigers second half, and will be the key part of their run for a berth in the playoffs.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Again? Really? Nope.
"...swings and LINES ONE INTO CENTER FIELD a base hit."
And with that, Justin Verlander's bid for his second no-hitter in as many months came to a screeching halt. An Indian's hit in the 8th inning screwed up what would have been the 3rd no-no of Verlander's career. He ended up with a complete game two-hitter (the second was a blooper). With that game, the Tigers vaulted over the Indians into first in the AL Central.
Also in the AL Central, Francisco Liriano (who else) took a no-no through the 7th. That's when the Twins decided to take a half-hour and score 5 runs, which was good for them, but not for Liriano, who gave up a hit in the next inning.
So ended the bids for two more no-hitters from the same pitchers who threw the other ones this year.
And with that, Justin Verlander's bid for his second no-hitter in as many months came to a screeching halt. An Indian's hit in the 8th inning screwed up what would have been the 3rd no-no of Verlander's career. He ended up with a complete game two-hitter (the second was a blooper). With that game, the Tigers vaulted over the Indians into first in the AL Central.
Also in the AL Central, Francisco Liriano (who else) took a no-no through the 7th. That's when the Twins decided to take a half-hour and score 5 runs, which was good for them, but not for Liriano, who gave up a hit in the next inning.
So ended the bids for two more no-hitters from the same pitchers who threw the other ones this year.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
The Perfect Game That Wasn't
It is 8:50pm on June 2, 2010. Armando Galarraga is pacing around at the back of the mound. There are two outs in the ninth inning. Not one opposing player has reached first base. After receiving the sign from Detroit Tigers catcher Alex Avila, Galarraga sets his feet. He winds up, and throws the pitch. A ground ball to first! First baseman Miguel Cabrera ranges to his right to field the ball. Galarraga rushes to the base. Cabrera throws the ball perfectly. Galarraga catches it, and puts his foot on the bag ahead of the runner. He is about to become the 19th pitcher in Major League history to throw a perfect game!
In the words of Tigers radio broadcaster Dan Dickerson: "...throws to Galarraga covering first, and, THEY DIDN'T GET HIM!!! OH MAN!!!!!"
Galarraga got the next batter, and the Tigers won. But it didn't matter. The perfect game was thrown to the wind. Suddenly, all of the Tigers players barged out of the dugout. They surrounded the first base umpire Jim Joyce, arguing the call. Certain he had made the right call, Joyce argued for a bit, then made his way to the umpire's room. A fellow umpire met him. "I thought he was out."
A shadow of doubt filled Joyce's mind. He went to look at the replay for the first and last time in his life. The runner had been out. Joyce would forever be remembered as the man who blew the perfect game.
Joyce broke down after seeing the replay. He allowed some reporters into the umpire's room - something which rarely happens - and acknowledged his mistake, crying throughout the interview. He asked to see Galarraga, and apologized personally. Galarraga, though unhappy about the call, accepted the apology and gave Joyce a hug.
Joyce was scheduled to be the home plate umpire the next day. Commissioner Bud Selig gave Joyce the option to skip the game. Joyce declined. As he walked out at the start of the game, he was shocked at the response from the crowd. Sure, there were a few boos, but almost everyone stood up and applauded his sportsmanship. A minute later, Galarraga walked out of the dugout with the lineup card. Once again, Joyce broke into tears. The men shared a hug, and Galarraga walked back to the dugout. The game went smoothly, and Joyce did an admirable job behind the plate.
The happy ending did nothing to take away the reality of the blown call. Joyce received hate mail, and even death threats. Even now, when people hear his name, they think of the call that cost Armando Galarraga a perfect game.
One year later, Joyce, who was (and still is) one of the most respected umpires in baseball, is still umpiring baseball games, and doing a great job. Apparently Galarraga isn't doing so well, as he was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks, and is now back in the Minor Leagues. He hopes to be back in the Majors soon. For him, the perfect game that wasn't leaves only good memories of sportsmanship. Joyce prefers not to talk about the game.
Perfect games. Blown calls. Sportsmanship. All came together in this amazing game. The imperfect game could have been extremely ugly. Instead, because of the actions of the umpire and the pitcher, it taught everyone a lesson in sportsmanship, and the game of baseball is better for it.
In the words of Tigers radio broadcaster Dan Dickerson: "...throws to Galarraga covering first, and, THEY DIDN'T GET HIM!!! OH MAN!!!!!"
Galarraga got the next batter, and the Tigers won. But it didn't matter. The perfect game was thrown to the wind. Suddenly, all of the Tigers players barged out of the dugout. They surrounded the first base umpire Jim Joyce, arguing the call. Certain he had made the right call, Joyce argued for a bit, then made his way to the umpire's room. A fellow umpire met him. "I thought he was out."
A shadow of doubt filled Joyce's mind. He went to look at the replay for the first and last time in his life. The runner had been out. Joyce would forever be remembered as the man who blew the perfect game.
Joyce broke down after seeing the replay. He allowed some reporters into the umpire's room - something which rarely happens - and acknowledged his mistake, crying throughout the interview. He asked to see Galarraga, and apologized personally. Galarraga, though unhappy about the call, accepted the apology and gave Joyce a hug.
Joyce was scheduled to be the home plate umpire the next day. Commissioner Bud Selig gave Joyce the option to skip the game. Joyce declined. As he walked out at the start of the game, he was shocked at the response from the crowd. Sure, there were a few boos, but almost everyone stood up and applauded his sportsmanship. A minute later, Galarraga walked out of the dugout with the lineup card. Once again, Joyce broke into tears. The men shared a hug, and Galarraga walked back to the dugout. The game went smoothly, and Joyce did an admirable job behind the plate.
The happy ending did nothing to take away the reality of the blown call. Joyce received hate mail, and even death threats. Even now, when people hear his name, they think of the call that cost Armando Galarraga a perfect game.
One year later, Joyce, who was (and still is) one of the most respected umpires in baseball, is still umpiring baseball games, and doing a great job. Apparently Galarraga isn't doing so well, as he was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks, and is now back in the Minor Leagues. He hopes to be back in the Majors soon. For him, the perfect game that wasn't leaves only good memories of sportsmanship. Joyce prefers not to talk about the game.
Perfect games. Blown calls. Sportsmanship. All came together in this amazing game. The imperfect game could have been extremely ugly. Instead, because of the actions of the umpire and the pitcher, it taught everyone a lesson in sportsmanship, and the game of baseball is better for it.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
This Is AWEFUL!!!!
OH NO!!!!! The David Crowder*Band is breaking up! *sob* This is the worst thing that has happened since, since, since, uh, hmmm, Capital Lights broke up!(joke - well, sort of) No, really, DC*B is has been one of the most awesome and legendary bands in the history of Christian music. Only one more album at the end of the year, the 7 Tour, and they're calling it quits. *sniff* Hopefully some of the guys continue to make music, as DC*B is my favorite artist, and anything they touch (in my opinion, but Andrew doesn't agree - he can't stand them) turns to gold.
This is the sad news of the year. Maybe better times are ahead.
This is the sad news of the year. Maybe better times are ahead.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Baseball, Festival, Baseball, Tulip Time, and No-Hitters (Baseball)
Ok, so maybe it's not that much baseball, but it has been a pretty good week and a half for MLB fans. Especially Tigers fans. It would be for Twins fans too, except that they are losing pretty much every game. Last week, Francisco Liriano of the Minnesota Twins threw baseball's first no-hitter of the year. Which is strange, because he walked eight and only struck out two. On top of that, he had an ERA just over nine going into the game. Oh, by the way, he had never thrown a complete game in his career.
One week later, he only went three innings and gave up four runs against the Tigers, who blew out the Twins 10-2.
A couple days later, we went to State Festival with the West Michigan Homeschool Fine Arts (WMHFA) Concert and Advanced Bands and Symphony Orchestra. My brother and I are in Advanced Band. The AB had earned straight ones at District Festival for the first time ever! So we were just happy to be in State. But we still earned II, I, II, I, for an overall score of II, which turned out to be one of the better scores of the day. Symphony Orchestra earned a I (the only orchestra to do that!), and Concert band was one of only three bands to get a I.
Fast forward now to Saturday. I wasn't particularly looking forward to this day, because we had to show bees at Tulip Time for eight hours straight. Not fun. Buffalo Wild Wings provided a free lunch, so that helped a little. But the real highlight of the day was towards the end of the eight hours. The Tigers had started at four, so I was keeping tabs on the score through my iPod. I didn't pay too much attention to it until the 4th, when I realized that Justin Verlander had a perfect game going! Just then, my cousins showed up, and I put the iPod away. They stayed for about an hour, and helped us pick up when it was over. During this time I had only gotten a couple looks at the score, but enough to know that Verlander still had the perfect game going to the 7th. By the bottom of the 7th, we were all picked up and were on the way home, so I got to hear the rest of the game on the radio. In the 8th, with one out, Verlander still held onto perfection. Until, after a twelve pitch at bat, he walked somebody. *sigh* The Tigers are still waiting for the first true perfect game (see: Armando Galarraga) in the team's history. Verlander went on to get a double play, and breezed through the last inning to get his second career no-hitter, the 7th in Tigers history, and the second Tiger to throw two no-hitters in his career, and one of only a handful to throw a no-hitter while facing the minimum amount of batters (27).
The next day, we went back to Tulip Time for another six hours of showing bees. Although the Tigers won, there was no drama. Well, at least there wasn't any compared to the day before.
The Tigers are on a roll now, winning eight of their last nine games. We'll see how long this lasts.
Well, that pretty much sums up my last week or so. I wonder if these amazing baseball games will keep coming...
One week later, he only went three innings and gave up four runs against the Tigers, who blew out the Twins 10-2.
A couple days later, we went to State Festival with the West Michigan Homeschool Fine Arts (WMHFA) Concert and Advanced Bands and Symphony Orchestra. My brother and I are in Advanced Band. The AB had earned straight ones at District Festival for the first time ever! So we were just happy to be in State. But we still earned II, I, II, I, for an overall score of II, which turned out to be one of the better scores of the day. Symphony Orchestra earned a I (the only orchestra to do that!), and Concert band was one of only three bands to get a I.
Fast forward now to Saturday. I wasn't particularly looking forward to this day, because we had to show bees at Tulip Time for eight hours straight. Not fun. Buffalo Wild Wings provided a free lunch, so that helped a little. But the real highlight of the day was towards the end of the eight hours. The Tigers had started at four, so I was keeping tabs on the score through my iPod. I didn't pay too much attention to it until the 4th, when I realized that Justin Verlander had a perfect game going! Just then, my cousins showed up, and I put the iPod away. They stayed for about an hour, and helped us pick up when it was over. During this time I had only gotten a couple looks at the score, but enough to know that Verlander still had the perfect game going to the 7th. By the bottom of the 7th, we were all picked up and were on the way home, so I got to hear the rest of the game on the radio. In the 8th, with one out, Verlander still held onto perfection. Until, after a twelve pitch at bat, he walked somebody. *sigh* The Tigers are still waiting for the first true perfect game (see: Armando Galarraga) in the team's history. Verlander went on to get a double play, and breezed through the last inning to get his second career no-hitter, the 7th in Tigers history, and the second Tiger to throw two no-hitters in his career, and one of only a handful to throw a no-hitter while facing the minimum amount of batters (27).
The next day, we went back to Tulip Time for another six hours of showing bees. Although the Tigers won, there was no drama. Well, at least there wasn't any compared to the day before.
The Tigers are on a roll now, winning eight of their last nine games. We'll see how long this lasts.
Well, that pretty much sums up my last week or so. I wonder if these amazing baseball games will keep coming...
Thursday, April 7, 2011
It's All Over
The last week's been kind of busy. For one, I turned 16. In Ohio no less. (If you don't know my sports hates, you probably won't get that... leave a comment) More importantly, the college basketball national championships were played. Which means that college basketball season is officially over. *sniff* UConn won the men's national championship and Texas A&M won the woman's championship. Wait, what? I thought UConn was supposed to win the woman's. I guess they decided to trade places with the guys.
Once again Butler came so close. Well, not quite as close as last year, but considering they weren't even supposed to make it out of the second round, and that they couldn't make shots that everybody on my basketball team can make consistently, and that my team scores more that 41 points on average... For that matter, we scored more than 53 a quite a bit too.
Surprisingly, absolutely NONE of the number one seeds made it to either Final Four. That's the first time in a long time, if not ever. None of the two's made it in the men's either.
Thus ends my ravings about basketball (to the relief of some people I know). Until next year. Unless I talk about the NBA playoffs, which I probably won't because I don't really care about the NBA (you're welcome).
Once again Butler came so close. Well, not quite as close as last year, but considering they weren't even supposed to make it out of the second round, and that they couldn't make shots that everybody on my basketball team can make consistently, and that my team scores more that 41 points on average... For that matter, we scored more than 53 a quite a bit too.
Surprisingly, absolutely NONE of the number one seeds made it to either Final Four. That's the first time in a long time, if not ever. None of the two's made it in the men's either.
Thus ends my ravings about basketball (to the relief of some people I know). Until next year. Unless I talk about the NBA playoffs, which I probably won't because I don't really care about the NBA (you're welcome).
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