Restoring the Roar

Globally, 1984 is probably best known as the title of George Orwell’s classic novel. But the year has a different significance in everyone’s heart. For the history buff it was the year Reagan won the presidential election by a landslide over Walter Mondale. In 1984 the music lover saw Bruce Springsteen release Born in the USA, Prince release Purple Rain, and Michael Jackson win 8 Grammys. For the weird-useless-trivial knowledge guru, 1984 was the year John DeLorean was acquitted of cocaine charges. And, most importantly for this site, sports fans saw Los Angeles host the Summer Olympics, the first 64 team Men’s NCAA Basketball Tournament, and… drum-roll please… The Detroit Tigers win the 1984 World Series.

So what better do 3 guys who grew up in the Detroit area have to do but write about and discuss the current Tigers squad in hopes that they can bring the Glory Days back to Motown. Here’s to this year’s team Restoring the Roar of 1984!
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Pure Michigan: Detroit Tigers

Ding, dong… Inge is in Toledo!

“ As Jim Joyce said in his postgame comments, there is no dispute that last night’s game should have ended differently. While the human element has always been an integral part of baseball, it is vital that mistakes on the field be addressed. Given last night’s call and other recent events, I will examine our umpiring system, the expanded use of instant replay and all other related features. ”

MLB will not reverse blown call in Tigers game

Look, I don’t want to wine and complain about this… but I’m going to wine and complain. I’m fine with Selig coming out and saying, “I fear overruling this call will open the floodgates on hundreds of games in the past and set a dangerous precedent for all future games.” That’s a valid reason to not overturn the call from last night. But to release this statement praising the Tigers organization and not even give them an explanation as to why you won’t change the call is complete bullshit.

As I said in my email to Bud himself last night, he - and he alone - has brought this nightmare upon himself. If he had half a backbone, there would’ve been some sort of review on this play as it happened. Baseball could’ve been like every other professional American sports league and had some sort of instant replay. Instead, we’re left with a public relations joke that tells us absolutely nothing.

You suck Bud Selig, in every sense imaginable… 

This guy right here is one of the classiest, smartest, most well-spoken and well-rounded human beings to ever step foot on a baseball field and even if he can’t hit lefties, he’s still one hell of a ballplayer. He’s always been “My Tiger” and, even though he is now a member of every baseball fan’s archenemy, I wish him infinitely more success, money and fame. He deserves it. Treat him well New York. They don’t make ‘em like this kid anymore. (With all that said, I think this is a fantastic deal for the Tigers and I’m ecstatic they made it. We get back three pitchers who will help fill the gaps of the bullpen and starting rotation, and have a pretty good young prospect at center. We’ll be ok Tiger fans.)

This guy right here is one of the classiest, smartest, most well-spoken and well-rounded human beings to ever step foot on a baseball field and even if he can’t hit lefties, he’s still one hell of a ballplayer.

He’s always been “My Tiger” and, even though he is now a member of every baseball fan’s archenemy, I wish him infinitely more success, money and fame. He deserves it.

Treat him well New York. They don’t make ‘em like this kid anymore.

(With all that said, I think this is a fantastic deal for the Tigers and I’m ecstatic they made it. We get back three pitchers who will help fill the gaps of the bullpen and starting rotation, and have a pretty good young prospect at center. We’ll be ok Tiger fans.)

Joe Mauer Stealing Signs (Not Cheating)

This is why baseball is interesting… and also, ef Joe Mauer. What a dirty cheater… (via)

more evidence that the stars are not aligning in the Tigers' favor...yet.

designaddict:
so i still don't have cable and didn't see what our friend inge did last night
but i can guarantee whatever it was, i completely echo your sediments
me:
he drove in 2 when we really needed it - especially in the end result
i was only watching gamecast on epsn.com so i cannot attest to the solidness of the hit, but i am still on the "Inge Must Go" Bandwagon
designaddict:
yeah i saw 6-5. i still hate him. we need a 3B with some power
me:
the end of that game was insane - literally put me into a fit - we went to a bar to watch the last 3 innings and it was unreal...Verlander has a terrible 7th and 8th - Twins tie it up 5-5. top of 9 grandy hits a solo HR - put us up 6-5.
me:
Top of 9th: polanco makes a wretched error, puts a guy on. then granderson on the next play, misplays a ball that he catches 99.9999999% of the time. we were really the only 3 watching it and just flipping out - couldnt believe what we were seeing. at this point thinking, "sh*t, rodney needs all the help he can get - and this is happening - 2 of his most sure-handed teammates are messing it all up." we somehow got out of it to hang on to our 2 game lead.
designaddict:
grandy must've tightened up. got a little nervous
me:
it was bad...never seen him do that before. i will stop worrying when if we take one of the next 2.
designaddict:
yeah, i'll be ok with splitting these next 2. up 2 games with 3 to play is a decent position, especially when we're at home for those 3. it just means, win 1 of the 3 and you should be in.
me:
if we split the next two, MIN should drop 1 in KC (Greinke game) and as long as we win 1 in CHI the worst we can do is a playoff. caveat to the whole thing is that we have Bonine and Robertson pitching the next 2...not sure how i feel about that. and wtf! the Twins with all of those Lefties...i swear they put 6 lefties in the lineup everynight
designaddict:
yeah i noticed that. it's unreal. they have a bunch of them
me:
i counted 5 on their roster that played last night - 2 of which are switch. okay, ill stop flipping out and let you get some work done
(via)

(via)

Tonight’s the Home Run Derby and we have a bet going around these parts. We’ve set the over/under on the number of Inge home runs in the first round at 6.5. I’m taking the under, Mike’s taking the over. This is a epic battle for a nice lunch. Results tomorrow.

Tonight’s the Home Run Derby and we have a bet going around these parts. We’ve set the over/under on the number of Inge home runs in the first round at 6.5. I’m taking the under, Mike’s taking the over. This is a epic battle for a nice lunch. Results tomorrow.

Shutout

In the first of this three game series against the Texas Rangers, Dontrelle Willis started and Fernando Rodney closed out a combined one hit shutout to give the Tigers a 4-0 win.  The two pieces of the Tigers pitching staff that scare me most - Willis and Rodney - were absolutely lights out tonight.  Granted Zumaya, Lyon, and Seay all helped in the winning effort, but one can not ask for more than a one hit shutout - even if a combined one.  Since Game 2 of the NHL’s Western Conference Finals were on at the same time as the Tigers, I watched the great pitching effort in a limited capacity - everything takes a backseat to playoff hockey: baseball, basketball, eating, sleeping, breathing - but what I did see was impressive and at one point Willis apparently retired 17 Rangers in a row.  Phenomenal.

I have to say my fears of Willis are not dissolved after this one outing, but if Willis can keep this up the Tigers pitching staff just got a whole lot deeper and stronger.  Same goes fro Rodney who has capitalized on all of his save opportunities this year but for some reason has flashes of the erratic Todd Jones in his non save opps.

And, by the way, the Wings just scored in overtime - 3 on 1 breakaway, Mikael Samuelsson puts in the game winner…this makes up for his errand clearing attempt in the first period that led to the ‘Hawks first goal, let’s not see sloppiness like that again, please…loved the game winner though.

Two good things came out of today for the Tigers. The obvious 9-1 win. They’ve now outscored Oakland by 21 runs in the two games this series, giving up just 2 runs. Granted, the A’s are the second lowest scoring team in the majors but it’s something to build upon. Bondo had a successful rehab start in West Michigan, going seven strong innings, giving up two run and six hits while walking just one and striking out four. One more start and he should be back up with the big club. As an aside, WTF is with the Whitecaps uniforms?

Two good things came out of today for the Tigers.

  1. The obvious 9-1 win. They’ve now outscored Oakland by 21 runs in the two games this series, giving up just 2 runs. Granted, the A’s are the second lowest scoring team in the majors but it’s something to build upon.
  2. Bondo had a successful rehab start in West Michigan, going seven strong innings, giving up two run and six hits while walking just one and striking out four. One more start and he should be back up with the big club.

As an aside, WTF is with the Whitecaps uniforms?

Curtis Grandson gives us a sneak peak into tonight’s game. That’s right, MC Hammer will be there!

Curtis Grandson gives us a sneak peak into tonight’s game. That’s right, MC Hammer will be there!

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