  Ravine Member Username: Ravine Post Number: 2093 Registered: 01-2006 |
Yeah, 401don, I hear ya. If I was Dombrowski, I would be feeling strongly tempted to call Cruceta's agent and say, "You know what? Forget it. Call your boy and tell him that's O.K., just stay over there." I am reminded of Aurelio (Senor Smoke) Lopez. How in the hell do you have visa problems EVERY YEAR? Grilli? Heh. He IS a reliable arm. He can give the other team three good innings, every day. | ||
Smogboy Member Username: Smogboy Post Number: 7405 Registered: 11-2004 |
I just heard on the radio today that either it's Homeland Security or the Dominican Republic that is being REALLY being a total bastard when it comes to letting guys like Cruceta into the country. From what they were saying, Francisco Cruceta isn't the only ball player that isn't being allowed in; there seems to be a backlog too. And it's just within the last few months that they've clamped down so it isn't an annual thing. So I'm not sure how much of it is his fault and obviously the Tigers and those other teams with Dominican players are aware of the issues. | ||
Ravine Member Username: Ravine Post Number: 2099 Registered: 01-2006 |
I was just thinking about the oncoming season and looking at how other teams stack up, and I notice that Atlanta is in pretty good shape for hitting, but they have only two starters about whom they can feel any realistic confidence, the (in my opinion) great John Smoltz, and Tim Hudson. What that meant, to me, is that if Jair Jurrjens gets a chance, and is up to the task, the door will swing wide open for him. I hope it goes that way. I liked him (I still kinda hate that we traded him,) and I like the Braves. I know they have the (in my opinion) also great Tom Glavine back with them, but I am inclined to believe that he is just about out of gas. | ||
401don Member Username: 401don Post Number: 335 Registered: 11-2007 |
Last year's most dependable reliever, Brydak, gets released today. Guess spring training means something after all. On another discouraging note, Willis gets pelted again - 5 runs in the 1st inning. Can't start the regular season soon enough. | ||
D_mcc Member Username: D_mcc Post Number: 539 Registered: 12-2007 |
Don...I have to Argue with your statement about Rogers, Willis, and Robertson especially...are workhorses.... | ||
401don Member Username: 401don Post Number: 336 Registered: 11-2007 |
D_ - You're right. All the Tigers starters are good for about 200 innings. It just seems that these guys have more so-so starts where they give up 4 runs in 5-6 innings and then you need your bullpen for 3+ innings. I guess this is true of most teams' 3-5 starters. | ||
Smogboy Member Username: Smogboy Post Number: 7423 Registered: 11-2004 |
Sports Illustrated just picked our lovely Tigers to win it all this year too. Not that I would doubt them, but let's not anoint anyone anything just yet. It's still played between the chalklines out there. But I am hopeful they're right though! | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 4533 Registered: 02-2005 |
How times have changed. I never thought the day would come when the Tigers would be the preseason favorite. It shows how respect gets earned. This is gonna be fun. I predict 98 wins. | ||
Emu_steve Member Username: Emu_steve Post Number: 611 Registered: 11-2006 |
quote: "How times have changed. I never thought the day would come when the Tigers would be the preseason favorite. It shows how respect gets earned. This is gonna be fun. I predict 98 wins." FYI. I just got back from Vegas. Over/Under line for DET is 93 wins. At one casino they were 6:1 to win the World Series. Others had shorter odds. | ||
Ravine Member Username: Ravine Post Number: 2130 Registered: 01-2006 |
I'm not trying to be a mean-spirited smart-ass, really I'm not, but is "retires" the correct word, here? http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs .dll/article?AID=/20080329/SPO RTS02/80328077/&imw=Y (Message edited by ravine on March 29, 2008) | ||
Flanders_field Member Username: Flanders_field Post Number: 239 Registered: 01-2008 |
No...maybe "abjured" would be more appropriate; Abjured: To give up (an action or practice, for example) Retiring from AA at age 26 would be like retiring as an intern at a hospital, IMO. | ||
Ravine Member Username: Ravine Post Number: 2131 Registered: 01-2006 |
Ah! "Abjured," indeed; a perfect fit for the situation, and you have taught me a new word, as well, which is much appreciated, since I collect them. In other news: http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/ news/article.jsp?ymd=20080329& content_id=2465283&vkey=news_d et&fext=.jsp&c_id=det It might not sound like much, and probably won't be, but who knows? Fultz pitched really good for the Phillies, just a few years back. With us having flung Byrdak to the side, a few days ago, should anything happen to Bobby Seay, we will need a "situational lefty" who has at least half an idea what he's doing, so Fultz is a decent insurance policy. (Message edited by ravine on March 29, 2008) | ||
Ravine Member Username: Ravine Post Number: 2139 Registered: 01-2006 |
Well, it's 11:25 AM, Opening Day Morning; I guess it's time to enter my pre-season analysis. I think all the talk about Bullpen Problems is warranted. It is quite possible that the situation will not be as grim as foreseen, because somebody may step up, but we ain't got nobody that we can depend on. There is every reason to believe that it will be a problem. Maybe the real Swing Factor will be the starters. We may have a terrific quintet of starters; we may not. The only one who I truly believe is great is Verlander. People make it sound like we have a helluva starting five; I'm not so sure about that. Still, things should go well. The Royals are nothing to worry about, Minnesota and Chicago have more weaknesses than do we (I think!,) and the Indians, who have tweaked their team just a bit, appear to be no better than, and probably not even as good as, our guys. (Although, I would have said that last season, too, and we know how that turned out.) I guess I don't really have a prediction, but who cares? I'm terribly sick & tired of winter, and it is Opening Day. Surely, good things are just around the corner. | ||
401don Member Username: 401don Post Number: 337 Registered: 11-2007 |
I know Rodney hasn't pitched in any spring games but is he at least pitching without pain yet? Also, maybe flybydon could make a run down south and pick up Cruceta for us. Nobody would see him land at City Airport. | ||
Ravine Member Username: Ravine Post Number: 2140 Registered: 01-2006 |
401don: Har! I suppose not. Weeellll, I do have one little prediction: There is much hoopla about Miguel Cabrera-- all of it warranted, and some of it, arguably, understated-- but I think Tiger fans will really learn to appreciate Edgar Renteria. That guy knows what the hell he is doing, on the field and at the plate. Even aside from Cabrera, our offense is greatly improved, with him in our line-up. We will not be seeing Edgar striking himself out, very often. | ||
D_mcc Member Username: D_mcc Post Number: 575 Registered: 12-2007 |
I say...Tigers will win the AL Central by 1.5 games...Cleveland will take the wild card Seattle in the AL West...Boston in the Al East... Detroit and Seattle - Detroit Cleveland and Boston - Cleveland Detroit and Cleveland - Detroit | ||
Focusonthed Member Username: Focusonthed Post Number: 1764 Registered: 02-2006 |
And we're underway! | ||
Lowell Board Administrator Username: Lowell Post Number: 4692 Registered: 10-2003 |
For, lo, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; The time of the singing of birds is come, And the voice of the turtle is heard in our land. Play ball! | ||
Ravine Member Username: Ravine Post Number: 2141 Registered: 01-2006 |
Of course, I enjoyed the Cabrera HR-- more on that, later-- but Carlos just whacked the SHIT out of that pitch. That was a murderous swing. | ||
Rookie08 Member Username: Rookie08 Post Number: 1 Registered: 03-2008 |
Top of the 11. Looks like they are going to lose this game. | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 5874 Registered: 10-2003 |
DAMN. Oh well. | ||
Focusonthed Member Username: Focusonthed Post Number: 1767 Registered: 02-2006 |
Looks like 161-1 is still possible! | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 2218 Registered: 11-2003 |
Outpitched, outhit, outfielded, and outcoached.. But other than that, better days are still ahead. | ||
Flanders_field Member Username: Flanders_field Post Number: 242 Registered: 01-2008 |
Sheff with 4 non-int walks? But the heart of the order could not score him on any of them. | ||
Ravine Member Username: Ravine Post Number: 2142 Registered: 01-2006 |
Jeez, Rock, thanks for being nearly as negative as possible. Ain't there somewhere else you gotta be, like, an hour ago? | ||
Ravine Member Username: Ravine Post Number: 2143 Registered: 01-2006 |
Oh yeah, speaking of Sheffield. Maybe a kind of "difficult" person, sometimes, but ya gotta love him as a player. Bases loaded, two outs, down on an 0-2 count... and draws a run-scoring base on balls. Killer. | ||
Eastsidechris Member Username: Eastsidechris Post Number: 173 Registered: 12-2003 |
There are always days during the season when the team knocks the cover off the ball, but can't produce many runs. I would consider today to be one of those days, so it was an aberration. For example, Placido hit the ball on the nose three times, and got nothing to show for it. On another day, he may have had three hits. | ||
Qweek Member Username: Qweek Post Number: 513 Registered: 07-2006 |
A complete stranger gave my son and his friend two tickets for the game today after asking them why they weren't going in the park just before the game started. My son answered "I can't afford it!", it's crazy my husband just took the boys downtown to be in the excitement and all three of them saw the game. After Joe and his friend got their gift from heaven a guy sold my husband a ticket for thirty bucks so he could go in with them. What a great time they had! | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 2220 Registered: 11-2003 |
Ravine- "An hour ago",I was doing a little research and I can now state that it was Henry Collins who said that "sometimes the truth hurts and sometimes it feels good". Today it hurt. Let's be objective, not sentimental. Hopefully, Wednesday, it will "feel good." | ||
Ravine Member Username: Ravine Post Number: 2155 Registered: 01-2006 |
Qweek, that story alone, in real importance, stands head & shoulders above 95% of the ugly and depressing things we hear all the time about this city and its problems. Thanks for sharing it. I wish I could interrupt all local TV & radio programming with that one. |
