From what he said on the field a few minutes later, that’s exactly what happened:

“Craig, what was going through your mind when you saw the ball go over the fence?”

“I’m going to the World Series! Oh my god, we’re going to the World Series!”

Seriously though, I have no problem with the victory laps. But I think ff the Tigers remain a top team capable of multiple runs at the Series the next five years you won’t see that sort of thing again.

The Tigers have lost their innocence with this victory. Next year if they’re in the playoffs, you won’t see that sort of thing after an ALDS/ALCS win. Thats what makes this postseason run so “magical.” It’s one of a kind celebration (this year), and something that cannot be duplicated if we’re back next year.

Because we weren’t supposed to do this. If we’re back in postition next year we’re going to expect them to win and be on them if they lose just like we are with the Red Wings and Pistons.

I hope they ask Tram to throw out a WS first pitch as he was a great Tiger.

One thing that usually irritates me about announcers is relating the game in progress to their past experiences. “When I played we had a…bla bla bla.” Watch other telecasts and you’ll find them replete with self-bolstering commentary. We have been spoiled in Detroit by the likes of Paul & Ernie, George & Al. Those guys totally removed their own playing days from the broadcast and concentrated on TODAY’S GAME. Nowadays we catch Jim Price and Rod Allen slipping in reminders that they are ex-players, but usually it is in a self-depricating way, like Bob Uecker would do. I am tolerant of that in small doses even…and so far it has been small enough. So keep that in mind the next time you catch the White Sox and see how many irritating “When I played…” comments there are.

So how does this relate to Lou Pinella? There were many times other announcers, mostly Steve Lyons, would bring it up and Lou would have no choice but to comment. Steve: “Lou, how did you handle this when you managed Seattle?” But on his own he would speak from a 3rd person point of view. Example: “A lot of times you want a slap-hitter batting 2nd so when the leadoff batter gets on base you can move him along.” Not “When I managed NY I had Willie Randolph bat 2nd for his bat control so he could move Rickey Henderson along.” (don’t get on me for my bad examples…they are just here for flavor).

There was one point where he was talking about infield communication when the crowd got loud. He said there was a system the SS and 2B use to determine who will take a throw (from P or C). Lou said “it’s easy, mouth open you take the throw, mouth closed you don’t take the throw.” That was a great piece of information I learned from him. I’ve never played in a situation loud enough to need signs on who takes throws. And I was so impressed that he didn’t present it as “when I managed, I had my players open their mouth…”

So there, I like Lou Piniella as an announcer.

Here’s my observation about the team celebration: Since when did baseball teams start doing a celebratory lap? Historically baseball has been a little less self-serving than that. I don’t think you would ever see Al Kaline do a fist-pumping lap around Tiger stadium. My first impression was that I didn’t like it. But I have a theory. There are many more Latin players on the team than ever before. These players grew up in their native countries with SOCCER as the #1 sport. Carlos Guillen grew up watching Pele (for example) on Saturday mornings (if he watched anything at all), not Alan Trammell and Johnny Bench. The celebration lap is a VERY soccer thing to do. When a kid grows up in Venezuela, or Puerto Rico, that’s what you do in big events. American kids might not react that way, but in retrospect I don’t feel the integrity or humility of the game suffers for it. You guys take your lap, and I’ll cheer you every step of the way.

Aww, I was thinkin about how Maggs was slumping but when he came up there with the bases loaded, I was thinkin this is what we got you for. This is your moment. And then I just screamed “YES!” And then I was speechless. I was just so ecstatic, that I was speechless.

Im still in awe at just the thought.

Now go get us the World Series!!!

Throughout the year I’ve been getting him to yell, “Go Tigers!” I felt like running around the room like Polanco – with a skip, jump and a huge smile.

Great game. I am currently downloading it from MLB.com. I can play it for my son when he is older and tell him what he said.

Oh the unbridled childlike joy shown by adults playing a game that they started playing in backyards and sandlots.

Favorite Game Memories –

Magllio putting up one fist, then two as he rounded first. Placido skipping around the bases. Reading Dombrowski’s lips as he is yelling, “get out!” Leyland telling the fans thank you for the patience (or sticking with the club) the last 14-15 (not sure if that is what he said or not) years.

Anyway great game

Steve

That’s an understatement, big time. I like Mark Ellis just fine, but the drop from Polanco to Perez is about as big as dropping from Konerko to Ross Gload.