Paul M.
Fort Worth, Texas

the Mrs.Bix and I were at this game too — 3rd row, right ont he bag at 3B, FANTASTIC seats — and I have a few observations to pass on:

1.) I think Kenny was more annoyed than exhausted. I actually chatted a bit with him before the game as he walked out to stretch, and he seemed in really good spirits and fired up. But I think Froemming was KILLING him emotionally/mentally. When Leyland came out to get him there was ZERO emotion as he left.

2.) I think Inge just gets bored sometimes. He and the 3B ump had some kind of running joke all day, and both of them were giggling nonstop at each other. They may have been laughing about a fan or something, as everytime a baserunner got to third, both of them would talk to him, and then all three of them would start laughing. Funny stuff. And Mrs.Bix loved being so close to him…he’s HER Tiger.

3.) I know sometimes Inge makes the EASY plays look hard, and he occasionally wings a simple throw into the dugout…but he also routinely makes the HARD plays look easy. He made two amazing digs, and then that play in the seats — about 5 feet from us, mind you — is easily the best play I’ve ever seen anyone make in person, and maybe just plain ever. I tried to get the D50 up fast enough to get a picture of it, but all I got was the aftermath of him digging himself out of the crowd (which was kinda funny). I was worried he might be dead, as he went in HARD. The whole team mobbed him on the way to the dugout.

4.) My Tiger? Grandy — and it’s not even close (tho I love em all). He came over and chatted with me (yes, with his glove on his head) and a boatload of other Tiger fans (surprising number in attendance) and signed autos for 10-15 minutes before the game. I complimented him on his blog, said it makes for good reading, and for his interest/support of Brian Bluhm and his family after the VT shootings. He is/was SUPER classy and friendly, and no matter what happens with Maybin and CF over the next few years, I pray he’s a guy we keep around, as genuinely good people are an asset to a team that you can’t measure by stats (oh, and he’s 7th in the AL in SLG%). Told him to go out and have a good game…so he hits the 4th pitch of the game out to Rt Center. I take credit for that.

What else…Ibanez’s catch was awesome, and the crowd was getting a little antsy at that point, so it was a killer. Froemming was HORRIBLE, and I think both team’s fans had had it with him. Johjima’s grand slam was crappy, but cool to see, as it’s the first one i’ve seen in person in several years, and was the wife’s first. Saw & talked to Zumaya before the game, he said he’s getting better and plays a little catch every few days now, but he’s still a ways off. I resisted the urge to ask how the finger injury was impacting his Guitar Hero.

Lots of other thoughts, but those are the biggies. The Tigs are 0-for-the-last-5 games (incl Game 1 of the WS last fall) that I’ve been to…so I apologize to the community and the team for my karma issues. I’m working on them.

Oh, and I took the 300mm lens and took a boatload of pics, so I’ll post some pics on Flickr and post the link here as soon as I get em up.

I don’t understand your assertion of Froemming’s consistency, Billfer, as Betancourt was apparently given calls beyond what Rogers could expect. In Casey’s first AB, Betancourt threw a breaking ball to almost the exact same spot as Rogers in the above Beltre AB and got a strike (also, see Rodriguez’s AB in the 6th inning for indications of Froemming’s inconsistencies on outside pitches). I don’t know why this bias occurred, since I can’t imagine Froemming would have any motivation for it, but it seemingly existed nonetheless.

I can’t remember the last time I was this annoyed at an umpire. Is it due to my love of Kenny, or am I simply using it as an excuse to avoid studying for the GRE? We may never know.

Good night everybody.