Comments on: Game 135: Tigers at Royals

By: Coach Jim

Coach Jim — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 23:06:18 +0000

Billfer, don’t beat yourself up over the imperfections, we love ya, man!

By: ron

ron — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 17:43:08 +0000

Enough ARod. We got 29 games to catch those damn Yankees for the wild card. GO TIGERS.

By: tiff

tiff — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 16:11:44 +0000

Kathy, we were on the same wavelength!

By: Ryan S

Ryan S — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 16:08:28 +0000

Kyle J – thanks for putting the case for Thames so succinctly. With Sheffield out, he should be an everyday starter. Period. Especially when you figure in the fact that he can slot in at three different spots (LF, 1B and DH).

By: Kathy

Kathy — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 16:00:17 +0000

We gotta connection, tiff!!

By: tiff

tiff — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 15:54:59 +0000

After rewatching the game, I was most impressed with the defense yesterday, everyone’s head looked like it was fully in the game. And as Rod and Mario noted, it looked like Guillen was completely comfortable at 1st base. I know he’s not really wanting to move there, but he’s building his case to move there sooner rather than later. A first baseman who moves like a shortstop? He robbed 2 players of potential doubles yesterday.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 15:54:45 +0000

I was babysitting my grandson yesterday at my son’a house (no internet access) and just happened to turn the game on. Forgot they had an afternoon game. Wow, that was nice!

I was a little disappointed to see Timo in the lineup, but he did OK.
Here’s some other things I like:

1. Seeing Carlos at 1st base. He just looks like he belongs there and plays it with a flair for the dramatic.

2. Finally, watching Bondo being dominant.

3. Fernando Rodney (after all the “upper body rehabilitations”, tired arm, tendonitis, etc. Looking like the stud he really is.

4. Santiago at SS. He’s good.

While individual awards are important to the players and add to the fans enjoyment; bottom line, I’d give all that up to see us make it into the playoffs. I’ve decided to stop watching what Cleveland and other teams are doing and just enjoy watching the Tigers this season and see where they land. Hope Sheff and Kenny can make it back, too.

By: BobS.

BobS. — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 14:52:56 +0000

Obviously my formatting skills leave something to be desired,but I think you can get the idea.Or maybe not.It’s kind of obvious you only watch baseball in October,because you’re clueless in August.

By: BobS.

BobS. — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 14:48:23 +0000

Like I said,not a big fan,just someone tired of the echo chamber repeating the nonsense about ARod not winning anything.But how about taking the trouble to look up the long list of individual players who have won a World Series by playing all nine positions simultaneously?
By the way,I did take the trouble of looking up post season stats of some other ‘losers’.

AB AVG/OBP/SLG HR RBI
ARod 132 280/362/485 6 16
Gary Sheffield 161 248/401/398 6 19
Barry Bonds 151 245/433/503 9 24
Mike Schmidt 140 236/304/386 4 16
Cal Ripken 110 336/411/455 1 8

and my favorite:

Willie Mays 89 247/323/337 1 10

By: ron

ron — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 14:20:24 +0000

If ARod does become a Tiger, The announcers will have to practice their IT’S AN A BOMB FROM A ROD call. I hear that he just loves it.

By: ron

ron — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 14:08:05 +0000

Wow, the ARod fans are coming out of the woodwork now. Thanks Bob, you saved me the trouble of going to Barnes and Noble and checking out all those awards in the Baseball Almanac that A Rod has accumulated. I only watch baseball in October, so I’m not too familiar with the guy.

By: Kyle J

Kyle J — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 14:00:50 +0000

On the tradeoff between BA and HRs:

Sean Casey is basically a .300 hitter who almost never hits a HR.

Marcus Thames is basically a .250 hitter who hits a HR ever 15 ABs.

So Casey gets an extra hit (a single or a double) every 20 ABs.

And Thames gets an extra HR (instead of a single or a double) every 15 ABs.

I’ll take the extra HR.

I won’t even do the comparison with Timo’s career numbers . . .

By: BobS.

BobS. — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 13:41:08 +0000

ron,I’m not the biggest ARod fan,and I agree he probably wouldn’t sign with the Tigers,but as to your statement that he’s never won anything,I beg to differ.He’s won:
AL MVP in 2003 and 2005
AL Player of the Year in 2001,2002,and 2003
AL Batting Title in1996,Home Run Title in 2001,2002,2003,2005 & RBI Title in 2002 and 2007(for those paying attention,that’s 2/3 of a Triple Crown in 2002)
Silver Slugger Awards in 1996,1998,1999,2000,2001,2002,2003,2005
Gold Gloves(at SS) in 2002 and 2003

It’s frustrating listening to and reading people repeat the wisdom “He’s never won anything anyway”.Since I pointed out a couple of things that he has won,perhaps you could provide a list of all of the individuals who have won World Series titles,which I believe is the point of your comment.Anyone who doesn’t think that adding one of the best players IN THE HISTORY OF THE GAME in the prime of his career wouldn’t improve their team because he hasn’t singlehandedly pitched,hit,and fielded the teams he’s played on to World Series titles deserves a team with Brandon Inge at third base or Ramon Santiago at shortstop(given the prevailing sentiment of moving Carlos Guillen to first base to replace the anemic Sean Casey).

By: ron

ron — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 13:22:20 +0000

Mike, I know A Rod plays every day. I was referring to the current Tigers When I suggested we need some replacements. As for your statement about players wanting to win versus money, let’s see where A Rod ends up. His best chance to win a World Series is with the team he’s currently with and yet he hasn’t committed to them. Could money be the defining issue here? Yes,players want to win but not at the expense of their checkbook. Now the tide might be shifting for A Rod at this point in his career because he’s got a gazzillion bucks in his bank account , but I doubt it. He may want to win that coveted World Series ring as an owner. And being mentally tough and winning MVP awards means your a damn good ballplayer and that is all it means.We did not fall apart this year because we didn’t have an A Rod. You and I both know that in April we were on the fast track to the Series. We hit the proverbial pothole that turned into a sinkhole in July. Your argument would be that A Rod could of carried us on his back thru this period. Don’t let his gaudy numbers fool you. And this is not a misnomer. He does melt down at the most inoppurtune times.

By: Jason

Jason — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 13:14:38 +0000

From the other thread:

Hey Jason, riddle me this:
How big was the Tigers lead when they started September last year?
That would be 5 games.
It isn’t over yet.

The difference is that the Tigers imploded last year at the end of the regular season, is that what you are counting on from the Indians?

Yeah the Tigers destiny is in thier own hands in September, with the Seattle series and Cleveland series.

Except that the tigers destiny is NOT in their own hands. Having destiny in your hands means that if they win, they are in. Which is not the case. The tigers could win every game for the rest of the year, and still miss the playoffs. The Indians destiny, however is in their own hands.

Even if they lose all 3 to us, they still can win the division, as that is only 3 games and their lead is 4.5.

Being a big Wings fan also, I used to keep hope alive until the team was officially eliminated, but after so many heart breaking and devastating seasons, I try to be more realistic so the pain in the end is not as bad. I would love to see the Tigers in the playoffs, but I am just looking at the facts.

The Indians have 29 games left. If they go 14-15 (under .500), then the tigers need to go 19-9 to win the division. (if my math is correct).

(hopefully this post works, as I am uncertain how well my attempt at quoting will work)