K-rod you owe Tori Hunter a beer.

I posted earlier about the walk off home run being the greatest moment in all of sport. I stand by that statement - however I think the walk off, game saving, home run-robbing catch is not a bad way to end a game either.

If you didn't see the highlights from Friday night allow me to set the scene. Angels and Mariners playing in Anaheim. It is early, but this is a big game between two teams everyone thinks is going to be racing for this pennant all summer. We will pick up the action in the top of the 9th, two outs, one on, Angels holding a 5-4 lead, K-rod on the mound, and Richie Sexton at the plate. (Sexton at this point in the game is 2-3 with 2 home runs - needless to say - he is seeing the ball rather well).
K-rod makes the mistake of hanging a breaking ball, which Sexton kills towards dead center field. It looks like a go ahead 2-run 2-out homer in the 9th and a 3 home run day for Richie, except for the fact that the Angels "overpaid" for Tori Hunter in the off season. Hunter tracks the ball beautifully leaps at the fence and brings back the go ahead home run to end the game and preserve a 5-4 win for the Angels.

A few things to think about:

1. When the ball was initially hit K-rod pointed straight up in the air, as if he expected Erick Aybar to settle under the pop-up. Instead the ball was hit 405 feet away. It would have been a great picture of K-rod pointing straight up and Sexton pumping his fist as the ball left the yard.

2. Baseball is such a statistical game, but defense like Hunter's is impossible to quantify. He creates so many more outs with his glove, most of which never make it to sportscenter. If I am going to overpay for a free agent in the off season - I am going to overpay for a free agent that has a bat and a glove (naturally the Tigers signed Cabrera who has a great bat, but bought his glove at the same place Papi and Hafner bought theirs)

3. Can Richie Sexton catch a break? Here is a guy who has been a pretty big bust since coming to Seattle - he has 2 jacks already in the game - and then hits a 400 ft + shot to dead center -unfortunately for him - the Angels have Tori Hunter on the wall, they need him on that wall.

4. Naturally I am up against K-rod in fantasy this week (come on CJ Wilson -  I need one more save).

You don't know what you got until its gone.......

I am watching the Sox and Yanks on ESPN2 -- the score 7-4 Sox in the fifth -- and the following dawned on me: I hate the Yanks and I hate the Red Sox (this fact did not just dawn on me - I have known this for years, often I debate which team I root against more. I only mention my dislike for both teams so that my in-laws do not disown me), but I love the Yankees and the Red Sox.

Rivalries are great in any sport (Duke/UNC, Shaq/Kobe, Giants/Dodgers, etc.) and in the past decade, no rivalry has come close to the Yanks and the Sox. In my adult life alone we have had Dave Roberts' steal, Aaron 'bleeping' Boone, Grady Little leaving Pedro out to die, Don Zimmer trying to kill Pedro, A-rod and Tek's cute little scuffle, and many more. Incidents like these are what made the rivalry great - back when these teams really seemed to hate each other. That hatred was something I could really get behind.

I turn on the game tonight and see Big Papi single to right when his team is down 7-4. He hugs Giambi at first. Manny singles, Papi then hugs Jeter at Second (but not before he playfully teases Melky Carbrera about throwing behind him when he rounded second). Another base hit, now Manny is at second chatting up Robinson Cano. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON OUT THERE????????? Is this rivalry dead? I hope this friendliness it is just a bi-product of the lack of competitive spirit in April baseball. But I am afraid there's more to the story.

This rivalry has gone soft. None of this would have happened on Pedro's watch. All of my favorite Villains are gone or are now lame professional ball players (Johnny Damon... I am looking at you). Have they no shame? I am not tuning into to see the Yanks and Sox to see a well-played, high scoring American League game between two great teams. I'm tuning in to see a bloodbath.

Well its now 11-9 Yanks, and the game is shaping into an instant classic. Man, am I depressed. Here's to hoping Farnsworth comes out of the pen and makes a game out of this thing.

Finally, the 08' Tigers we expected.

The starting pitching was mediocre. The defense was shakey. The bullpen gave up a bunch of runs. But, the offense overcame all of that and pulled out the 11-9 win last night in Mo-town. This was just one game, there are 161 more in the season (10 of which the Tigers have already lost), and you never want to put too much emphasis on one game, but it was nice to see a come from behind win against one of the tougher bullpens in the AL. I think when Jim Leyland retires he can have a career as a motivational speaker (think 'scared straight' in Arrested Development).

Also from around the league last night: Is there a scarier closer to cheer for than Joe Borowski? (and I thought I had it bad w/ Mr. Jones). Wow, what an implosion last night. Giving up the 1-run to tie the game - ok it was a ground ball double, a nice bunt, and a sac fly. You can live with that. Even the 2-out bloop single to Papi - it was a good pitch. But I don't know how you throw Manny Ramirez the bp fastball down the middle in any count in any situation. I give it 2 weeks until Chief Wahoo is calling on someone else to close out games for the tribe.

The greatest act in sport

Well the Tigers are 2-10 and currently down 5-4 in the 7th inning tonight, so I won't waste energy on more Tigers woes. I thought I would write about something I have thought about often in the past 10 years or so: The greatest act in sport.

There are many acts in sport that you could argue for:

- Game winning buzzer beater in basketball

- Hail Mary in football

- Overtime goal in hockey

However, there is nothing greater in sport than the walk-off homerun. The game is over, the home team has won, yet everyone must wait until the hero has finished his trot around the bases. This is the only game-winning act where the team cannot immediately mob the hero - they must wait until he finishes his 360 ft victory lap - the crowd goes wild (what other game winning moment in sport can only happen for the home team?) In sport no moment is remembered as often as the game winning walk off homerun. If I close my eyes I can still see Kirk Gibson pumping his fist and Joe Carter jumping for joy (as Mitch Williams performs the ultimate walk of shame). And only because I am too young do I not remember Fisk willing the ball fair or "The Giants win the pennant, the Giants win the pennant!!!!!

If you have ever witnessed a walk off homerun live then you know what I am talking about (I have Todd Hundley in Dodger Stadium to thank). Well I sign off now left with hope of the next walk off homerun because the 2-10 Tigers about to be 2-11 so that's all I have.

A strange play at Turner

I was unable to watch the Tigers today since the nice people at Fox thought I should see the Braves and Mets instead (when I already get the Braves game locally). If you didn't see the Braves/Mets game then I suggest catching the highlights on SC tonight since there was a crazy play in the 5th (maybe the 4th).

Braves up 4-1 in the top of the inning. Bases loaded for the Mets, one out, and Jose Reyes up (things looking bleak for Atlanta). Reyes hits a fly ball to center and Mark Kotsay makes a dive and a catch (or so it is rule). The Mets runner who was on second is doubled up at second - inning over.

However, upon reply it is obvious Kotsay trapped the ball. The umpires meet and do get the call right. Now they have to figure out what to do with the runners. It gets even crazier when you realize the runner from second (who was doubled off originally) not only was doubled off but passed the runner on third during the live play. Eventually they give Reyes the single and everyone gets one base. I think the most amazing aspect of this play was the somehow Bobby Cox did not manage to be thrown out. However, at time of posting the game was not finished.

and yes, the Tigers did lose again (0-5). The D-train took a no hitter into the 6th and that's when Jim Thome took an 0-2 pitch out of Comerica. At least Verlander is throwing on ESPN tomorrow.

What me worry?

And the Tigers are 0-4...... Not the start you would hope for as a Tigers fan, however I am not in panic mode yet (give me 2 more days at least) for 2 big reasons.

1. Since Jim Leyland got to Detroit this team relishes the underdog roll. In 2006 no one thought they would make the playoffs (cue major chip on the shoulder) and they did. Then no one thought they would beat the Yankees (especially after losing game 1 and Verlander getting into a bases loaded jam in the first of game 2), and they did. Then everyone picked the A's in the ALCS, and they swept. At this point everyone jumped on the Tigers bandwagon, especially after the Cardinals came out of the NL, and of course Detroit went quietly into the dark night. However, I think 1-2 more weeks of losing and baseball will again write off the Tigers (bullpen issues, Dontelle's ERA, Cabrera has put on 140 lbs in 2 weeks, etc, etc.) and that is when the Tigers will get a Gilbert Arenas size chip on their shoulder and make a run.

2. The offense has been awful. The Tigers have made Gil Meche, Brian Bannister, and Zack Greinke look like a young Smoltz, Glavine, and Maddux. And then let Contreras off the hook time and time again yesterday. It looks like everyone is trying to hit the proverbial 10 run homerun to jump start the offense and get on their way to scoring the 1,000 runs everyone has predicted. I think once Granderson gets healthy this lineup will be deadly, it may just take some time (after all it took the Big Cactus a little while to get adjusted in the desert).

So here's to the Tigers getting off the schneid today. They are the only team in the majors w/o a win. However, since the predictions about the Tigers offense have been wrong so far, here's to hoping the predictions about Dontrelle Willis will also be wrong. And if there is one thing baseball fans can agree upon, its that no one wants to see the White Sox win.

3:55 on Fox.

How to make a trendy preseason prediction (Atlanta I am looking in your direction)

Unfortunately, I started this blog one week into the baseball season so I will have to pass on making any sort of preseason predictions (except that the Tigers will eventually win a game, or so I hope). However, I will take this time to breakdown the thought process behind making a preseason prediction. There are two types of preseason predictions (I will focus manly on the second type):

1. The predictions made by Joe Anyone - these will not be seen on TV, read on the internet, or listened to on the radio. These tend to be very safe and reasonable predictions. Joe Anyone has the Red Sox and the Mets meeting in the World Series. Joe Anyone may be from Cleveland and choose the Indians or live Arizona and really like the Diamondbacks, but generally Joe Anyone chooses the teams he/she really believe will make it to the World Series. I would venture to say that Joe Anyone does a better job at predicting the World Series than our prognosticators in group 2.

2. The predictions made by an expert that will be seen by the public. These are the guys who write for espn, yahoo, foxsports, cnnsi, cbssportline, etc, etc. These are also the guys on Sports Center and Baseball Tonight. These guys cannot pick teams they think will make it to the World Series (even though this is exactly what they are being asked to do). For the most part group #2 does not have the Mets and Red Sox in the world series, that's far too obvious, that's what Joe Anyone does, and we all know these prognosticators are paid because they know much more about baseball than Joe Anyone. Its actually a pretty crappy situation to be in. This group has to put much more time into their preseason picks because their picks must satisfy two criteria.
1. Their pick cannot be who Joe Anyone picked
2. You have to still believe them. Them must have the "Sneaky Trendy Pick".
Group 2 loves the Atlanta Braves (they are 2008's #1 group 2 team). The Atlanta Braves are the perfect choice to make the world series in 2008 if your pick is going to be seen by millions. They are a very solid team, well balanced, a good mix of veterns and younger players, etc. However, they are also the 3rd best team in their own division (let alone the entire NL, although one could argue they are the 3rd-4th best team in the NL). Even though they are running 3rd in their own division you wouldn't be totally surprised if they in fact did make it to the World Series. That is why all of the experts go on TV and give you the Braves, is not their fault, they have to, if they gave you the same 2 teams you had, then you wouldn't listen to them. This phenomena is not baseball specific - just look at Charles Barkley picking the Utah Jazz to come out of the West in the NBA, everyone who had a #3 seed winning the NCAA tournament, or everyone who is going to be really excited about the Arizona Cardinals come August.

There are also second tier group 2 picks. These are "teams that will surprise in 2008". For 2008 these are the Reds and Rays. However, I am not sure how they can surprise when every expert has picked them as the teams to surprise.

Feel free to leave any preseason predictions in the comments (you can predict from group 1 or group 2)

Pre-Game

Welcome to my little corner of the internet universe (thank you very much Al Gore). Recently, I noticed that I spend a good bit of time each day reading other peoples blogs and listening to podcasts at work. So I have decided to contribute to the procrastination problem and start writing a baseball blog. I have no idea if anyone will actually read this, but I thought it might be fun to give it a try. The goal is to discuss all things baseball, although I will state upfront my undying love for the Tigers (once you suffer through 119 loses the love truly becomes undying). However, if for whatever reason you are reading this and you have a topic you would like discussed please email me and I will do my best to accomodate.

Here goes nothing..........