Tiger Town

Congratulations to the Detroit Tigers who reached the World Series yesterday. To add icing to the cake, they swept the New York Yankees to do it. Couldn’t have asked for a better way to get there. Now I’m pulling for the Giants to come back against Cardinals because I think the Tigers match up better against them. Either way I’m looking forward to watching the games with my kids. And I'm jealous of my brother who lives in Michigan. It's probably a lot funner when everyone is excited about a Tigers playing in the World Series. Here? Not that big of a deal.

Go Tigers! Enjoy the highlights of their last game below.

Boys and Baseball

While in Phoenix my friend Brent and I took his oldest boy and my two boys to a Diamondbacks/Tigers baseball game. Considering the ages of my boys (three and two) I was taking somewhat of a chance on whether or not they’d be able to sit through an entire game. A game typically lasts between two and a half and three hours and most of the actions takes place between the pitcher’s mound and the batter’s box – not exactly the most interesting thing to watch if you’re young, full of energy, and have a typical little boy attention span. Yet all three kids had fun time. And I really have to thank Brent who has done this enough times with his oldest boy that he knew exactly what to do to keep them occupied and entertained when they weren’t watching the game. Between learning how to shell peanuts, drinking root beer, watching the world’s largest HD television in center field, letting them take pictures with my digital camera (gulp!), looking at all the people in the stands, watching a few pitches each inning, and playing with each other they had a good time. Their favorite part of the game, however, was the 10 minute firework show at the end. (At least I know they’ll enjoy any fireworks shows I take them to this summer.)

As young as they are, a few years from now they probably won’t remember the game or the fact that Tigers lost a game they should have won. But seeing the smiles on their faces and how much fun they had, I’ll remember this day for the rest of my life.

I’m looking forward to taking them to more games in the future.

Where's Those Tigers At?

Has anyone seen those Tigers?Has anyone seen those cats? Here kitty, kitty, kitty Here kitty, kitty, kitty Where’s those Tigers at?

-- A mocking sports chant used when the opponent's mascot is a Tiger

***

$138 million doesn’t buy what it used to.

Just ask the Detroit Tigers.

In the old days it could buy enough stars to guarantee you a playoff spot, even if it didn’t come with a World Series title. The Yankees are proof of that.

Nowadays it can’t even buy you a victory.

The Tigers, who have the second highest payroll in baseball, are the only team without a win after being swept by the White Sox and lowly Royals in Detroit.

Their performance is utter disappointing and embarrassing even for Tigers fans who are generally accustomed to mediocrity.

And things don’t look much better for the struggling Tigers. Twelve of their next 14 games are on the road staring with a three games series against the Red Sox today. I can honestly see them coming back from the road swing and giving the 1988 Baltimore Orioles a run for their money. (The ’88 Orioles started the season 0-21.)

The only bright side of the Tiger's struggles is that there will probably be an abundance of available Tiger-Diamondback tickets when the family visits Phoenix next month.

~sighs~

Finally, A Vacation

Phoenix, Arizona

The phone call came like an answer to a prayer.

For several days Marathon Girl and I had been discussing when to take some time off and where to go on vacation. The phone rings. On the other end is my friend Brent.

Brent calls just to see how things are going and then mentions that the Tigers will be in town soon to play the Diamondbacks.

The Tigers are coming to Phoenix? I’m stunned. I looked at their schedule back in March and didn’t remember seeing that. I get online and discover that the Tigers do have three game series in Phoenix in mid-May.

Suddenly family vacation plans materialize. A trip to Phoenix to enjoy the company of friends, see their two kids, and squeeze in a Tigers baseball game.

And our trip would coincide with a wonderful event for Brent and his wife. The adoption of their second child is scheduled to be finalized that week and they have some fun things planned in celebration.

We’re still working out the details but it looks like the family heading to Phoenix sometime in mid-May.

Suddenly, I'm not so tired anymore.

Bless You Boys

Many thanks to Laura who was listening to a podcast, heard them mention a pretty cool blog on the Detroit Tigers, and sent me the link. Of course I'm dying to know what podcast she was listening to that would even mention that blog. (Laura: That's a hint to once again sign the guestbook.) 

Are you a closet Tiger fan Laura? Now that they've had two winning seasons in a row including a trip to the World Series, there's not as much stigma being associated with them. If you aren't ready to come out of the closet and admit your love for them publicly on my blog, just send me an email. :-)

Stupid Tigers

The Tigers' season is all but over. Should the Yankees beat the awful Devil Rays tonight, they'll clinch the AL wild card birth leaving the Tigers out of the post season. The Tigers had the best record at the All-Star Break. Then they sputtered, gave up leads, let lesser teams beat them down the stretch. In a way it's a blessing they aren't joining the post season because they aren't playing like the team that won the AL pennant last year. Instead they're playing like the team that gave the World Series to the Cardinals.

After years of losing seasons and awful performances, you'd think I'd be happy with the fact that the Tigers put together a winning season and are a team that could still contend for a post season birth next year.

While there is some consolation in those facts, I'd have an easier time living with their failure to make the playoffs if they hadn't given that spot to the Yankees.

Feels Like 2002 All Over Again

For the least six years I've subscribed to an email alert that sends me the latest Detroit Tigers games summary as soon as their game is over. For most of that time these email alerts were just kind of a way for me to keep in touch with the Tigers without reading about just how awful they were actually playing. Then last year everything changed. The Tigers, much to the surprise of everyone, became a contender in the American League and made it to the World Series. Instead of drudgery, these emails became my way to read about their latest success and savor the possibility of playoff run -- something I really hadn't experienced in over 15 years.

This year the Tigers entered the All-Star break as arguably the best team in baseball. They were hot and it looked like only the Red Sox might stand between them and a shot at another World Series.

Then something happened. The Tigers began to sputter. Their roar turned into a quiet meow. Since break they've gone an awful 18-27 and have only won one series against the lowly Twins. (They thankfully split a series with the hated Yankees this weekend.) They're now 2.5 games behind the Indians for the lead in the Central and 4 games behind the wildcard race.

Now those emails alerts have become drudgery. I open them waiting to read how the Tigers blew their latest game. It's like 2002 all over again.

Yet I still subscribe to those email blasts and probably always will. I'm still a Tiger fan no matter how awful they play.

I just wish those Tigers hadn't gotten my hopes up by playing so well the first half of this year.

I was just getting used to enjoying those emails.