Stank nasty!  After a win against Oakland, the Tigers
are now snake-bitten and are finding new ways to lose.
 Now Seattle handled them pretty well, winning in
McEnroe-Connors fashion; 6-3 6-3 6-2, but they have
blown two leads late in the games against the Tribe.
If the Tigers want any chance of getting out of last
place (in the league, not just the division) then they
have to perform well against Cleveland.  So far the
bats have been there but the pitching has failed, a
complete opposite of what we were just getting used
to.  I can't figure this team out.  Maybe it's a
blessing that the only game I got to watch this week
was the one that I attended.
------------------------------------------------------
Week of 5/14 - 5/20

Record:  1-6  WLLLLLL

Last week two dimes.  This week we're up to a quarter.
 The undy-five-hundy lands at 25 and shows no signs of
stopping.  It truly is reaching comical proportions,
but not being able to watch the games has taken some
of the sting out of the losses.  Still, these guys
have to start putting some wins together.

Up Next for the Tigers...

May 21-22  @ Cleveland
May 23-25  @ Chicago White Sox
May 26-28    Cleveland

AL Central Standings... (as of 11:30 PM EST)
MIN  25  18  -
KCR  24  18  0.5
CWS  21  24  5
CLE  16  28  9.5
DET   9  34  16

Tigers Division
ATL  31  14  -
|
CLE  16  28  14.5
MIL  16  29  15
SDP  13  32  18
DET   9  34  21

News and Notes... 
Dean Palmer went on the DL this week (DL for Dean
stands for designated loser) with a neck injury.  The
Tigers called up Kevin Witt from Toledo.  Witt
promptly made a case for keeping him over Palmer,
homering in the first game against Cleveland.  Deano,
find Mo Vaughn and try to convince him that you are
worse than he is.  It would be a great debate.  Where
are Hillsdale nerds when you need them?
------------------------------------------------------
Tiger of the Week...
------------------------------------------------------
Since they won just one measley game and I was there
to witness it, I give the TOTW to Craig Monroe.
Monroe supplied all the necessary offense that Tigers
pitching needed to beat the A's on Wednesday.  He hit
a solo shot and later almost hit a walk off home run,
doubling off the right-center wall.  He would score
the game winning run on consecutive sacrifices. 
------------------------------------------------------
Quote of the Week...
------------------------------------------------------
"Talk about a mistake, that guy had a Tigers
tattoo...oops!"  - guy in stands at the Tigers / A's
game Wednesday night. 

Fortunately, he wasn't talking about me.  If I ever
got a tattoo, I'm sure I could think of something
better than a Tigers tattoo.  Maybe I could get .215
on my arm, for the Tigers batting average... or even
better, .209 for the team winning percentage.  Ugh,
this guy must have been in the parlor in the 80s,
because I don't know of anyone that would have gotten
a Tigers tattoo in the past ten years.  Ridiculous.
------------------------------------------------------
The Lost Boys...
------------------------------------------------------
Hey, I'm looking for some old boys (and girls) that
may like to receive the Weekly.  If you have them,
please send me these people's addresses.  Thanks.

Dan Simpson
Jamie Peters
Tim Daggett
Kathy Andrews
Todd DeVree
Scott Lockhart
------------------------------------------------------
Post of the Week...
------------------------------------------------------
Ok, so we're going to start rewarding the best reader
write in of each week.  Every week, the best post will
earn Post of the Week.  Going back over the old
issues, here's who's gotten the accolades so far. 

Christopher Marlink: 1
Brian O'Toole: 1
Matt Houser: 1
Matt Weiland: 1
Chas Claus: 1
Anthony Williams: 1

Post of the Week this week goes to Dallas for his
"forgive the flacidity" remark.  Beautiful.  Keith
Miller almost dethroned him with a post that just made
it under the wire, but I've gotta give it up for that.
 So Big D is on the board. 

Some good variety on the posts.  Remember, you guys
write half the issue.  Keep the good stuff coming.
------------------------------------------------------
Poll Question...
------------------------------------------------------
Forgetting about whether it means anything or not, how
do you think the All-Star game should be coached?  It
has been brought up that some think that only the best
players should play and the others sit the bench, but
people want to see their representative play.  So with
the current format, do you think it's more important
to put a better game on, or to play all the players on
the roster?
------------------------------------------------------
Game Linescores...
------------------------------------------------------
May 14:  Oakland 1 - Detroit 2
Starters:  OAK: Hudson 8IP - DET: Knotts: 7IP
OAK  000 000 100  1  6  0
DET  000 100 001  2  8  2
W: Avery  (1-0)
L: Rincon (2-2)

Toolie Sees A Ball Game:  Ahhh, game number two of the
year, and a bargain it was.  After scouring Brighton
for an Arby's and fighting D-Town traffic, Gilbert and
I rolled into the duck seventy five parking garage and
hiked it to CoPa.  On the way we were harrassed by a
guy who apparently had fought for America, was now
homeless, was sporting a rather nice Tiger's Gilligan
style hat, and happened to be starving.  For kicks I
used a pseudonym (I was John for two minutes) and
Gilbert was Tommy, the football player.  Eventually we
shook off the excess baggage and purchased our
bleacher seats (I was mocked by the ticket guy for
referring to them as the Fan Stands).  Being a
Wednesday night, we got seats three rows behind the
bullpen.  Not bad indeed.  We didn't win free Dunkin
Donuts, though, as the bagel finished dead last behind
the doughnut and the coffee.  Rats.  But what a game
we saw!  Knotts pitched seven strong innings, going
toe to toe with Tim Hudson.  Craig Monroe scored both
Tiger runs, and the 9th innning was as exciting as
they come.  In the top half, Franklyn German loaded
the bases on walks, and was given the hook.  Steve
Avery was brought in to face the lefty, Scott
Hatteberg, who he struck out looking on a borderline
pitch to retire the side.  In the bottom of the ninth,
Monroe doubled off the wall in right center to start
things.  Munson laid down a nice sacrifice bunt to get
him to third, and then Brandon Inge came through with
a sac fly to score the winner.  Ahhh, the way things
ought to be... Rush Limbaugh, er, small ball.  The
first Tiger run came when Monroe homered off Hudson on
the 13th pitch of his at bat in the fourth.  Said
Hudson, "That's the best at-bat I've ever seen, swear
to God."   Some lady was trying to get a wave going,
but since the section in the right field corner was
virtually empty, our ripple had no chance of reaching
wave status.  Of all the 9 wins so far, this was
probably the one I would have most enjoyed seeing.
Six of the last nine!  Afterwards, we took things over
to the Hockeytown Cafe to watch the Pistons edge the
76ers in game five.  The mood was rather festive.  I
hope to return soon. 

May 15:  Oakland 11 - Detroit 2 (the backlash)
Starters:  OAK: Zito 6IP - DET: Bernero 3.1IP
OAK  600 230 000  11  12  1
DET  020 000 000   2   5  1
W: Zito    (6-3)
L: Bernero (0-6)

May 16:  Seattle 6 - Detroit 3
Starters:  SEA: Meche 6IP - DET: Bonderman 5IP
SEA  001 003 101  6  10  0
DET  020 000 100  3   7  1
W: Meche     (5-2)
L: Bonderman (2-6)
S: Sasaki    (5)

May 17:  Seattle 6 - Detroit 3
Starters:  SEA: Moyer 6.2IP - DET: Cornejo 5IP
SEA  200 030 010  6  12  0
DET  010 000 200  3  11  1
W: Moyer   (6-2)
L: Cornejo (3-3)
S: Sasaki  (6)

May 18:  Seattle 6 - Detroit 2
Starters:  SEA: Pineiro 8IP - DET: Maroth 5IP
SEA  210 120 000  6  10  0
DET  200 000 000  2   4  0
W: Pineiro (4-3)
L: Maroth  (0-9)

May 19:  Detroit 9 - Cleveland 10
Starters:  DET: Knotts 4.1IP - CLE: Davis 6IP
DET  015 001 200   9  10  0
CLE  003 112 30X  10  14  3
W: Traber (2-2)
L: Walker (1-1)
S: Riske  (1)

May 20:  Detroit 4 - Cleveland 6
Starters:  DET: Bernero 6IP - CLE: Westbrook
DET  020 002 000  4  12  2
CLE  000 021 003  6  10  0
W: Riske (1-0)
L: Roney (0-1)
------------------------------------------------------
Readers Write In...
------------------------------------------------------
Ryan "Klesko" Krugh

Ah yes, its about time I made my presence felt in the
TW.  In response to Anthony Williams's statement, "I
think we'd beat any HC softball team, past or present.
 Even if the Sig Chi team was hung-over,"  Well I'm
going to have to agree with you on this one.  Im
pretty sure we practiced hung-over for just those
circumstances so I know that didn't affect our play.
I have to give credit where its due.

As for the Palmeiro debate...there is no debate!  This
guy was as steady as they come.  Just because he isnt
exacly a household name doesn't mean he doesn't
deserve to be in the Hall of Fame.  He is a newly
member of the 500 hr club, he is 334 hits shy of 3000,
as well as being a good fielding first basemen.  I
just read that there are only 3 members of the 500 hr
and 300 hit club being Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, and
Eddie Murray.  Thats some pretty good company if you
ask me.  Its not like he has extended his career in
the AL playing as the DH like many others have done.
He has gone out every year and played the majority of
1B for his team and has done it well.  To me there is
no question.  He should be in the Hall of Fame.

Next topic, the WNBA.  I didnt know they even played
anymore.  Enough said.

GO CUBBIES!

Ryan Krugh
------------------------------------------------------
Chas "Fourcade" Claus

I am a big fan of the new All Star format.  I'm glad
that the game means something for the first time in my
lifetime.  I think that its ludicrous that a guy who
throws 200 innings in the regular season cant go more
than two (with a day off on either side) in the All
Star game.  I want to see the best players play and
the rest of them can ride the pine.  This, of
course, means that the next time someone wearing a
Tigers uniform representative will next step on the
field will be about 2034, but I'm not concerned
with that.  (On a side note, I do actually like the
fact that every team gets a representative... but I'm
not sure why.)

Chas
------------------------------------------------------
Steve "Fricano" Sprague

I don't think it is a good idea to award home field
advantage to the league that wins the all-star game.
The team that has the better record out of the two
earned that advantage.  Players from teams that are
not involved in the series should not have any effect
on the home field advantage.

As for Palmeiro, I'm not sure where I stand.  He does
have some very impressive stats, but he does not
strike me as a great player.  When I think back on his
generation I don't even count him as a top ten, maybe
even not a top 20 player.  He got 500 HR's, and has a
boatload of hits, but still, this is an era of
inflated offensive statistics.  An error is much more
likely to be called a hit now, and the fences are
getting closer and closer so that many a routine
fly-ball is now a homer.

On different note, I am going to be at the Palace
tonight to witness the Piston's go to work against the
Sixers and Allen Iverson.  GO PISTONS!

Stephen C. Sprague
University of Michigan
BA Economics '03
spragues@umich.edu
(734)-678-8278
------------------------------------------------------
Jason "Couch Action" Bryan

I think that raph should be in the hall.  The hall is
not about how popular a player was during his playing
days.  I mean it is all about the stats.  That is why
math NERDS like O'toole still follow the damn sport.
Or like Dan "the man" Simpson who was like rain man
with the numbers.  He should be in unless baseball is
really as shitty as I think it is.  Also I think that
it doesn't matter that the home field is being
determined by the all star game.  Hell it should
really only be all stars on the teams not this one rep

from every team junk.  There is no reason a tiger or
indian should be on any all star team.  And I am a
huge Visquel fan too saying that.  The indians
will be in the world series in 2 years.  They are that
close.  the tigers might make it in 200 years.  I'm
out.

- Jason -
------------------------------------------------------
Bison "Dele" Messink

Im excited to see the new All Star game format, though
i fear it really wont change all that much--All Star
game will always be All Star Games (i.e. boring as
crap).

As for Palmeiro, he will certainly make the HOF with
his 500 HR, but there is no way he deserves it. The
HOF is entirely numbers driven, which i dont
altogether have a problem with, but my problem is that
the numbers that the HOF uses are archaic. 500 HR is
nothing anymore, and 300 wins is nearly impossible. I
think the HOF may finally figure this out in the next
5-10 years when they are "forced" to admit about 15-20
500 guys who like Rafael do not deserve it (although
in Rafael's defense, he has also won quite a few gold
gloves, but can you ever really say that a first
baseman is good defensively. Raise the numbers bar for
hitter, especially power hitters, and lower the
numbers bar for pitchers.

Bison Messink
------------------------------------------------------
Nick "the right man for the job" Ciofani

I don't have much to say about baseball execpt for the
fact that Peter Gammons from ESPN looks like Andrew
Jackson on the $20 bill.
------------------------------------------------------
Dallas "Big-us D-us" Senters

i hate sports right now...only because my lakers lost,
and in my first slow pitch at-bat of the season i
swung
through one.

the indians are dismal, but i can't really follow them
well b/c they get no highlights (except omar) and
aren't aired down here like they were back home.

the reds (my true favorite) are aired down here, and
they are exciting, but not stellar.

they need to win the division.  that would be a good
addition to the buckeye title, and would possibly make
up for the spurs naughtiness.

player notes:  i still love david robinson
                   griffey may cost the reds guillen
                 i hope jeter tries sliding into first
             did o'toole miss a chance to blast
vaughn?
                   i hate barry bonds
             palmeiro should be in the hall  (great 
numbers and longevity) forgive the flacidity


that's it

dallas
------------------------------------------------------
Matt "New" Houser

O'Toole,

I feel that I failed personally because Anthony
obviously didn't learn a single thing during his
entire first year at Hillsdale.  The Highlanders may
have been a decent softball team, maybe even
above-average in some respects, but they were no LWA.
That is all.

Dies irae venit omnibus.
------------------------------------------------------
Keith "Hillsdale's Bud Selig Analogue" Miller

Alan Trammell on the Mariners: "That team thinks they
can win it all, and that's the caliber of baseball
that they play. To be honest, I'm a little jealous,
because I wish we played the game the way that team
does. We've still got a ways to go yet."

Yeah. The Mud Hens Major League affiliate has "a ways
to go." Don't look now, but the Mariners have the best
record in the Junior Circut. The bandwagon is open for
jumping on.

...and I killed the softball tournament. Ha.
------------------------------------------------------
Toolie's Trashtalk...

No Keith Miller, nobody is going to be jumping on the
"going fine now but rocky roads await in the playoffs"
bandwagon that is Seattle baseball.  And don't forget
to make the playoffs this year.  Grrr, but anyways,
nice post.  Houser, you old man.  Your age has started
to cloud your better judgement.  How could you hope to
contain Ciofani's power, Jimmy's agility, Anthony's
screwballs, and Travis Calderwood's judgement skills?
I'm sure you might have had someone on your team that
once played tee ball, but your lineup would be far
outmatched against the ETERNAL HILLSDALE SOFTBALL
CHAMPIONS, the Highlanders.  We are the greatest!
Ahhh, I still remember squeezing in 5PM Mass with
Ciofani and getting to the game right as they were
about to start without us.  What a day.  You can't
beat the triple header. 

I would seriously like to rip on Mo Vaughn more, but
I'm not complaining that he's out of the game for a
while.  Baseball is better off with Mo on the DL.
Apparently, he may be done for good, as he has some
dandy bone on bone going on in one of his knees.  But
I shant wish knee troubles on anyone, as I remember
setting a record for obscenities per minute when my
own blew out on me.  Not good times. 

The Pistons and the Tigers have been in the same boat,
finding ways to lose lately.  I don't know if the
Pistons can come back from this one, but we will see.
The Tigers, meanwhile, will not be bailed out by two
more losses.  They really need to get on their horse
and win some games.  They had a nice little streak of
6-3, but six straight losses does something to stop
momentum.  Our only hope is the San Diego Padres, who
are just three games ahead of us.  Is anyone else
scared that we play the NL West in interleague this
year?  I wonder what causes more embarrassment; losing
a series to the Tigers or finishing behind Annika
Sorenstam this weekend?  To tell you the truth, I
think I'd take my chances with the Tigers.  I don't
know though...Sorenstam couldn't even beat John Smoltz
in a round, so you tell me what's worse.

So I haven't been able to see any games.  This is good
and bad.  It's good since the boys are in this slump.
It's bad because I'm getting baseball starved, and
there's nothing worse than listening to your team blow
a lead or lose on the radio.  I always feel like if
I'm actually watching the game it will make some sort
of difference.  Anyone else get that way?

Punk of the Week:  Rick "Mugsy Bogues" Grillo gets the
punk of the week award for dogging me and Gilby
Wednesday night for the Tigers game.  After having us
wait 20 minutes for him to go to Meijers and check in
with his woman, Rick calls us back with one of those
"Can we leave by the 7th inning if the Tigers are down
a lot since I have to work in the morning?" spiels.
Now who's going to drive all the way to Detroit to
stay for two thirds of a game?  After some
deliberation, Gilby and I concurred that there were
alterior motives at work in Ricks unpopular decision.
Well a wet blanket isn't fun to have around anyway, so
I guess it's good he didn't come (we wouldn't have
gotten to go to Hockeytown after as well)... but the
whole charade did almost make us late.  Remember Rick,
me and Gilbert are in your wedding.  Things have a way
of coming around. 

As far as the All-Star game goes, I wish that the
players wanted to play a competative game.  However,
since sports is pretty much all money driven, these
guys are primarily concerned with not getting hurt or
overextending themselves by pitching a few innings.
Back in the day they played with pride, but players
change leagues and teams so often that players don't
have that same loyalty that they used to.  However, I
feel that if the game is managed so that the managers
are trying to win, then players will be more honored
to get in the game.  I think that if over the next
couple of years, the number of players that actually
play diminishes, then the pride level of the players
might increase...but who knows?  So I agree with Claus
in that the game should be played to win.  Also, since
the AL champion manager gets to coach the All-Star
game, there's a good chance that his team will be back
in the playoffs, and that the manager will have a
strong desire to get home field.  This might be the
beauty of the new format.

David Riske is making a living off the Tigers,
notching his first save and first win of the season
the last two nights.  Charity folks, it's what it's
all about.

Here's a quote from Jamie Moyer about the Tigs...
"It's like playing another team from another league
from another country."
I don't know whether to get mad or just chuckle.

I met a guy in the department today (from Venezuela)
who knows Omar Vizquel, Freddy Garcia, Johan Santana,
and Carlos Guillen.  Tight.  I hope to get him on the
mailing list soon. 

Anybody get's the urge to go to a game, you let me
know and we'll see if we can get something together.

Hit by Pitch
Picked Off

I'm out.

Toolie
------------------------------------------------------
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