Well it's a first of the year for the boys.  The undy
five hundy function has ceased to be monotone as it
takes a dip one game this week.  Amazingly, the
Tigers' last five wins have come by just one run.
Also, except for Wednesday, every game this week was
close going into the eighth inning.  For those of us
that can actually watch, we've been getting our
money's worth.  They certainly were more fun to watch
this week than the Pistons! 

New Subscribers...

Well I got Dan Simpson's address, but I deleted it
before putting it in my address book!  So if someone
could hook me back up with that (Schramm) I'd be
grateful.  For now, welcome this man to the pack.

Mike "Pickoff Move" McKeown
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Week of 5/21 - 5/27

Record:  4-3  LWWWLWL

As I said before the undy five hundy has done a one
eighty!  Come on back now, ya hear!  The index
PLUMMETS to 24!  I wish we could play Cleveland and
Chicago all the time.  After the Yanks, though, we get
the Padres, and then we really see who's the worst. 

Up Next for the Tigers...

May 28           Cleveland
May 29           no game scheduled
May 30 - June 1  New York Yankees
June 2           no game scheduled
June 3-5         @San Diego

AL Central Standings
MIN  30 20 -
KCR  26 23 3.5
CWS  23 28 7.5
CLE  19 32 11.5
DET  13 37 17

Tigers Division
ATL 35 17 -
|
TBD 19 31 15
MIL 19 32 15.5
CLE 19 32 15.5
SDP 14 38 21
DET 13 37 21

News and Notes:  The Tigers made a trade on Tuesday!
We gave up minor leaguers Chad Petty and Gary Varner
for Brewer center fielder Alex Sanchez.  Dombrowski
had to be drooling over that .282 average and those 8
stolen bases.   He sounds like the kind of guy that
will be good in Comerica.  But will he flourish or
flounder?  Poor Alex thought things couldn't get
worse...he went from the Brewers to the Tigers!
Hopefully Alex can provide a spark.  Also, bringing
some closure to the Randall Simon deal, the Tigs
picked up third sacker Kody Kirkland from the Pirates.
 Nothing is more frightening to an opposing pitcher
than an alliterative named hitter.  Fear Kody!
------------------------------------------------------
Tigers of the Week...
------------------------------------------------------
I think that Mike Maroth gets some happy happy for his
first win of the season Friday night in Chicago.  It
was a long time coming and now all the media bums can
get off his back. 

Kevin Witt, recent call up from Toledo, has been
making a splash with the Mud Hens Major League
affiliate.  In nine games, Witt is .318 with 2 dingers
and 3 RBI's.  Anyone hitting .300 for the Tigers is
just all right with me.  Also, Witt has his own
website where he proclaims to be "one of the most
feared power hitters in baseball," or something like
that.  Thanks to J.D. Ryznar for the link. 

The Kevin Witt Interactive Message Board:
http://www.kevinwitt.net/cgi-bin/YaBB/YaBB.cgi?board=kevinwitt

I hope that works.
------------------------------------------------------
Poll Question...
------------------------------------------------------
I don't think I've ever asked this, and it's not in
the news lately, but I'm drawing a blank.  Pete Rose.
Should he be allowed back into the game, making him a
lock for the HOF, or should a lifetime ban be a
lifetime ban?
------------------------------------------------------
Game Linescores...
------------------------------------------------------
May 21:  Detroit 0 - Cleveland 4
Starters:  DET: Bonderman 5IP - CLE: Sabathia 6IP
DET  000 000 000  0  7  1
CLE  003 100 00X  4  7  0
W: Sabathia  (3-2)
L: Bonderman (2-7)

May 22:  Detroit 3 - Cleveland 2  F/11
Starters:  DET: Cornejo 7.1IP - CLE: Bere 5.2IP
DET  000 002 000 01  3  7  1
CLE  200 000 000 00  2  5  0
W: German   (2-2)
L: Phillips (0-1)
S: Sparks   (2)

May 23:  Detroit 3 - Chicago White Sox 2
Starters:  DET: Maroth 7IP - CWS: Garland 6IP
DET  000 011 010  3  5  3
CWS  100 010 000  2  4  1
W: Maroth   (1-9)
L: Gordon   (2-4)
S: Spurling (2)

May 24:  Detroit 1 - Chicago White Sox 0
Starters:  DET: Knotts 7.2IP - CWS: Loaiza 7IP
DET  001 000 000  1  5  0
CWS  000 000 000  0  3  0
W: Knotts (2-3)
L: Loaiza (7-2)
S: German (1)

May 25:  Detroit 5 - Chicago White Sox 8   F/12
Starters:  DET: Bernero 6IP - CWS: Wright 7IP
DET  000 210 020 000  5  10  2
CWS  000 041 000 003  8  11  0
W: Glover (1-0)
L: Sparks (0-1)

May 26:  Cleveland 5 - Detroit 6
Starters:  CLE: Westbrook 3IP - DET: Bonderman 6IP
CLE  200 000 300  5  6  0
DET  230 000 10X  6 10  0
W: Avery  (2-0)
L: Boyd   (0-1)
S: German (2)

May 27:  Cleveland 5 - Detroit 2
Starters:  DET: Cornejo 7IP - CLE: Bere 1IP
CLE  110 000 030  5  8  2
DET  101 000 000  2  4  2
W: Miceli (1-2)
L: Walker (1-2)
S: Baez   (10)
------------------------------------------------------
Readers Write In...
------------------------------------------------------
Matt "The Weakest Link" Schramm

Alright, Toolio, here's the problem with the way the
All-Star game works now.  Okay, let's assume that (as
will inevitably happen) Torre is managing the AL
All-Star team, and home field for his own team is on
the line, and, as usual, a crapload of Yankees are on
the team... might it not serve him better to stick his
boys in there together than the other, possibly more
deserving, players?  They're used to playing with each
other, and there are fewer chances for
miscommunication, particularly with signs from 3rd
base and battery communication.  So, while I agree
with Chas that the one player per team rule has some
ineffable goodness about it, if I were managing,
there's no way I'd put whoever the Tigers end up
sending to the classic in the game.  Why would I risk
home field?  Pitching-wise, I'd have Mussina (or
whatever Yankee is hottest at the moment), Pedro, and
Zito go 3 each, and take home field all the way. 

Basically, instead of a showcase of the best players
from AROUND the league, you basically should (if
you're playing to win... and is there an argument not
to?  If you don't play to win, go home...) play about
12-15 guys who you think have the best shot at getting
you a W. 

Also, what happens if there is a manager who happens
to win the league one year, but his team blows the
next (see Marlins, Florida...) what kind of motivation
does he have to manage a winning club?  Certainly not
the same as the guy across the diamond whose team is
fighting for first place.  And what about the All-Star
starter who gets in on fan sentiment but not
performance (see Ripken, Cal)?  If I were managing,
I'd let him step on the field, and then yank him for
the guys who is actually gonna help me out there...  


So, anyway, it's nice that they tried to get the
players more interested in actually playing well in
the All-Star game, but there are some serious flaws in
the system.  It'll probably take a couple years for
them to get ironed out... maybe Tram will be managing
my then...

peace,

schramm
------------------------------------------------------
J.D. "The Extra" Ryznar

When a Detroit Tiger from the year 2000 and beyond is
on the All-Star team, it loses a lot of credibility.
Because every team has a representitive (including the
tigers), they have created "All Star" Tony Clark, "All
Star" Damien Easley and "All Star" Robert Fick.
C'mon.  It's like seeing a movie co-starring Oscar
Winner Merril Streep and Oscar Winner Dick Jiggles.

Let the crappy players sit on the bench.
------------------------------------------------------
Matt "The Babe" Weiland

With the stakes raised on the outcome of the game, I
think we are more likely to see the best play the
best.  O'Toole you said it best, you play to win (if
the game means something).  I think you have to put a
better game on, let the true All-Stars play and let
the other players shag balls in the home run derby.
Either that or have Mr. Bud Selig run the bases
between every inning, that will keep me watching.  I
mean come on, ever since I have been old enough to
understand what the All-Star game was, I have always
wanted to see the best players play.  I guess it just
boils down to my lack of sympathy for losing teams.
Personally I think we will see better managed games
the managers will have their hidden agendas and I
don't blame them.  Peace.  Hey a side note I heard
Denny McLain is working in a 7-11 on a prison work
release, apparently they needed a new arm for the
slurpee machine.

O'Toole on your comment in trash talk, I get the same
feeling when I'm watching a game.  Like my presence
can be felt on the field or something, go figure.
Don't ask when I became omnipresent.  Another side
note, this deals with other mystical happenings on the
baseball field as well as my involvement with chicks
so bear with me.  Last summer I was on a date (I'm
sure I will hear about this one) at a Diamondbacks
minor leauge game, I saw the number four hitter
swinging on deck, I leaned over and said this guys
going to hit a homerun.  Sure enough the first pitch
he saw was about 370 left center field.  Myself and
the team scored for that one.  Now the real question
is did he hit a home run because I called it?   
-------------------------------------------------------
Matt "most disappointing mystery partner ever" Houser

If there's a chance the manager of the All-Star game
is going to be in the World Series at the end of the
season, he had better try to win that game.  If I'm in
the Cubs organization and Dusty's managing and he
decides it's better to appease the Pittsburgh fans and
let Kenny Lofton whiff in the ninth than let Vladdy G
try to win one for the NL, I'd be pretty upset.
Dusty's primary obligation has got to be his team, and
now his team has a stake in the outcome of the game.
Screw the Robert Ficks of the world.

This is kind of like Guagenti's primary obligation as
my manager was to me, and it was thus proper for him
to unplug your N64 controller, allowing me to win at
KartKade, even if the fans didn't like it.  But he did
the right thing.
-------------------------------------------------------
Andrew "Dirty, rotten Packers fan" Karnitz  ***POTW***

Hope it's not too late to get in on the conversation.

Love the All-Star game w/consequences notion! I
remember when losing to the NL for all those years in
the 70's & 80's really broke my heart. I think the
hyper-inflated salaries, as well as superstars with
egos that compare with only those of mezzo-sopranos
and Maddona, stole the pride and drive from the A-SG.

As to the argument involving Tigers, Indians, et al,
influencing the home field advantage- well, the
unbalanced schedule and interleague play have already
been influencing home field! Just look at the Twins,
for example. After a slow start, they've begun living
up to expectations. Now think about the rest of their
schedule. No one else is looking at  the soft
schedule- Tigers, Tribe, and the Chi-Soxare all
abysmal. And KC is shuffling in the direction of the
edge of the mortal coil(I think it's SSE). Don't be
surprised if the Twinkies are challenging, in
September, for the best record in the game, but would
it be legit?

Palmeiro? I remember the guy never getting it done in
the clutch. In his Cubs days(he started it there, ya
pups)he'd foul out with the bases knocked and 1 or 2
down. Yeh, he sure could swat 'em out in the bottom of
the ninth w/no one on, trailing Philly 12-1, though(if
there's anyone reading this who considers himself the
next Bill James, don't bother looking up this Pils'
match-up. It's a hypothetical.)!

That said, he has been extremely consistent and fairly
productive in his career. And those Gold Gloves may
not be as valuable as those of a shortstop, but I
pause to wonder how many balls headed to the right
field corner for two or three bags were turned into
put-outs?

Weighing it out, I say he gets in, but it had better
take a long time. Five to ten ballots, anyway.

I wonder if any HoF voters are feeling guilty for
screwin' over Lou Whittaker. They should be.

andy

A query: Has anyone else out ther ever read W.P.
Kinsella's  The  Iowa  Baseball  Confederacy? Don't
know if it's out of print, but it is effin' hilarious!

-------------------------------------------------------
Toolie's Trashtalk...

Well the Tigers are scratching and clawing and winning
some games.  Five straight wins by one run.  That's
pretty amazing and has made for some very satisfying
wins.  That is of course, their last five wins, not
five wins in a row.  That would constitute a good
team. 

Getting Alex Sanchez is mildly exciting.  It will be
interesting to see where he hits in the lineup.  Do
you need other reasons to go see the ball club?  Well,
this weekend the Yankees are in town and Steinbrenner
is looking to turn it all around.  Jose Contreras will
make his first major league start and Roger Clemens
will make his second attempt for 300 wins all this
weekend at CoPa.  One of my students was even trying
to sell me on the 8 dollar bleacher seats.  She didn't
know who she was talking to, obviously. 

Thanks go out to Sara Jo P. and Deborah Kent for
checking in from Safeco field on Friday night.  After
saying their hellos, they let me know that the Tigers
were losing at the moment.  Ha!  The Tigs ended up
pulling out the win (as did Seattle that night).  I
say no fair that their teams are atop their divisions
and the Tigers are atop the league in...least runs
scored (152, 38 less than the next team). 

Ugh, no Tigers since FSD is on the fritz, so what do I
get when I check out ESPN???  Of course, it's NCAA
Softball World Series.  Wake me up when someone can
get a hit.  So some girl threw a no hitter in the
championship game.  Isn't there a no hitter in
softball every five games?  That's about as fresh and
exciting as an NBA dunk. 

Pete Rose was a hell of a baseball player.  He hustled
and he played the game hard.  Aside from Ty Cobb, he's
the first guy I'd want on my team.  There are so many
people in the hall of fame that have their faults that
it's ridiculous to keep Rose out.  So he bet on a few
games.  Big deal. 

Instead of "The WNBA, it keeps on getting better and
better," the slogan should be "The WNBA, it keeps
getting on TV...and atill nobody watches." 

Houser, though you diss Robert Fick, he was, in fact,
the player that drove in the game tying run, leading
to the draw at Miller Park last summer.  Speaking of
the All-Stars, I remember when my brother and I used
to have our MLB sticker books every summer.  You got a
page for each team, sticker packs were just 7 stickers
for 25 cents.  You always got one or two marquee
players in each pack (well just one, seeing that you
got the Astro's Bill Doran in every single pack) and
then there were special stickers.  I remember in '89,
there was a whole page dedicated to the '88 Dodgers.
One year, the hardest sticker to get was the two part
Pete Rose.  My brother may have finished his sticker
book before me that year, but I remember getting the
top half of Pete Rose first and then running outside
to rub it in his face.  What great fun!  Also, the
All-Star pages consisted of 9 AL, 9 NL players.
That's the way it should be.  You shouldn't see more
than 15 guys from each squad. 

Commercial watch...
Good:  Wingmaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!
Bad:  Valtrex Genital Herpes commercial on ESPN
Bad:  The New McDonalds commercials (TV and radio).
Good:  The dude who takes a golf drive in the junk.
Classic:  The Expedia commercial with the slick guy
Cooper (the guy who is naughty on this plane). 

OK, my slow arse internet has caused me to konk out.
It's almost 2AM.  I am done and done.  Man I hope the
Tigers can take two of three from the Yanks this
weekend, but I'm sure I'll be satisfied with one.
Interleague is up in June, that's always a hot topic
for discussion.  Thanks for reading and spread the
love.

2-2 count...
pitch low and outside
Sanocki is umping
he rings me up
I'm out
I should have argued and gotten ejected, but oh well,
it was only pony league

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