you can't live in the past

Garragio replaces Willis and Cruceta replaces Rogers

and the new line up
Inge LF
Grandy CF
Mags RF
Santiago 3b
Renteria SS
Poly 2b
Cab 1b
Pudge c
Guillen DH

and Hessman replaces Sheffy

It ain't the same old baseball it was when we was kids.  the game has been skrunched to appease the immediate action crowd that can't go even 1 minute without their adrenalin hit.

it ain't right

but at's the way it is.  low mound, DH, tight strike zone, you know the routine.  and it all adds up to wrecking the game of baseball: the pitcher is asked to throw batting practice so the action gang can always have at least 1 ball in the air at all times.

that ain't baseball

and it ain't baseball to have to yank the pitcher after 5 innings because he's already thrown 100 pitches dead over the plate for the picky hitters to pick over, foul off and slam out over the scoreboard

well, there ain't nothin' i can do about it.  'cept gripe a little.  guess that's why we have blogs these days.  that's All Good

but it's time to start looking at using 2 starters/game @ 4 innings each, + closer.  either that or plan on the bullpen pitching innings 6-9 every night.  it's the way it is

but it ain't the way it Should Be

So, our Tigers up against the Halos which are one of a number of very good baseball clubs around the league.

and it's really good to be getting some much needed run support.

but the thing that has to draw attention is Galarraga.   no hit the Halos into the 6th?  yep.

impressive ain't really the right word, get this man a spot in the starting rotation.

the contest vs. the Halos will be a test. not only of players but of the will to win.  we have to pressure their hitters.  challenge them. an we have to pressure their pitching. challenge them

one of us will break

Leyland is doing the right things with the line up. mostly.  I'm real worried about Sheffy, and about Kenny.  I keep checking the roster to see if Sheffy is on the DL; if we have pulled Hessman in.  And who is going to give up a spot so Gallaraggia can take on a starting pitching assignment

Jim, I do believe you have the ball!

Is it time for Kenny to take a spot in the Bullpen?  It seems pretty clear we need to put Galaragga into the starting rotation, the question at and seems to be which spot: Willis, or Rogers?  Willis for now obviously. 

Just a quick check of the Tiger batting averages will quickly tell the story: no firepower.  What is supposed to be a dangerous line up can't even come out with a meow.

Yeah, OK, let's "Get 'r done!" If we have to beat 'em 15 to 14 I don't see why that should be a problem!

    There is always some kid who may be seeing me for the first time. I owe him my best.
Joe DiMaggio

Yeah, Jim, I read yer comments about starting pitchers.  But guess what: it's a new game, what with the tight strike zone, low mound, hard balls and bats.  made for hitters, cuz the Powers that Be think the fans want hits

well that tight strike zone runs up the pitch count and that's what makes this a new game.

starting pitcher ain't gonna make it into the 6th.  get used to it.

for today's game you'll need a starter and then a set-up man and then a closer

figure the set up man pitches the 6th and 7th and the closer pitches the 8th and 9th

that's a lot of pitching

all I got to say is this:  it ain't baseball.  ya wanna see action?  open that strike zone up a little so the hitter has to get in the game instead of just standing there trying to draw a walk.

if it was up to me, i'd make 3-2 the last pitch.  foul it off yer out.  that would keep the game moving and cut down on the pitch count

but they way baseball is going at this they probably ought to switch to 7 innings

Naturally I was glad to get that win, finally

Right now I'm kinda mulling this over and thinking it may very well have taken the Tigers a week to assimilate each other and bond as a New Team.

After all, assimilating Cab at 3d, Rent at SS, and Jones at LF, as well as missing some main regulars particularly Zoom and Grandy -- well -- maybe it just kinda upset our system a little.

I'm delighted to see Inge playing well and I'm think'n as they sent Rayburn down maybe Inge will kinda get that backup spot

as we all know we can't make it through the season without our backup players!

The game was quite a contest.  As played, it was an even match.

I was pleased with Inge getting a hit and that beautiful assist on the throw from CF to the plate while at the same time the much touted Cabrerra collected an error on the day.

Again I thought the starting pitcher should have been pulled before he got hit -- just by watching pitch count -- instead of waiting for runners at the corners and nobody out.

Oh well Jim runs the team, not me.