STAYIN’ ALIVE
GREG BOWMAN
This has been a lost year for Nate Robertson, who was such an important part of the Tigers’ 2006 run to the World Series. First, at the start of the season, Manager Jim Leyland said Robertson would not be a starter, but would have to pitch out of the bullpen, where he was not very effective. Then Robertson was hurt, and missed much of the year. But after Gallaraga went down and Washburn was awful and then hurt, Leyland turned to Robertson to pitch a game the Tigers had to win. And Robertson responded beautifully in what may have been the biggest game of his career. He held the Twins to just two runs in five innings to allow the TIgers to avoid a sweep and salvage one game of their series with the Twins. A sweep would not have mathematically eliminated the Tigers from the race, but it would have been a terrible blow, allowing the Twins to come to within one game of the Tigers, who held a seven game lead in the Central Division just two weeks ago. The race isn’t over yet, but that win gives the Tigers a little breathing room as they wrap up the season playing only Cleveland, Chicago, and Minnesota four more times! And we can PLEASE stop giving Michael Cuddyer anything close to the plate. He kills the Tigers every time. …I still think the Tigers are going to win, although it’s not going to be easy. But the Tigers rotation of Verlander, Jackson, and Porcello is better than the Twins. And fortunately, those last four games are at Comerica Park, not at that awful Metrodome. And also, the Tigers don’t have to play the Royals again this year!
This has been a tough year to be a Tiger fan…The team has played fairly well, and has been in first place since May….But there have been some losses that are much bigger than any on the field. First, we lost Hall of Famer George Kell this year; then the shocking death of Mark “The Bird” Fidrych. Tiger Stadium was finally torn down and is now just a pile of rubble. And finally, worst of all, news that Ernie Harwell is suffering from inoperable cancer. Of course, only Ernie would think he needs to thank us for listening, rather than us thanking HIM for all those years of being a part of our lives. It’s all been said before, but I’ll say it again. Ernie, you are the best. To borrow a phrase from Ernie, “Thanks for coming with us to that cabin up north, to the beach, the picnic, the car, and for being that voice under the pillow as we sneaked our transistor radio to bed. Thanks for the memories Ernie, that will last a lifetime.