ROB SANFORD

Ok, maybe it’s just me. But it seems to me in past races to win a division title..there was a whole lot more public interest. TV stations went to sports bars to do “live shots”….sportscasts would have the magic number to a title, yadda, yadda yadda. But everyone seems more interested in the 0-19 Lions, or the 3-0 Michigan Wolverines. I like football too…but come on..how about a little love for the Bengals???  Maybe its because the team has been hard to love, hot one minute, cold the next, and somehow able to stay in first place but far from being dominating. Whatever, I’m sure the frontrunners and band wagoners will become “fans” if they get to the postseason.

Justin Verlander has crossed the line from being a good prospect, to being one of the top pitchers in baseball.  As I’ve said before, he’s developed that killer instinct and attacks hitters, daring them to hit his fastball. When the Tigers need a win…he’s the guy I would turn to everytime. Having said that, Edwin Jackson is still a concern for me. Yes, in his last outing he didn’t allow a run, but hitters were getting  good swings, and hitting the ball on the nose. They were luckily at somebody

It looks like Bobby Seay might miss awhile because of a sore shoulder. He’s been hit hard in his last few outings…and I was suspecting something was different. That will leave Fu-Te Ni as the left handed specialist out of the bullpen. He has very quietly had a very effective season…but no one seems to notice.

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.

GREG BOWMAN

I’ll never forget the first time I got to meet Ernie Harwell.   Sonny Elliot took me in the booth at Tiger Stadium to meet him.  And I’m sure I was so awestruck I didn’t know what to say.  But of course, Ernie put me at ease right away, with his famous charm and wit.  I got the opportunity to interview him countless times after that, and he was never anything but warm and friendly and genuine.   When it comes to Ernie Harwell,  it’s okay to meet your heroes.

The news that Ernie has inoperable cancer hit me like a punch in the gut.  He’s 91 years old, so I guess it’s not shocking that he could be facing health problems.   But somehow, I just thought that Ernie Harwell would always be there, kind of like the old ballpark at Michigan and Trumbull.   But the memories of listening to Ernie and George Kell and Paul Carey on those warm summer nights,  whether it was a great Tiger team or a lousy one, will never fade away for me. 

After the boneheaded movie to fire Ernie in 1992, I remember a Free Press Headline that summed it up best:   A Gentleman Wronged.”   Fortunately for all of us,  the Tigers realized the error of their ways and brought him back until he was ready to retire in 2002.   No offense to my friend Dan Dickerson, who does a wonderful job with play by play,  but there will never be another Ernie Harwell.   We’re lucky to have had him around for this long, but I’m not ready to let him go just yet.  ..I could never tire of hearing about the House by the side of the road…out for excessive window shopping…that was caught by a man from Kalmazoo…or LONG GONE!   Thanks Ernie.  We’re sending you all our love and thoughts and prayers.

You can hear my interview with ernie at wwj.com under pocasts.

ROB SANFORD

Maybe the offense isn’t a dead duck yet. It just looks like we’re going to have to get used to seeing the ups and downs of Tiger hitting. You can’t really say happy days are here again….since they were shut out on Saturday against King Tiger Killer of 2009, Carl Pavano. Oh by the way….the guy is simply mediocre against other teams…what’s the deal. Are the Bengal hitters that bad, or is he that good??? Probably a little of both. Back on the topic of the offense. Since Jim Leyland was signed to a contract extension at the start of the year…someone will have to pay for the irregular hitting. I will be amazed if Lloyd McClendon  isn’t fired at the end of the season. Not because he’s not any good, but someone will have to be the fall guy,  since you can’t fire all the players, or Leyland….logically the onus falls on McClendon.

Is it me, or is Ryan Raburn one of the worse left fielders you’ve ever seen. The guy is an infielder, and has all kinds of trouble judging fly balls. In football, one of the first things you learn as a defender is to chase a ball runner by going where he will be rather than trying to catch him. It’s called taking an angle of “pursuit.” The same is true for playing the outfield…you decide where the ball will be going, then taking the shortest route to it. Raburn constantly mis-judges the fly balls, then  has to making a jumping or awkward looking catch. Many times balls will get past him to the wall, simply because he couldn’t cut it off because he took the wrong angle. Playing the outfield is more than just standing around and only react when something is hit….it requires some thinking and lots of practice.

When I used to broadcast baseball, my partner and I would constantly debate whether you’d rather face a hitter who is 0 for 4, or one who is 4 for 4….in critical situation. I know common sense might tell it would be better to face a guy who is an “o-fer”…but I’ve always maintained that it might be better to face the 4 for 4 hitter, because the odds  are against getting a 5th hit in a row, while maybe the o-fer is overdue. I bring this up because the Tigers are taking on a swooning Boston Red Sox team, who were swept by their rival Yankees over the week end. I think I would have preferred them to win on Sunday night in New York, but now they head home with a “mad-on” and the Tigers are  in their crosshairs.

ROB SANFORD

The Tigers proved to themselves that they don’t necessarily need just home runs to win games….in taking 3 out of 4 over the White Sox.  They took a page out of Angels and Twins playbook by using agressive base running, along with good pitching and defense. Brandon Inge continues to amaze me at third. I saw a couple of games in person in the last homestand, and it was easy to see his bad knees are very painful. Friday night, he made a big time back handed play…planted his right foot, and fired a strike to first. But in looking back at Inge….I saw him double over and pause for a moment with his hands on his knees.  I don’t think anyone really knows how much pain he’s having to deal with, and stay in the line up.

The pitching preformance of Justin Verlander in game 1 of the day-night doubleheader might just have been the biggest this season so far. If he was rocked and pulled early….it would have put a strain on the bullpen for the rest of the series. Justin is a nice guy off the field, but when he steps on the diamond,  he becomes a preditor.

The major league trading deadline comes at the end of the week, but I just don’t see the Tigers making any blockbuster deals. I may be wrong, unless the right offer comes along…but of the names mentioned that could be obtained, I don’t see any difference maker who would push the Bengals over the top. Of  course the Blue Jays Roy Halladay would fit that description, but I’m not will to mortgage the future by selling off top prospects. For those who you who think this philosophy is wrong….I know your reasoning….”the future is now” and if you have a chance to win, then you have to go for it. The Tigers did that in 1987…obtaining pitcher Doyle Alexander…who was the final piece and helped push the team into the playoffs. But out of the prospects sent to the Braves in that trade was John Smoltz….a move that the team probably second guessed itself. Would the Tigers have won without Alexander??? Who knows, but before you jump into the abyss…you better do it with your eyes open.

GREG BOWMAN

While it would have been nice for the Tigers to take two straight nationally televised games over the White Sox,  fans and Jim Leyland’s boys have to be thrilled with taking three out of four from Chicago at Comerica Park over the weekend.  The Tigers always have a tough time beating the Sox,  and those wins couldn’t have come at a better time.  The Sox had tied the Tigers for first place going into the weekend,  and the series could have been a disaster if things had not gone the Tigers’ way.

It looked like a completely different Tiger team Friday and Saturday, following that disappointing series with Seattle.  They looked lifeless against the Mariners, especially on Thursday, when they hit 15 fly  outs and popups, many on the first pitch.  What I really liked about the Chicago series was seeing the Tigers playing aggressive, national-league style small ball, stealing bases, taking the extra base, and even executing a squeeze play.

Having Carlos Guillen back in the lineup is a big plus.  He gives the Tigs a veteran presence and an offensive threat they didn’t have before, although he’s still not 100 per cent.  The Tigers could use another bat, but they have to be careful about giving up too much to get one.  I certainly would not give up Rick Porcello for  someone like Adam Dunn.  Unless they’re getting Roy Halladay or Albert Pujols, there are a few players that should be untouchable:  Verlander, Jackson, Porcello,  Granderson, and Cabrera.

Any takers for Mags? Or Dontrelle Willis, Nate Robertson,  Jeremy Bonderman?   I don’t hear any takers.

Rob Sanford

There is no excuse for getting swept in Minnesota. I gave the Tigers the benefit of the doubt because of the Metrodome…but to see Justin Verlander again throw a great game….and the bullpen blow it was too much. I don’t want to hear the 13 inning game wore them out. The Twins had just as short a night.  Come on…if the team wants to be a real contender…they’ve got to shake off a tough loss..not keep repeating the same mistakes

Rob Sanford

In my last post I called the Metrodome the “diamond dungeon” and I see nothing has changed this time around. It’s been poison for the Tigers since about 1987….and it never seems to get better. Every game seems to be filled with crazy hops….tremendous catches on every potential hit from the Tigers, and so on and so on. Like I said before…lets see how good the Twins are when they have to play in 40 degree weather through the month of April beginning next year.

When he played for the White Sox…Joe Crede owned the Tigers, and now that he’s playing for the Twins…nothing has changed. It’s strange that Crede had a strained hamstring and missed 3 games before the Tigers came to town. Seeing Detroit coming to town suddenly proved to be a tonic for him. Maybe we can bribe a clubhouse attendant to put a laxative in his cereal.

Seeing Dontrelle Willis pitching effectively was good to see. When he missed the plate…it was close and not all over the place. But one outing  doesn’t mean all is well…but it was encouraging. By the way….did you notice how he threw to first and later to second…he seemed to lob the ball to make sure it didn’t go wild. Wouldn’t be weird if they cured his control problems…but now he can’t throw anywhere else??

Doesn’t it seem like the Tigers have played about 8 games at home and about 40 on the road so far???? Or is it just me??

Rob Sanford

Justin Verlander looking like a world beater, Edwin Jackson another solid performance, and Rick Porcello continuing to make good progress….all a big part of the Tigers 3-game sweep of the Cleveland Indians. Maybe best of all, it pushed the Bengals into first place by a few percentage points in the Central Division. Don’t pass out the cigars yet…the hitting is still a mystery and Magglio continues to struggle. It’s great the Tig’s have a modest winning streak, but now they’ll have to play next in the ”Diamond Dungeon.” By now anyone who has read this blog knows how I feel about the Metrodome. Twins catcher Joe Mauer has picked up where he left off before his injury….now hitting around or above .400. I hope  Tiger pitching can withstand playing  in that “pit.”

I’ve heard some saying the suspension of Manny Ramirez was a “black day” in baseball and its steriod scandel. I think just the opposite, it shows the system works and no favorites will be spared simply because they are stars of the game. I understand Major League Baseball knew for some time he was taking a questionable substance, but got its ducks in a row before coming down on him. You notice there were no calls from Ramirez about appealing..because he knew he had no leg to stand on. Ramirez has made few friends in the game…so you also don’t see a line forming of supporters.

Finally…I see the Tigers former “can’t miss” prospect has been sent back to the minors. Cameron Maybin was part of a trade to Florida that sent Miguel Cabrera to Detroit. Maybin was hitting .202 in 26 games and the Marlins felt he needed to regain his hitting stroke. Oh….the other guy involved in that trade…”future superstar” left handed pitcher Andrew Miller is 6 and 11 since going to Florida, and is right now on a pitching rehab assignment at the Marlins Florida State League “A” team in Jupiter. That doesn’t mean Tiger President and GM Dave Dombrowski hasn’t made any mistakes…..can you say “Edgar Renteria?”

Rob Sanford

2 out of 3 from Cleveland….but without some clutch hitting..it could have been just the other way around. In all the games in the series, the Tigers showed they are more than willing to play a full 9 innings…something that’s got to be encouraging. Speaking of encouraging, what a preformance by Justin Verlander on Sunday. His fastball was hitting 97-99 mph consistently and his off speed breaking ball kept the hitters off stride. What a lift it would be to this club if that continues. In one of the most impressive showing of any pitcher of seen in recent years….in the 4th inning on Sunday..Verlander struck out the side, but the last hitter, he threw 3 straight fastballs at 99 mph and totally blew him away. Bet you thought I was going mention his wiggling out of a bases loaded no one out situation where he didn’t allow a run. That was incrediable as well.

As far as getting the middle part of the order hitting…there’s signs that may be happening. Carlos Guillen was 0 for 4 on Sunday….but he hit all 4 right on the nose to the right fielder, so it’s only a matter of time they start falling in for him.

Too bad Matt Treanor is out for the season (hip surgery), leaving us with Dane Sardina as the back up. I hope with more playing time he’ll be better at the plate, at one time he was considered a big time prospect.

 I ran into Bruce Fields on Sunday at the ball park. Yes ,the same Bruce Fields that was with the Tigers , and now the Indians minor league traveling hitting instructor. He was also the manager of the West Michigan Whitecaps as Brandon Inge, Robert Fick, Ramon Santiago, ect, ect were there. I asked him if he was surprised by the kind of power that Inge is showing since he didn’t seem to have that early in his career. He told me he always had that power…but now that he’s gotten that new hitting stroke, it provides a more consistant swing, and improves his balance, which means he can get the bat into the hitting zone that much quicker.

Finally, Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney both look good. One thing about Rodney….you can tell if he will be effective by how he finishes up. If he is almost falling toward first base after throwing the ball….he’s gonna stink. If it’s less drastic, his control will be much better.