I'm worried

Hi, my name is the Tigress and I'm a worried Tiger fan.  The Tigers got swept...yes swept, by the last place in the NL East and overall disappointment this year Miami Marlins.  The pitchers had decent outings, but there was no run support.  You can't win playoff games without run support.  You just can't.  While starting pitching has been on, relief pitching has been...not.

The Tigers start the ALDS against the A's on Friday.  There's two things that are certain about the A's this year.  1.  They can hit the ball with authority.  Not just the 3 and 4 hitters either, but just about everyone.  2. The Oakland fans are some of the loudest and most supportive fans in baseball.

Don't fret, Tiger faithful.  I have a foolproof plan.  Smokes just needs to stop moon walking long enough to read, learn, and love the plan.  Here it is broken down into steps:

But do you own the rest of MLB?

Step 1: Start SchEYEzer and Sanchez on the road in Oakland.  These two don't count on the crowd support like JV and Fister.  The S&S boys are basically lights out no matter what.  With a win from one of these guys, we'd come back to Comerica at 1-1 and hope to take both at home and end the series before it has to go back to Oakland.  I remember the ALDS last year versus Oakland and it was no slice of cake.  Let's take our wins when we can get them.

Step 2: Start who is hitting.  Don't play the odds, play who is hot.  I know Dom has said that Iggy is the shortstop but if he's not hitting, he should be sitting (Dr. Seuss would be proud).  Peralta may be a screw up, but his bat is getting hits.  Same goes for anyone playing the outfield or catching.  Forget loyalty, this is the playoffs.  Everyone gets a ring, whether they pick up a bat or chew Double Bubble next to Lamont.

Step 3: This is where the fans come in.  Be louder and rowdier than the Oakland fans.  Not bad rowdy, just effective rowdy.  It frazzles people, and we need to be the tenth man that Detroit deserves.  I'll be there Monday for game three.  If someone could take the initiative on Tuesday for game 4, then we should be covered.  Smokes is always crying and thanking the fans.  Let's give him something to really cry about.  Thanks in advance for your support.

Step 4: Bullpen needs to step it up.  Good news is that Porcello will be joining the bullpen and Alvarez should be too.  Let's just "rest" the guys that have been a little shaky (you know who you are.  You don't need me to fake cough and say your names).  New rule: You walk somebody, you come out.  Don't give away free lunch or free base runners.

Step 5: This is the most important thing so come close.  Closer.  Are you ready?  Relax!  Stop pinning all your hopes to one at bat or one play in the field.  Games are sometimes lost on one play, but a series is not.  It's the first to 3.  Have some fun and enjoy this.  Even though it's your third straight year in the playoffs, it's still something to be savored and enjoyed.  Like tiramisu.  No one inhales tiramisu.

Championship Hunter

I wasn't going to post anything until later, but after seeing some video this morning, I had to post.

Sister Tigress has been saying for months that Torii Hunter is not only her Tiger, but the leader of the clubhouse (who is made for you and me).  Last night it was apparent on and off the field that Hunter was the leader and is LOVING this postseason action.  He didn't get to go last year and he is living it up.

The moment I loved was typical Smokes, crying during an interview.  Normally, the team lets him cry and keeps on celebrating.  Oh no, not with Torii.  He picked Smokes up in a bear hug and brought him into the celebrating fray where he got a champagne shower and did the moonwalk.  That's the stuff dreams are made of.  Hunter also started a New Zealand-like yell and stomp that seems to get everyone revved up and crazy.

I'm wearing my Tiger scarf today in honor of all that is Detroit baseball.  Bring on the postseason!

Guest blog: Your annual fill

Sister Tigress and Brother-in-Law Tiger went to the last two home games of the season.  The following is their adventure and your yearly dosage of the sister of the biggest Tiger fan in Michigan.

The Tigers are 2 games away from clinching the division.  Last week I thought it would happen while I was at the ballpark for the last home games of the season, but it just didn't work out.  Here is a look through my annual contribution to the Tigress's blog…

I feel I have the ability to be named #1 fan this year, or has my husband would say “hash tag 1 fan.”  I went to 12 regular season games…twelve.  I don’t have kids, I don’t remodel my house, and I don’t own a boat.  I go to Tiger games.

Brother-in-law Tiger and I went to both the first two weekend games of the season verses the Yankees (which they split) as well as the last two weekend games of the season verses the White Sox (which they split).  It was a great way to sandwich the season and we already have our ALDS tickets…just waiting for that clinch!

Over the weekend we decided we would select the 25-man playoff roster – Smokes has had another trying year so we’d like to take some of the pressure off.  Fortunately the Tigers provided us with a full team photo as we entered Saturday’s game.

Catcher – Avila and Pena, hopefully they won’t have to pinch hit Avila for Pena and then pinch run for Avila like they did in Saturday’s CRAZY win against the Sox.  If Smokes feels that is necessary we’ll have a few utility players he can select from to finish out the game, but it won’t be pretty.

1^st Base – Fielder…despite what others think, he’s been clutch this year both on the field, on the base paths and at the plate.  500 games in a row?  Tip your cap, my friends.

2^nd Base – Infante.  What a season he’s had to date!  Yes, he had the injury from the wicked opponent slide, but he’s come back strong especially at the plate.  How many times this year have the Tigers had bases loaded with less than two outs and not scored?  Too many to count, you’re right.  But Saturday night Infante came to the play in the 12^th inning with bases loaded, one out, I didn't close my eyes in fear and he delivered.  Clutch.

3^rd Base – Cabrera.  He’s hurt and he still plays better than two-thirds of the league.  Clinch so Miggy can have a few days for Smokes to give him a blow…hehehe.

SS – Iglesias.  What an amazing acquisition for the Tigers.  Over dinner Brother-in-law Tiger and I argued about his availability.  He hasn’t played since last Thursday and I was listening on the radio when he went down – it didn’t sound good.  Smokes is resting him and hopefully he plays a game before the playoffs start to show us he’s good to go.

Left Field – Dirks and Tuiasosopo.  Dirty Dirks clinched his playoff spot on Saturday evening with a pinch-hit three-run shot on one pitch in the bottom of the ninth.  If you haven’t guessed by now, I was there and it was magical.  Gotta take who’s hot and Dirty is smokin’.  Tuey?  Tell me you saw his catch on Saturday?!  They’ll split time as a lefty/righty combo.

Center Field – Jackson.  He had some time off at the beginning of the year and came back stronger than ever.  I miss Granderson, but of all the centerfielders we could have, the Tigers are lucky to have Jackson around.

Right Field – Hunter.  There are so many things I like about Hunter…his offense, his defense, his good looks…In addition to the fun he has in right field, his energy and excitement in the dugout is addicting.  He is having fun playing the game every day.

Pitchers –

Verlander – and not in the bull pen!  The boy just needs some run support – help him out!

Scherzer – if he isn’t the Cy Young, I’m surprised.

Fister – still solid and we’ll need that bat against the National League

Sanchez – I was at the one-hitter earlier in the season, he gets the final starting spot

Porcello – amazing season and solid finish.  Sorry, Ricky, going to the bullpen for middle-inning relief

Benoit – one blown save and I almost never sweat when he enters the game?

Veras – good addition

Smyly – done some good things out of the bullpen the entire season.  On other teams he’s a starter…

Rondon – need that late inning support

Albuquerque – shaky throughout the season, but again, as we enter the stretch, clutch – gotta take who’s hot

Alverez – earned it…if he can handle making a random start against the Indians, go six innings and get a win, he can handle the playoffs

DH – Martinez.  Good call having him catch a few games down the stretch so he’s ready for the interleague games

Extras –

Kelly – let’s be honest, the love affair between him and Smokes lands him a spot on the playoff team

Santiago – again, Smokes won’t leave him behind

Peralta – yup, he makes it.  He was HOT before leaving on suspension and there must be a spot for him somewhere

Perez got the scratch.  If for some reason Iglesias doesn’t recover, he’s in.

Other random items from our weekend doubleheader for the next time you head to Comerica:

            1)  Best view – Rooftop at Cheli’s Chili.  Brother-in-law Tiger did not want to venture to the roof because of how many stairs were present.  We worked off the beers we drank and had an amazing view

      2)      Elwood’s Bar has the best chicken fingers you’ll find in a five-mile radius of the stadium (note, they are NOT open at 2:45 pm when game day starts at 7:08 pm)

      3)      If you tip at least 15%, the bartenders will make you feel really good about yourself

      4)      There is Octoberfest at the Brushfire Grill.  However, I recommend walking to a Leinenkugal instead of Sam Adam’s stand to obtain the Octoberfest (on a side note, I do prefer it spelled “Oktoberfest” with a “k”)

      5)      If you pay money to go to the game, get there before it starts and stay until it’s over

Looking forward to playoff baseball – GO TIGERS!

A day in the life

Even though you don't say it, I know what you are thinking.  "I wish I could be the Tigress."  It's good to have dreams, even if I'm living it and my life is your dream.  Saturdays in the fall are the best times to be the Tigress.  To give you something to put on your vision board, I'll give you a glimpse into the life of the Tigress on a mild fall Saturday.

8 AM-I sleep in slightly as the cool breeze blows in from the open window.  Can you smell the apple cider?  Me neither.  I think it's the trash the neighbors left out last night.  Put on work out clothes and do a barre workout from the DVD.  The idea is to use small movements to isolate muscles and sculpt like a dancer's body.  Mainly it's a chance to prove to your living room television how much more fit the person inside the television is compared to you.

9 AM- Done with the shower and making coffee.  Go a little crazy and grind up those pumpkin spice coffee beans.  I know there's been a big debate lately (even Mike and Mike were in on the action), but I think pumpkin anything is delicious.  It tastes like fall.  Have a bowl of Lucky Charms and catch up on a TV show you DVRed this week.

10 AM- Time to turn on the Super Nintendo and beat a few levels on Super Mario Brothers.  Today I finished all the star worlds and got all the way to castle 7.  I have confidence I can beat it and then head to Bowser's Castle.  It's amazing what muscle memory can do when associated with video games.

11 AM- Time for second breakfast of everything bagel and to watch College GameDay to decide my viewing schedule for the afternoon and evening.  Props to downtown Fargo today.  GameDay looked way more impressive today than any day they travel to Tuscaloosa.

12 PM- The games that are selected for the first match up are Western Michigan University at Iowa and Marshall at Virginia Tech.  WMU looks like a high school football team run by the principal's son.  How are we supposed to row the boat if there's a huge hole in it?

1 PM- Lunch time.  Penn Station subs and a bag full of french fries.  Is it just me, or does malt vinegar smell like foot fungus?  Or the bottom of a sewer?  Either way, Husband Tiger is not allowed to sit next to me when he eats it.

2 PM- Nap time my friends.  It's been a rough day already and there's so much more to do!  Better take a mental and physical break.  Saturdays are marathons, not sprints.

3 PM- I cracked my eyes slightly but I wasn't coherent until a half hour later.  Surprise!  Husband Tiger has brought home ice cream.  Maybe to make up for the malt vinegar earlier?  Probably.

4 PM- The Marshall/VA Tech game is finally over with Va Tech winning after some shady ref calls on pass interference.  I don't know what kind of weather they were playing in, but at one point the video feed went out.  That's pretty intense for a week four match up.  For the next match up, we've selected Michigan State at Notre Dame and Purdue at Wisconsin.  I challenge MSU and ND to shock their critics and score some points this game.

5 PM- MSU's colors are listed as green and white, but they've always used a hunter green.  This color that is on their jerseys today looks like the color of goose poop or that really gross dark gray mud that pulls you in like quick sand.  It's a strange color choice.

6 PM- These pass interference calls against MSU are banana sandwich.  I'm not even rooting for a certain team in this game and I'm a little appalled.  Let the kids play!  MSU's passing game is the only way they will win this game.  Do you think Notre Dame fixed their cups at the stadium?  The first game of the season they said "Figthing Irish."  I would hate to be a figthing.  Call me a fig leaf or a fig tree, but never call me a thing!

7 PM- Notre Dame pulls out the win in the most underwhelming game of the day.  Here's a little math theorem for you.  Michigan beat Notre Dame (A>B).  Notre Dame beat MSU (B>C).  Therefore, Michigan will beat MSU (A>C).  Let that sink in and then we'll test the theory on November 2nd (after the Tigers have won the World Series of course).  Games currently on are Tigers (yes, we waited all day for this game!) and Arizona State at Stanford.  Let's see if Ricky P lights it up again in his bid to start during the playoffs.

8 PM- Stanford has no official mascot.  They are called the Stanford Cardinal referring to the color of their jerseys.  However, there is always this crazy tree hanging around who resembles Miley Cyrus.  So their mascot is a tree...a crazy looking tree.  That takes balls.  That TV has switched to Michigan at Connecticut.  Michigan has some work to do after the embarrassment they showed last week versus Akron.
Here's a tip for the 8:00 hour: stop letting Miggy try to stretch his hits into doubles.  Mini Miggy got to throw out Miggy and I bet he was pumped about that.

9 PM- Michigan is barely on the scoreboard at 7-0 and the Tigers have given up two runs to the Sox.  Props to Ricky P.  9 strikeouts and only a few hits is impressive.  It all fell apart when Avi was able to steal 2nd.  Princey Pie tried to make it rough on him by tagging him slightly harder than normal when checking him back to first.  When does Iggy get to play again?  Santiago and Prince are just not making the connection.  Hopefully there's better news in the next hour.

10 PM- It's 10 PM on the dot and the Tigers are mounting an incredible ninth inning comeback.  What pitcher would want to face Torii, Cabby, Princey, and VMart in the ninth inning, no matter what the lead.  Dirty Dirks lives up to his nickname and Omar, Avila, and Hunter are the iron men for standing in there and getting walks.  Michigan might be putting on a dismal show on the east coast, but the Tigers are trying to thank their 3 million fans with a late game surge.
10:08 PM- Tie game!  Sister Tigress and Brother-in-law Tiger are at the game and I know they are going nuts.  The Tigers have been known for their late inning comebacks this year (Avila, Hunter, Cabby, and Peralta have all chipped in on the craziness), but today it seems that everyone wants a little action.

11 PM- The Wolverines have finally tied it up and the Tigers continue to play.  Who knew it'd be such an action packed day of sports?  The Tigers bullpen has done surprisingly well including performances from Benoit and Alburquerque.  I know!  I never thought Al's name would appear in the same sentence as the phrase "surprisingly well."
11:10 PM- A trickler to win the game?  Sure!!!  Why not?!  Leave it to Omar.  Magic number down to two for the Tigers!  Good thing I took a nap today because this is September baseball and it's just too good to go to bed early.  I do have to say that after a four hour game, I'm way done with the Bernstein commercials.

11:30 PM- Michigan squeaks out a win 24-21 over the 0-3 team from Connecticut.  This can't happen in Big Ten games.  Those teams will take advantage of the weakness and capitalize.
It's off to bed now.  It's been a long day and lots of sports action.  On tap for tomorrow?  Rinse and repeat, but with professional athletes instead.  Life is good.

Hello

Hello.  Is it me you are looking for?  It's been a while.  The playoff race is heating up with the Tigers ahead by six and a half games.  The magic number to clinch the playoff position is quickly dropping.  There's only three home games left this weekend.  Lots of things are going in the Tigers' favor.  The Tigress already has tickets for the ALDS as well.

Work got in the way today of watching the Tigers, but word on the street is that Prince got a mid-game snack from a friendly fan in the stands.  I'd happily sit in the front row down first base line and have snacks ready the whole game for Princey Pie.  I'd even save some for Omar and Torii if they made it my way as well.

This weekend brings the White Sox.  This time I only smell domination against the White Sox this time around.  No doubt.

Entrance music

There should be some sort of database on the Tiger website that lists all the entrance music for the Tiger players.  There are many times at games when a player's music comes on and you get a little dance moving through your body.  Omar Infante knows how to pick some swagger music, that's for sure.

Since there's no database to see the actual entrance songs, here are some suggestions for the Tigers as we approach the end of the season and playoff time.

Miguel Cabrera- Number One by Nelly, it's the truth

Prince Fielder- Little Red Corvette by Prince, Prince should have a Prince song

Andy Dirks- She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy by Kenny Chesney, every country boy loves his tractor

Jhonny Peralta- OPP by Naughty by Nature, he is naughty

Victor Martinez- Swing Swing by the All American Rejects, he's not paid for his fielding skills

Alex Avila- Hit Me Baby One More Time by Britney Spears, the man is known for getting pummeled behind the plate

Donnie Kelly- Buddy Holly by Weezer, a song about the ultimate nerd

Jose Iglesias- Lovin, Touchin, Squeezin by Journey, get it...because he's the only one that can execute the squeeze

Torii Hunter- Old Man River by Frank Sinata, just kidding!  Torii's not that old and his age only brings experience to the team.  It's still fun to mention age to people older than you.  Admit it.

Any other suggestions out there?

Work hard for the money

Labor Day is all about the people.  Hard working people like you and me.  Even you over there in the corner.  Ya you, I bet you've had a job one time.  This is your day to shine.  Unbeknownst to me, the Tiger players have been honoring the hard working people of Michigan this season.  When they hit a double, they mock putting on a suit jacket.  See, they are just like us.  Getting ready for the work day and putting in a hard day's work.  Torii even tightened up his tie today after his double.

Not a picture of the suit jacket, but maybe this is them putting mustard on their bologna sandwiches.

Princey Pie wasn't as serious today with the popups to the right side of the infield.  Twice, yes twice, he pretended to call for the ball and catch it when clearly Infante was all over it.  The thing is, Fielder had the iconic jump call off to Infante to win the ALCS against the Yankees last year.  Remember?  I do because I was there.

I got it...really, if you come over here I'm going to give you a concussion like I did to Avila

You know who else was working today?  Dougie Fresh.  He put himself in some tight situations (the number of walks these starters are giving out are ridiculous...banana sandwich even), and every time he managed to get himself out of it.  OK, he had a little help from his friends.  Mainly his new bestie Iggy, who I heard Rod has a man crush on.  Don't be a cougar, Rod (actually, the male version of a cougar is a panda.  You can look it up).

It's back to school tomorrow for all the kiddie Tiger and Tigresses out there.  Hopefully you went to Sunday's game and got your very own Tigers binder.  If you did happen to get one and think, "I'll never use this", please send it immediately to the Detroit Tigress.  You'll have my undying love and affection.  They never have good giveaways like this for the grownups.

Have a safe day back at work, Laborers of Michigan, and have a great first day of school kiddies.  Don't annoy your teachers on the first day back.  Teachers, lay down the hammer the first week to show the kiddies who is boss.  You'll thank me in November.