We have made it through the longest winter we have seen in seven years. Living in Kansas, you don't have months and months of winter. You get a week. At best. That was something that was horrible about living that far south. When we moved to Minnesota, we were anticipating real winters. Snow in November lasting through February and into March. Last year, we didn't get that. A joke played by the weather gods for us moving north I suppose. This year, we got our winter! Mid December was the first accumulation and it is now starting to melt. We have had about four days in a row in the low to mid forties and combined with a little bit of rain, the grass is starting to show. The thing about the snow melting is that it needs to happen quickly. As the nice white layers of snow start to melt, you get stuck with that nasty grey dirty snow and that is just depressing. So far, it is coming to an end quickly and that is nice. We can focus on what is important. Baseball season!
Opening Day technically is today (Texas v. Houston) but what most everyone else is focused on is tomorrow, the real Opening Day. The Detroit Tigers are opening the season here in Minnesota. I really contemplated getting tickets to go because that is on my Baseball Bucket List but settled on going to game number two. This will be the earliest I have ever been to a baseball game and I'm excited about it. Plus, we found out that it is dollar hot dog day! It's the little things that really matter.
I really pushed to go to Opening Day. My wife wanted to know why I wanted to go to Minnesota's Opening Day even if they are playing Detroit. But it's Opening Day! Argument invalid. Plus the tickets were cheaper for game two. And....and dollar hot dogs. The excitement of the new season will still be in the air. It'll be like an Opening Day contact high. Below is how I think everything in the AL Central will pan out.
1. Detroit Tigers (Not winning this weak division [and not getting back to the World Series] would cost a lot of people their jobs.)
2. Kansas City Royals (They made the pitching deals I think they needed to get their rotation to match their batting lineup. In a few years, they could be sitting at the top.)
3. Cleveland Indians (Quite a few people are high on the Indians this year. Yes they made off season acquisitions, but their pitching rotation will lose them games.)
4. Chicago White Sox (I always want to put them in last place, but they find a way to win. Ass hats.)
5. Minnesota Twins (Rebuild process: commence. See you guys in about five years.)
Go Get 'em Tigers!
31 March 2013
26 March 2013
Historic Events
Two weeks ago, I was sitting in the bar area of a restaurant in St. Paul on my day off. I was out and about and thought 'I want a burger'. And not just a fast food burger, a real burger. There is something to be said about having a beer at lunch in the middle of the afternoon in the middle of the week. Mad Men-ish without the killer hangover afterwards because I only had one, not four or five. So while I was there, they had CNN on one of the televisions and then suddenly, white smoke!
White smoke, everyone knows, means new pope. Pope Francis. And everyone went ape shit, or maybe not. So it's always a historic moment when a pope is elected because once you're there, you're there until the end (mostly). Growing up Catholic, I grew up with Pope John Paul II. He'd been around since forever. When he passed away it was the biggest deal for the church because he had been the pope for such a long time. I was more intrigued by the election of Pope Benedict than I was with Pope Francis because it was the first time I had seen the process in action. That's not to take away from Pope Francis' election, it's just that I had just seen it eight years earlier. It was historic, however, in the fact that Pope Benedict stepped down, the first pope to do so in six hundred years.
Being someone that loves history, I find these historic moments fascinating. Are they historic because you think they are, or are they historic because we are told they are? With these events, you should want to be able to have that 'I knew exactly where I was when ______ happened.' But these events are can be person specific. Of course you're going to have those events that everyone remembers, but there are also going to be events that happen that grab some people and not others. One that comes to my mind is the space shuttle Columbia. For whatever reason, I have always remembered turning on the t.v. in our college apartment and seeing the pieces of the shuttle burning through the atmosphere. I was just sucked into the coverage. I skipped my morning classes that day to watch the coverage. We eventually knew what happened, but I just couldn't pull myself away from the coverage. The weird thing is, I have never really paid attention to space travel or what NASA was doing, it just didn't interest me. The human element at it's finest.
These historic events do not always have to be tragedies. I'm sure there were tons of people that will forever remember the day that Prince William and Duchess Catherine (because Duchess Kate is too informal) were married, or Prince Charles and Lady Diana for that matter. That's not my thing, so I can say I was around for it, is that okay? Think about sports. There are going to be teams that make runs to the championships of their sports and there are going to be people from that town or city that will remember it until the end of days. I thought I would remember LSSU's hockey run in the mid-90s, but I really don't. What do I remember? Beating Wisconsin, losing to Maine, beating Boston University. All the in the span of three years. I was younger, but I remember watching those games.
Historic events are such because they go down in the annals of our society. They are events that are important not just in the moment, but for years and years afterward. They are passed down from generation to generation. They get written down in the history books so one hundred years from now, when everyone that will remember the event, will no longer be on this earth. They are historic because we make them historic. We huddle around the television and look at each other and collectively think 'I will remember this day. I want to remember this day.'
White smoke, everyone knows, means new pope. Pope Francis. And everyone went ape shit, or maybe not. So it's always a historic moment when a pope is elected because once you're there, you're there until the end (mostly). Growing up Catholic, I grew up with Pope John Paul II. He'd been around since forever. When he passed away it was the biggest deal for the church because he had been the pope for such a long time. I was more intrigued by the election of Pope Benedict than I was with Pope Francis because it was the first time I had seen the process in action. That's not to take away from Pope Francis' election, it's just that I had just seen it eight years earlier. It was historic, however, in the fact that Pope Benedict stepped down, the first pope to do so in six hundred years.
Being someone that loves history, I find these historic moments fascinating. Are they historic because you think they are, or are they historic because we are told they are? With these events, you should want to be able to have that 'I knew exactly where I was when ______ happened.' But these events are can be person specific. Of course you're going to have those events that everyone remembers, but there are also going to be events that happen that grab some people and not others. One that comes to my mind is the space shuttle Columbia. For whatever reason, I have always remembered turning on the t.v. in our college apartment and seeing the pieces of the shuttle burning through the atmosphere. I was just sucked into the coverage. I skipped my morning classes that day to watch the coverage. We eventually knew what happened, but I just couldn't pull myself away from the coverage. The weird thing is, I have never really paid attention to space travel or what NASA was doing, it just didn't interest me. The human element at it's finest.
These historic events do not always have to be tragedies. I'm sure there were tons of people that will forever remember the day that Prince William and Duchess Catherine (because Duchess Kate is too informal) were married, or Prince Charles and Lady Diana for that matter. That's not my thing, so I can say I was around for it, is that okay? Think about sports. There are going to be teams that make runs to the championships of their sports and there are going to be people from that town or city that will remember it until the end of days. I thought I would remember LSSU's hockey run in the mid-90s, but I really don't. What do I remember? Beating Wisconsin, losing to Maine, beating Boston University. All the in the span of three years. I was younger, but I remember watching those games.
Historic events are such because they go down in the annals of our society. They are events that are important not just in the moment, but for years and years afterward. They are passed down from generation to generation. They get written down in the history books so one hundred years from now, when everyone that will remember the event, will no longer be on this earth. They are historic because we make them historic. We huddle around the television and look at each other and collectively think 'I will remember this day. I want to remember this day.'
19 March 2013
Be Responsible, Dammit!
Another year, another St. Patrick's Day. A nice quite one for me again. I've been done with going out for the holiday for many years now. I enjoy celebrating at home wearing a little bit of green to keep with tradition and drink a few beers. Stout beers! Not green beer. And a glass of whiskey.
This year, there were about four hundred DWI/DUI arrests in the Twin Cities, up from three hundred fifty (roughly) last year. Which is good and bad. The police staged more DWI checkpoints. This is an awesome initiative by the police to try and deter drinking and driving. It's not awesome because of how many people still found it necessary to go drink and drive. The numbers went up despite the fact that it was well advertised that there were more cops on the road. I cannot preach down to everyone on drinking and driving. I have, ashamedly, left the bar more than a few times and gotten behind the wheel even though I knew I shouldn't have. Those were the days of going out to not only get drunk, but to have a little bit more fun than was necessary. Now? I go out to socialize with friends and co-workers. Gone are the days of drinking to get drunk. Here are the days of drinking because I am enjoying the taste of beer and enjoying the company.
So what changed? What changed in me that I wanted to be, you know, responsible? Luckily, I never was pulled over or injured anyone. I never wanted to push my luck when it comes to this situation so I have taken it upon myself to be responsible. How mature of me, right? The easiest way to deal with it is with the help of my wife. She doesn't drink. Even one drink makes her sick so she just stopped drinking alcohol. No better way to get home responsibly than to use a designated driver, plus mine I don't have to pay for. And I do not take advantage of her driving. I don't go out and get shitfaced just because I don't have to drive home. That's not my style anymore. And even if she did drink, I would be more than happy to alternate who gets to drink and who drives home.
This year, there were about four hundred DWI/DUI arrests in the Twin Cities, up from three hundred fifty (roughly) last year. Which is good and bad. The police staged more DWI checkpoints. This is an awesome initiative by the police to try and deter drinking and driving. It's not awesome because of how many people still found it necessary to go drink and drive. The numbers went up despite the fact that it was well advertised that there were more cops on the road. I cannot preach down to everyone on drinking and driving. I have, ashamedly, left the bar more than a few times and gotten behind the wheel even though I knew I shouldn't have. Those were the days of going out to not only get drunk, but to have a little bit more fun than was necessary. Now? I go out to socialize with friends and co-workers. Gone are the days of drinking to get drunk. Here are the days of drinking because I am enjoying the taste of beer and enjoying the company.
So what changed? What changed in me that I wanted to be, you know, responsible? Luckily, I never was pulled over or injured anyone. I never wanted to push my luck when it comes to this situation so I have taken it upon myself to be responsible. How mature of me, right? The easiest way to deal with it is with the help of my wife. She doesn't drink. Even one drink makes her sick so she just stopped drinking alcohol. No better way to get home responsibly than to use a designated driver, plus mine I don't have to pay for. And I do not take advantage of her driving. I don't go out and get shitfaced just because I don't have to drive home. That's not my style anymore. And even if she did drink, I would be more than happy to alternate who gets to drink and who drives home.
08 March 2013
Cure the Congestion With a Trade (or Two)
I'm not going to make this a 'thing' every spring. I'm not going to take time to analyze the Tigers and what they should do. I leave that to the people that get paid to do so and after they do so, I shall scream at them through the internet and tell them how I would do it if I ran the organization. Like a sane, rational person does. However, I feel like I should weigh in on the whole outfield thing. Because, you know, I'm getting that itch for baseball and this is as close as I'm going to get until April.
It appears that the Tigers have a bit of a congestion problem. In the outfield. And only one player anchored there for years and years to come: Austin Jackson. Behind him you have a mess of players elbowing each other for the other two spots. Andy Dirks, Quintin Berry, Brennan Boesch, Avisail Garcia, and Torii Hunter are all on the forty man roster. There's also this kid named Nick hanging out in Toledo. He isn't going to be there very long.
We all know that Hunter is going to keep right field nice and warm this year, but for how long after that? One year, maybe two? And that is being optimistic. He is one of three batters that was not born in the 1980s. If the Tigers were to win the World Series this year, I can see him retiring after getting that ring.
I loved Berry when he came out of nowhere last year when Jackson got hurt. He brought speed the team doesn't have, he brought energy that can be infectious, he brought a new style of running down routine fly balls. The out, pause, in, sprint, dive, or OPISD. Make it a defensive statistic sabermetric nerds! After Jackson came back, I was reminded of what a steady hand in the outfield brings to the fans: comfort. Comfort knowing that diving for a fly ball should be a last resort, not the norm for an out. I see Berry as possible trade bait for a team that likes to run, which the Tigers don't do.
I loved Boesch much like everyone else when he came out swinging for the fences a few years ago. And he was connecting, it was great. He has such a nice and easy swing. Then he tanked after the first half of 2011. Injuries and inconsistencies have brought him to the point of fighting for a spot on the roster after being solidified in the order just last year. Time to cut bait and run. Find some desperate team that has a short right field porch where he can flourish.
During their run to the World Series last year, Avisail Garcia came up and looked like a mini Miguel Cabrera. In stature only, he did not impress me at all. If you are going to compare a young player to the best the bigs have to offer, he better show me why. I think he needs a little more time in Toledo before becoming a part of the team year round. If he is the future in Kaline's Corner, he has a year to develop this promising talent everyone else sees.
This leaves Andy Dirks. He is not going to be around as an everyday player once Castellanos is ready to go (which could be this year if the Tigers are willing). I want to see Dirks in left field to start the year. I have been a fan of his since he was in college in Wichita. I almost went with him as 'My Tiger' once Magglio retired, but went with Avila instead. He is a solid all around player. Good defense, makes good contact at the plate, minimal problems running on the bases. And he made this play which I called the play of the year weeks before Bless You Boys. Suck it! Even if he isn't going to be an everyday player in the future, he needs to stick around as the forth outfielder. He has the grit that Jim Leyland likes and he can hit unlike Don Kelly.
So, with two trades, one retirement, and two call ups, within two years the outfield problem will be solved. Castellanos, Jackson, Garcia will be your starters with Dirks riding the pine. You're welcome. Shower me with your praise. And give me Dombrowski's salary. I don't do this shit for free.
It appears that the Tigers have a bit of a congestion problem. In the outfield. And only one player anchored there for years and years to come: Austin Jackson. Behind him you have a mess of players elbowing each other for the other two spots. Andy Dirks, Quintin Berry, Brennan Boesch, Avisail Garcia, and Torii Hunter are all on the forty man roster. There's also this kid named Nick hanging out in Toledo. He isn't going to be there very long.
We all know that Hunter is going to keep right field nice and warm this year, but for how long after that? One year, maybe two? And that is being optimistic. He is one of three batters that was not born in the 1980s. If the Tigers were to win the World Series this year, I can see him retiring after getting that ring.
I loved Berry when he came out of nowhere last year when Jackson got hurt. He brought speed the team doesn't have, he brought energy that can be infectious, he brought a new style of running down routine fly balls. The out, pause, in, sprint, dive, or OPISD. Make it a defensive statistic sabermetric nerds! After Jackson came back, I was reminded of what a steady hand in the outfield brings to the fans: comfort. Comfort knowing that diving for a fly ball should be a last resort, not the norm for an out. I see Berry as possible trade bait for a team that likes to run, which the Tigers don't do.
I loved Boesch much like everyone else when he came out swinging for the fences a few years ago. And he was connecting, it was great. He has such a nice and easy swing. Then he tanked after the first half of 2011. Injuries and inconsistencies have brought him to the point of fighting for a spot on the roster after being solidified in the order just last year. Time to cut bait and run. Find some desperate team that has a short right field porch where he can flourish.
During their run to the World Series last year, Avisail Garcia came up and looked like a mini Miguel Cabrera. In stature only, he did not impress me at all. If you are going to compare a young player to the best the bigs have to offer, he better show me why. I think he needs a little more time in Toledo before becoming a part of the team year round. If he is the future in Kaline's Corner, he has a year to develop this promising talent everyone else sees.
This leaves Andy Dirks. He is not going to be around as an everyday player once Castellanos is ready to go (which could be this year if the Tigers are willing). I want to see Dirks in left field to start the year. I have been a fan of his since he was in college in Wichita. I almost went with him as 'My Tiger' once Magglio retired, but went with Avila instead. He is a solid all around player. Good defense, makes good contact at the plate, minimal problems running on the bases. And he made this play which I called the play of the year weeks before Bless You Boys. Suck it! Even if he isn't going to be an everyday player in the future, he needs to stick around as the forth outfielder. He has the grit that Jim Leyland likes and he can hit unlike Don Kelly.
So, with two trades, one retirement, and two call ups, within two years the outfield problem will be solved. Castellanos, Jackson, Garcia will be your starters with Dirks riding the pine. You're welcome. Shower me with your praise. And give me Dombrowski's salary. I don't do this shit for free.
05 March 2013
What to do With Kid Rick
Spring Training is here and baseball fan rejoiced. The games themselves aren't that great. The everyday players get in for a few innings, the starting pitchers throw three or four innings, and then there's a ton of no name minor league players just being happy to be there. I've been to a couple of Spring Training games and they are fun to go to. You get close to the game, but you have to know that you aren't going to see all the great players.
With Opening Day inching closer and closer, teams are starting to take shape. Players are starting to get sent to minor league camps or teams and starting rotations are getting in order. Unless you're the Detroit Tigers. There have been rumors since the Winter Meetings about teams inquiring about Rick Porcello. The whole thing seems to have started last year when Drew Smyly came out of nowhere to patch together a fairly decent season in the midst of injuries. Now he and Porcello are fighting for the fifth spot in the rotation. The talking heads seem to think shipping Porcello off for bullpen help is the best option and leave Smyly the fifth starter. I disagree. Why not keep both?
Porcello broke out with the Tigers at the age of twenty in 2009 and he's been kicking around ever since. According to many, apparently, he was touted as a top of the rotation kind of guy coming out of high school. But who hasn't been? Prospects in baseball are the scariest thing for a fan. You'll either end up with a bust or the best thing since sliced bread. With his style of pitching, he relies on the defense behind him to help out. Despite not having a spry defense, he can be a fifth starter that can get the win. Usually I look at the fifth starter as the guy pitching before the ace and can chalk up the game in the loss column. With Porcello, it's about fifty-fifty (48-42 career record). While it is not the greatest endorsement, would you rather have a different fifth starter every other month? Am I right Twins fans?
While Smyly had a nice rookie season last year, I'm not comfortable with him in the rotation. Yet. I think he has potential to be in the rotation, but not until the Tigers are officially done with Porcello. In my opinion, Smyly would be better served in the bullpen for a long inning reliever. And a spot starter if needed. It would be comforting to me if he was in the bullpen and available as a fallback for an injured starting pitcher. Plus, we fans wouldn't have to worry about a pitching prospect coming up from Toledo to get torched only to be sent back down later that day with no self confidence left in him.
If I were the general manager, and who doesn't do this, this is what I would do. Ship Smyly to the bullpen for the year and keep Porcello in the rotation for the year. If everything goes well, look at moving Porcello after the year. Get whatever help is needed (shortstop, reliever) and maybe stock up on some prospects. The Tigers aren't going to get a top prospect for Porcello, but if the team is able to get a few mid-level prospects, what's the harm? Especially if Smyly proves himself able to anchor down the last spot in the rotation. And if he isn't, why not look at moving him instead of Porcello? The team wouldn't get as much interest, but everyone is always looking for a lefty.
Need another reason why the Tigers need to keep Rick Porcello around? He body slammed Kevin Youkilis.
With Opening Day inching closer and closer, teams are starting to take shape. Players are starting to get sent to minor league camps or teams and starting rotations are getting in order. Unless you're the Detroit Tigers. There have been rumors since the Winter Meetings about teams inquiring about Rick Porcello. The whole thing seems to have started last year when Drew Smyly came out of nowhere to patch together a fairly decent season in the midst of injuries. Now he and Porcello are fighting for the fifth spot in the rotation. The talking heads seem to think shipping Porcello off for bullpen help is the best option and leave Smyly the fifth starter. I disagree. Why not keep both?
Porcello broke out with the Tigers at the age of twenty in 2009 and he's been kicking around ever since. According to many, apparently, he was touted as a top of the rotation kind of guy coming out of high school. But who hasn't been? Prospects in baseball are the scariest thing for a fan. You'll either end up with a bust or the best thing since sliced bread. With his style of pitching, he relies on the defense behind him to help out. Despite not having a spry defense, he can be a fifth starter that can get the win. Usually I look at the fifth starter as the guy pitching before the ace and can chalk up the game in the loss column. With Porcello, it's about fifty-fifty (48-42 career record). While it is not the greatest endorsement, would you rather have a different fifth starter every other month? Am I right Twins fans?
While Smyly had a nice rookie season last year, I'm not comfortable with him in the rotation. Yet. I think he has potential to be in the rotation, but not until the Tigers are officially done with Porcello. In my opinion, Smyly would be better served in the bullpen for a long inning reliever. And a spot starter if needed. It would be comforting to me if he was in the bullpen and available as a fallback for an injured starting pitcher. Plus, we fans wouldn't have to worry about a pitching prospect coming up from Toledo to get torched only to be sent back down later that day with no self confidence left in him.
If I were the general manager, and who doesn't do this, this is what I would do. Ship Smyly to the bullpen for the year and keep Porcello in the rotation for the year. If everything goes well, look at moving Porcello after the year. Get whatever help is needed (shortstop, reliever) and maybe stock up on some prospects. The Tigers aren't going to get a top prospect for Porcello, but if the team is able to get a few mid-level prospects, what's the harm? Especially if Smyly proves himself able to anchor down the last spot in the rotation. And if he isn't, why not look at moving him instead of Porcello? The team wouldn't get as much interest, but everyone is always looking for a lefty.
Need another reason why the Tigers need to keep Rick Porcello around? He body slammed Kevin Youkilis.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)