Post Season Pursuit

This season has been playing out a lot better for the Detroit Tigers than it did last year.  By this time last year, they were out of the playoff picture.  Hell, they were out of it by the All Star break.  The fans of the team came to the realization that they are going to be rebuilding over the next few years.  Especially after they traded away big names for prospects.  Much to my surprise, the Tigers find themselves in the hunt for the post season.  This is more exciting than the years that they were dominating the AL Central.  Was it nice when they were easily winning their division?  Yes, it was a guarantee they would be playing baseball into the end of September and October.  But the excitement and anxiety of each game just wasn't there.  Plus, the players know that every game counts.  They know that they have to go that extra mile and make that one extra play that could turn a lose into a win.  Now, every game matters as they battle back and forth with several teams for the playoffs. 

As I eluded to, after last season's disastrous end, I did not have many expectations for the Tigers.  I was hoping for a .500 record by seasons end as they worked the new prospects into the system.  They still have hold overs from their domination the past eight or nine seasons, but they also got younger.  With the emergence of some of the prospects throughout the season, the hopes of the fans grew.  This season is a great example of how baseball is a marathon and not a sprint.  In early May, the Tigers went on a horrendous run and lost eleven of thirteen games.  It was a dark time.  Many thought that they were going to dismiss Brad Ausmus as the manager.  If they had a more excitable or unsteady front office they might have.  They have also lost twelve of the thirteen games they have played against the divisional leader, Cleveland.  If you were to combine those two statistics, you would think that this team was dead in the water in June.  However, they are still within reach of the playoffs.  Most people think it will be through the wild card as opposed to the division.  They are five or six games back of Cleveland, which makes their struggles against that team that much more glaring.  Essentially, they have to win all the remaining games against Cleveland to have any shot at catching them.  Imagine if they had won just three more games against them!  They still have seven or eight games against Cleveland, and you know damn well that every broadcaster is going to bring up their struggles.  Let us hope that it doesn't get in the Tigers' head.  The wild card is now a two team play in game.  The Tigers are going back and forth with Baltimore for the second wild card spot, and they have a big series against them this weekend coming up.  That is where they could make their push for the playoffs.  If they sweep Baltimore, or get swept themselves, it could give a more clear playoff picture. 

The Tigers are not an excitable team.  You don't see them jumping out of the dugout after great plays.  They have that 'let's get this win and move on to the next one' approach.  That is a trait of their leadership.  Both the players and the management.  There are plenty of people out there that would like to see more emotion out of the team, but that's not their style.  Many like to point out that Brad Ausmus isn't a very excitable manager, and it's true.  Sure, it was amazing when he covered home plate with his hoodie earlier this year.  I saw that as his moment to show emotion and show the team that he's there for them, to have their backs.  It's like Jim Leyland's explosion all those years ago about the team just wanting to get on the plane after playing terribly against Cleveland (I believe it was).  All you fans know what I'm talking about. 

One thing I love about the Tigers is that they just have their expectations to drive them and their fan base.  They don't rely on a gimmick to drive the excitement.  They don't have a rally monkey or a rally mantis.  They have their solid play.  They have their experience to draw upon.  Even if the Tigers don't make it to the playoffs, it has been more entertaining this year to watch.  Yes, it's more stressful knowing that each lose puts them further back, but it also makes each win that much more important.  And just think, if they're playing this well now, how much better is the future once these rookies and prospects come into their own?

Movie Confessions

I got bored yesterday evening after getting home from work and started tweeting movie confessions.  Something fun to do.  You know, what the internet is for.  Not all that political posting or fighting in comment sections.  I do my best to keep my twitter timeline fun and this helped with that.  Here are a few movie confessions:

#MovieConfession I'd still watch any Star Wars prequel over any of the Dark Knight trilogy

— Michael Litzner (@Litzner) August 20, 2016

#MovieConfession Sam Rockwell will go down as one of the most underrated actors of our generation

— Michael Litzner (@Litzner) August 20, 2016

So I thought that I would add a few more movie confessions just for fun.  It's Sunday.  Who wants to read anything that could be thought provoking or something like that?

• Casablanca is the best 'classic' movie and might be the best of all time.
• I have trouble watching Field of Dreams because of this line: 'Hey Dad?  Wanna have a catch?'
• I legitimately hate Forrest Gump
• Blue Valentine crushed me
• The Cabin in the Woods was the best horror movie I've seen since the Blair Witch Project
• Overall, I don't like to watch scary movies
• Michael Fassbender could be the next Marlon Brando
• Return of the Jedi will forever be my favorite Star Wars movie
• The only good thing about Avatar was that it eventually ended
• I could watch any of the Bourne movies at any time on any day
• Every Doug Liman directed movie I've seen has been enjoyable

Now go watch a movie that makes you happy.

History: Not Just War

I can't remember what sparked it in me, but I have long enjoyed history.  In school, all the years from elementary through high school and beyond.  So much so that I studied it in college.  All kinds of different subjects that fall under the umbrella of history.  From military history to immigration to political history, I took classes that peaked my interest and others that were less than desirable.  For instance, I took one class that covered the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Era.  It was something that sounded interesting, but halfway through the semester I struggled to get the energy to even attend the class.  The major part of the problem was the professor.  Instead of talking with the class, she more talked down to the class.   

Ever since I was in college and I would tell people what I was studying, history, many had the same question.  'Oh history, what's your favorite war?'  In one way or another, the question was posed.  And yes, war is a major part of the history of the world.  There are many different aspects to history and to think that just one of them is the only focus of those who enjoy it is single minded.  So whenever I am asked that question, I normally respond with 'There's more to history than just war.'  After that, the discussion tends to veer towards what I wrote upon and what I studied. 

I wrote my senior paper on the immigration and migration of Bishop Frederic Baraga.  How, when, why he moved from Europe to the northern parts of Michigan.  It was an interesting topic for me, being from the Upper Peninsula, but nothing that was earth shattering.  It was not a monumental topic.  Part of history is learning about the past, no matter how small or insignificant the person or event.  Especially if the subject interests you.  Nuts to anyone who would roll their eyes if you tell them about a subject that they aren't interested in. 

To Have Seen Them Play

The great thing about sports is that we can not only live in the present, but in the past.  Just a few weeks ago, the baseball Hall of Fame inducted Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Piazza.  Two players that were playing when I was younger and I remember watching. However, I didn't truly appreciate their talents.  They're peaks were in the early to mid 1990s when I was just mainly focused on the Detroit Tigers.

The more I thought about it, the more my mind wandered until it came upon a question:  who would I want to see play? Watching baseball now in my mid 30s, I have a fuller appreciation for the sport.  Being someone who loves history, this sport is right up my alley.  And of course my first thought was to see some of the Tigers greats play.  Cobb.  Lolich.  Greenberg.  Kaline.  Storied names for the franchise.  Even the players from the early 80s when I was so young I don't really remember. Players like Kirk Gibson and Chet Lemon.  I thought it would be fun to think of some non-Tigers players.

Sandy Koufax.  It's a bit of a toss up between Koufax and Bob Gibson as far as pitchers I would like to see.  Although, I think for Gibson I would like to watch his entire 1968 season.  He was straight up masterful that year.  If I had to watch just one game, it would be Koufax.  From his style of pitching to his ability to dominate in games, it'd be hard to argue to want to see someone else.

Ted Williams.  By and large, it's safe to say to any baseball fan that this guy was the greatest hitter ever and you would have minimal arguments.  The last man who I think will ever hit .400 in a season, every time he would step to the plate you would expect some sort of base hit.  And what's not to like about that?  I think most people go to the ballpark to see guys hit.  So why not want to see the best there ever was?

We, as fans, like to think that baseball that was played in the 60s and 70s was a much better time because we have all these giants of the game to reflect upon.  I don't know if we ever really stop to think about the giants that will be that we get to see now.  Thirty or forty years from now, we'll be able to say we remember Mike Trout's rookie season or Bryce Harper's MVP season.  I will surely remember Miguel Cabrera's triple crown season as well as Justin Verlander's two no hitters.  I don't think we truly appreciate what, and who, we get to watch on a daily basis.

Ritual

I don't do it as often as I should, but I enjoy shaving.  I have a beard, have had one for a long time, however I do my best to keep it short.  The exception being the fall and into the winter when it's nice to have a little bit more facial insulation.  Shaving usually occurs once a week for me because I just shave my neck.  Sometimes once every week and a half or two weeks.  I'm not always one for keeping to routines if I don't have to. I do my best to keep my beard at or just a little below my jawline.  There have been a few times when I've grown my beard out a little bit or done something different with it.  I've gone with mutton chops a few times.  Which was fun.  It was something different.  But now I just like to keep it full.  

The ritual of shaving with a razor wasn't really handed down.  There wasn't like some great bonding moment.  When the time came to learn how to shave, my dad taught my brother and I using an electric razor.  I used it for most of my high school years.  I hated it. I will never buy an electric razor, I will never use one again. To be honest, I couldn't grow a lot of facial hair until I was almost out of college.  It wasn't until I was eighteen and Gillett sent a Mach 3 that I had a razor.  It even came with a 'you're 18!  Here's a razor!' type card.  To this day, I don't know how or why they had my name and age, but they did.  And shit, I got a free razor out of it so what did I care?  In fact, I still have it, I just buy the replacement heads.  I hacked my face with it until I got the feel for it.  I placed my fair share of toilet paper squares on my face to be sure.  At the time I got that razor creepily in the mail, I couldn't really grow facial hair.  My first attempt my senior year of high school resulted in just a little bit on my chin.  I let it grow out a little bit and kept it.  

As far as I can remember, I have enjoyed shaving.  It feels like a great ritual.  Very manly.  You start out with a lot of scruff and end up with a smooth face.  It's like starting over.  And maybe that's why I normally do it just once a week (normally at the end of the weekend).  To feel like I'm starting anew.  One thing that has added to the ritualistic feel is having a badger bristle brush and a cup.  Like you see in movies that depict the 1950s and 1960s.  I keep telling myself I will buy a safety razor like they use as well, it just hasn't happened yet.  I even have a little stand for it!  

It's funny to look back at my first attempt to grow a full beard when I was in college.  It was my senior year, I was mainly focused on writing my senior paper and lining up an internship for my museum studies minor.  The last thing that was really on my mind was shaving. I also kept my hair a little bit longer back then too.  Once again, no time for grooming.  Plus, what poor college kid has twenty bucks for a hair cut?  That's a lot of money that can go towards beers!  Anyway, my beard was kinda thin.  A little patchy in some places.  A sad attempt really. Bit was what it was though.  

As I've grown older, it's filled out more.  There's some gray hairs in it now as well.  And by some gray hairs, I mean like five or six.  It's very distinguished looking.  People in my life (family, friends, co-workers) have come to know me what a beard.  Everyone would be shocked if I one day decided to shave it all off.  PERISH THE THOUGHT!  For it will never happen.  Short of being offered money to do so.  And it was take a lot of money to convince me to shave my beard off.  So for the time being, I will stick to just shaving my neck and enjoying the little bit of ritual routine I have.