The coming storm...

[riverfrontier]

Here it is, end of May, and time to take on the big kids for 13 games. How will we fare? Will we rule the block, or have our lunch money stolen? I'd say if we took 5 games we're still in good shape in the standings. If we lose 9 or more, we could lose some confidence. But if we happen to win 7 or more, we cruise to the all-star break in first place. Today, we're on against Randy Johnson. Will we get the 'Big Unit' of seasons past, or the 'Big Eunuch' of more recent outings? Let's kick it up a notch, Tigers, make New York and Boston play step n' fetch for awhile.

[racosun]

Will people still be saying that it's too early to tell if they're "for real" if they kick some butt over these next two weeks? Hmmmm.......

[Chisox73]

Anything is possible here.I remember in 2000 when a young White Sox team was comfortably in 1st when they had to play 13 straight games against Boston.New York,and Cleveland.Well,the Sox ended up going 13-1 in that stretch and made believers out of the rest of the AL.

I just hope I can make one of those games in Chicago next week.:gt

That should be a fun series.:cool:

[Whitesoxnut]

Ive been waiting for the Tigers to crash. Unfortunately for us, they just plain aint going to. When a team can put up those kinds of numbers into June then they are for real. This is a dangerous team. Their team ERA is scarey.

[Chisox73]

Doesn't ther pitching staff have something like 8 shutouts already?

[racosun]

I think they have 9 shutouts.

[riverfrontier]

Yes, 8 shutouts. Now we've been shutout twice in a row. Johnson just out-pitched Bonderman today. The Tigers helped him somewhat with lots of two pitch at bats. Anyway, so far in this stretch we're 0-1. Let's see what happens tomorrow.

[riverfrontier]

Here's what I come up with for shutouts:
Tex 7-0
Cle 1-0
Sea 2-0
Min 9-0
Cle 3-0
Min 2-0
Cin 1-0
Kc 8-0

By the way, I agree with racosun. At what point in a season does any given team lose its 'pretender' tag? That's why I want to put on a show during this stretch of games. Make an impression on the whole overblown Yanks-Red Sox media.

[racosun]

Actually, to give us a bit more credit, I'd say we're 2-2 in the "tough" stretch. I have to include the Cleveland series, since more people considered them a better playoff contender than the Tigers. Probably the biggest reason people are starting to discount those games is because of Cleveland's losing record, which is mainly due to them getting roughed up by us. Most people still see Cleveland as the better team, as least over the course of the season.

[riverfrontier]

Ok, so far we're 0-2.

[Mattingly]

Speaking of storms, when does the rain stop down there? Will there be a game tonight?
Actually, to give us a bit more credit, I'd say we're 2-2 in the "tough" stretch. I have to include the Cleveland series, since more people considered them a better playoff contender than the Tigers. Probably the biggest reason people are starting to discount those games is because of Cleveland's losing record, which is mainly due to them getting roughed up by us. Most people still see Cleveland as the better team, as least over the course of the season.
I'd put Cleveland in the 2nd tier contender spot, similar to Oakland, Minnesota, Toronto. It's nice if you can beat them, but I'd consider beating a playoff regular like the Yanks or Boston more important.

[racosun]

Speaking of storms, when does the rain stop down there? Will there be a game tonight?

I'd put Cleveland in the 2nd tier contender spot, similar to Oakland, Minnesota, Toronto. It's nice if you can beat them, but I'd consider beating a playoff regular like the Yanks or Boston more important.

Yeah, it should clear up soon. I'm sure they'll get the game in tonight.

As for the 2nd tier contenders, you can pencil us in there as well. All four of those teams were supposed to be better than our Tigers. As much as I love my team, I'm not dumb enough to stick them into the "bona fide" contender catagory just yet. While we have risen to be the cream of the crop of the 2nd tier contenders, you're right, we need to put in a good showing against the real contenders like the Yanks and both kinds of Sox. It's a shame we lost that game last night, as it should have been in the bag for us. We had a prime opportunity to take the lead in the bottom of the 8th, but blew it. So far, that's what is keeping us from being one of the top dogs.

[riverfrontier]

0-3 now. We could really use a win from Verlander today. Tigers, get the lead out. Bring the noise. Hold the fort. Circle the wagons. Put down the Fritos or whatever you need to do to get it done. We can't get swept at home, or I'll never hear the end of it from my Yankee friends (the ones who drink all the beer at parties, and smell like Aqua Velva and Slim Jims.) Actually, they're more like acquaintances, but at least we can talk baseball. Or shout, as they seem to prefer. LET'S go TI gers.....ad nauseum...

[tigers527]

0-3 now. We could really use a win from Verlander today. Tigers, get the lead out. Bring the noise. Hold the fort. Circle the wagons. Put down the Fritos or whatever you need to do to get it done. We can't get swept at home, or I'll never hear the end of it from my Yankee friends (the ones who drink all the beer at parties, and smell like Aqua Velva and Slim Jims.) Actually, they're more like acquaintances, but at least we can talk baseball. Or shout, as they seem to prefer. LET'S go TI gers.....ad nauseum...

I swear River you are a scream...You not only turn a phrase, you turn the phrase, roll the phrase, knock the phrase on its head with a lead pipe, and steal the phrases pants....leaving the phrase bloodied, and wondering where its pants went.

I also liked the reference to the sights and smells of your NY acquaintances, it is almost like I am there.

[POLO GROUNDS 1957]

Well everyone the detroit tigers are coming back to earth after playing some of the better teams in the league like new york and after boston gets thru with them.Oh Well.:waving

[racosun]

Well everyone the detroit tigers are coming back to earth after playing some of the better teams in the league like new york and after boston gets thru with them.Oh Well.:waving

Ha! I knew you were keeping an eye on them! :gt

[POLO GROUNDS 1957]

Ha! I knew you were keeping an eye on them! :gt
What do you expect from someone who lives in detroit and watchs the tv news every day.and reads the detroit free press everyday.the only time i will watch a game if its played at fenway park or yankee stadium. i have no use for this team now or down the road.

[tigers527]

Well everyone the detroit tigers are coming back to earth after playing some of the better teams in the league like new york and after boston gets thru with them.Oh Well.:waving

You are a flat NUT polo....climb into those Tiger stadium empty upper
decks If you wish. I can't believe anyone would root for a stadium so hard, above team? Perhaps to help you out....root for the cubs?

You do realize, most other cities in the same situation tear down the old to build the new, wait I am mistaken (not detroit, we leave S!@$# standing forever)....it almost always happens. You have convinced me.....TEAR IT DOWN, as they should of done in the first place. The folks that tore down the heidleburg project should of tore down first the Train Station, and then Tiger Stadium.

[POLO GROUNDS 1957]

You are a flat NUT polo....climb into those Tiger stadium empty upper
decks If you wish. I can't believe anyone would root for a stadium so hard, above team? Perhaps to help you out....root for the cubs?

You do realize, most other cities in the same situation tear down the old to build the new, wait I am mistaken (not detroit, we leave S!@$# standing forever)....it almost always happens. You have convinced me.....TEAR IT DOWN, as they should of done in the first place. The folks that tore down the heidleburg project should of tore down first the Train Station, and then Tiger Stadium.I cant stand the team, the stadium, the ownership and the city of detroit.wait and see when october comes around and comerica park is dark like it should be.

[tigers527]

I cant stand the team, the stadium, the ownership and the city of detroit.wait and see when october comes around and comerica park is dark like it should be.

That is an intersting thought....Do (did) you agree with the tearing down of the Heildbug project?

[riverfrontier]

1-3 now. We saved face against the Yankees in an unbelievable, improbable comeback. After being up all night and morning to watch the game, then re-watching it with with some other guys, I'm exhausted. It was the first time this year I got to watch the Tigers on real TV, and it was worth every minute of it. But wow, Monroe looked clueless in his at bats. Inge popped up on the first pitch with the bases loaded during the first rally, just after Wang had walked in a run. I'd love to hear Don Slaught's thoughts (say it really fast 5 times) on these guys.

[racosun]

Monroe and Inge are certainly clueless most every time they come to the plate. Look at their BA's....terrible. Shelton has been benched twice now for swinging at the bad ones, so he's not looking too good either. The difference between Shelton and the other two, however, is that at least Orange Crush gets hot for longer periods of time.

We really should have taken two of the four against the Yankees, if not for Todd Jones and his consistently erratic play. And we really should have won at least three, with how banged up the Yankees are at the moment. However, that being said, we were lucky Mo Rivera wasn't available to pitch the ninth yesterday, or it would have been sweepsville. The emotion of coming back in the bottom of the ninth to beat the Yankees of all teams should carry over into the Bosox series. We need at least two of these next three to save some face with the relentless media (what a change!), and to keep the confidence high heading into the White Sox series. I predict four wins over the next six games.

[riverfrontier]

2-5 now. It very easily could be 4-3 but Todd Jones didn't see it playing out that way. If we can play .500 for the next six games, we'll be no worse for the wear. The (White) Sox have been making our recent slide a little more sugar-coated, and now we're going tete-a-tete, or rat-tat-tat, or however you see fit to phrase this coming series. We take two of three, and everybody goes to the snack bar for sno-cones. Except for Jones. Ordonez gets his, as well as all in-flight snacks until he 'saves' another game. Todd, I want you to make a mental picture and repeat after me: Low and away. Can you picture it? Low and away...

[riverfrontier]

2-6 and slippin'. The way we've been losing these games has been a torturing process to go through. Can't we just blow somebody out already? Post a 10-spot on the board and let the bullpen pitch through their funk without the game on the line.