I've tried to stay positive but over last few weeks I've watched er been traumatized by the Tigers latest collapse.  I had some time off and was able to watch the west coast debacles.

Just when the pitching settles down the hitters get even worse.

It has to be one the worst disappointments in recent Detroit sports history. Phil Callihan
Editor-in-Chief
UMGoBlue.COM

Well if today's comeback doesn't spark them, nothing will and the season is over.

Doesn't help that Bonderman is done for the year, too. Although I guess that solves the problem of having six starting pitchers.
http://genuinelysarcastic.blogspot.com/
Michigan Recruiting Map 2009

Yep, this team has been one of the biggest flops in Detroit sports history.  Really unbelievable when you consider what they have to work with.  I hate to say it, but I don't think there's any kind of big turnaround on this one.  Very little pitching, NO hitting, weak team defense, no speed to be able to scrape together a single run when you need it, and now throw in some injuries just for fun.  They haven't come close to putting together a string of consistent games-they win 3 in a row and you think it's turning around and then they go out and lose 5 in a row.  The Tigers are the Titanic just looking for an iceberg. "I have marked down losses for Wisconsin, Michigan State, Penn State, and Ohio State. And then there could be others such as Illinois".-BigHouseFootball March 08

ORIGINAL: TK23Blue

The Tigers are the Titanic just looking for an iceberg.

 
Looking at the thread title, I would think Philc and TK23Blue are on the same page about this season.
 
Philc, you mentioned recently how the NHL lost you as a fan during the lockout season and have been re-vitalized by the Red Wing Cup run.  How long did it take you to get over the MLB's canceling the World Series in 1994?  I know many don't consider hockey a major sport anymore, but a regional sport.  But, if it hadn't been for the 'roid era, wouldn't baseball still be suffering from fan indifference still as well? 
 
Baseball also benefits from its performance in major markets.  If the Islanders, Rangers, Bruins, or Kings were a major story in hockey, the sports media would jump on the NHL bandwagon as the coolest sport on Earth.
 
Also, in potpourri, who is the best (or worst) commissioner or "CEO" of their sport?
 
1.  Roger Goodell--driving the "Cadillac" that Tagliabue and Rozelle built, can he win in trying to discipline or passify NFL players? 
2.  Gary Bettman--has he managed to change the NHL's exposure, financials, and play enough to save it?
3.  David Stern--how has the referee betting scandal spoiled the sport or will Lakers vs. Celtics really work to bring people back to basketball.  
4.  Bud Selig--I will leave the description up to someone else.  Baseball seems to be more decentralized than the other sports.
 

My Indians are just as bad, and then there are teams like the Tampa Rays tearing it up?!? What the...
 
Is it football season yet?  Phil, anyway you can get that countdown to the season rolling any quicker?

Philc, you mentioned recently how the NHL lost you as a fan during the lockout season and have been re-vitalized by the Red Wing Cup run.  How long did it take you to get over the MLB's canceling the World Series in 1994?  I know many don't consider hockey a major sport anymore, but a regional sport.  But, if it hadn't been for the 'roid era, wouldn't baseball still be suffering from fan indifference still as well? 

 
I grew up a huge Michigan Wolverine, Detroit Tiger, and Red Wings fan.
 
Prior to attending UM the sport I attended most was Red Wing Hockey, even having play-off tickets for a few seasons.  I religiously watched and listened to the Tigers.  When I went to UM I drifted away from the Red Wings and Tigers a bit due mainly due to time contraints.  When I came home from college for summer I was coaching baseball, umpiring, and playing softball several days a week.  I was also completely fed up with Tom Monaghan as Tigers owner and truth be told Bo's tenure as club president didn't help matters either.  The cancellation of the World Series was only sauce for the goose.
 
I graduated from UM in 93, I was young making a good living in Ann Arbor, life was good- sports weren't exactly the first thing on my mind there for a while
 
I really didn't get back into baseball until the last season of Tiger Stadium (1999).  I got season tix for the Tigers when they got into the new stadium and living in Ann Arbor it was a great way to stay in touch with family and friends still living in the Detroit area.
 
As a frustrated player, umpire and recreational softball player, I am amazed at the skill of the worst MLB players who can hit a 95+ mph fastball.  It's an amazing skill and I believe thing to do in all of sports.  As for people giving me grief about supporting a team that struggled mightily for a while, I always had faith that Illitch would eventually rebuild the Tigers unlike the Fords who have no track record of building anything with the Lions.
 
I'm sure that the steroid era helped spur fan interest but it had no effect on getting me back in the sport.
 
Many of the things I hated at first being a traditionalist (expanded play-offs, inter league play) I've come to really enjoy as a season ticket holder. 
Phil Callihan
Editor-in-Chief
UMGoBlue.COM

Tigers aren't in last place at least. My White Sox are doing great, sure hope they hold together.
Let's Go Blue!!

ORIGINAL: TooBlueForYou

ORIGINAL: TK23Blue

The Tigers are the Titanic just looking for an iceberg.

Looking at the thread title, I would think Philc and TK23Blue are on the same page about this season.

Philc, you mentioned recently how the NHL lost you as a fan during the lockout season and have been re-vitalized by the Red Wing Cup run.  How long did it take you to get over the MLB's canceling the World Series in 1994?  I know many don't consider hockey a major sport anymore, but a regional sport.  But, if it hadn't been for the 'roid era, wouldn't baseball still be suffering from fan indifference still as well? 

Baseball also benefits from its performance in major markets.  If the Islanders, Rangers, Bruins, or Kings were a major story in hockey, the sports media would jump on the NHL bandwagon as the coolest sport on Earth.

Also, in potpourri, who is the best (or worst) commissioner or "CEO" of their sport?

1.  Roger Goodell--driving the "Cadillac" that Tagliabue and Rozelle built, can he win in trying to discipline or passify NFL players? 
2.  Gary Bettman--has he managed to change the NHL's exposure, financials, and play enough to save it?
3.  David Stern--how has the referee betting scandal spoiled the sport or will Lakers vs. Celtics really work to bring people back to basketball.  
4.  Bud Selig--I will leave the description up to someone else.  Baseball seems to be more decentralized than the other sports.

Bettman is dead last. Stern and the used car salesman (Selig) deserve a LOT of criticism for all sorts of cheating in their sports (Selig moreso on that matter...although I don't believe Donaghy was alone in the gambling in the NBA), but Bettman was a huge factor in the NHL losing an entire season, and if he truly had his way he would relocate all the Canadian teams.

Bettman would love to point to the terrible ratings of the Final when Edmonton, Calgary and Ottawa were there, while ignoring the fact that bigger factors existed like selling your product to a useless network like Versus, and having to go through the Dead Puck Era led by that god forsaken trap by the New Jersey Devils.

But overall, I don't care whose fault it primarily is, Bettman is last because the NHL lost an entire season. Baseball lost the World Series in 1994, and had to resort to massive amounts of cheating to win fans back, but Selig has done a LOT of good for baseball too. Stern comes off to me as a snake and a hypocrite, but the NBA is slowly but surely emerging from the doldrums of the post-Jordan era.

The NHL on the other hand, lost a season and will probably never redeem itself in the eyes of the public. The ratings for this year's Final were improved, but if Anaheim plays Montreal next year, it's back to square one.
http://genuinelysarcastic.blogspot.com/
Michigan Recruiting Map 2009

ORIGINAL: TK23Blue

Yep, this team has been one of the biggest flops in Detroit sports history.  Really unbelievable when you consider what they have to work with.  I hate to say it, but I don't think there's any kind of big turnaround on this one.  Very little pitching, NO hitting, weak team defense, no speed to be able to scrape together a single run when you need it, and now throw in some injuries just for fun.  They haven't come close to putting together a string of consistent games-they win 3 in a row and you think it's turning around and then they go out and lose 5 in a row.  The Tigers are the Titanic just looking for an iceberg.

 
Besides the above this team is not fundamentally sound.  Baserunning, moving the runner over, throwing strikes on a 0-2 count, swinging on the first pitch after batters have walked, pitchers not covering first base, etc. etc. etc.  You watch them and wonder who taught them the game.  Although I have no clue on this I think the chemistry is off also.

I was a huge baseball fan for many years but I don't watch a single game on TV ever anymore (unless it's the Tigers, which is rare in So. Cal.)  First, I just don't have 5 hours to spend on it.  The game is beyond slow with pitchers stepping off the mound, batters leaving the box for 30 seconds at a time, and on and on.  Second, the strikes, steroids, ridiculous contracts, and ego maniacle idiots that make up most of these teams are too much to watch.  Third, the season lasts 3 years and becomes the biggest "who cares?" in sports.  Here's the test for baseball fans: watch a Stanley Cup playoff game and then the minute it ends switch to a baseball game.  If you can stay awake for more than 2 innings you are a true baseball fan.  Of course, I can't be objective whatsoever because for me, hockey is the greatest sport on earth.  I learned to skate before I could ride a bike and played organized hockey for 20 years so for me, there's nothing better.  Hockey and college football run 1A and 1B with me.  For pure excitement, the other sports just don't stack up.
 
Gary Bettman is the worst in ANY sport by a country mile, with Bud Selig a distant 2nd.  The NHL expansion has been ridiculous, the season is way too long, the constant rule changes are moronic, the division alignments are beyond stupid, and the list goes on forever.  This idiot has almost ruined the sport all by himself.  Quite an accomplishment.  It must be a drag to know you'll be booed off the ice every year when presenting the Stanley Cup.
"I have marked down losses for Wisconsin, Michigan State, Penn State, and Ohio State. And then there could be others such as Illinois".-BigHouseFootball March 08

I guess I'm a true baseball fan!  University of Michigan - Class of 2009
It's Great to be a Michigan Wolverine

You know you're having a tough season when you win 6 in a row and are still 5 below .500 Phil Callihan
Editor-in-Chief
UMGoBlue.COM

Amen!

I still hope.  Thats why I love sports.

I still hope, too.  I'm still going to the games Phil Callihan
Editor-in-Chief
UMGoBlue.COM

Marcus Thames has been tearing it up during this streak.His last 7 hits have been homeruns.

And another reason that I do not like Rodney!

Tigers still have a ways to go but they are certainly coming around.  3 games away from .500!  5 games back from the W.Sox.  Sheffield is back and went 4-5 tonight with the walk off single.  Go Tigs!

not a huge baseball fan, but that DOES look like alot of fun.

edit: wait wrong thread lol  

ORIGINAL: TK23Blue

I was a huge baseball fan for many years but I don't watch a single game on TV ever anymore (unless it's the Tigers, which is rare in So. Cal.)  First, I just don't have 5 hours to spend on it.  The game is beyond slow with pitchers stepping off the mound, batters leaving the box for 30 seconds at a time, and on and on.  Second, the strikes, steroids, ridiculous contracts, and ego maniacle idiots that make up most of these teams are too much to watch.  Third, the season lasts 3 years and becomes the biggest "who cares?" in sports.  Here's the test for baseball fans: watch a Stanley Cup playoff game and then the minute it ends switch to a baseball game.  If you can stay awake for more than 2 innings you are a true baseball fan.  Of course, I can't be objective whatsoever because for me, hockey is the greatest sport on earth.  I learned to skate before I could ride a bike and played organized hockey for 20 years so for me, there's nothing better.  Hockey and college football run 1A and 1B with me.  For pure excitement, the other sports just don't stack up.

Gary Bettman is the worst in ANY sport by a country mile, with Bud Selig a distant 2nd.  The NHL expansion has been ridiculous, the season is way too long, the constant rule changes are moronic, the division alignments are beyond stupid, and the list goes on forever.  This idiot has almost ruined the sport all by himself.  Quite an accomplishment.  It must be a drag to know you'll be booed off the ice every year when presenting the Stanley Cup.

You complete me.


As far as the Tigers, they are playing better it appears, and fans hopes should be buoyed by the fact that no team has run away with the Central. How many years in a row did the A's stink up much of the first half only to come on like gang-busters with a late charge to make the playoffs? The Tigers have a very good chance at winning the Central or securing the Wild Card. I can't see the Rays continuing to play nearly .600 baseball.

"I'm your basic bad-postured, guilt-ridden ball of confusion with a trace of paranoia, self-loathing, and a little faith thrown in for some good taste."
-Richard Lewis