October 9th, 2009
I feel bad for the Minnesota Twins.
Major League Baseball put the Twins in almost an impossible situation by allowing the New York Yankees to start their playoff series on Wednesday instead of Thursday.
In concept, I like the rule that allows the team with the best record to decide when their playoff series will begin, but there should be an exception for when teams have a one-game playoff to decide the Division champion.
After battling the Detroit Tigers for 12 innings Tuesday, the Twins had to be in New York the next day to begin the playoffs. Some of their best arms in the bullpen were not available for the game and all of the players had to be tired after catching a late-night flight after the Tiger game.
It could have been even worse. What if it had been a playoff for the American League West title and that team had to fly cross country to face the Yankees?
Or consider what it would have been like if the tables had been turned and the Yankees and Boston had a one-game playoff. The New York media would have been howling.
Baseball should have used a little common sense on this one.
Posted in Baseball | No Comments »
August 7th, 2009
The Detroit Pistons signed Ben Wallace to a contract today.
This might not seem like a big deal considering the way his game has slipped in recent years, but it’s a nice move for the Pistons.
They are paying him the veteran’s minimum, so it’s almost like getting a player for free. And maybe his intensity and grittiness will rub off on the younger big men.
If nothing else, it gives him a chance to retire as a Piston. That’s how it should be.
Posted in Basketball, Pistons | No Comments »
July 24th, 2009
Former Tiger pitching coach Rick Adair is doing quite a job in Seattle.
Adair, who served as Detroit’s pitching coach from late 1996 to 1999 under Buddy Bell and Larry Parrish, was hired by the Mariners before this season and has developed one of the best pitching staffs in baseball.
Seattle leads the American League in team ERA at 3.65. The Mariner starters, led by Felix Hernandez, have been outstanding and Adair has transformed a bunch of journeyman relievers (Sean White, Mark Lowe, David Aardsma) into a major strength.
Much like Rick Knapp has done with the Tigers, Adair has helped transform his team from also-ran to contender.
Posted in Baseball, Tigers | 1 Comment »
July 23rd, 2009
The Detroit Tigers seemed to find their offense with three home runs (free Arby’s!) during a 9-7 win over Seattle Tuesday, but the bats slipped back into hibernation Wednesday.
That could have been because Felix Hernandez – one of the best pitchers in baseball – was on the mound for the Mariners, but still it is frustrating to see another great pitching performance wasted. Armando Galarraga was masterful in shutting out Seattle on one hit over seven-plus innings.
But as happened to Justin Verlander and Edwin Jackson last weekend in New York, he could only watch helplessly has his team suffered a 2-1 setback.
The Tigers don’t have a lot of chips to use as trade bait, but they need to do something before the July 31 deadline to show their players and fans that they are serious about making a run at the division title.
Posted in Baseball, Tigers | 1 Comment »
June 12th, 2009
The technology is working!
I am sitting here at the Division 1 state softball semifinals watching Monroe play New Baltimore Anchor Bay. In previous trips here, the wireless connection would not work at the press table. I was pleasantly surprised to get a signal this time.
Monroe’s Amber Rafko was safe on an error in the top of the first, but the Trojans did not score.
Posted in Local sports, Uncategorized, softball | 30 Comments »
May 15th, 2009
It was interesting flipping back and forth during post-game coverage of the Detroit Red Wings’ win over Anaheim in Game 7 of their playoff series Thursday night.
Ken Daniels and Mickey Redmond were positively giddy. There was a brief delay after Daniel Cleary’s game-winning goal and Redmond was indignant, wondering what the officials could possibly looking at and calling the complaints of Anaheim goaltender Jonas Hiller “sour grapes.”
There was a completely different tone on CBC. Ron MacLean and Don Cherry maintained that the goal should have been disallowed because Cleary pushed against the Hiller’s pads, forcing the puck into the net. They said it would have taken a lot of guts by the officials to make the “right call.”
Perhaps they are right technically, but it would be impossible to make that call in that situation. Besides, MacLean and Cherry had the benefit of watching the play in slow motion. I don’t know how any official could have decided in real time whether it was Cleary’s stick or Hiller’s pad that pushed the puck into the net.
On top of that, the Red Wings had already been cheated out of one crucial goal in this series. They deserved this one.
So, it is on to the Western Conference finals for what should be a fun Original Six series against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Posted in Hockey, Red Wings | No Comments »
May 1st, 2009
I watched quite a bit of the Celtics-Bulls playoff game last night.
It was a great game, going three overtimes before Chicago finally pulled out the victory. But I had a hard time concentrating on the game. I kept thinking that comedian Will Farrell was on the floor for the Celtics, but it was actually Brian Scalabrine.
Posted in Basketball | No Comments »
April 30th, 2009
Now, the real fun starts for the Detroit Red Wings. They start a second-round series with the Anaheim Ducks Friday night.
The first round against Columbus was too easy. It was hard to tell if the Blue Jackets were just overwhelmed by their first playoff experience or if the Wings were just that good.
It probably is a combination of the two. Anaheim will be a much stiffer test.
And while the Wings are playing the Ducks, it might be a good idea to keep an eye on the Vancouver-Chicago series. Wing fans should be rooting for Chicago.
There are a couple of good reasons for this:
1. It would be fun to see an Original Six matchup and rekindle the rivalry with the Blackhawks.
2. Avoiding Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo would be a good thing. He is the kind of netminder who can steal a series.
3. A Chicago victory would mean that the Red Wings can avoid back-to-back series against a Western Time Zone team. Those can be draining.
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
