Friday Fungoes

I’m not much for the Olympics nor the PGA, so I guess I’ll have to grit my teeth and watch the Tigers and A’s this weekend. In the meantime…

• The Tigers have tumbled seven spots ESPN’s Power Rankings this week. Detroit is now #20. Quite honestly, I think the Worldwide Leader is being generous.

• In last week’s Fungo Pulse Check we asked Who’s next to go if the Tigers make more moves this month? (Belated apologies for the alliteration.) The responses weren’t surprising:
  • Gary Sheffield – 64%
  • Edgar Renteria – 56%
  • Todd Jones – 44%
  • Nate Robertson – 42%
  • Someone else – 14%
  • Marcus Thames – 6%

  Be sure to cast your vote for this week’s provocative question.

• Sorry I missed this one yesterday: On Aug. 7, 1904, the Tigers acquired Piano Legs Hickman from the Indians for catcher Fritz Buelow and infielder Charlie Carr. According to Baseball-Reference.com, Hickman’s given name was Charles Taylor Hickman, and his other nickname was Cheerful Charlie. Oh, to be alive in the days when players had two nicknames.

• On this date in 1992, Rico Brogna made his major league debut for the Tigers. He doubled off the Blue Jays’ Dave Stieb in the second inning (though the Baseball-Reference.com box score lists the hit as a double to “deep third base.”) With Cecil Fielder ensconced at first base, the Tigers dealt their number-one pick in the 1988 draft to the Mets for catcher Alan Zinter. Brogna went on to have a decent career with the Mets, Phillies and, to a lesser degree, the Red Sox and Braves. And Zinter? He wouldn’t appear in the majors until a decade later with the Astros. Yet another astute trade by the Tigers’ early-’90s management team.

And finally, two other historical notes for you:

• On Aug. 8, 1914, Tris Speaker of the Boston Red Sox recorded an unassisted double-play against the Tigers — his second of the season. He previously accomplished the feat against the Philadelphia Athletics on April 21. This is a record for outfielders.

• On Aug. 8, 1920, the Tigers’ pitcher Howard Ehmke wins the American League’s shortest game ever when he defeats the Yankees 1-0 in one hour, thirteen minutes. Where have you gone Howard Ehmke?

Have a great weekend.