Seven weeks into the 2013 season, there can only be so many important “showdown” or “statement” series for a Major League Baseball team. Yet the Detroit Tigers seem to have found themselves in several series thus far that could be viewed as playoff or World Series previews. Having interleague play earlier in the schedule due to realignment has something to do with that. The Tigers have already faced the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals, both of whom could be potential World Series opponents. Approximately three weeks ago, I suggested that the first meeting of the season between the Tigers and Kansas City Royals was a “showdown,” arguing that Detroit needed to step on the upstart Royals and assert themselves in the AL Central. Last…
Between this post and the last one I wrote here at the Fungo, I hope I’m not giving the impression that I’m against ballpark promotions. Far from it. I want a t-shirt, bobblehead, mini-bat or commemorative cup as much as any baseball fan. I think the Detroit Tigers have been pretty darn creative with their promotions and theme nights over the past few seasons. Disco Night, Star Wars Night, Country Night, etc. Even if you’re not at Comerica Park enjoying the events, you get some fun visuals on TV — especially if Mario Impemba and Rod Allen join in the fun (often with creative Photoshopping by the Fox Sports Detroit production crew.) I especially like the ethnic heritage nights that the Tigers hold because they…
You’ve likely heard about the special jerseys that the Toledo Mud Hens are wearing for Star Wars weekend at Fifth Third Field. (“May the 4th be with you,” by the way.) The Tigers’ Triple-A team will be outfitted in jerseys inspired by Chewbacca. These really look like a bad choice, as you can see from the accompanying photo. Sure, the jerseys are memorable — likely more so than if the Mud Hens went with a C-3PO or R2D2 theme. Han Solo and his vest or Darth Vader and his calculator chestpiece probably wouldn’t work. So maybe Chewie was the right way to go. If only these tops didn’t look so hideous with their brown color and what’s supposed to be fur, but really looks…
Perhaps it would’ve been hasty to call this weekend’s Detroit Tigers-Atlanta Braves series a World Series preview. But having interleague play every day on the schedule presented us with this matchup in late April, pitting two pennant contenders against each other. Regardless of how the series turned out, to react too strongly one way or another wouldn’t have been sensible. Yet a sweep over the Braves, who came to Detroit with the best record in MLB at 15-6, is certainly notable. It’s even more of an eyebrow-raiser considering how dominant the Tigers looked, winning the three games by a combined score of 25-7. Would anyone have predicted that result? Surprises aside, there were definitely some things to take from this three-game sweep. Here are…
So this is really happening? The Detroit Tigers are actually going to do this? Welcome back to Tiger Town, Jose Valverde. Hey, where have you been? Oh, that’s right — the Tigers wanted nothing to do with him after last season, especially when he couldn’t get anyone out in the postseason. You’ve probably repressed this memory, so I apologize for bringing it back. (Actually, the Tigers should probably apologize since they made the decision to bring Valverde back.) Valverde pitched fewer than three innings in the playoffs, finishing with a 30.37 ERA. He allowed nine runs and 11 hits (two of them home runs). He did rack up six strikeouts among the eight he recorded. Unfortunately, when opposing batters weren’t swinging and missing, they…
