As you’ve no doubt noticed, particularly since the Tigers’ season ended in Arlington, the offerings at The Daily Fungo have been sparse – and that’s been by design. Since I launched this blog in March 2006, I’ve never wanted to post something for the sake of keeping up a schedule. In fact, I think the “daily” component of this blog’s name was fraudulent on day two. But over the course of six seasons you still visited the site, left insightful comments and motivated me to keep cranking out the material. Thank you for that.

My goal was to never waste your time – though I’m sure I missed the mark on dozens of occasions; thanks for bearing with me – and to offer a perspective on the Tigers that you might not find elsewhere. I hope I did once in a while.

Thanks, too, to The Daily Fungo contributors: Ian Casselberry, Jim Craddock, Wade Fink, Len Gutman, Doug Hill, John Milton and Nick Shlain. I’m glad you were part of the team.

Finally, I send thanks to Craig Monroe for providing the inspiration for so much of the content in the early days.

Be good, everyone. It’s been a blast.

P.S. I’ll still be writing about the Tigers on Twitter. Follow me @DailyFungo.

After a month of self-imposed baseball exile, I’ve returned to the keyboard while watching the Red Wings game and chowing on green-bean casserole leftovers.

Verlander’s Hardware Store. The Cy Young Award was no surprise, of course, but the Tigers’ ace winning the A.L. Most Valuable Player Award took me by surprise. I always assume there are enough writers in the BBWAA that loath the idea of a pitcher – and a starting pitcher at that – winning the MVP. Lo and behold, the stars aligned and Verlander won both.

Driving to work the other day I listened to Jeff Joyce and Jim Duquette on XM railing about Verlander winning the award (Duquette said that Verlander should’ve been in the top five, but not the winner.) Of course, they both raved about Verlander’s season but decided that it was not a “historically significant” season when compared to other pitchers who won both their league’s Cy Young Award and MVP. To their credit, they called out writer Jim Ingraham’s leaving Verlander off his ballot and his rationale being that J.V. didn’t appear in 79 percent of the Tigers’ games. Whatever. I didn’t expect him to win the MVP, but he did – and he deserved it, just as much as Miguel Cabrera would’ve had he gotten any support. And really, who cares about these awards a week later?

G-Moneyback. In a matter of two seasons, Gerald Laird and Alex Avila have traded places as the Tigers’ starting and backup catchers. While I would’ve preferred they’d gone after Kelly Shoppach, I can live with Laird in a backup role for one season. And with Laird on board, we no longer have to wonder if we’ll see Victor Martinez behind the plate for the remainder of his contract.

Andy Oliver got screwed by the NCAA. Last month a 15,000-word article titled “The Shame of College Sports” appeared in The Atlantic and thanks to a long flight, I was able to read it all. I didn’t expect to come across a Tigers connection but there it was, under the subhead “Restitution”:

In 2008, Andrew Oliver, a sophomore pitcher for the Oklahoma State Cowboys, had been listed as the 12th-best professional prospect among sophomore players nationally. He decided to dismiss the two attorneys who had represented him out of high school, Robert and Tim Baratta, and retain Boras instead. Infuriated, the Barattas sent a spiteful letter to the NCAA. Oliver didn’t learn about this until the night before he was scheduled to pitch in the regional final for a place in the College World Series, when an NCAA investigator showed up to question him in the presence of lawyers for Oklahoma State.

(snip)

Just hours before the game was to start the next day, Oklahoma State officials summoned Oliver to tell him he would not be pitching. Only later did he learn that the university feared that by letting him play while the NCAA adjudicated his case, the university would open not only the baseball team but all other Oklahoma State teams to broad punishment under the NCAA’s “restitution rule” (Bylaw 19.7), under which the NCAA threatens schools with sanctions if they obey any temporary court order benefiting a college athlete, should that order eventually be modified or removed. The baseball coach did not even let his ace tell his teammates the sad news in person. “He said, ‘It’s probably not a good idea for you to be at the game,’” Oliver recalls.

If you get a chance, I recommend reading the entire article. Particularly if you think college athletes should not get paid. This piece might just change your mind.

Martin Prado. If the price is Delmon Young, go get him.

The Last Boy. I’m reading Jane Leavy’s biography of Mickey Mantle and about every three pages I’m tempted to put the book aside for good. Not that it’s poorly crafted, quite the opposite. In that regard it’s exceptional. But Mantle’s was one messed up biscuit of a personal life – thanks in large part to his horrifically bad decision making and his friendship with Billy Martin. Leavy portrays a guy who kinda knows he needs to grow up but when he’s maybe tempted to do so Martin drops by to drag him out to the clubs where fights ensue and the usual stuff you’ve probably learned about Mantle years ago. If you ever thought Martin was a low-life, read this book and your suspicions will be confirmed – and then some.

Finally, this Thanksgiving weekend take a moment to learn about the appropriately named hall of famer Norman “Turkey” Stearnes.

A quiet Southerner who spent his summers blasting long balls for the Detroit Stars and his winters laboring in the Motor City’s auto plants to make ends meet, Turkey Stearnes was one of the most prolific home-run hitters in the Negro leagues.

P.S. Happy 64th Birthday to John Larroquette.

Come to think of it, I’m fairly certain I haven’t completely bounced back.

After watching the Rangers bludgeon the Tigers in a terrifically played series, I just don’t have it in me to watch Nelson Cruz or Mike Napoli again, let alone that Rangers bullpen, until 2012.

That doesn’t, of course, mean I’m not pulling for the Rangers in the World Series. I’d root for any team – even the White Sox – against a Tony LaRussa team.

But since Brandon Inge meekly popped out to end Game 5, I have not watched a single pitch of any game. Chances are, I won’t.

Unless there’s a Game 7 and then, well, what’s a guy to do?

Jim Leyland this afternoon explained why we’ll see Max Scherzer and not Justin Verlander should the Tigers need a long-man:

“I don’t think it’s a wise decision. Like I said, those innings he pitched the other night, all the innings he’s piled up this year, all the strikeouts, all the adrenaline, and the fact that he’s throwing 100 miles an hour in the eighth inning [on Monday night], if he comes in this game tonight, there’s no telling what he would be throwing with the way this crowd is going to be and everything. I just don’t think it makes sense.”

Tonight’s game marks the seventh time in the Tigers post-season history they’ve had a series go the maximum number of games. Detroit has compiled a 2-4 record in the previous six series.

• Wins: Game 7 of the 1945 and 1968 World Series
• Losses: Game 7 of the 1909, 1934 and 1940 World Series; Game 5 of the 1972 ALCS

Jerry Crasnick focuses on Doug Fister and Delmon Young in this ESPN.com story. Here’s one scout’s view on Fister:

“The gun doesn’t tell the story on him,” the scout said. “He’s a movement guy with good location, and velocity doesn’t matter that much. He’s so tall [6-foot-8] and he’s straight over the top, so he gets great ‘down’ plane. When he’s down in the zone, it’s like hitting a bowling ball.”

By the by, Fister surrendered five home runs over his final 19 outings of the season dating back to June 14, a stretch of 129 innings pitched. He allowed 0.46 home runs per nine innings this season, lowest in the American League.

On this date in 1945, a goat and its owner make an appearance at Wrigley Field for Game 4 of the World Series between the Tigers and Cubs. The pair is told to leave before the game ends, angering the owner (and presumably the goat). The Cubs lost to the Tigers, 4-1. The Tigers go on to win the Series in seven and the Cubs won’t win another National League championship for the rest of the 20th century. And thus was born the Curse of the Billy Goat.

Young’s two home runs during this ALDS matches a Tigers record. Both Curtis Granderson and Craig Monroe hit two home runs for Detroit during the ALDS in 2006.

That’s all I’ve got. Except for this: Tigers 5 Yankees 2.

Enjoy the game.

Predictions are such a cliche, aren’t they? But, hey, the Tigers are in the postseason and in the spirit of supporting the home team, here’s a rundown of predictions for the Tigers/Yankees series from across the baseball galaxy:

Local Writers

• Tom Gage: Tigers in five
• Lynn Henning: Tigers in five
• Tony Paul: Tigers in five
• Bob Wojnowski: Tigers in five
• John Niyo: Yankees in five
• Mitch Albom: Tigers in five
• John Lowe: Tigers in five
• Michael Rosenberg: Tigers in five
• Drew Sharp: Tigers in four

New York Writers

Newsday

• Erik Boland (Yankees beat reporter): Tigers in four
• Mark Herrmann: Yankees in four
• Jim Baumbach: Tigers in four
  Anthony Rieber: Tigers in five

• David Lennon: Tigers in five
• Kimberley A. Martin: Yankees in five
• Ken Davidoff: Yankees in four

ESPN

• Jim Bowden: Yankees in five
• Jim Caple: Tigers in five
• Jerry Crasnick: Yankees in four
• Jayson Stark: Tigers in five
• Eric Karabell: Tigers in five
• Curt Schilling: Tigers
• John Kruk: Yankees
• Keith Law: Yankees
• Howard Bryant: Yankees in four
• Dave Schoenfield: Yankees in five
• Christina Kahrl: Tigers in five

Fox Sports

• Ken Rosenthal: Tigers in five

• Jon Paul Morosi: Tigers

The CBSSports.com Crew

• Consensus: Tigers in five

Yahoo! Sports

• Jeff Passan: Yankees in four
• Kevin Kaduk: Yankees in four
• Steve Henson: Tigers in five
• Dave Brown: Tigers in five

And one final prediction: on the ride to work on Thursday I heard Larry King call into Power Alley with Jim Duquette and Kevin Kennedy on SiriusXM. Ol’ Larry picks the Tigers, for what it’s worth.

Different story today.

With word out of Anaheim that Mike Scioscia has pulled Jered Weaver and Ervin Santana from their starts against the Rangers tonight, I’m furious at the Angels manager, someone I’ve always respected and whose teams I enjoy watching. Yes, his team’s been eliminated but by pitching rookies Tyler Chatwood tonight and Garrett Richards tomorrow Scioscia’s looking ahead to next year — while the Tigers and Rangers have their eyes on Friday.

We’re led to believe that the Angels pulled Weaver and Santana because they both have blown past their career highs for innings pitched. Maybe. But something’s fishy.

Of course, I’ll still pull for the Angels tonight and tomorrow, and as I’m watching I’ll daydream about what Jim Leyland might say to Scioscia the next time Bud Selig’s little “competition committee” gets together.

Then came Saturday morning. That’s when the letdown set in and I’ll be damned if I can’t shake it.

This is new terrain for me.

In 1984, the Tigers clinched the American League East with 11 games remaining on the schedule. The same is true this year. Twenty-seven years ago, at least as I remember it, those final games seemed to zip by as the Tigers prepared for the ALCS against the Royals. (Sparky’s club went 7-4 after securing the division title.)

This year, though, these final games are nothing short of excruciating – like a baseball version of “The English Patient“. (Add a Tuesday-night disaster from Brad Penny and it only gets worse.)

Maybe the remaining games will gain some zip when the Tigers return home on Thursday for the final two series of the season and get a raucous welcome home from the Detroit faithful.

Let’s get to the playoffs already.

Am I alone on this?

I was pleasantly surprised that MLB Extra Innings allowed extra airtime for the revelry. Usually they clip the broadcast right after the final out. Here are some things that came to mind as I watched:

The Unexpected Crew. Brandon Inge fielding the final out was, as noted elsewhere, fitting as the longest-tenured Tigers player. Two months ago it would’ve surprised no one if we never saw Inge again given his miserable first half, but there he was. … Then there was Ryan Raburn, another frustrating player (understatement?) that emerged from his first-half slumber to get some big hits – none bigger than this one two weeks ago. … Don Kelly‘s homer on Friday only solidified his position as an essential piece of this team. I have to admit that I cringe whenever I see him in the starting lineup but he rarely disappoints … Delmon Young has effortlessly worked his way into this team’s lineup and it seems less and less odd to see him in a Tigers uniform … Magglio Ordonez seemed about as done as a player can be, but has hit enough to be a scary option off the bench and especially in the playoffs. What other team can boast someone of Maggs’ caliber in a pinch-hitting role?

Dour Dave Lightens Up. It’s not often that you see Dave Dombrowski smile, at least not like this. Friday night was something to behold, watching the usually buttoned-down CEO getting doused with champagne and wearing that God-awful hat. It really is too bad that Mike Ilitch couldn’t attend, and what sad circumstances too.

The Brookens Factor. The last two times before Friday night that the Tigers have won a division title, Tom Brookens was in uniform. I wonder what it felt like for him as a coach to be a part of Tigers division crown. Too bad it couldn’t have happened with Tram, Gibby and Lance on staff.

With the Central title in hand, let’s see how far above 90 wins the Tigers can get while we wait for the ALDS matchup.

As the Tigers close in on their first October appearance in five years, the SABR Detroit Chapter has put together a program that covers all the bases. Featured speakers include an expert on race and gender issues in baseball along with two individuals who were part of the Detroit organization when the Tigers last won the World Series.

If you have not attended a meeting in while, give this one a try even if you can only stop in for a part of the afternoon. Remember, too, that you are welcome to bring friends and family—whether SABR members or not.

If that isn’t enough baseball to sate you, the Sunday afternoon docket comes with added attractions:

• An opportunity to have lunch and talk baseball before the meeting begins;
• The inevitable and always popular trivia contest, with prizes for the winners; and,
• A chance to watch the Tigers while chowing down on pizza at Lefty’s Lounge across the street.

Sept. 18 Program Speakers

• Lisa Alexander will speak about “Race on First, Class on Second, Gender on Third, and Sexuality Up to Bat: Intersectionality and Power in Major League Baseball, 1995–2005.” Alexander is a professor of Africana studies at Wayne State and is currently editing her dissertation for publication. She is also versed on race issues around steroids, the diminishing number of black baseball players, and former Negro Leagues owner and Hall of Famer Effa Manley. Watch a video preview of Dr. Alexander’s discussion.

• Irwin J. Cohen was the founder, editor and publisher of a monthly baseball publication in the 1970s and his roster of 20 writers included Peter Gammons, Tracy Ringolsby and Ernie Harwell. Cohen worked as a department head in the Tigers’ front office in the Monaghan era and earned a 1984 World Series ring. Cohen has authored nine books, including Tiger Stadium, Crosley Field and Comiskey Park for Arcadia Publishing. His latest book Tiger Stadium/Comerica Park is, of course, a history of the two familiar ballparks as well as an inside look at working in the Detroit front office.

• Howard Stitzel engineered the Tigers’ radio broadcasts for more than 50 years, working with Harry Heilmann, Mel Ott, Ernie Harwell and Paul Carey, among other broadcasters. Stitzel also spent plenty of time on planes talking about the radio business with former Tigers owner Tom Monaghan.

Logistics

Location: Community Room/Special Collections Room on the third floor of the David Adamany Undergraduate Library on the Wayne State campus in Midtown Detroit.

Parking: Street parking should be ample on Sunday. If you are planning on going to Lefty’s afterward, you should park on Cass Avenue or Kirby Street if possible.

Time: 1-4 p.m. Note that the Lions are playing at Ford Field at 1 o’clock, so you might want to allow for the extra traffic on your way in.

Tigers Game and Pizza

Afterward, we will walk over to Lefty’s Lounge to watch the Tigers play the Athletics in Oakland. First pitch is at 4:10. While enjoying pizza & beer at Lefty’s friendly sports bar, we should get a chance to talk to one of the southpaw owners, Ron Way and David Marcon — both of whom pitched in the minor leagues.

Please RSVP to Gary Gillette if you expect to attend. Or leave a voice message at (313) 331-3423. If you want to come early for the box lunch from Union Street, we will send an order form to you upon receiving your RSVP.

Up to that point, I was thinking (and maybe you were too), that you could see a loss coming in the finale against the Indians.

As the script often goes in these situations, it was a getaway game, the Indians were ready to make their last statement of the season and Justin Verlander was due for a bad outing.

Nope.

This team is rolling.

• Frankly, I’m tired of all the reminders of 2009 – and the Indians radio announcers beat that drum incessantly during the series.

• Starting play on Friday against the Twins, the Tigers have played 143 games. Here’s a look at how the club’s 81-62 record and 8-1/2-game lead compares to seasons in which it contended:
  • 1984: 92-51, 10 1/2 games up
  • 1987: 86-57, Tied for first with Toronto
  • 2006: 86-57, 3 games up
  • 2009: 77-67, 5 1/2 games up

• From Elias Sports Bureau: Victor Martinez hit a grand slam in the seventh inning to give Detroit a 7-4 lead at Cleveland and help Justin Verlander notch his 22nd win of the season. The Tigers entered the seventh inning trailing by two runs, matching the largest deficit they’ve had in any of Verlander’s wins this season. Detroit has trailed in only five of Verlander’s wins this year, but Wednesday’s game was the first one of them in which they trailed in the seventh inning or later.

• On this date in 1977, in the second game of a doubleheader loss in Boston, Lou Whitaker and Alan Trammell debuted together and would do so for a record 19 years. The Red Sox won both games, 5-1 and 8-6.

• Four years ago, Curtis Granderson stole his 20th base and became the third player in history to have 20 doubles, triples, homers and steals in the same season; the others were Wildfire Schulte (1911) and Willie Mays (1957).
  ]]> http://www.dailyfungo.com/2011/09/08/rolling/feed/ 2 http://www.dailyfungo.com/2011/09/05/labor-day-leftovers-sweetspot-style/ http://www.dailyfungo.com/2011/09/05/labor-day-leftovers-sweetspot-style/#comments Tue, 06 Sep 2011 01:33:37 +0000 Mike McClary http://www.dailyfungo.com/?p=6653 In case you missed it, ESPN.com’s SweetSpot blog has featured a nice collection of Tigers-focused posts over the past few days:
  • Dave Schoenfield lists his unsung heroes, among them is Jhonny Peralta:
    

    I’ve sung Peralta’s praises on several occasions, but everyone just keeps talking about this Verlander guy. All Peralta has done is hit over .300 with power and played surprisingly well on defense. He’s been the best shortstop in the AL.

  • In case you missed it on Thursday, ESPN ran “What’s important in September” list for each American League team. Here was my contribution about the Tigers:
    

    The pressing issue for the Tigers in September is finding a consistent rotation behind Justin Verlander. At times, Detroit’s starting five — or at least four of five (sorry, Brad Penny) — has looked sturdy enough to be a scary proposition for a Division Series opponent. At others, Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello have looked dreadful and scare only Tigers fans. If trade-deadline prize Doug Fister can continue the trend of his past three starts (21.2 IP, 2 ER, 15 hits, 1 walk and 18 strikeouts), the Tigers will feel considerably better about October.

  • Joe Janish from the Mets Today blog examined the Tigers/Diamondbacks/Yankees trade from 2009 and sees all three teams as winners:
    

    Though none of the players the Tigers received are having an MVP-caliber year, it’s fair to say the deal worked out well for them as well. After all, they are currently leading the AL Central by 6.5 games, with roughly one-sixth of the team’s 25-man roster filled by players obtained in that deal — including their starting center fielder and their No. 2 starting pitcher.

  • Ben Jedlovec writes Austin Jackson was the best on defense in August.
    

    Austin Jackson led baseball with 11 Defensive Runs Saved in the month of August, and his 17 Defensive Runs Saved this season is tied for third among all center fielders. Robinson Cano tied for the infield lead with 7 Runs Saved on the month.

  That is all.

  ]]> http://www.dailyfungo.com/2011/09/05/labor-day-leftovers-sweetspot-style/feed/ 0 http://www.dailyfungo.com/2011/09/05/lost-in-last-nights-drubbing-scherzers-dazzled/ http://www.dailyfungo.com/2011/09/05/lost-in-last-nights-drubbing-scherzers-dazzled/#comments Mon, 05 Sep 2011 18:56:06 +0000 Mike McClary http://www.dailyfungo.com/?p=6646 Buster Olney wrote a nice piece this morning on Miguel Cabrera and his ascendence from skinny kid in Venezuela to perennial MVP candidate.

  He also highlighted Max Scherzer’s terrific performance last night:

  Max Scherzer threw seven shutout innings, the 18th time in his 29 starts he’s allowed two earned runs or less. Also from ESPN Stats and Info, how he won:

  A) Scherzer’s fastball averaged 94.5 MPH Sunday, his highest average velocity on his fastball since June 20, 2010.

  B) Perhaps because of the Tigers’ large lead, Scherzer’s threw a first-pitch strike to 20 of 26 hitters (76.9 percent), his third-highest percentage of the season. With an 8-0 lead after the fourth inning, Scherzer threw first-pitch strikes to 11 of the 13 hitters he faced in the fifth inning and later.

  C) Given the large lead, Scherzer came after the White Sox hitters in the strike zone. In the first three innings, 43.5 percent of Scherzer’s pitches were in the strike zone according to the PitchF/X; in his final four innings, 62.7 percent of his pitches were in the strike zone.

  D) Scherzer threw 17 sliders with two strikes, five more than in any of his starts in the last three seasons. He got five outs with his slider with two strikes, matching his most in the last three seasons.

  Here’s hoping Scherzer can keep it up for another six weeks or so.

  ]]> http://www.dailyfungo.com/2011/09/05/lost-in-last-nights-drubbing-scherzers-dazzled/feed/ 0 http://www.dailyfungo.com/2011/09/04/listen-to-dan-dickersons-calls-from-saturdays-comeback-win/ http://www.dailyfungo.com/2011/09/04/listen-to-dan-dickersons-calls-from-saturdays-comeback-win/#comments Sun, 04 Sep 2011 17:49:36 +0000 Mike McClary http://www.dailyfungo.com/?p=6629 Listen below to Dan’s call of Ryan Raburn’s 2-run HR

  Listen below to Dan’s call of Miguel Cabrera’s walk off HR

  Courtesy of WXYT, of course.

  ]]> http://www.dailyfungo.com/2011/09/04/listen-to-dan-dickersons-calls-from-saturdays-comeback-win/feed/ 1