January 25, 2010

Monday Mankowskis: Are the Tigers the 2007 Padres?

We survived Stormageddon in Arizona and are delighting in the prospect of Cactus League games in five weeks. In the meantime …

I was looking at my notebook of random Tigers thoughts and here’s one leftover from the fall. The 2007 Padres lost a Game 163 and began a downward spiral that’s still in motion, more [...]

January 5, 2010

Beating the Jack Morris Drum…But No One is Listening

On Wednesday we’re likely to find out again that Jack Morris and Alan Trammell will not be enshrined in Cooperstown this summer. We’re used to it, right?
I still hold out hope that these two Tigers legends make it into the Hall of Fame — especially Morris, who was my favorite player. Meanwhile, former Blue Jays, [...]

October 4, 2009

October Surprise Part 9: Comeback Complete

This is the final installment in our series that looked back on the Tigers’ and Blue Jays’ epic fight for the 1987 American League East title.

American League East Standings: October 4, 1987

Team
Record
Pct.
GB

Detroit
97-64
.619
–

Toronto
96-65
.596
1

In the first six games one thing was constant: the team that scored first would go on to lose. The Blue Jays, with the [...]

October 3, 2009

October Surprise Part 8 – Tigers Pull Ahead

On the next-to-last day of the 2009 season, with the Tigers’ fate still undecided, we continue our series on the Tigers’ and Blue Jays’ battle for the A.L. East crown on the next-to-last day of the 1987 season.

American League East Standings: October 3, 1987

Team
Record
Pct.
GB

Detroit
96-64
.600
–

Toronto
96-64
.600
–

In game two of the final series, Jack Morris and Mike [...]

September 28, 2009

October Surprise Part 2: Showdown in Toronto

This is Part 2 in our series on the Tigers and Blue Jays’ pennant fight in 1987. Part 1 appeared yesterday.

American League East Standings
September 24, 1987

Team
Record
Pct.
GB

Toronto
93 – 59
.612
–

Detroit
92-59
.609
.5

At the outset of the first series the Tigers sat only a half-game out of first place. The game-one pitching match up featured two of baseball’s best [...]

August 3, 2009

August 2 in Tigers History: How the Tigers Have Celebrated My Birthday

I thought it was my birthday gift from the Indians — Carl Pavano starting? That’s gotta be a win waiting to happen, no? No. Not against this mirage of a first-place club.
Some birthday for me. Actually, yesterday was a fine day and I never let the Tigers’ performance impact my birthday mood.

Because there’s absolutely [...]

July 15, 2009

Wednesday Walewanders: All-Star Recap

How painful was it for American League Manager Joe Maddon to watch Edwin Jackson throw four pitches — all of them strikes — in last night’s All-Star Game? For Tigers fans, it was delicious.

Yes, I would’ve preferred that Curtis Granderson got the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player award. But, as Ian mentioned on Twitter last [...]

April 17, 2009

The Curious Case of June 2, 1980: Tigers and Mariners Play to a Tie

In case you were wondering, here’s how the Tigers have fared against the Mariners since Seattle joined the American League in 1977:

All-Time Record: 185-152-1

All-Time at Home: 104-64-1

All-Time at Comerica Park: 22-18

All-Time at Seattle: 81-88

Wait a second. The Tigers and Mariners played to a tie? In the 20th century?
This little item sent me scrambling to my [...]

January 23, 2009

Friday Fungoes: Inauguration Week Edition

Clearing out a mental notebook — and a paper-based one, too — on a dreary Friday afternoon:

Morris Left Out Again: Our most recent poll question, Does Jack Morris deserve to be in the Hall of Fame?, pulled in 57 responses, 61 percent (35 votes) said yes; 39 percent (22 votes) said nay. Early on, [...]

December 1, 2008

The Monday Report

We waited and waited and waited for news about the Tigers’ shortstop. And after all that waiting, all we get is who the shortstop won’t be next year? Oy vey. Take heart. There’s more to talk about this week:

On this date in 1961, the Tigers made the only Dec. 1-trade in their history by trading [...]