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The Truth Hurts Department
The White Sox hold the edge at first base and third. At the corner outfield spots, DH, starting pitching and in the bullpen. The two teams have about equal double-play combinations. Ivan Rodriguez gets the edge at catcher. So does Curtis Granderson in center field. That�s it. Not trying to rain on anybody�s parade here, but trying to be truthful and point out the obvious. I know some people claim the Tigers� pitching is better because of the numbers, but that is because Comerica Park is so spacious and U.S. Cellular Field such a band box. Speaking of Comerica Park, if the Tigers are going to beat the White Sox, the three-game series Tuesday-through-Thursday is the time to do it. Comerica Park, because it is so spacious, gives the Tigers a tremendous home-field advantage defensively. There is so much room between outfielders it often confuses opposing teams. The Tigers get an extraordinary number of bloop hits because of it.
Random thoughts
- The most amazing fact about the upcoming NFL training camp is: The Chicago Bears return all 22 starters. That is unheard of in today�s NFL.
- December 9, 2006, a date that will live in infamy. Not really, but the Toronto Maple Leafs will play the Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena that night. Gosh, it�s been so long. Too long. And to think, the Wings will play Montreal Jan. 15, 2007 at JLA.
The Original Six teams mean something to this area. Wish the NHL would recognize as much.
- Love Negro League weekend at Comerica Park. In the history of sports, probably the most underreported aspect has been the accomplishments of the Negro League stars. It was not a coincidence Negro League standouts such as Roy Campanella, Larry Doby, Willie Mays and Henry Aaron stepped from the Negro Leagues into the major leagues and starred. One of sports all-time great injustices is that catcher Josh Gibson, perhaps the greatest Negro League player of them all, just missed a shot at playing in the major leagues.
posted by Pat Caputo at
8:57 PM
7 Comments:
brian,
a few years ago, wxyt had me do a series during the tigers broadcasts on negro league history. i started to read a lot about the subject for these reports couldn't believe what i didn't know about it. those players were truly great and they had a following - particularly the monarchs and the homestead grays. I would have loved to have seen Josh Gibson play. Or cool papa bell.
caputo
daver,
that doesn't mean the tigers can't beat the white sox out to win the division, nor is it a slam at the tigers. rather it's a complement to the white sox. ken williams has done a terrific job. i thought the white sox bullpen would be a weakness, but thornton and riske have really done well setting up for jenks. position-by-position the white sox are just better. we'll see what happens on the field starting tuesday.
caputo
roggdooggdavy,
i said they were comparable, but if forced to give an edge on the double play combination, i concede i'd probably give it to the tigers.
caputo
jman,
the tigers starting pitching was better than the white sox during the first half, but not by that much. and in the second half, given the track record of the white sox starters compared to that of the tigers starters, it does appear that chicago, in my opinion, has the edge.
caputo
thinkingman,
thanks for the compliment and reading our website. I promise to respond to as many comments about the blog posts as I can...i thought the tigers wins over kc thursday and friday were more encouraging than you do. the royals have played a lot better lately and have been able to score more since getting gathright and dejesus has come on. the tigers outlasted them by not making mistakes and coming up with knockout blows in the end.
caputo
Pat: Can you find out from Leyland, why he doesn't put Monroe in the LF and Thames at DH. So that when Gomez enters as a defensive replacement Thames can stay in the order. I would think the way Thames is hitting that he would prefer to have Thames up at crucial times rather than Monroe.
vande,
i both like and dislike the trade rumors. i like them because it is interesting to piece together a way the tigers might improve. i dislike them because fans seem to get out of hand sometimes. the philles aren't going to trade abreu for ramon santiago, if you know what i mean. and it would be nearly impossible to get the tigers to part with joel zumaya. yet those knucleheads on baseball tonight seem to think the tigers are actually looking to move him. abreu would help the tigers, but you could better value for him in a trade during the off season. right now, the phillies are looking to hold up teams in a deal.
caputo
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