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On '84, The Cat and a big myth about Tigers
One of the factors that stood out to me Sunday at the Tigers' game, as there was a celebration of Sparky Anderson's career and life, is just how much the '84 Tigers are unappreciated in baseball lore.
I think that will change if Jack Morris gets into the Hall of Fame. At least one Tigers' player from that era should get in the Hall. It shouldn't just be Sparky. The Tigers had an 11-season stretch in which they had winning seasons. They were second to the Yankees during the 1980s in wins, just one back. The Tigers' '87 pennant race with Toronto was epic.
- With all the fuss about Jim Riggleman's resignation as the manager in Washington, it should be noted what a terrific job pitching coach Steve McCatty, who was raised in Troy and currently resides in Oxford, has done with the Nationals pitching staff. The Nationals are above .500 this season primarily because of their pitching, which ranks fifth in the National League.
- If anybody still thinks the Tigers are offensively challenged, they should consider the following: They are second in the American League in team batting average., and have four of the top 14 among the OPS, including Alex Avila, who, stunningly, ranks seventh. The others are Miguel Cabrera (third), Jhonny Peralta (13th) and Victor Martinez (14th).
Dude Talk: Is Casey Anthony hot? She did it, right. Come on
I think that will change if Jack Morris gets into the Hall of Fame. At least one Tigers' player from that era should get in the Hall. It shouldn't just be Sparky. The Tigers had an 11-season stretch in which they had winning seasons. They were second to the Yankees during the 1980s in wins, just one back. The Tigers' '87 pennant race with Toronto was epic.
- With all the fuss about Jim Riggleman's resignation as the manager in Washington, it should be noted what a terrific job pitching coach Steve McCatty, who was raised in Troy and currently resides in Oxford, has done with the Nationals pitching staff. The Nationals are above .500 this season primarily because of their pitching, which ranks fifth in the National League.
- If anybody still thinks the Tigers are offensively challenged, they should consider the following: They are second in the American League in team batting average., and have four of the top 14 among the OPS, including Alex Avila, who, stunningly, ranks seventh. The others are Miguel Cabrera (third), Jhonny Peralta (13th) and Victor Martinez (14th).
Dude Talk: Is Casey Anthony hot? She did it, right. Come on
Labels: Jack Morris Jim Riggleman Steve McCatty Alex Avila Victor Martinez Miguel Cabrera
posted by Pat Caputo at
2:13 AM
6 Comments:
I don't think the Tigers are offensively challenged. They have 5 really good to great hitters right now (Boesch has been on fire lately too).
However they still need more production from 2nd and 3rd base. The law of averages suggests that Avila, Peralta, and Boesch will probably cool down some in the 2nd half, so we can't continue to get nothing offensively from those positions. And it may take a trade to do it.
The Tiger's offensive prowess would lead one to believe they are seven games up in the American League Central rather than just now reaching a one game lead.
But how? If their bats are so mighty and Verlander and Scherzer are ripping it up?
Unfortunately the streakiness of the offense and the recent shaky starts by Tigers rotation tossers 3 - 5 leave this team losing games they could win. When they hit - they hit big. But when they don't - it's awfully quiet.
Consistancy needs to be the mantra of the second half - anbd hopefully it's consistantly good pitching and hitting that carry through to October - for once.
The Sparky tribute was great!
Tigers are looking good offensively right now. Maggs is showing a little spark and taking a few walks and even Inge got a clutch hit yesterday. Inge looked a little pedestrian at 3rd base this weekend. He got ate up a few times. You get past the 3rd slot in the line up and it could make for a long inning. All the damage was done yesterday with 2 outs.
The '84 Tigers don't get the respect I think because of 2 things, no Hall of Famers, which is bunk! Also, they started 35-5, I have heard even you say it Pat, after that they played 500 ball. They should have set the record for wins that year and they didn't. The 500 record after the 35-5 start is their biggest knock against them.
Pat I agree with their hitting, but what they need is better starters.
OPS is a flawed stat but we get the drift.
Now if we could use Inge defensively and pinch hit for him every time.
Oops, this is the big leagues, and we can't re-enter. Darn, been watching my grandkids too much.
It's sorta feast or famine with the Tigers. Either good hitters, or bad.
Jackson's game the other night pretty much summed up where he's at. The Tigers batted around, and Jackson had the ignominy of striking out twice in the same inning. And Inge had made an out shortly before Jackson's first strikeout, and Kelly had pinch hit for Raburn after that out. So all the damage was done with 2 outs, basically, after the Tigers' bottom guys displayed major suckitude, which they do most of the time.
Leyland has to consider moving Jackson around, if he stays where he's at. Over the last 12 games, he's 8 for 42, with 14 strikeouts and only 4 walks... and no power threat whatsoever.
Jackson is still a developing player, and hasn't earned the right to a designated spot in the order, certainly not leadoff. Move him around, and it may help ignite him. And in a pennant race, you can leave no stone unturned.
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