tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29764383.post8677005020214421978..comments2023-09-06T07:56:47.820-04:00Comments on Open Book: A Sports Blog: In Truth, Tigers' Cup Should Be Running OverPat Caputohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05102662407927366439noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29764383.post-12124344140379876582007-08-22T09:25:00.000-04:002007-08-22T09:25:00.000-04:00Andrew Winkle,Thames has done a good job. He seems...Andrew Winkle,<BR/>Thames has done a good job. He seems to have improved his consistency as a hitter. I think the more you see Maybin, though, the more you will like him. Ernie's audio book is a treasure. I listened to it endlessly while driving during the winter - and never grew tired of it.<BR/>CaputoPat Caputohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05102662407927366439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29764383.post-50493152257979170732007-08-21T13:48:00.000-04:002007-08-21T13:48:00.000-04:00Pat the Book,Big game tonight, big series with the...Pat the Book,<BR/><BR/>Big game tonight, big series with the Tribe and a big homestand this week. A repeat of the last homestand could be traumatic to the high hopes for a return to the Fall Classic.<BR/><BR/>I was glad to read that Raburn is getting the start at third, though a do think Inge is going to come out of his funk before September. I'm hoping that Thames gets the start over Maybin inAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29764383.post-56336800847708669242007-08-20T16:42:00.000-04:002007-08-20T16:42:00.000-04:00Danny,Inge's Babe Ruth comment was a little odd. H...Danny,<BR/>Inge's Babe Ruth comment was a little odd. He is struggling - and he has pretty much struggled most of his career except for last season. Maybe he just isn't that good of a hitter. It's possible.<BR/>CaputoPat Caputohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05102662407927366439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29764383.post-27736731713071959542007-08-20T16:40:00.000-04:002007-08-20T16:40:00.000-04:00sir charles in Rochester Hills,I meant what I wrot...sir charles in Rochester Hills,<BR/>I meant what I wrote in my Sunday column as a compliment to Kitna. How can you not root for somebody who is a longshot that. But I do wonder if he is that good. One out of every 10 plays the Lions ran last season ended in a sack, fumble of interception. There is a reason he hasn't panned out yet - and is 35 years old. So I am not so sure if he is that good. AndPat Caputohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05102662407927366439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29764383.post-67891774615160834032007-08-20T16:34:00.000-04:002007-08-20T16:34:00.000-04:00Tony b,LOL on the Neifi comment. Seriously, they h...Tony b,<BR/>LOL on the Neifi comment. Seriously, they have had to overcome a lot of adversity this season. Rogers, Zumaya, other nagging injuries. But the Indians have left the door wide open for the Tigers. It's disconcerting they aren't flying through it.<BR/>CaputoPat Caputohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05102662407927366439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29764383.post-39912440160971682212007-08-20T16:32:00.000-04:002007-08-20T16:32:00.000-04:00Allan,It is maddening trying to read the tea leave...Allan,<BR/>It is maddening trying to read the tea leaves about the Lions. I still doubt they will be that good. I like their offense, but not their defense. Time will tell.<BR/>CaputoPat Caputohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05102662407927366439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29764383.post-78968875384500112422007-08-20T16:30:00.000-04:002007-08-20T16:30:00.000-04:00Fred Brill,When "confidence" was mentioned to Spar...Fred Brill,<BR/>When "confidence" was mentioned to Sparky Anderson, he used to blow his stack. It was, "You'd better have confidence in yourself or you don't belong in the major leagues." To him, a lack of confidence was the same as being weak mentally. He didn't see it as an excuse. Neither do I. I agree with him.<BR/>CaputoPat Caputohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05102662407927366439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29764383.post-26949104828043329042007-08-20T16:27:00.000-04:002007-08-20T16:27:00.000-04:00Marty,I don't disagree with anything you said, but...Marty,<BR/>I don't disagree with anything you said, but my view on the Lions is that none of it matters until they do something when it counts. That means all the rhetoric about a change of attitude, or some good things the preseason games have produced so far. The tangible proof starts Sept. 9 in Oakland. We'll know more after that game - and the following week vs. Minnesota at home. Both seem Pat Caputohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05102662407927366439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29764383.post-13118720843083326432007-08-20T16:19:00.000-04:002007-08-20T16:19:00.000-04:00Pat, Despite my usual respect for your tough love ...Pat, Despite my usual respect for your tough love on relevant sport topics for Michigan, I need to challenge you on your appraisal of Jon Kitna. In the past 2-3 weeks in separate interviews, both Carson Palmer and Chad Johnson cited Jon Kitna as "the" critical influence in their careers as professional football players and as men in general. This same legacy is already in play with several of Sir Charles in Rochester Hillshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18406672595177272005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29764383.post-78355360140324400372007-08-20T16:01:00.000-04:002007-08-20T16:01:00.000-04:00Good stuff Book ... my only observation about the ...Good stuff Book ... my only observation about the Tigers is that after this huge fury of changes on Friday, they're still as soft as a baby's bottom (I'll keep with the cliche theme :-) They've obviously had more than their share of adversity but a tough team with this much talent and depth would be up 10 games on the Indians right now. I think this crippling flu bug during the hardest stretch Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29764383.post-41984775275692170392007-08-20T14:40:00.000-04:002007-08-20T14:40:00.000-04:00I would not use the words Lions and sharp in the s...I would not use the words Lions and sharp in the same sentence.<BR/><BR/>They remain a horrible team. Be careful to read too much into pre-season games. <BR/><BR/>They are what they are. When they start playing for real on Sundays then their true character or lack of will show.<BR/><BR/>AllanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29764383.post-5318758310637974812007-08-20T13:24:00.000-04:002007-08-20T13:24:00.000-04:00Pat, it is good to see Leyland making moves to try...Pat, it is good to see Leyland making moves to try and get them on track. Yelling doesn't work every time. <BR/><BR/>He has to play Rayburn somewhere because he is hitting. Hopefully Polanco will be back on Tuesday after missing all the games in NY. Can't play Rayburn in left, so 3rd is a good option. <BR/><BR/>Inge's big swing at everything has been ridiculous. Now he's whining in the paper thatAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29764383.post-67772854276775406912007-08-20T12:51:00.000-04:002007-08-20T12:51:00.000-04:00As I wrote my first draft of this response - it be...As I wrote my first draft of this response - it became clear as I listed my points that the difference is confidence.<BR/><BR/>Confidence.<BR/><BR/>Confidence that a tight or losing game can be won in the ninth.<BR/><BR/>Confidence that the bullpen can close out a win - or hold them so we can catch them the next at bat.<BR/><BR/>Confidence that a man on third will score ...<BR/><BR/>ya-da-ya-da-.Fred Brillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10731385357714489031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29764383.post-43887656843548098162007-08-20T11:51:00.000-04:002007-08-20T11:51:00.000-04:00Pat,I am getting excited about the Lions now. I f...Pat,<BR/><BR/>I am getting excited about the Lions now. I finally got a chance to watch the TIVO of the first preseason game and I was very impressed with both starting lines. The offensive line really kept pressure off of Kitna, with the exception of the one bad sack that Mulitalo gave up, and the defensive line looked powerful and pushed back Cinci's O-line on pretty much every play so that Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com