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Happy Birthday to Frank Tanana who turns 56 today. Last year I wrote a two-part series on his 1987 stretch-run starts against Toronto. Here’s Part 1. And Part 2.
July 3, 2009
One Thing
By Mike McClary | 0 comments
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July 1, 2009
Wednesday Walewanders
By Mike McClary | 4 comments
These Walenwanders come to you with visions of a Chipotle burrito dancing in my head. Meanwhile, the mercury rises in the desert.
Despite MLB’s efforts, I realized that I still hadn’t cast my All-Star ballot. Voting ends tomorrow night, so vote late and often. As we watch Magglio Ordonez’s swing atrophy, I’m thinking that he might personify the 2008 Tigers team. That is, we all kept thinking that this game or this series would be the one that got Detroit on the path to its rightful place in the postseason. And we waited and waited… Now it’s Maybe this at bat will get Maggs going…. Alas, it ain’t looking good. Speaking of Ordonez, in the recent Fungo Pulse Check poll, only one voter out of 36 would choose to release him over Dontrelle Willis (53 percent) or Nate Robertson (44 percent). Tigers fans sure love their Magglio. [Take our latest poll -->] My fandom for (of?) Nate Robertson is well documented here. Over the past two seasons I think I’ve been tainted by Ian’s anti-Nate sentiment and find myself — at best — Nate Neutral. But, ever the quasi-optimist, I’m wondering if this week’s elbow surgery could inject some zip into the left wing. What do you think? Speaking of being a fan boy, last week I was out of town and without my MLB Extra Innings package — thus, no Tigers games on TV. I have to say, the Tigers blogosphere can make a guy feel right at home. BlessYouBoys.com and MackAvenueTigers.com alone made it so I didn’t miss a beat.
Finally, on this date in 1915 right-hander Cletus Elwood “Boots” Poffenberger was born in Williamsport, Md. Ol’ Boots pitched two of his three big-league seasons, 1937 and ‘38, for the Tigers posting a 16-12 record and a 4.75 ERA. He died in 1999 in Williamsport, Va. A search of Google Maps doesn’t bring up a Williamsport, Va., but it does show Williamsport, Md., where he was born, which is across the Potomac River from West Virginia — but there’s no Williamsport, W. Va.
If you’re still reading at this point, bless you.
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June 27, 2009
Memories of Enron Field and Loose Tigers Connections
By Mike McClary | 0 comments
For a two unfortunate years, I was a resident of the greater Houston metroplex. In fact, it’ll be 10 years this December that I moved there (and it was seven years ago this week that I escaped).
My stay in Houston coincided with the April 2000 opening of a new baseball stadium, then Enron Field, site of this weekend’s interleague series between the Tigers and Astros. Meanwhile, the Tigers were moving into Comerica Park.
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June 24, 2009
Thursday Notebook
By Mike McClary | 0 comments
CARLSBAD, Calif. — I think I survived LegoLand and, with any luck, will never need to return.
…A five-game lead? The 2009 Tigers continue to confound. How this team has managed to pad its lead in the Central is nothing short of baffling. But we shall take it.
Fact is, they could pile-up the Ws over the next two series, this weekend in Houston and next week in Oakland. (Meanwhile, the Twins face the Cardinals in St. Louis this weekend and stay in Missouri to play KC starting Monday.)
Where were the Tigers after 71 games last year? If you must know, they were 33-38, 6 back. How about in…?
2007: 42-29, tied for 1st 2006: 47-24, +2 1984: 52-19, +9
…Lynn Henning adds more fodder for the What Were the Rays Thinking? topic as it relates to Matt Joyce for Edwin Jackson. He also talks about the free-agent choices staring at the Tigers this fall.
…On this date in 1962 the Tigers traded Charlie “Paw Paw” Maxwell to the White Sox for OF Bob Farley. According to Maxwell’s Baseball-Reference.com bio page:
[He] is one of the most popular players for Detroit Tigers of all-time. He excited the throngs with his consistent “Sunday” home runs. A fearsome hitter with mates aboard and the game on the line. He holds the Major League record for most home runs in extra innings in a season with 5 in 1960.
As a fellow Western Michigan alum, I’m proud to report that Maxwell has the most home runs of any of the 31 major leaguers that attended the MAC school. The three-time All Star played eight seasons in Detroit, hitting .268 with 133 homers. Farley hit .166 with one home run and four RBI in his 36 games in Detroit.
…And here’s one general baseball nugget I stumbled upon over at the fabulous Baseball-Reference.com. On this date in 1971:
Actor Kurt Russell makes his pro baseball debut for Bend (Northwest League), getting a single, double, and two stolen bases. Russell’s baseball career would be ended by injury two years later.
…Only six months until Christmas.
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June 23, 2009
Two for Tuesday
By Mike McClary | 2 comments
The Diamondbacks are looking at a fire sale here soon. Would the Tigers have any interest in free-agents-to-be Doug Davis or Jon Garland? Who knows what Arizona would want in return, but methinks it’s prospects galore. In that case, Detroit should pass. I wouldn’t mind seeing Conor Jackson in left for the Tigers but he’s hurt and probably not available. As Ian points out, Troy Glaus could be someone the Tigers plug into the DH spot — at least according to Ken Rosenthal. I don’t know. I tend to think that this particular Glaus is more than half-empty.
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June 22, 2009
Monday Night Lite
By Mike McClary | 1 comment
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Checking in from the land of Google and Apple, on the border of Mountain View and Cupertino, Calif.:
It’s a shame that I read the USA Today only when I’m traveling, as I am today. There’s usually one or two outstanding pieces in each edition and this morning proved it: a feature on the Tigers by Bob Nightengale. Juan Rincon, a victim of a roster numbers game last month — we’re looking at you, Nate Robertson, has been recalled by the Rockies from Triple-A Colorado Springs. Embrace the humidor, Senor. (Oh, and now that the Rox have run off a late-2007-like streak recently, do we all feel a tad better about them taking two of three from the Tigers? Didn’t think so.) He might not chuck it as hard as Ryan Perry, but it’s close enough and I, for one, am glad Freddy Dolsi’s back. Did you happen to catch this nastygram from Ken Rosenthal about the Tigers benching Magglio Ordonez? The zingers about Gary Sheffield are amusing but I don’t think anyone in the Tigers front office regrets the decision to cut him loose. And for what it’s worth, I hope that Ordonez finds his stroke soon and that he doesn’t wind up on the Red Sox, poking homers over The Green Monster at Fenway. Speaking of hitters, here are the results of our most recent Fungo Pulse Check poll. The question: Which of These Sluggers Should the Tigers Go After?
Matt Holliday: 35% (12 votes) Brad Hawpe: 32% (11 votes) Adam Dunn: 29% (10 votes) Jeff Francouer: 3% (1 vote) Carlos Lee: bupkis
Be sure to vote in our new poll, available in the sidebar –>
Finally, I didn’t weigh in on the Jim Leyland extension when it happened: I believe it came a few weeks too late, but I’m delighted that he re-upped. I don’t want to see the Tigers become the Verizon Wireless of Major League Baseball, with a new manager every two years or so. (If anyone should’ve been shown the door as a result of this clunky roster, it should’ve been [should be?] Dave Dombrowski.)Have a great week.
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June 21, 2009
Ever Wonder What Bobby Cox Remembers About Tiger Stadium?
By Mike McClary | 1 comment
Find out here.
Did they burn cars in ‘68 too, or is Bobby mixing his championship metaphors?
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