Archive for the 'Doug's Dispatches' Category

It’s not often I go a full week without posting something here at the The Daily Fungo but there were circumstances beyond my control, namely my computer. It went kaput in December and only after the most drastic of all measures — erasing the hard drive and starting over — was I able to resuscitate [...]

(Note: This was submitted to the Detroit newspapers last week, but I’m not holding my breath it will be published. I figured better to use my forum here to get my views out.)
Like many readers I have fond memories of Tiger Stadium. As a teenager during the mid-1980s with a new driver’s license, a hand-me-down [...]

So the Todd Jones as Tigers’ closer era may be coming to an end. This got me thinking about what excactly makes a good closer.
I looked back at the World Series of the past 20 years at what the winners’ closer stats looked like compared to his. For Jones’ career, he has posted an ERA [...]

I have no insight nor anything pithy to say, just a basic statement.
How can you justify running this guy out there again until he exorcises his inner-Sax/Ankiel/Saucier?

I don’t know about you, but I’ve always admired the team that — when facing travel following that day’s game — can gather itself and put forth a strong effort and even eek out a few wins along the way.
The 2008 Detroit Tigers are most assuredly not that type of team.
Wednesday’s 10-2 throttling at the [...]

Sun!
That was my first thought as my Frontier Airlines jet touched down at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport early Thursday evening. It seems as though for we Michiganians glimpses of the sun outside the months of July, August, and – maybe – early October are random and fleeting.
Warmth!
That was my second thought. Despite the best [...]

I know it’s just the Texas Rangers and they came in beaten up after a lost weekend in Fenway, but sakes alive.
That Tiger offense tonight was punishing!
Now can they do it again tomorrow afternoon?