AL Central Pissing match

[tower912]

I deeply regret not starting one of these in the spring, but I honestly never thought Detroit's pitching would be this good.    At the start of the season, I assumed we would hit (we haven't) and that the pitching would suck. (surprise!!!)    I assumed we would be trying to stay in front of KC and would be looking up at Minny, Chisox and Cleveland.   After watching this merry-go-round of teams I have come to a few conclusions.    1. Minnesota is the most fundamentally sound team in the division.   2.   Whoever gets the best pitching wins. 3  Injuries matter in a closely bunched race. 4.  None are as good as the AL East.       
       But it looks like Detroit's year this year, which is good for me, but by no stretch do I think this means we are a lock for years to come.    I am sure that a year from now, one of the other teams will be leading and I will be completely frustrated.   Lets just hold on to this and see if lightning can strike in the playoffs.   

[g0lden3agle]

If Verlander and Edwin keep pitching the way they are, all the Tigers would need is 1 hot starter to carry them to a possible WS run. The playoffs are all about which team gets hot at the right time, and it seems the Tigers are piecing it all together at just the right time.

[Jay Bee]

       But it looks like Detroit's year this year, which is good for me, but by no stretch do I think this means we are a lock for years to come.   

  I found it disgusting that you posted this when Detroit was up, what.. 7.5 games?  I hope you're filled with fear like the Tigers are.  Our payroll may be small.. our starting pitching staff may be filled with guys we didn't have on the roster a couple of months ago.. former MVP Justin Morneau may be gone for the year.. but, that doesn't change the fact the Tigers have been spineless losers that can't handle biz - we're more than happy to step up and be the real men of the AL Central, once again.
  After mass tomorrow, I will enjoy the Vikings and the Twins beating the heck out of Detroit.  Maybe if Detroit can avoid a huge letdown and win the AL Central, you can do a little victory post this year.  In the future, however, I would hope you'd not create a 'pissing match' post when you team is 7.5 games up and most have decided the season is long over.  My desire is that WE will win against the odds, again, and I'll have reason again to scold you.  Hot Carl owns you.

[Moonboots]

 I found it disgusting that you posted this when Detroit was up, what.. 7.5 games?  I hope you're filled with fear like the Tigers are.  Our payroll may be small.. our starting pitching staff may be filled with guys we didn't have on the roster a couple of months ago.. former MVP Justin Morneau may be gone for the year.. but, that doesn't change the fact the Tigers have been spineless losers that can't handle biz - we're more than happy to step up and be the real men of the AL Central, once again.
 After mass tomorrow, I will enjoy the Vikings and the Twins beating the heck out of Detroit.  Maybe if Detroit can avoid a huge letdown and win the AL Central, you can do a little victory post this year.  In the future, however, I would hope you'd not create a 'pissing match' post when you team is 7.5 games up and most have decided the season is long over.  My desire is that WE will win against the odds, again, and I'll have reason again to scold you.  Hot Carl owns you.

How dare you doubt the CONSENSUS Tigers?

http://scoresandodds.tekgroup.com/section_display.cfm?event=2009%20AL%20Central%20Division%20-Odds%20to%20Win&sporttype=826&startdate=9/17/2009





EDIT: The first time I read through your post, I missed the words "spineless losers that can't handle the biz."  Oh, the irony...

[tower912]

Actually JAY BEE, the Tigers are doing exactly what they have done all year.   Played poorly and failed to hit on the road.      The only thing that keeps me going is the knowledge that the last 7 are at home.     The Twins are a good team, fundamentally near perfect.   Gardenhire is an amazing manager.    If the Tigers succeed in finishing their collapse, it will only confirm what the skeptics in Michigan have been saying all year.     Please check the original post when I said they were all flawed teams, injuries matter, and I admire Minnesota.   And work on your impulse control.  Until now, I was possibly the only member of the board who didn't think you were an abehole.   I couldn't have made it any clearer that I respected the Twinkies, that I was pleasantly surprised by the Tigers since I had low expectations of them.   And you had to do what you do.      Sad.  

[Jay Bee]

tawar917: You claim love and respect for Minnesota which I believe is real (how could anyone feel differently??).. but, you CREATED a post, calling it a 'pissing match' once you felt your team was in control - that's sad.

Ozzie continually praises us in weird ways... it doesn't mean he is on our team or wants us to win.  I understand your post included comments that indicated your surprise that such a crappy team would be in the position that they were in... -- but its the timing, guy.  "OH my gosh, my team is so terrible but somehow came through!" once they are in a good situation is stupid commentary.  The only thing I feel bad about is that I lost the only person on this message board that didn't think I'm an 'abehole'.  It hurts.

PXI: The Twins are consistently thought of as losers, and they prevail quite often.  Same with the Vikings (see last year).  That said, maybe your squad has a chance this year against the Consensus Vikings... but, in reality, no.  If you think otherwise, let's bet $5,000.  I'm in.  Are you?

[Moonboots]

tawar917: You claim love and respect for Minnesota which I believe is real (how could anyone feel differently??).. but, you CREATED a post, calling it a 'pissing match' once you felt your team was in control - that's sad.

Ozzie continually praises us in weird ways... it doesn't mean he is on our team or wants us to win.  I understand your post included comments that indicated your surprise that such a crappy team would be in the position that they were in... -- but its the timing, guy.  "OH my gosh, my team is so terrible but somehow came through!" once they are in a good situation is stupid commentary.  The only thing I feel bad about is that I lost the only person on this message board that didn't think I'm an 'abehole'.  It hurts.

PXI: The Twins are consistently thought of as losers, and they prevail quite often.  Same with the Vikings (see last year).  That said, maybe your squad has a chance this year against the Consensus Vikings... but, in reality, no.  If you think otherwise, let's bet $5,000.  I'm in.  Are you?

If I had any belief that you'd be true to your word about $5000, it'd be a definite consideration.  Given that I'm not so sure that you'll even pay me the $50 you'll owe me at the end of this year, and that I'm a college student with bills to pay, I'll pass on this one.  $50 is a low enough amount that I can be on your ass about it when you decide to not pay me. 

It's asinine that you'd actually be willing to have $5000 of your own money go down the drain with an Adrian Peterson knee injury.  As it is, it's doubtful that you'll win the division when Lord Favre begins his post-Thanksgiving collapse, but I'd almost feel bad stealing a sum like that from you.

[Jay Bee]

If I had any belief that you'd be true to your word about $5000, it'd be a definite consideration.  Given that I'm not so sure that you'll even pay me the $50 you'll owe me at the end of this year, and that I'm a college student with bills to pay, I'll pass on this one.  $50 is a low enough amount that I can be on your ass about it when you decide to not pay me. 

It's asinine that you'd actually be willing to have $5000 of your own money go down the drain with an Adrian Peterson knee injury.  As it is, it's doubtful that you'll win the division when Lord Favre begins his post-Thanksgiving collapse, but I'd almost feel bad stealing a sum like that from you.

  Oooooh, so now the team's division championship is based on Adrian-only?  No more Favre talk?  Interesting.  You babbled on, but I understand what you're really saying -- "Minnesota is the Consensus pick and I would like the extra $5k spending cash daddi gives me, so I can't possibly make that bet".  Just work on getting me and a buddy tickets to a game this year and maybe I'll forgive the $50 you'll surely owe me.  You seem like a liberal arts major, so funds will be tough to come by once daddi stops helping you.

[Moonboots]

  Oooooh, so now the team's division championship is based on Adrian-only?  No more Favre talk?  Interesting.  You babbled on, but I understand what you're really saying -- "Minnesota is the Consensus pick and I would like the extra $5k spending cash daddi gives me, so I can't possibly make that bet".  Just work on getting me and a buddy tickets to a game this year and maybe I'll forgive the $50 you'll surely owe me.  You seem like a liberal arts major, so funds will be tough to come by once daddi stops helping you.

What part of "I have bills to pay" didn't you understand?  Reading comprehension isn't your strong point.

I'm majoring in marketing and economics, if only because they eliminated the thug life major soon after you left (...or do you call what you were doing "broadcasting"?).

My background in football tells me that my team, whole, healthy and complete, is better than yours whole, healthy and complete.  So I'm betting you $50.  I also know that either of us is one Detroit Lions helmet-to-knee away from the equivalent to a stock market crash for this investment.  As such, it'd be just as foolish for you as it would be for me to up the ante on an investment with such severe external risk.  If anything, I'm doing you a favor for when your 40 year old QB breaks something.

To put this in terms you might understand: "Yo, homie.  Injuries happens in da NFL.  We be stoopid to bet ridic amounts of cash-money when that shizz could go down da drain if someone pops a cap in All Day's azz."

Anyways, I'm banking on my guys staying healthy and beating the Vikings' asses, because it WILL happen.  But if an injury to a key player puts someone out for the season, I'm not dumb enough (as you are, DJ Minnesota) to realize it would take either of us out of contention.  That's worth a $50 risk to me.  $5,000? Now you're just talking out of your ass.

[Jay Bee]

Twins up, Tigers down once again.. if tonight ends that way, it's a 1 game race.  GO TWINS!!!

[mu_hilltopper]

Way to jinx us, JB.  Tigers are up big now.

[g0lden3agle]

It all comes down to these next 4, if either teams take 3 of the 4 it'd be really tough/mathematically impossible for the other team to take it in the final 3.

[Jay Bee]

I apologize for jinxing us - Detroit's comback on Saturday is definitely on me. 

g0lden3agle - I wish 3 games sealed the deal for Minnesota, but it wouldn't.  We'd simply be tied with 3 games to play.  Now, if Detroit wins 3, then it is over. 

Tigers 3 or 4 wins - done.
2-2 split: Tigers up by 2 with 3 to play.
Twins 3 of 4 - tied with 3 to play
Twins 4 of 4 - Twins by 2 with 3 to play

[tower912]

Weather for tonight's game:   Low 50's, spitting rain, winds at 25-30 mph with occasional gusts to 40+.     Ack.   

[mu_hilltopper]

Bad weather?  Ok, let's move the game to the Metrodome.  Nice and dry in there.

[tower912]

I shall not miss that house of horrors.   Not sure what you guys were thinking building an outside field.   I would have thought a retractable roof at least.    Plus, now you won't be able to control which way the wind is blowing.     Pennant races rock.   Who would have thought that Zack Greinke would possibly be the most important player this year.

[Jay Bee]

Having no roof is bizarre to me and I am certain we'll hear plenty of bickering in the next few years. 

As Tower points out, more significant than no roof is the fact that we can't turn on the a/c when its advantageous to us anymore - without the manipulating the air in the dome, we don't win in 87 or 91, clearly. 

Porcini's or whoever is pitching tonight?  He's looked good when I've seen him.  You guys are lucky Jeff Manship threw yesterday or the Tigers would be in big trouble tonight. 

[tower912]

I admire how the Twins are competitive year in and year out in a small market.    A tribute to Kelly, Gardenhire and the GM (Polian?)      And JB, why does it not surprise me that you are a huge fan of the ol' Manship.   

[Jay Bee]

I admire how the Twins are competitive year in and year out in a small market.    A tribute to Kelly, Gardenhire and the GM (Polian?)      And JB, why does it not surprise me that you are a huge fan of the ol' Manship.   

  Manship - probably wishful thinking on your part.

  Polian - Huh?  I think Bill Polian is the GM or something of the Colts... our GM is Bill Smith, but was Terry Ryan for a long time (I think he's from Janesville, which is a village within the province of Wesconsin).  It's amazing - this year maybe more so than other years with what's gone on with our pitching staff (as well as Mauer and Morneau being out...). 

  Lou Whitaker.. Alan Trammell... Chet Lemon.. Doyle Alexander... we had fun in Detroit in 87...

[tower912]

Yeah, you did.    87 was fun because it was a pennant race like this one.   The Tigers and Blue Jays were neck and neck down the stretch and we won the last game of the year to win the division.    And then you guys rolled us.    By 91, you had acquired our best pitcher.   Man, Morris was a competitor.    I couldn't remember your GM's name and that was all that came to mind.  Oops.  Bottom line is that you guys are the model all other small market teams should aspire to.   Develop young talent, particularly pitching.   Play fundamentally sound baseball.   And you are the one crushing on the Manship.  

[mu_hilltopper]

Here's an '87 story .. I was a freshman and .. this girl asked me on a date to a play at the Helfaer .. during game 6 of Twins vs. Tigers in the ALCS.

I explained the bad timing .. but we went on the date anyhow but I was up-front:  I am bringing a radio.   I popped in an earbud headphone and listened to the game while watching the play.

Play ended, and I ran back to McCormick to catch the last couple innings.

Suffice it to say, nothing much came of that relationship. -- But amusingly, my future roommate (two years hence) married her. 

[tower912]

In rain delay now.   IMO, the game shouldn't be played tonight.    In 87, I was taking a theology class, protestant theology overview.   The prof was visiting from where I live now.   He saw my Tiger hat and asked if they were any good this year.   I was stunned that someone from Michigan would not know how the Tigers were doing.   I watched the division Clincher in Grunts (or was it Murphy's Law by then?)     Tanana threw a shutout and Herndon hit a solo homer for the only run of the game.

[tower912]

Rainout tonight, day-night doubleheader tomorrow.    The bad news is that the weather tomorrow is supposed to be a carbon copy of today.   How about back 2 back double headers on Wednesday and Thursday.   Holy bullpen killers, batman

[Jay Bee]

You old pricks, both of you!  I was just 13 when the Twins won the 87 World Series.  It seemed like a couple of months of getting out of school regularly for celebrations, parades, etc.  I don't know if it could ever be like that again - I don't think so.  Being a young kid fascinated by baseball statistics like you can't imagine, being the Dome for those games... it was unreal.  It took me a long time to realize what a dump the Dome was because of the great World Series experiences I had there. 

Earbud headphone in 87?  I've gotta see that! 

Frank Tanana.. I don't know why but I always liked that guy. 

I look forward to the doubleheader.  Minnesota's bullpen is deep, just like our starters.

[tower912]

1-1 in the 10th.   Key play for Detroit was not sending Thomas on Cabrera's single to right.   Huff grounded into a FC and that was that.    LaMont has done that 1/2 dozen times this year, somehow forgetting that this team is incapable of a clutch hit.      Nice DP on the squeeze attempt.     Pennant race baseball, baby.