Since my baseball post a mere two days ago, the following has happened:
~The Tigers have lost two straight.
~Ryan Perry, who I talked up, has pitched less than an inning and given up three runs.
~Miguel Cabrera, who I talked about for MVP, has gone a lousy 1 for 8 and left potential RBIs all over the basepaths.
~Dontrelle Willis, who I had high hopes for, gave up seven runs in 5 innings.
What the hell? I was at the game last night, and it was very frustrating. Pitching and hitting have failed the Tigers in the last two games. Dontrelle could have given up 3 runs and pitched a complete game and it wouldn't have mattered. The Tigers were awful at the plate. Very very very poor execution.
And Luke Scott. He must hunt tigers in the offseason, because he's a Tiger killer. Two games, two homeruns EACH game. This is after hitting four off us last year!!! Just intentionally walk the guy and go onto the next guy, sheesh.
The best part of last night was Matt Weiters debut. The stadium was almost at full capacity to see this guy. He got a standing ovation each time he came to the plate and the crowd stood to watch his first at-bat. He came up with a runner on second, and cracked a line drive right at Mags. Ordonez caught it, and the runner tried to tag and move to third, and Magglio gunned him down, ending the O's threat. Grace and I jumped with joy (this was all before the Orioles beat the piss out of Willis) as the stadium's life just got sucked out of it. Grace and I were laughing hysterically and cheering as this guys first at-bat turned into essentially a double play (he finished 0-4).
As sad as it was that my favorite moment of last night was when a rookie lined into a double play, the game was still fun. Baseball is coming back in Baltimore, which is great to see. The crowd really was electric, and people are sporting all their O's shirts, jerseys, and foam fingers. There's a renewed enthusiasm. When the atmosphere is like that, everything is just more fun (even as the people shout at you that Detroit sucks). They've got a lot of nice young pieces with Markakis, Jones, Reimold, and Weiters, and whenever they get that young pitching developed, they will definitely be heard from. I'll be curious to see where they are in a couple years.
The good news is the Tigers still have a 3.5 game lead in the Central, which is turning out to be one hell of a piss-poor division. As of now, the Tigers are the only team above .500. I'm sure the experts will be laughing at the AL Central all the way to October and beyond, but that's fine. As long as Detroit gets a ticket to the October playoff party, I'll be happy. Once you're in, everyone's an equal. And in a series where we can throw Verlander and Jackson twice, I'm going to be feeling quite good regardless of who we would play.
But that's getting ahead of myself. Let's try to win a game against a last place team first.
~Mikey D
Yes I know that it's still hockey season with the Wings in the Cup finals, so I'm sure this post will just get a mere passing glance, which is fine. But I am in full baseball mode (and hockey! Not the slightest bit interested in the NBA, though...), so I just want to put some thoughts down.
~Tomorrow night I am going to the Tigers-Orioles game. I don't think I could have picked a better game to go to. First, I get to see Dontrelle Willis pitch. I will be the first to admit that I thought he was done, and that the Tigers should have cut him loose. But after three straight solid outings and high praise from the baseball experts, dare I say he's back? And if so, what an addition to our staff! I am very happy I get a chance to see the herky-jerky delivery in person as he mows down Orioles. When he's on, he's fun to watch.
~Also, tomorrow is the debut of Matt Weiters (who?). Matt Weiters is dubbed the "next big thing" in baseball by almost everyone. He's a catcher in the Oriole's organization and is rated as the number one prospect in all of baseball- and he's coming up tomorrow. When listening to Baltimore sports talk, almost all Orioles conversation is centered around this kid and when he's coming up. Well, the answer is tomorrow. Supposedly he's got big-time power (perhaps a first baseman someday?) and a rocket arm. We'll see what the fuss is all about.
~Did my first All-Star ballot. Check out my AL:
C- Joe Mauer
1B- Miguel Cabrera
2B- Aaron Hill
SS- Jason Bartlett
3B- Evan Longoria
OF- Adam Jones
OF- Jason Bay
OF- Torri Hunter
And the NL...
C- Ivan Rodriguez
1B- Albert Pujols
2B- Chase Utley
SS- Christian Guzman
3B- Ryan Zimmerman
OF- Raul Ibanez
OF- Carlos Beltran
OF- Carlos Lee
They released the leaderboard for the voting today, and it perplexes me. I get that it's a popularity contest, which is why guys like Derek Jeter and Ken Griffey Jr. are so high up. But who would you think would be the starting second baseman for the AL? Given his recent MVP award and membership to Red Sox Nation, you'd think Dustin Pedroia, but it's not. It is actually Ian Kinsler of Texas, a very deserving candidate, whom I have no problem with starting. But here's my thing: why did the fans recognize Kinsler for his work, which was better than Pedroia's, but not others, like Raul Ibanez, who's sixth right now in outfielder voting. The guy is in a triple crown race, for Christ's sake! Just confusing me on how the fans get it right and wrong at the same time.
~Adam Jones. I put him as a starter on my AL team. He's the Oriole's starting center fielder, and the guy is for real. Be prepared to hear his name a shit-ton. .350+ average, 10 HRs, 40 RBIs...he's one of those five-tool players, who can hit, run, field...and whatever the other tools are. Now I love Granderson and think he should be the Tigers' centerfielder for years to come, but if you gave me a choice between Granderson and Jones, I'd take Jones. Again, that's no knock on Granderson, but Jones is a special player that you don't pass up on.
~Speaking of young guys, how about Ryan Perry for the Tigers? 18 appearances and a 2.33 ERA. He's only 22, one of our top prospects, and he's dealing. He's averaging about a strikeout an inning (that's future closer stuff) and he's holding down that middle relief role. With Zumaya back, we're starting to have the makings of a decent pen. Did you see Rodney's ERA? 3.32!?! I didn't think that was possible for Rodney. Anything below 5 would have shocked me at the beginning of the year. More impressive is that he hasn't blown a save yet this year. Okay, where is the real Fernando Rodney, and what have they done with him?
~It's funny, all off-season the Edwin Jackson for Matt Joyce trade that the Tigers pulled with the Rays was largely considered a win for the Rays. The Rays with their infinite pitching depth (although not so much anymore...you can never have enough pitching!) traded for a left-handed slugger they could plug into their outfield for some much needed pop. Joyce was supposed to breakout, but now he's toiling in AAA for Tampa Bay. Jackson is sporting a 2.58 ERA and is an absolute innings eater. Win Tigers. Again, Dombrowski is showing why he's one of the best in baseball.
~I keep trying to figure out the Tigers starting rotation...and it's hard. I want to find an order for them, like who the #3 guy is, the 4 guy, etc., but they all seem interchangeable. Here's my best guess:
1. Justin Verlander
2. Edwin Jackson
3. Rick Porcello (5 in a row!)
4. Armando Gallaraga (struggling...)
5. Dontrelle Willis
When Bonderman is ready (yeah, remember we still have him!) and comes back from his rehab, I'm guessing he takes Gallaraga's spot, which I would never have guessed at the beginning of the year, with Willis' struggles and the fact that Gallaraga was our best and most consistent pitcher last year. It can change like that, I suppose. And this is a good problem to have. Again, you can never have too much pitching!
~I want a little love for Cabrera. Perhaps some MVP talk? He's anchoring a line-up that hasn't hit that well (at least for average). I'd vote for him for MVP.
~And if Brandon Inge doesn't win a Gold Glove this year, it will be a traveshamockery.
Okay, I'm done.
Go Tigers!
~Mikey D
Today I had coverage for a gym class.
Coverage, in school terms, is filling in for another teacher while they're gone. Most people would call that "subbing", but I think that has a negative connotation amongst teachers, so they call it "covering" (substitutes are below us snobby teachers). You get the idea.
So I filled in for the gym teacher, who left plans to play soccer with the kids. Naturally, I was disappointed.
Out in the fields, the sixth graders did their usual fighting and bickering as they competed (hey, that's the age their at). After ten minutes of playing, however, everything turned against me. Yea, me.
"I hate soccer."
"Soccer is boring."
"Whoever invented this game sucks."
"Can we do something else?"
"Fuck this game." (true story)
My responses? Me too. I agree. Probably does. I wish. Please don't swear, we're in school.
Kev, today was not a good day for your sport. Kids chose to walk in circles around the track for the remaining 50 minutes rather than play soccer. WALKING was better than soccer to these kids.
So my gym coverage, which I was actually looking forward to at the beginning of the day because I would get to go outside and play, turned into a nightmare. All because we were assigned to play soccer.
Soccer ruined my day, which is why it sucks as a sport. I'm sure you will say the contrary, as it ruining my day is what makes it awesome.
And for that, I end my story (well, more of a recounting) with a fuck you to Kevin.
Fuck you, Kevin.
~Mikey D
15-13 might not sound too impressive, but it's a winning record and only 2 games back of division leading Kansas City (say what?!?). We have Guillen, Thames, and Bonderman out, and Zumaya just returning, so we're not quite at full strength yet. But this team is going to be there in the end, I feel it. Verlander is pitching great, Jackson and Porcello add some great punch to our starting rotation, and how can you not like what Galarraga has done? Can you imagine if we didn't trade Jurrigens to Atlanta for Renteria last year? We'd be stacked.
But did you see Granderson's catch last night?!?! FUCKING AWESOME. Bottom of the 9th, runner on 1st, up 1-0, and fan-favorite Grady Sizemore cracks one deep to center...and Granderson...holy shit. It's game over if that ball goes over the wall and it ruins Verlander's complete game shutout and makes the game just a demoralizing loss. But he brings it back, and the Tigers win. Awesome. Things just seem to be going more right than wrong this year, something that hasn't happened the last few years. I've said it once, I'll say it again- I love this team. Tigers vs. Cardinals in the World Series.
Life updates. Hmmm. Well our home-buying process is almost over. It has been far from enjoyable...well at least the loan part. Grace and I have had to get a thousand and six pieces of paperwork from everywhere (banks statements, student loan letters, etc.), and it has gotten to be such a tedious and annoying process. Getting the papers hasn't been the problem as much as getting the papers with everything the lender wants on them. Like we could provide a bank statement with all the account information, but our lender will ask us to provide a bank statement that has what our minimum monthly amount due on it- which is a pain, because we have to call and request and blah, blah, blah. The past couple weeks Grace and I have spent the majority of our time on our breaks at work and outside scrambling to get everything in order. But finally we can see the finish line...
We are on track to close this coming Wednesday, and I have a feeling it will be more of a relief than a joy. Perhaps when we finally move in I will feel that joyous feeling. We are planning on moving in during the middle part of June, as our apartment lease doesn't end anytime soon. We aren't going to move in right away so we can do some work on the inside. We plan on doing some painting, taking down a wall in the master bedroom to open up the closet (most fucked up closet design everrrrr), ripping up the carpet and laminate flooring and putting down some hardwoods- just basically getting the place ready for us and moving ourselves in gradually.
I think the thing I'm most excited about is the basement of our new house. I am very excited to finally be able to get DirectTV and the NFL Sunday Ticket and finally enjoy the Lions every Sunday. Well, perhaps enjoy is not the right word there, how about just watch the Lions every Sunday. That's better. But it's going to be my "man room", and Grace is perfectly fine letting it be that. I can finally get some of those old newspapers I have (Pistons 04' Championship, Tigers 06' AL Championship, Red Wings 08' Championship, etc.) framed and put up around the room. I'll have a place for all my balls, and I'll get a Fisher Price basketball net to shoot in, too. I'm pushing for spending some money on a recliner or a couch that is tacky and has cup holders and shit in it, but Grace is a little hesitant on that...but I have big plans for that room.
School is winding down. I just finished my spring semester at MSU, and have two more classes to take this summer until I get that Master's degree. It's going to be a busy summer, to say the least. The online program through MSU has been fantastic though. If anyone is thinking about going back to school, I recommend trying it online. I have gotten more out of the classes I have taken online than any of the others I took during my undergraduate. Do some research, because I'm sure there are plenty of crappy online programs available that wouldn't be worth the money, but there are some good ones out there. I actually feel like my money is being well spent instead of wasted.
I am going back to Dundalk (my current school) for my third year next year. The administration is thinking about moving me to 7th grade next year so there is a male presence in the grade, but I really don't want that. The future seventh graders, who I have right now as sixth graders, have no regard for human life. They couldn't give two shits and a fuck about anyone. Simple innate things like human compassion seem to be missing from their souls. Ah well. On the plus side I finally am starting to get a comfortable feeling because I know what the hell I'm doing now inside the classroom. Sometimes I still think it's weird I'm a teacher. I am very quiet, reserved, and shy in nature, but yet I can control a classroom of 30 rambunctious pre-teens. It's just...not what I expected I could do.
What is also in my nature is fucking with kids heads. So Kevin and Adam...if you ever meet my classes...be prepared. Kevin, if anyone asks, you indeed did kill a wild tiger with your bare hands on an African safari trip by snapping its neck, saving the people you were on the safari with. Adam, just so you know, you may have been a wide receiver at Delaware when Joe Flacco played there, and you may have caught around twenty touchdowns. Haha, kids are dumb sometimes.
So that's that on updates. Go Tigers. Go Wings. Go Lions mini-camps. Go bye bye A.I.
~Mikey D
Come on, Red Wings!!!!
You're killing me....get your shit together...like immediately.
Uggggggh.
~Mikey D
