Who would have thought with their crappy post ASB season, winning only what, 19 of 50 or so? And then giving up the division to the Twins in what seemed a lock, they went on to almost certain defeat against the Yankees, who they took in three straight games, after losing one.
Even after they beat the Yankees, many said they'd still lose against the A's, the commentators on ESPN and Sports Illustrated said A's in seven, for the most part. But the Tigs swept them in four, to win seven straight post season games.
Now they go on to play either the Cardinals, who they'd no be heavily favored to beat, or the Mets, who they'd be at least slightly favored to beat.
This could be the first time since the year I was born the Tigers will win the World Series, and like many are saying in Detroit, the Olde English D this year stands not for Detroit, but for Destiny.
Go Tigs! And good luck to both New York and St. Louis, we'll see you in Detroit next week!
PS I know there is a Baseball is here thread, but this is special, it's the World Series! And even MORE special, THE TIGERS ARE IN IT! Forgive me this indulgence.
Posted by Evie3217 (Member # 5426) on :
You know, Lyrhawn, every time I hear about the Tigers and how well they're doing, I think of you. I mean, if the Red Sox can't win the World Series, then at least an underdog will. Good luck, and I'll be cheering for the Tigers!
Posted by Stan the man (Member # 6249) on :
I've been wearing my Tigers hat as usual. Tonight at the club it brought about many comments. Including a few Yanks fans who are pulling for the Tigers to win.
Posted by Alcon (Member # 6645) on :
What Evie said, if it ain't gonna be the Red Sox then another underdog
Plus kudos(how the heck do you spell that?) to the Tigers for handing the Yankee's their arses on a silver platter! Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
So far the Yankees have fared better against the Tigers than anybody else has in the postseason. *shrug* The better the Tigers do, the less embarrassed we need to feel.
Posted by plaid (Member # 2393) on :
quote:Originally posted by Alcon: What Evie said, if it ain't gonna be the Red Sox then another underdog
Hey, as Red Sox fans like to remind Yankees fans, it's the Red Sox that won a more recent World Series. You can't brag about that AND claim to be an underdog. Posted by Alcon (Member # 6645) on :
quote:Hey, as Red Sox fans like to remind Yankees fans, it's the Red Sox that won a more recent World Series. You can't brag about that AND claim to be an underdog. [No No]
And as Yankees fans love to remind us, you guys have all the money and the ability to buy the star players. We're poor and win on guts and uber loyal fans. I think that makes us an underdog Posted by plaid (Member # 2393) on :
quote:Originally posted by Alcon: We're poor
You've got the 2nd largest payroll in the MLB, and you're poor???
That's like Wal-Mart saying that it's poor because Exxon has more money...
Posted by Alcon (Member # 6645) on :
quote:You've got the 2nd largest payroll in the MLB, and you're poor???
Really? Where do you find this sorta information? I just went looking for it and can't find it.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Check the baseball thread. I posted the payrolls of all the MLB teams there. I'll post it here too if you like.
Edit to add, here:
1. NY Yankees $198,662,180 2. Boston $120,100,524 3. LA Angels $103,625,333 4. ChiSox $102,875,667 5. NY Mets $100,901,085 6. LA Dodgers $99,176,950 7. Chic. Cubs $94,841,166 8. Atlanta $92,461,852 9. Houston $92,101,503 10. San Fran $90,862,064 11. Seattle $87,924,500 12. Philly $87,148,333 13. St. Louis $86,912,217 14. Detroit $82,302,069 15. Baltimore $72,585,712 16. Toronto $71,915,000 17. San Diego $68,897,179 18. Texas $65,129,570 19. Minnesota $63,810,048 20. Washington $63,267,500 21. Oakland $62,322,054 22. Cincinnati $59,162,015 23. Arizona $58,884,226 24. Cleveland $56,795,867 25. Milwaukee $50,540,000 26. KC Royals $47,294,000 27. Pittsburgh $46,867,750 28. Colorado $40,791,000 29. Tampa Bay $35,417,967 30. Florida $14,344,500
Posted by solo (Member # 3148) on :
Wow. Baseball really needs a salary cap.
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
Wow, 13th on the list, and battling it out neck and neck with the # 5 Mets. Gotta love St. Louis.
Posted by Stan the man (Member # 6249) on :
1. Magglio Ordonez 16,200,000 2. Ivan Rodriguez 10,616,410
These are the only two above 10 million salary this year. You have to go 11 players down on the Yankees to get less than 10 mill. 3 on Boston. 3 on the Angels. 3 for the White Sox. 5 on the Mets. 3 on the Dodgers. 2 on the Cubs (I didn't think the Cubs could ever afford that much). 5 on the Braves. 4 on Houston. 2 on the Giants. 3 on the Mariners. 3 on St. Louis.
Go Cards!!!!
Posted by Stan the man (Member # 6249) on :
Cards are doing good. I need them to not do good. If they go to the World Series it will ruin my plan. By some act of that one upstairs, my Tigers have to beat the Mets. It has been a while since I have had a little malicious fun. It's nothing physical, but it will be fun.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Our Tigers will beat either of them Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
Four baseball fans-a Yankees fan, a Red Sox fan, an Mets fan, and a
Cardinals fan - are climbing a mountain and arguing about who loves
his team more.
The argument goes on for some time, each fan insisting that he is the
most loyal fan and the most devoted to his team.
The Yankees fan insists he is the most loyal. "This is for the
Yankees!" he yells, and jumps off the side of the mountain.
Not to be outdone, the Red Sox fans shouts, "This is for the Red Sox!"
and throws himself off the mountain.
The Cardinals fan is next to profess his love for his team. He yells,
"This is for the Cardinals!" and pushes the Mets fan off the
mountain!!
GO CARDS !!!!!!!!!!!!!(And I don't mean the family of our illustrious author/host)
Posted by TheTick (Member # 2883) on :
Dan, that is so old. Last time I saw it was Bills fan version (pushing the Dolphins fan over the edge).
Posted by Ron Lambert (Member # 2872) on :
The next time they negotiate Justin Verlander's and Joel Zumaya's salaries, imagine how much the Tigers' total payroll will go up! Jeremy Bonderman, Nate Robertson, Fernando Rodney, and Todd Jones are due for a raise, too. Then among the position players, Carlos Guillen and Craig Monroe have stepped up to the first rank, and are certain to get more money.
[ October 19, 2006, 05:18 PM: Message edited by: Ron Lambert ]
Posted by Stan the man (Member # 6249) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lyrhawn: Our Tigers will beat either of them
Oh I believe so too. However, the ex is a Mets fan. I know that if for some ungoshly reason the Tigers lose, especially to the Mets, she will e-mail me about it. However, she is a woman of few words, mainly due to her limited brain capacity for vocabulary. I plan on trumpeting it up a bit more. Pictures, repeats of scores, Highlits of the games. You know, all the good stuff. Posted by plaid (Member # 2393) on :
Hey, Cards won!
One nice thing about this year's playoffs has been watching just how wrong the pundits have been; I think the Mets were the only faves to actually win a series...
(Mind you, I'm a Yankees fan, so I wasn't happy to see the Yankees lose. But I did get a bit of satisfaction in seeing the same pundits who'd been talking about how great the Yankees were, then go on to write about how wretched they were after they lost.)
Now the pundits are saying that the Tigers will win the World Series, since the NL is so weak compared to the AL... and that's got me thinking that the Tigers will now be cursed by the pundits' blessing...
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Nay!
For as the people are saying, this is the "Year of Destiny" for D-Town.
Folly has been the words of the fell pundits, and their words have wrought dark enchantments upon the land. But alone of the strongholds of the League of Majors, Comerica shall be a place where the Doom of Punditry will hold no sway, and where their words will take no stay. (I need to read less Tolkien).
Where else in this post-season have two teams that weren't given much of a chance faced off against each other? Both teams weren't supposed to make it this far, both are playing on borrowed time. Both are playing with a hell of a lot of heart, and with a fan base drugged to the gills with pride and euphoria. Both realize that they are already way past expectations and anything from here on out is just a bonus. I think there's little pressure on either team.
I was talking to Craig Monroe and Marcus Thames earlier tonight (they came to the sports bar I work at to watch the Cards game). They said they like having this break to let Zoomie (Zumaya) and those that needs rest up and be ready for the World Series, and they like the idea of the Mets and Cards wearing each other out and whoever wins having little rest before the Series starts. They don't really feel the pressure. They said it's a bit weird, because everyone is sort of feeling like our victory is destiny, it's in the offing, but they also said that they don't think that will make them play any less hard. Tough teams were beaten to get here, and they'll take the Cards no less seriously.
I say Tigers in Six. Cards aren't going to go quietly into the night, but the Tigers KNOW how good they can be, and they'll hold nothing back.
Posted by FlyingCow (Member # 2150) on :
Great game last night, though a couple of questionable called strikes on Wright in the bottom of the eighth.
Even so, bases loaded and Beltran gets caught looking?
This series may set the record for lowest ratings for a World Series ever. Neither team is from a major market - I mean, it's Missouri v. Michigan. The World Series doesn't even have commercials that will draw in viewers like the Super Bowl does.
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
Don't count on that. This is not the first time that two teams played the world series who were not from either coast, nor Atlanta.
One year it was KC vs STL--two Missouri teams.
Besides I don't now about the Tigers, but the Cardinals draw fans from Mephis to Chicago, Suiox City to Texas. Thanks to a historic KMOX super strong AM radio station from the mid-30's on, we have fans throughout the whole midwest.
Posted by FlyingCow (Member # 2150) on :
quote:Don't count on that. This is not the first time that two teams played the world series who were not from either coast, nor Atlanta.
Yeah, and last year (Chicago v. Houston) the ratings were the lowest they had been since ratings numbers were recorded. (An 11.1 rating for a 19 share)
They were bad enough to prompt an entire ad campaign featuring Tommy Lasorda to get people to watch even if their team isn't playing.
Looking at the ratings numbers it seems that same-state pairings (Mets v. Yankees in 2000, or Giants v. Angels 2002) are pretty low, too.
Numbers have been steadily dropping for the World Series in general. The average market share for 1968-77 was 54.2, then from 1978-87 was 46.8, then from 1988-97 was 33.2, then from 1998 to present was 23.1 - dropping about ten points per decade.
I'd expect a market share of around 17-20 for this year's series.
Posted by Ron Lambert (Member # 2872) on :
Tigers' manager Jim Leyland announced during a press conference today that Justin Verlander will start the first game. He will be followed in rotation by Kenny Rogers, Nate Robertson, and Jeremy Bonderman. So it looks like Verlander has already surpassed Rogers as de facto ace of the staff. But it looks to me like this is a good move. In a potential seven-game series, you want to order your rotation so your best pitchers can have a second start if necessary.
Leyland also said Joel Zumaya is healed from his irritation of the wrist and forearm, and will be used. He also said that Sean Casey, who suffered a torn calf muscle a couple of weeks ago, will play in the first game Saturday in Detroit, but only as DH. Depending on how well he does, he may then start at first base when the series moves to St. Louis (and there will be no DH). Let's hope Casey is really ready to go. I've had a torn calf muscle, and it took longer than two weeks to heal to the point where I did not feel a twinge with every step I took. It took that long for the discoloration caused by subcutaneous bleeding (which flowed downward into my foot) to clear away as the blood was reabsorbed. I bet if we could see Casey's bare foot, it would still be discolored. That was one violent snap of the calf muscle the TV camera caught. And remember, Casey injured his left calf during a swing of the bat, when he hit the ball (then was unable to run to first base). So "just" being Designated Hitter may not spare him from re-injuring his calf.
There seems to be an amusing contest to see which team is more entitled to be considered the underdog. One thing that factors in is that when the Tigers played the Cards during interleague play this season, the Tigers swept the Cards. But then you also have to remember the Cards were missing four or five important players, who are all but one back in the lineup now.
One peeve I have is the foolish greed of MLB scheduling post season games so late in the year in northern cities. And not only that, they still schedule night games! Sooner or later, we are going to have some players suffer frostbite during the game!
Posted by OSTY (Member # 1480) on :
Detroit is going to win it all! I am so pumped for Saturday!
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
It was beautiful outside tonight in Detroit. Frostbite shmostbite.
Tigers in five or six. My heart says five, my head says add some wriggle room with six.
Posted by Ron Lambert (Member # 2872) on :
Tigers' manager Jim Leyland and Cards' manager Tony Larussa, are best friends, so the teams should be expected to be respectful to each other. Brawls are unlikely. That is not to say the umpires will not come under fire if they have inconsistent strike zones, or botch any out/safe or fair/fowl calls. Tony Larussa, especially, has shown a fiery temper in past years. Maybe he's mellowed out some lately. Jim Leyland, in contrast, is very restrained. It takes a lot to get his goat. He strives to show little reaction in the dugout even when the Tigers win with a walk-off homer. The one time I saw him really break up is when Magglio Ordonez was the runner at first in a situation where he had to run with the pitch (two outs, full count), and the batter fouled off seven or eight pitches. Ordonez was running himself ragged running on the pitch each time, then having to drag himself back to first with his tongue hanging out. Leyland caught his eye and laughed and laughed. Then there was the time when he entered the clubhouse and announced dead pan that Ordonez' barber had died. Leyland does have a sense of humor, and really is very emotional. He just tries to keep it in check during games (usually).
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
I'm finding myself rapidly becoming a hard-core Tigers fan... it's a little scary! I'm not supposed to be into sports!
I guess it makes sense, though, the only sports games I've seen in the past four months or so have been Tigers' games. Way to get to know a team. Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
I'll lay off you during the early part of next season, I can't take THAT much baseball.
Get yourself geared up for Red Wings hockey
(Bit of a let down tonight...Grilli, Monroe and Thames were supposed to come into the restaurant where I work after the game. We were going to keep the restaurant up late just for them, but we got a call towards the end saying Thames wasn't coming now. Grilli was bringing his family, and decided to come anyway. I think this game comes as a wake up call. This might be our year, but it isn't being giftwrapped to us, we have to work for it. Kenny Rogers will show us how that's done tomorrow night, and they'll get back to basics)
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
*gears up for hockey*
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
I can't believe no one here brought up the Kenny Rogers thing, which I'm glad for.
Let's all just move on to the next game.
Posted by FlyingCow (Member # 2150) on :
Maybe cuz no one's watching? Posted by Stan the man (Member # 6249) on :
Hey now.
For me it's because I didn't see that big of a deal with it. Especially since he pitched better AFTER he washed it off. Officially it was just dirt. Other sources say there was some rosin (sp) involved. So? He's not taking drugs. That's to his benefit.
Posted by FlyingCow (Member # 2150) on :
Game 1 got a 15 share, which is the lowest of any World Series opener ever. Game 2 rebounded to get an 18 share, which is still lower than last year's record low average of 19. Together, it's the lowest ratings average for the first two games ever.
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
You are all right.
Come on Tiger fans, and all the rest of you Cardinal fans, lets just quit.
See, we were under the impression that this was a professional sport. Its really Sportsotainment.
Our teams goofed. They played well. They played better than the "more Popular" teams, and they won.
So we have to quit now, and politely turn in our pennants to the Mets and the Yankees, because they are more popular, sure they are lousy players, but they are more popular so they deserve to win.
After all, its not how you play, its who will pay.
Its not what you know, its who you know.
The most important statistics in baseball are provided by Neilson, aren't they?
I mean, look at how great scripted Wrestling is at bringing in the big bucks, the fans, and the endorsements. All we have to do is script out the season, decide who will be the hero's, the villians, the winners, and the losers. Don't worry, if you cry and scream loud enough, I'm sure they'll let your team be a winner.
And if ratings continue to drop we'll just add some other Wrestling standards. Why don't we turn the Houston Astro's into a team of female bathing suit models wearing lingere? The Pirates could dress like real Pirates--with hooks instead of gloves, and specially trained pop-fly catching parrots.
Yeah, lets just forget all about this athletic stuff, this good sportsmanship garbage, this merit based playoff idea.
So, on behalf of all the Tiger and Cardinal fans and players, to those of you who are gleeful over the poor ratings, and the "I told you so" attitude that your team would have been a bigger draw, we apologize.
We are sorry we were not bad enough so you could win.
We are sorry you are stuck spouting sour grapes.
We are sorry you can't loose like grown adults, but must whimper and cry like children.
We will try harder next year to play down to your level.
Just, don't hate us because we are good.
Posted by FlyingCow (Member # 2150) on :
LOL.
You're assuming incorrectly that I wanted a major market team to win. Or any team to win.
Actually, I'd be happy if baseball wasn't televised at all... or was given the same time slots as, you know, golf. That other game where people mostly stand around on grass and occasionally hit a ball with a stick.
Frankly I could care less about the sport. The only time it pops up on my radar is when it takes up the front page of espn.com or preempts television shows like the Simpsons. It seems that's the case for most people in the country.
The only way for it to gain national interest is for two teams from differing major markets to play each other. And even then, ratings are half what they were even a couple decades ago.
With the Super Bowl, people watch regardless of the teams involved. With college football, people watch teams that have nothing to do with their location, because they're interested in the game itself. That's the same with college basketball and the NBA.
Baseball's far more regional - people are in it for "their home team" and not for the game. The game itself is frankly pretty dull. It's the hometown bragging rights people care for, not the sport. People will sit down and watch a basketball or football game between almost any two good teams - not so with baseball, because if your home team ain't in it, there's no point wasting that many hours of your life.
Maybe with such a downturn in interest and ratings, there will be less advertising, the teams will make less money, the size of contracts will go down, and you won't have ridiculous $100 million payrolls for a sport few people actually watch.
So, on behalf of the people who don't care:
We're sorry your teams are boring.
We're sorry your sport can't garner any national interest.
We're sorry that the most notable thing about your national championship is whether or not a guy had dirt on his hand.
We'll try harder not to be so apathetic.
Don't hate us because we don't care about your overpaid hometown heroes.
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
Flying Cow--50 years ago words like that would have had you shot for a commie.
Today, I agree. I admit that the only reason I am interested in this thread is pure regionalism, not a love of the game. I got upset that despite how good my regional team was doing, nobody was even mentioning them.
No, my rant is not against the normal folks out there. Its against the "fans" who say they love the game, only they really just love when they win.
I'm that way, but I admit it.
Posted by FlyingCow (Member # 2150) on :
It's a hard game to love.
It involves a lot of standing around and waiting - and a lot of sitting around and waiting. These long periods of waiting are punctuated by very short flurries of activity.
It's like watching a subway security camera.
I used to be a fan when I was younger. I was a Mets fan up until 1985, when I went to a Yankees game and Don Mattingly hit a homerun to my section. Then I was a Yankees fan (I know, wonderful timing) until the strike in 1994, at which point I gave up on baseball entirely. (I know, again, wonderful timing).
I've been an off-and-on Giants (football) fan, but I'll watch almost any NFL game that hasn't become a blowout. I love Rutgers football and basketball, but I'll watch almost any college football or basketball game on television (including women's basketball, and even I-AA basketball if it's on).
I'll watch the NBA if there is absolutely no college game on, but to me the NBA is the basketball equivalent of arena football.
With baseball, I have no interest in the sport itself. I'd prefer almost any other sport (except golf or curling, perhaps). However, if the Yankees or Mets are playing at the end of the year, I might tune in just to have something to talk about at work.
You're right, though. 50 years ago I'd have been shot as a commie... but likely long before they ever found out about my feelings on baseball. Posted by Ron Lambert (Member # 2872) on :
Looks like the news media is trying to make the news, by continually agitating the question of what was the substance on the base of Kenny Roger's thumb in the first inning of game two. Whatever it was, cameras showed he must have washed it off between innings, and the Cards still could not hit him for the seven additional innings that he pitched after that. Nobody responsible chose to make an issue of the matter. Maybe the news media still holds against Rogers his pushing of the cameraman last year. Or maybe they are just trying to stir up controversy to increase ratings.
Posted by TheTick (Member # 2883) on :
I like how the sports pundits are making a bigger deal of it than the actual players and umpires are. Amusing.
Posted by FlyingCow (Member # 2150) on :
It's possible they're just trying to have something, anything, interesting to say about this world series.
A Cubs v. Yankees world series would spawn all manner of interesting historical stories, mostly along the lines of "Can the Cubbies do it?!? Can they take down the Big Bad Yankees!?!?"
A St. Louis v. Detroit series has no such inborn interest level, so they have to sensationalize the mundane in order to attract a national audience.
More people are talking about a brown smear that existed for a single half of a single inning than they are about the entirety of game one or the other eight and a half innings of game two. Without the smear, there wouldn't be anything to write about.
Posted by Stan the man (Member # 6249) on :
I am a hometown fan because I grew up watching them play. I root for Detroit no matter where I have lived (5 states in 8 years). I used to play baseball. Albiet, I wasn't any good at it. Since I don't have cable at the house I am stuck tracking the game on the computer. All 9 innings. Granted we just lost game 3. 5 to nill. Now we just have to win games 4, 5 and 6. I want the win to be in Detroit. I want my boys to party at home.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
MLB.tv?
Sad game, but I'm not really worried. Rogers will take Game Six, and I think Verlander will do better in Game Five. Bonderman can get the W for us tomorrow night, and we can win at home.
Posted by cmc (Member # 9549) on :
Wait - isn't the Series on Fox? Can you get the bunny ears to focus on that? If not - horrible. Just not fair.
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Well, historically I would root for the Cardinals, just because I'm a St. Louis fan some of the time, and have no loyalties to Detroit.
However, Detroit has a pitcher (Nate Robertson) who is from here in Wichita. So I should root for him and them.
So I'm straddling the fence.
FG
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
I believe that we need to make the St. Louis Cardinals the official team of Hatrack.
Why?
Well here are a few reasons:
5) They are going to win the world series. 4) [URL]= http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/writers/pete_mcentegart/10/25/ten.spot/ Top ten Cardinal personalities[/URL] 3) The Cardinal name is attractive to both the bird lovers amongst us, as well as the Catholics. 2) They have won the world series more often than any one other than the Yankees 1) "Cards" is short for "Cardinals". Would OSC and Family love for a whole state to be yelling "Yea Cards!"
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
I think we should make the Tigers the official team of Hatrack.
Why?
Well here are a few reasons:
1) They are going to win the world series. 2) Tigers are an endagered species and our support for them would help the world. 3) The last world series they won was the year I was born, that has to count for something. 4) I don't care if you have more reasons than I do, some of yours aren't even cool 5) We were the asrsenal of democracy, USA!
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
Go Cards!
Posted by Mama Squirrel (Member # 4155) on :
I watched a little of the game last night. I didn't see Dmitri Young. Does he still play for the Tigers? I helped him out in chem class in high school.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
He was let go for substance abuse related issues...for good this time.
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
That was the wrong type of Chemistry you were a teachin him I thinks.
Posted by Mama Squirrel (Member # 4155) on :
Wow! 0 for 2. I also went to high school with Marion Jones.
Posted by plaid (Member # 2393) on :
Yep, looks like the Tigers have indeed been cursed by the pundits' blessing...
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Not over until it's over. We won three straight from the Yankees. No reason why we can't do it against the Cards.
Posted by Stan the man (Member # 6249) on :
What was it? 1968 that we won the world series against the Cards? I think so. We ended up coming from behind by winning the last 3 games. One of the guys at work and I think it would be kinda funny if they did it again.
Posted by Ron Lambert (Member # 2872) on :
The Tigers are down three games to one. But that happened in the 1968 series with the Cards too, and the Tigers went on to win most gloriously. The announcers mentioned an interesting statistic--that the team that wins game four in a split series (any series that is not a sweep) always goes on to lose the series. I don't know why that should be. Coincidence, of course, does not make natural law. The Cards have been up 3-1 in the World Series twice before, and blown it--in 1968 against the Tigers, and in 1985 against the Royals. Of course, those Cards teams were different teams from the present one. So logically, how much should history matter?
The Tigers are a unique team--to be in the World Series a year after not even reaching .500, and three years after setting a record for most losses in the Ameridan League. Also, they have set a world series record for four errors (so far!) committed by their pitchers. Must be nerves. Most of the players are young and have never been in the playoffs, let alone the World Series.
It's all up to pitcher Justin Verlander for the Tigers tonight. My view is he is a better pitcher than the Cards' starter, Jeff Weaver. But there is no telling which pitcher will turn up with his best game, or less than best. And who next will commit a bone-head error?
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Oy. Should have stared Kenny Rogers. On light rest I still think he would have been better than Verlander did.
Good stuff Cards.
Posted by cmc (Member # 9549) on :
Do I really have to wait until April for more MLB?
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
St. Louis says: Posted by ricree101 (Member # 7749) on :
It's official. God hates the cubs. What else could possibly explain both the White Sox and Cardinals winning the world series in a two year period.
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
The difference between the Cubs and the Cardinals. The Cardinals won a World Series in their new ball park the first year.
The Cubs are still waiting after, how old is Wrigley?
Posted by Ron Lambert (Member # 2872) on :
Lyrhawn, actually Verlander did not pitch badly, after he got over his frightful case of nerves in the first inning. What did the Tigers in was eight errors in five games, allowing eight unearned runs. Do the math--that was the margin of loss in every game they lost. Five errors by pitchers set a new record for the World Series. And the series only went five games--thankfully! Sadly true was the taunting sign held up by a fan, "Hit it to the pitcher!"
Even as a life-long Tigers fan, I have to admit, a team that makes eight errors in five games does not really deserve to win the World Series.
Congrats to Tony LaRussa, who now has managed World Series Champions in both leagues, only the second manager to accomplish that after Sparky Anderson. Maybe next year Jim Leyland will join that list, too.
Come spring training, I bet the Tigers' pitchers pay closer attention to fielding practice for pitchers.
Posted by plaid (Member # 2393) on :
Sorry Tigers fans ... but at least there's the consolation(?) that 3 of the 4 losses were close games; whereas the last 2 the Yankees lost to the Tigers were painfully lopsided...
Posted by FlyingCow (Member # 2150) on :
Seems the series ended with a 16-17 share, about 20% lower than last year's record low. Yikes.
Posted by Ron Lambert (Member # 2872) on :
I'm trying to figure out the reasons for the low market share you mentioned, FlyingCow. The Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals may not have the the glamor of the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox, but neither did the Chicago White Sox or Houston Astros, last year.
What probably affected viewership was the rain delays and even one rain postponement in this year's World Series.
Here is yet another case for having the World Series in a domed stadium, with the site selected like the Superbowl. The home teams would be out their gate receipts, though a sharing arrangement can be made with the chosen World Series site; but the preservation of good viewer market share might be worth it.
Posted by FlyingCow (Member # 2150) on :
Last year was the lowest ratings share in the history of the world series. Now this year is the lowest (Edit: to add link showing a 10.1 rating and 17 share as final numbers)
I think a lot of it is that people watch baseball because of regionalism. It gives people something to talk about, even if they don't watch the games. How'd those Dodgers do last night? or Can you believe those damn Yanks beat us again?
Baseball's a great sport to check in every twenty minutes or so to see the score... before going back to whatever it is you were doing. It's not a sport people will just tune in to watch, regardless of the teams. It's either their own team or nothing - and even then, a lot of people don't have the patience to sit through a baseball game for their own team.
I saw some television station offering a "condensed" replay of games - taking out all the downtime and only including the important plays. You could condense baseball down to an hour that way, I swear. And even then it would be pretty dull if a viewer's team wasn't involved.
Baseball's problem is that the lion's share of the game is just a lot of tense standing or sitting around. The most physical activity you see at any one time is when the teams are running on or off the field between halves of innings.
Unless next year's series pits two well known teams from opposing major markets, the ratings will likely slip again. It's only a matter of time before the world series drops to second or third in the ratings on any given night, behind reruns of CSI or Survivor.
[ October 30, 2006, 11:14 PM: Message edited by: FlyingCow ]
Posted by FlyingCow (Member # 2150) on :
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... but at least there's the consolation(?) that 3 of the 4 losses were close games; whereas the last 2 the Yankees lost to the Tigers were painfully lopsided...