Don’t Jump! Punch still wallowing in Tiger defeat
By Punch N. Judy
BaseballBigMouth.com baseball news
In the end, they couldn’t even play a simple game of catch.
That’s what the Detroit Tigers will be remembered for in their first trip back to the fall classic since 1984. As jaws were jointly agape in unison, Tiger pitchers (and the Heckler’s favorite third baseman) single - handedly executed the single biggest choke job in Series’ history. And yes that includes Billy Buck in 86.’
Three days after Brandon Inge fanned in the top of the ninth to literally give away the Series,’ this blogger is still having difficulty digesting the heaping – helping of humble pie that is sure to settle in my gut for God knows how long. Count me as one of the many fans who for the last 15 years has asked only for meaningful games in September. Hell, after 2003 I would have settled for the same in mid – June. But now that the envelope has been pushed to the brink, I gotta be honest with you, anything short of a world championship from here on out will be greeted with grave disappoinment.
As the years of my adulthood fly by at breakneck speed, next year is today. Unfortunately for me the usual salve provided by other pro sports no longer can heal my wounds. I have slowly morphed into a one trick sport pony. It’s baseball or bust. As tempting as it is to analyze and second guess why the Detroiters played so pathetic, at this time I will resist the urge and instead ramble the rest of the way. Yes readers, you are about to become my shoulder to cry on.
BBM’s favorite ambassador Buck O’Neil died a couple of weeks back and the Tigers loss can’t help but remind me of a line he used in the story describing the 1919 Black Sox scandal. Citing how kids reacted to the revelation that the Series’ wasn’t on the up and up, Buck summed up the scandal with the child’s phrase, “that’s not fair.” I can’t think of a better way to articulate my feelings after such a debacle. Now that I think of it, Eddie Ciccote, Joe Jackson and Buck Weaver all had better Series’ than Inge, Magglio, and a certain few Tiger pitchers . . . Unless you’re the New York Yankees, there is an element of catching lightning in a bottle for any team that makes the post – season. That’s what makes this loss so tough to swallow. With the AL Central serving as the hands – down best division in either league, a return to the playoffs is hardly a given Anyone remember the promise once held by the Chicago Cubs? . . . I sure would have loved to watch Al Kaline and Willie Horton perform their reggae dance steps just one more time . . . Watching Tony La Russa lamely jump up and down in the Cardinal dugout made me realize just how long its been for this phony and his team to actually do something in a World Series . . . Who woulda thunk that out of all those errors commited by Tiger pitchers that not one would have Nate Robertson’s name attached to it? . . .
A busy Hot Stove season will get underway in about three weeks. Come back to Baseball Bigmouth for all your hardball news and notes. Until then, as they say . . . wait til next year.