Meet the parents: The Judy’s do Comerica Park
By Punch N. Judy
BASEBALL BIG MOUTH
baseball news blog
While envisioning a day when $7.50 daiquiris replace beer as the standard ballpark drink . . . Punch and the parents took in Thursday’s Tiger victory over the Texas Rangers. Along with my oldest boy Shea, we got to Nemo’s Bar, (rated the number three sports bar in America, courtesy of Sports Illustrated) at five o’clock and started tailgating. The contrast in seasons between years past and 2006 is truly amazing. A parking lot that rarely was half-full in since the opening of Comerica Park, now resembles a shopping mall the week before Christmas. There’s no road rage however in this bunch. No near fist-fights over an open spot that two drivers would like to claim. It’s all peace and love, baby. Sipping a couple of cold ones while gazing at the old ballpark on the corner of Michigan and Trumble is one of life’s true pleasures for this ball fan…It was nice to see Kenny Rogers pick up his first W since the all-star break. Written off as a pitcher who couldn’t put together even a decent second half, the ”Gambler” has put together 18 innings of one-run ball… As Marcy Judy remarked after another clutch two-out hit: Where would the Tigers be without the recent resurgence of Dmitri Young? Count Punch as a skeptic when D.Y, (a.k.a Rerun) made his return to the club. A slow bat and terrible pitch selection had this career three hundred hitter looking a lot like Bobby Higginson at the end of the line. Nowadays though he looks like the one guy who could bust through any tough pitcher…Its official: Pizza has taken over as Punch’s concession of choice. Far more economical than the hotdog, (and better tasting too) the lineup at the pizza stand is also much shorter. Shush, don’t tell too many people…The cult status Joel Zumaya is fostering with his ridiculous fastball is an amazing thing to be a part of. I’m telling you, if you got goose bumps watching Charlie Sheen close games for the Tribe a few years ago, just try staying in your seat when Zoom comes rambling in from the bullpen to the strains of Voodoo Child…If you happened to see a kid and his Dad walking around the concourse with only one shoe on, it was Punch and Shea. The little guy blew a tire and was only placated when Dad went sans one shoe as well… I really don’t know what this Bengal team will do in the playoffs, (yes folks I’m guaranteeing there bid right here) and at this point I really don’t care. Just enjoying the ride you might say. I will predict though after watching the doubleheader between the Yanks and the Red Sox that if first-time playoff jitters don’t get the best of our young staff, one of these over-priced pretenders are in for a shock. The Tigers aren’t privy to many slugfests… The sense of this group becoming “our team” in the mold of those 84’ stalwarts is really picking up steam. Comerica Park will never get its foundation rocked like Tiger Stadium but that’s just acoustics. Let’s face it, The Corner was a small club with The Who on stage when filled to capacity…The Placido Polanco injury is one that I hate to downplay but… on a team of interchangeable parts the only guy that would really be devastating to lose would be Pudge. Omar Infante strikes out too much on a team that seems to strike out at least ten times every game, but really, would the club be better served by picking up a guy like Mark Bellhorn? Please…Until they finally blow up Tiger Stadium I don’t think Detroiters will recognize the beauty of Comerica Park. The statues in and around the building are an impressive feature needs to be seen to be appreciated… Now back to those daiquiris. I’m a beer guy at heart believe me, but if I gotta pay a ten spot for a drink I want it to at least stay cold for more than half an inning. With a potent four shots of Vodka per flute though, I strongly advise the gentle art of sipping… Check Punch out next time as I labor through a post covering the JV, better known as the National League…