Tigers continue battle with Men in Blue
By Punch N. Judy
BaseballBigMouth.com baseball news
The recent spate of Tiger ejections - which usually result in some sort of fine and/or suspension - would in most cases lead you to believe the club has degenerated into a group of whiners. That maybe the manager has lost control of his team, and should perhaps inject a dose of discipline as a means of reigning in a pack of egos run amok.
However, unlike the Pistons who have made arguing with the officials an in-game priority, the Tigers have for some reason seemed justified in most of their rhubarbs, whether it be the squeezing of the strike zone, or bang-bang judgment calls.
In last night’s game it was Jim Leyland himself blowing a gasket over what should have been a called third strike in the ninth to the lead off batter. Of course on the next pitch, Michael Cuddyer ripped a single that could have led to the score being tied had Todd Jones not settled down to retire the side in order.
According to ESPN, Gary Sheffield was fined an undisclosed amount for his recent remarks that an umpiring conspiracy exists in the game. Although known as a standup guy who speaks what’s on his mind, I sometimes wonder where Sheff is coming from. I highly doubt the conspiracy theory, I just think that by and large the quality of umpiring has diminished since the union amalgamated and allowed a free for all system where NL and AL crews work both leagues.
Just because the Yankees stunk earlier in the year, it seems the in thing to do in Gotham is to draw comparisons between 78’ and now. As cute as it is, I just don’t see it. Neither of these clubs will approach 100 wins, and even though one of them will make the playoffs by default, I suspect they won’t be long for October. Holes in both pitching staffs will inevitably be someone’s undoing as once again power pitching will rule.
The 30th anniversary of the Reggie Bar was recently talked about in New York, glowingly I might add, as if 45,000 people throwing objects on the field would be tolerated in today’s politically correct sporting event world. According to the late Catfish Hunter, the Reggie Bar was so good though that when you took off the wrapper “it told you how good it is.”
Yeah, Fernando Rodney’s sideways hat can be annoying when he’s getting lit up, but at least he’s not making $10 million a year like Kei Igawa is for Yankees while wearing those flashy Oakley’s.
Don’t look now but Paul Konerko has 20 dingers for the White Sox, who after suffering through a dreadful June seem to be turning it on a little. Kind of reminds me of the good old days in Detroit when Carlos Pena would get hot and talk of finally reaching .500 was bandied about.
Forget about A-Rod coming to Detroit, at a reduce price no less, for the chance to play on winner and the low key approach of Jim Leyland and Dave Dombrowski. When a man of Alex’s stature has the chance to rocket the pay scale further into the stratosphere, it’s the union who leans on them to go for broke. The Tigers success in dealing with Scott Boras aside, I just can’t see it happening.
Clown of the Week – New York columnist Phil Muschnick who would like to see veteran umpire Bruce Froemming labeled a racist and fired for remarks made to his wife that were overheard by an MLB exec when he neglected to properly hang up the telephone receiver. What did Froemming say? “Screw that Jew bitch.” Granted not the nicest thing to say, but as my old boss Wayne Sandor would reply, “Well is she Jewish?”
Quote of the Week – “Where has the time gone.” – Hockey legend Bobby Hull when told the news that old rival and eventual friend John Ferguson Sr. had succumbed to prostate cancer.
Editor’s note - Baseball and Eggs will appear every Thursday, and serves as a form of self–therapy for this clinically insane baseball fan. The baseball part is self–explanatory. The eggs however, could pertain to just about anything on Punch’s mind from Wednesday to Wednesday.
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