Who cares about the record? Who cares about the standings? Who cares about anything right now?
The Tigers have finally won a game. And that, my friends, is all that matters.
Oddly enough, it was the exact opposite of every other game played this year. The Tigs fought back from a 2-0 deficit, they got clutch hitting, they got a great bullpen performance and, wouldn't you know it, they held on at the end. Is this a new beginning? Who knows. But, it definitely isn't another loss.
I don't think I've ever been quite has happy to put up with another Todd Jones rollercoaster ride either. Right when he started throwing, the prediction went out - "Loads the bases, gives up a grand slam, and then strikes out three." He came pretty close as well, but I'll take a rollercoaster Jonesy appearance that ends in a win over not seeing him at all in another demoralizing loss. The best thing is the punctuation that came with it - the camera panning over to Todd grimacing as the final out was made. Perfect.
It was definitely nice to see some smiles on the Tigers' faces. Miguel Cabrera went so far as to do a double fist pump, and since he's been playing like the weight of the world has been on his shoulders, hopefully he'll loosen up and play his game a bit more now.
Big players today - Bobby Seay, Francisco Beltran, Denny Bautista, Marcus Thames, Carlos Guillen, and last but certainly not least, Edgar Renteria. The first three guys put the game in lock-down mode after Bondo left the game, who got the win and pitched pretty well, and the bullpen actually looked serviceable. Not something I will probably be saying that often this season. Thames and Carlos hit gigantic home runs that got the Tigers back in the game (the former) and put the icing on the cake (the latter). Edgar went 3-4 and scored two of the Tigers' runs and is going to be a force in the back-end of the Tigers lineup this year.
Listen, as a Michigan State Spartan, I know the importance of moral victories. It's really rare that a moral victory and an actual victory coincide. But, getting that "1" in the win column is huge for this team. Now, if the Tigs can go out behind Nate Robertson and steal another one in Boston, they can get out of Dodge with a series win. Who would have thought that about, say, six hours ago?
1-7. As long as there's something on the left side of that ratio, I feel infinitely better about life.
Edit: Potential bullpen savior Francisco Cruceta, who you might remember was stuck in the Dominican Republic with visa issues, will pick up his visa in the Dominican capital of Santo Domingo and can finally ship off to Lakeland to get in shape to join the team. Coincidence that this news was released right before the first Tigers victory? I think not. All hail the newborn savior!
The Tigers have finally won a game. And that, my friends, is all that matters.
Oddly enough, it was the exact opposite of every other game played this year. The Tigs fought back from a 2-0 deficit, they got clutch hitting, they got a great bullpen performance and, wouldn't you know it, they held on at the end. Is this a new beginning? Who knows. But, it definitely isn't another loss.
I don't think I've ever been quite has happy to put up with another Todd Jones rollercoaster ride either. Right when he started throwing, the prediction went out - "Loads the bases, gives up a grand slam, and then strikes out three." He came pretty close as well, but I'll take a rollercoaster Jonesy appearance that ends in a win over not seeing him at all in another demoralizing loss. The best thing is the punctuation that came with it - the camera panning over to Todd grimacing as the final out was made. Perfect.
It was definitely nice to see some smiles on the Tigers' faces. Miguel Cabrera went so far as to do a double fist pump, and since he's been playing like the weight of the world has been on his shoulders, hopefully he'll loosen up and play his game a bit more now.
Big players today - Bobby Seay, Francisco Beltran, Denny Bautista, Marcus Thames, Carlos Guillen, and last but certainly not least, Edgar Renteria. The first three guys put the game in lock-down mode after Bondo left the game, who got the win and pitched pretty well, and the bullpen actually looked serviceable. Not something I will probably be saying that often this season. Thames and Carlos hit gigantic home runs that got the Tigers back in the game (the former) and put the icing on the cake (the latter). Edgar went 3-4 and scored two of the Tigers' runs and is going to be a force in the back-end of the Tigers lineup this year.
Listen, as a Michigan State Spartan, I know the importance of moral victories. It's really rare that a moral victory and an actual victory coincide. But, getting that "1" in the win column is huge for this team. Now, if the Tigs can go out behind Nate Robertson and steal another one in Boston, they can get out of Dodge with a series win. Who would have thought that about, say, six hours ago?
1-7. As long as there's something on the left side of that ratio, I feel infinitely better about life.
Edit: Potential bullpen savior Francisco Cruceta, who you might remember was stuck in the Dominican Republic with visa issues, will pick up his visa in the Dominican capital of Santo Domingo and can finally ship off to Lakeland to get in shape to join the team. Coincidence that this news was released right before the first Tigers victory? I think not. All hail the newborn savior!