MY BOYS CAN SWIM!!!!

Can't Wait Till Baseball Starts

The Detroit Tigers open the 2008 season up against The Kansas City Royals. Its not even Christmas yet and I can't wait till baseball starts. The reason for this is the Detroit Tigers Pitching and Batting line ups.
Granderson, CF. First player since Willie Mays to hit 20 doubles, 20 triples, 20 HR's in the same season.
Polanco, 2B. Hardly ever strikes out and it seems like he is always on base. Solid fielder.
Cabrera,3B. Career stats: 138 HR, 523 RBI, .313 BA, 449 R and OBP .388. And he is only 24 years old! Wow
Ordonez,RF. Had a career year last year. Led the league in hitting and was second behind A-Rod in the MVP balloting.
Sheffield, DH. Even though he is in the autumn of his career, he has an explosive bat. Future Hall Of Famer.
Guillen, 1B. In my opinion, he has been one of the most underrated players in the past few years.
Renteria, SS. This is the one player I'm not sure about. He does have good career numbers but I am going to play it safe and say the jury is out on him.
Rodriguez, C. The spark plug for this team. Future Hall Of Famer. I would have to say is probably my favorite player on the team.
Jones/Thames, LF. Jacque Jones and Marcus Thames will probably be platooning at the this spot. Jones is an above average fielder while Thames could probably start on most teams. The dude is an old school power hitter.

Starting Pitching:
Verlander, RHP. For as young as he is, the guy pitches like a veteran. Can bring the heat.
Bonderman, RHP. I am hoping he can put together a complete year. Seems like he always starts off hot but has a second half let down.
Willis, LHP. One of the reasons I am excited about this year. To have this guy as your possible third or fourth starter. WOW!
Rogers, LHP. Probably his last year. He is a work horse and is like having an extra pitching coach to help along the youngsters on the pitching staff.
Robertson, LHP. I have never really big a big fan of this guy. He seems to always blow up around the third or fourth innings. Hopefully with all the other talent on the staff maybe he can relax and just pitch.

They are saying that this team is going to push for a World Series Title. Which scares me a little. Hope they dont put to much pressure on themselves to win. But it is very nice to know they are already talking about how great the Tigers are before the season starts. That is something Tiger fans are not use to.

Thanks

Earlier this week Lloyd Carr announced his retirement. He started the press conference with a poem. I tought it was perfect.

By your own soul learn to live.

If some men thwart you, take no heed.

If some men hate you, have no care.

Sing your song, dream your dream.

Hope your hope and pray your prayer.

Thanks Lloyd.

Dropping The "F" Bomb!

Well yesterday Michigan had their asses handed to them by Ohio State 14-3. Right before halftime I really thought the momentum was starting to go Michigan's way. But to many missed opportunities just killed them. Too many dropped balls. The O-line just looked over matched. Ending result, another year of being Ohio States bitch. I no longer hate them, I loath them. Now word is that Lloyd Carr will announce his retirement tomorrow morning. I may be in the minority here but I really was hoping this wasn't going to be the end result. Here is a very good article from Detroit Free Press writer Mitch Album. http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071118/SPORTS06/71118039
There is actually a point he makes that made I also made the other night in my blog about Lloyd. Well I suppose i can chalk this up as lost weekend. But I did find this clip today and it made me laugh.
Lee Corso totally hits the nail on the head and pretty much describes how I was feeling yesterday watching the game. This is why I love Lee Corso. I am back on the road to recovery.

BO

On the eve of this years Michigan, Ohio State game I had to write about the legendary coach Bo Schembechler. When I was 11 years old, back on Jan 1st 1983, my Dad and Uncle took me to the Rose Bowl to watch Michigan face UCLA. It was the first time I had ever seen them play. I can remember so much about the game still, 24 years later. I remember seeing the team drive up to the stadium, on the team bus. I was cheering my little heart out. Waving at the team as they drove by. I can remember seeing Bo sitting at the front of the bus opposite the driver. It was the first time I can remember seeing a famous person. We then made our way into the stadium to our seats. I was so excited. I was almost jumping out of my skin. Then the Wolverines took the field lead by Bo. The Michigan marching Ban played "The Victors". ( The best fight song EVER!) I had tears in my eyes I was so excited. I felt as though I was in Heaven. The only thing that would have made it a better day is if Michigan had won. They ended up losing 24-14. I had gone from tears of joy to tears of disappointment. Even though they lost, it was a great day and an experience I will never forget.
The next day I wrote a letter to Bo, telling him that I was sorry about loss. When my Uncle heard I had sent Bo Schembechler a letter, he told me that Bo would be to busy to respond to a letter from me. At the time it made sense. So I kind of forgot all about it. That February my uncle passed away suddenly. By this time I had totally forgotten about the letter. But then I came home from school one day about a week after my uncle's funeral and there was a letter post marked from The Sports Information Department of The University of Michigan. When I opened it, there was a black and white photo of Bo. Signed " To Mark. Go Blue! Bo Schembechler" Now I have never really been lucky. But I assume I felt the way someone would feel once they found out they just won the lottery. I couldn't believe it. He actually took the time to do such a thing for some 11 year old kid who he would never meet. But what I have read about Bo, this is something not out of the ordinary. Now through the years I have had a few memorable moments. But this was definitely my first. I still have photo. In the same frame my Dad rushed out to get at Thrifties after he came home from work. I only wish it had come a few weeks earlier, so I could have shown my Uncle. Thanks Bo.

Woody

Even Woody Hayes loves Michigan Football!!!

Lloyd

Its been a while since I have written anything and since one of my passions is Michigan Football, I just had to write my thoughts on this past year and Lloyd Carr. Michigan started the season with two very bad losses. Like a lot of other Michigan fans, I was calling for Lloyd Carr's job. Total knee jerk reaction. I have to say I am actually worried that he may leave the program. As the saying goes " Be careful for what you wish for. It may come true." Now I know eventually a new coach will take over the Maize and Blue. But who is out there that can take the program to the next level? I am really worried that if Carr leaves and a new coach is brought in, that Michigan fans will be very disappointed. Look what has happened in South Bend. The new coach would be asked to perform miracles and win at an almost unheard of rate. Carr's record is 121- 39. His bowl record is 5-7. In comparison here is Bo Schembechler's record 194-48-5. Bowl record 5-12. So I think its fair to say that Carr has continued a solid winning tradition that any college football program would be envious of. Sure our Bowl record sucks. It sucked before Carr took over and to be honest when it comes to the bowl games I have always expected the worse. That's just the pessimist in me. If we win a bowl game, great. If not, there is always next year. This weekend is the classic match up Michigan, Ohio State. The One Game Season. The Rivalry. Carr has struggled against the Buckeyes the last few years. If this is to be Carr's last season, I am hoping the team can rally around him and send him out on a winning note. GO BLUE !!!