Taking it while I can get it … and nothing more.
The Tigers are playing their most inspired baseball in about 15 years. And last night was very nearly a pure definition. The Detroit Free Press is calling last night’s game the most important in Comerica Park’s seven-year history, and they’re probably right.
Trying to hold on to, get this, first place, in the American League Central and maintain, again, get this, the best record in baseball, Detroit faced a very smoking Reds team. Granted, they beat the hell out of Detroit Friday night, but Saturday the team did what winners do, and bounced back, shaking off the Friday night loss and winning Saturday in extra innings. Detroit not only came out with big bats, but managed some excellent defensive field platys, being smart in the outfield and keeping Reds runners honest. Detroit makes plays now, doubling runners back to first for an out, whereas before, the man would advance, possibly even to third.
Granted, the young Joel Zumaya did give up a grand slam in the seventh to tie the game. These things will happen to even good pitchers, especially guys like Z who is, what, 14 years old? And the grand salami was given up to Ken Griffey Jr., who made it 540 for his career.
Yes, it is unbelievably refreshing that Detroit, after 42 games, is 28-14. A healthy Magglio Ordonez hit his 11th home run last night. Veteran lefty Kenny Rogers is 7-2 and the club has the best ERA in the majors right now. Everyone is on pace to crush this year. But I know, and most others fan should accept, that the 12-game losing streak lurks in the distance. That the numbers will drop eventually, as will the Tigers standings. Maybe. But in these days and nights, I will look no farther than the next game in what I expect from this club.
Recognition on ESPN? Great. But the real satisfying marker came last night, when it took us 20 minutes to park, when the concession lines, ALL of them, where a dozen deep at each register, when a vendor told me guys were coming up from Cinci to sell beer at the game, when the 45,000-plus crowd on a Saturday night in May was the fourth-largest in Comerica history. It’s unheard of in these parts.
I’m glad Corbett got us on he season-ticket plan years ago because when this team does make the playoffs, and it will, I’ll be there in the upper deck, bitches.There are a lot of people who have suffered through some horrible baseball in this town for a long time, me, chief among them. And nights like last night, as well as the promise of possibly more to come over the course of a long baseball season, regenerates a long-lost optimism. For people like me, who, for years, stood and rooted and hoped for better things, to actually see and enjoy a winning team, even if it is only for this week, I'm having an idea of what others mean when they say "these are days." Because I remember a lot of other days. I remember days going down to the stadium, paying $5 to park and $5 to get in when I had only $15 to my name on a rainy Tuesday night and payday was Friday. And I'll remember nights like last night, sitting in my hard-earned season ticket seats with the love of my life, with money in the bank, and a nice house on a quiet street, and a good job, and a strong freelance career and a big, cold fucking Labatt in my hand, not having to worry about, shit, should I really have spent this money. Add a 10-inning win, and a first place team and a city full of baseball hope and I shall agree that, indeed, these are days.
Trying to hold on to, get this, first place, in the American League Central and maintain, again, get this, the best record in baseball, Detroit faced a very smoking Reds team. Granted, they beat the hell out of Detroit Friday night, but Saturday the team did what winners do, and bounced back, shaking off the Friday night loss and winning Saturday in extra innings. Detroit not only came out with big bats, but managed some excellent defensive field platys, being smart in the outfield and keeping Reds runners honest. Detroit makes plays now, doubling runners back to first for an out, whereas before, the man would advance, possibly even to third.
Granted, the young Joel Zumaya did give up a grand slam in the seventh to tie the game. These things will happen to even good pitchers, especially guys like Z who is, what, 14 years old? And the grand salami was given up to Ken Griffey Jr., who made it 540 for his career.
Yes, it is unbelievably refreshing that Detroit, after 42 games, is 28-14. A healthy Magglio Ordonez hit his 11th home run last night. Veteran lefty Kenny Rogers is 7-2 and the club has the best ERA in the majors right now. Everyone is on pace to crush this year. But I know, and most others fan should accept, that the 12-game losing streak lurks in the distance. That the numbers will drop eventually, as will the Tigers standings. Maybe. But in these days and nights, I will look no farther than the next game in what I expect from this club.
Recognition on ESPN? Great. But the real satisfying marker came last night, when it took us 20 minutes to park, when the concession lines, ALL of them, where a dozen deep at each register, when a vendor told me guys were coming up from Cinci to sell beer at the game, when the 45,000-plus crowd on a Saturday night in May was the fourth-largest in Comerica history. It’s unheard of in these parts.
I’m glad Corbett got us on he season-ticket plan years ago because when this team does make the playoffs, and it will, I’ll be there in the upper deck, bitches.There are a lot of people who have suffered through some horrible baseball in this town for a long time, me, chief among them. And nights like last night, as well as the promise of possibly more to come over the course of a long baseball season, regenerates a long-lost optimism. For people like me, who, for years, stood and rooted and hoped for better things, to actually see and enjoy a winning team, even if it is only for this week, I'm having an idea of what others mean when they say "these are days." Because I remember a lot of other days. I remember days going down to the stadium, paying $5 to park and $5 to get in when I had only $15 to my name on a rainy Tuesday night and payday was Friday. And I'll remember nights like last night, sitting in my hard-earned season ticket seats with the love of my life, with money in the bank, and a nice house on a quiet street, and a good job, and a strong freelance career and a big, cold fucking Labatt in my hand, not having to worry about, shit, should I really have spent this money. Add a 10-inning win, and a first place team and a city full of baseball hope and I shall agree that, indeed, these are days.
posted by John at 7:43 AM
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