Baseball is doing a lot of things right these days. It has labor peace. It had riveting pennant races and a stirring postseason. It has someone other than the Yankees or Red Sox winning the World Series. Now, these latest huge moves have me confused, mildly concerned and thoroughly intrigued. I love the expected new … Continue Reading →
The Tigers are close and eager to get closer. To take the step from division champ to pennant champ to World Series champ won’t be easy, but if you’re expecting one huge move, don’t count on it. After winning 95 games and beating the Yankees in the playoffs, the Tigers certainly are capable of another … Continue Reading →
It was the Lions’ biggest win in many years for many reasons, including the venue and the way they won. But there’s another reason their 26-23 overtime victory over the Vikings was fairly momentous: Matthew Stafford took a beating and kept on flinging. Hey, if we’re going to spend the whole off-season and pre-season wondering … Continue Reading →
Jim Schwartz probably doesn’t like how he looked after the Lions’ loss to the 49ers. Jim Harbaugh probably doesn’t care how he looked. Frankly, I think their tiff — or to use a football term, kerfuffle — was the perfect window into two teams and two coaches. I’ll even add this: It was fun to … Continue Reading →
Playing with pain is part of the game. That’s always understood in football. It’s rapidly becoming understood in these baseball playoffs. Victor Martinez uttered a classic quote late Tuesday night after straining a side muscle while hitting a home run to help the Tigers beat the Rangers in Game 3. I asked if he was … Continue Reading →
The Tigers are so good right now, they’re too darn good. It’s almost incomprehensible what they’ve done the past five weeks, so dominant they’ve rendered their closing seven-game home stand moot. If you were planning to celebrate wildly at Comerica Park as the Tigers clinched their first division title in 24 years, oops. With a … Continue Reading →
The best part about the Tigers’ big lead in the Central is that it means October baseball is looming. The worst part is, everyone becomes a mathematician. For the next few weeks, you’ll hear about magic numbers and second-half numbers, and you’ll hear this about 8,146 times: If the Tigers just play .500 the rest … Continue Reading →
Tom “Killer” Kowalski will be laid to rest this week by his family and friends, a somber event that’s sure to be followed by tears and laughter and beer and stories, so many stories. Killer will be ticked he missed it — especially the beer and the stories. The man was large in every way, … Continue Reading →
It’s too early to freak out, but not too early to wonder. Once again, the Lions are hunting for a running game and plowing through running backs trying to find one. There’s no doubt, when healthy, this is a passing offense, led by Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson. But Jim Schwartz knows he needs a … Continue Reading →
We know who the Tigers’ best pitcher is. It’s Justin Verlander, of course. We know who their best hitter is. It’s Miguel Cabrera, of course. (Or Victor Martinez, sometimes). We know who their best defensive player is. It’s Austin Jackson, of course. And if you ask me, I’d say Verlander is the Tigers’ MVP. But … Continue Reading →