A Thousand Deaths

First things first, I'm over at Romancing The Blog today talking about Great Moments In Romance Genre History. OK, maybe it's not quite that involved. Still, I spent a fair amount of time banging my tiny pea brain against the proverbial wall trying to come up with a topic for this post - so why not go on over and check it out? Maybe leave a comment? C'mon, you know you want to.

In other news, for those of you insane enough to watch last night's tie-breaker between the Tigers and the Twins, now you know what the hell I've been going through all year long. Everyone is now talking this morning about what a great game it was, and how it's an instant "classic."

Horse hooey.

By my count, the Tigers stranded 349 base runners last night. You cannot win games when you strand base runners, and you sure as hell don't win games against the Twins doing that crap. You cannot leave the door open on the Twins. They will, sooner or later, waltz right on through it. Which is what they did last night. So once again I get to watch the Tigers do a late season swoon, while the Twins, once again, kick on the afterburners and finish strong.

Sigh.

Oh well.

Not that it matters much.

In theory it doesn't really matter who won the American League Central because on paper the Yankees should mop the floor starting today. Of course the playoffs are kind of funny. So often it's not about the best team, the all-star players, or who even had the better record during the regular season. Nope. It's all about who gets "hot" at the right time. And the Twins could, in theory, get hot after last night's emotionally draining win. We'll see though. My money is still on the Yanks (damn their black, merciless souls) although my heart is now rooting for the Angels.

As for the National League? Watch out for the Cardinals. As for that other southern California team? Joe Torre or no Joe Torre coaching them, I don't believe in the Dodgers. Sorry L.A.

Massive Fangirl Squee!

I know, two posts in one day. I normally don't do this - but damn, I'm making an exception.

Detroit Tigers outfielder, and my fantasy boyfriend, Curtis Granderson knows I exist! ::dead faint::

This season Curtis is guest blogging on Yahoo's Big League Stew and last week they asked readers to e-mail in questions for Curtis to answer in a "mailbag" segment.

They chose my question! Squeeee!

I'm a librarian and a long-time Tigers fan. I'm wondering if anyone on the team likes to kill time by reading while traveling on road trips. Books, magazines, newspapers — I'm not picky, just about anything counts. Please tell me not everyone is plugged into their iPod.

— Wendy, formerly from Kalamazoo, MI, now in CA.

I can't lie, the iPod is always on most players. A lot also read too — mostly newspapers (usually USA Today, or the local paper depending on the city), magazines (ESPN The Magazine, Sports Illustrated, Maxim, etc...). For me, when I try to read a book, they always usually put me to sleep. It's not because of a lack of interest, but because the reading relaxes me to the point where my body falls asleep within the first few pages.

Oh Curtis. All you need is the help (and dare I say it, love?) of a good librarian to steer you towards books that don't put you to sleep. I actually know the ideal person. She's smart, funny, incredibly humble, with an incredible sense of fashion (what, doesn't every librarian wear a tiara and a cape?).

You can read the whole mailbag blog post here. But honestly? I already posted the best part.

Squeeeee! ::dead faint::

Throw Your Panties....

At Curtis Granderson. Seriously.

Last night, we "paused" the Tigers-Indians game while me, My Man and the Super Librarian parents ate dinner. And boy howdy, I'm glad we did. Curtis Granderson. Love of my life. Stud muffin. Not-so-secret crush. Robs Grady Sizemore of a hero-making walk-off homerun in the bottom of the 9th inning. Tigers win. Indians lose. Sizemore cries himself to sleep that night.

OK, so I'm not so sure about that last part. But a girl can dream.

Needless to say everyone in the Bat Cave living room (well except for Mom who was covering her ears) had thrown their arms up in the air and were whooping and carrying on. Beyond awesome.



And yeah, I know the Indian announcers suck....but I couldn't find video of the Tigers announcers who were suitably freaking out.

Still A Douche After All These Years

The Boyfriend has admitted to me that he's only a Toronto Blue Jays fan until Roy "Doc" Halladay takes his pitching prowess to another team. It's too depressing to watch them most of the time, especially this year when they are once again trotting out the horrible Josh Towers to pitch and almost every guy on the team has spent time on the disabled list.

The Yankees routed them last night (9-2), but it sounds like I missed a heck of a game. One thing about the Jays - they have long, long memories. Also, their manager looks like he could hold his own in a bar fight. Just saying.

Back in May, Douchey-McDouche (oh, sorry - Alex Rodriquez) shouted something out to back-up third basemen Howie Clark and he dropped a pop fly. Raising the blood of back-up shortstop, John McDonald, a lunch-pail sort of player and arguably the best defensive utility guy in the league (he can't hit for crap, but you don't pay him for his bat). Naturally there was no consensus on what Douchey (oh sorry - ARod) said - but given the general dislike for ARod (people hated him before he was a Yankee, that's how special he is) the "play" was roundly dismissed as being "bush league." Whatever actually transpired, it seriously pissed off the Jays and have I mentioned their manager looks like he could hold his own in a bar fight?

Well last night, it happened. Right or wrong (I'm going with right here), bless his heart, Josh Towers threw at Douchey (oh sorry - ARod) and hit him in the knee. It's just a shame he didn't aim for his chin.

Then, Josh Towers, our hero, said this about Yankees first base coach Tony Pena:

"I heard somebody chirping when I was talking to Lyle [Overbay] and I didn't think it was Alex and I asked who it was," Towers said. "Tony Pena is running his mouth off and I was like, 'What's this guy running his mouth off for?' This dude is a quitter. He managed a team and quit in the middle of the season because he couldn't hack it. He's going to run his mouth off? So I ended up getting into it with Alex a second time."

I mean, the kid can't pitch worth a damn and probably shouldn't be talking smack - but dang, I can't help it. It's funny. Hell, it's funny because it's true.

But that's not the best part. Oh no. Roger Clemens, never one to have the coolest head, was later ejected for retaliating against the Jays and hitting Alex Rios.

Douchey (oh sorry - ARod) will likely whine and make excuses about this whole incident (it's what he does), but the fact remains that he's damn lucky that Josh Towers was pitching last night. If it had been Roy Halladay, Douchey (oh sorry - ARod) would be sipping his breakfast through a straw this morning. Just saying.

God, I love baseball and I love this team. This is almost as good as when The Manager Who Could Hold His Own In A Bar Fight got in an alleged fist fight with his own pitcher last year. Seriously, I heart John Gibbons. I love that man.

(And yes, I know my Tigers are playing horribly right now. And yes, I'm well aware the Yankees are breathing down our necks for a wild-card spot. Hey, I hate my pitching right now, what else can I say? But c'mon, hating A-Rod? I hardly hold the market share on that)

(And yeah, this entire post was pretty much for KristieJ who has a hard time watching baseball these days. Gotta keep the girl in the loop)

Playing Hookey

I'm taking the day off. Like any good American who loves baseball - I'm taking the day off to go to the game. That's right folks - my Detroit Tigers are in town to play the Anaheim Angels. And since I didn't get to see them live and in person last year (they were only out here once, it was during the week, and my brain was melting because I was working two jobs), this year I promised myself not to miss them. And having a very understanding (and tolerant) boyfriend - he's also taking the day off work to go with me.

So if the game is televised in your area - take a look down the third base line. I'll be the one throwing my panties at Pudge Rodriguez.

It's A Baseball Miracle!

After whomping on the Kansas City Royals this weekend (which is admittedly like shooting fish in a barrel these days - sorry KC fans) my Detroit Tigers have clinched their first playoff spot since 1987. 1980-frickin'-7.

I'm happy. I'm pleased. I'm trying to ignore the fact that I really think the Skankies win the World Series this year (should I beat the Christmas rush and start sacrificing goats now?). But whatever. My Tigers pulled it off. We still have a division to win - but even with some extremely rocky play this past month (and the Twins breathing down our necks) we're making the post season.

I think this is what they mean by "unknown territory."

Back to books tomorrow....

I am really tired. So tired that I'll probably pass out at my keyboard at any moment and start drooling. Praise be all the saints that my last work day for this week is Wednesday.

My Detroit Tigers actually won last night - beating the Toronto Blue Jays. I know, whoop diddy do right? Well I happen to live with a Blue Jays fan, and while he's realistic on how good his team actually is (crappy pitching for the most part, amazing bats), I think it still yanked his chain that they lost to the Tigers.

I also sticks in his craw that the Yankees are leading the division - which I can't really blame him there. A 3 game sweep of the Tigers would have really helped out. Too bad my boys played a good offensive game for once (it was bunting mania!), and Torres had this spectular catch out in right field. It warmed my heart.

My baby sister (OK, so she's 24) is flying home this evening to spend a whole month with the family. A teacher by occupation, she lives in sunny Florida and is coming home in time to enjoy our small town's annual July 4th festivities and my birthday - which is fast approaching.

Well by now we all know that Sammy Sosa is a moron. A corked bat - just lovely. Makes one wonder how legit all those homeruns are.

And I'm sorry - I'm not buying the excuse that Sosa uses the corked bat during batting practice in order to give the fans a giddy thrill. True fans don't get a rat's behind about homeruns. Note to MLB - fans like to see baseball games with decent pitching and baseball-like scores - not games with 3 grand slams and final scores of 35-27.

When it comes to baseball, I personally prefer to watch the defensive play. Nothing is more watchable than a short stop snagging a line drive mid-leap, a center fieldman making a sliding grab, or a pitcher somehow catching a ball that was hit right back at him. That's the kind of stuff that makes watching highlight reels worthwhile.

Then again - what do I know?

I was so excited about the idiot-college-boys moving out yesterday that I was remiss in mentioning that my Detroit Tigers screwed up Roger Clemens' 300th win. Yippeee!

I hate the New York Yankees. I mean, I passionately hate them. I consider them "The Evil Empire" and that any player they buy away from any and all small market teams has "crossed over to the dark side." Now some of you misguided web denizens may find my irrational hatred for the Yanks....well....irrational, but one must remember I grew up in the Midwest. Hating the Yankees is as American as apple pie, July 4th, and gas-guzzling pick-up trucks.

I was mightily annoyed because everyone (and I mean everyone) assumed that it was a foregone conclusion that Clemens would get #300 against my Tigers. Now I am nothing but an optimist - Tigers fans have to be - and I know my boys aren't all that good this year.

OK they suck eggs. However they are a young team and they are starting to play better. Honest - they are.

Now I figured the Yanks would beat my Tigers (although I was praying otherwise) and sure enough they did - in the 17th inning! But by that point my Tiggers had tied the game and screwed it all up for Rog.

I'm telling you, it warmed my heart.