Boatnerd Discussion Forum

Just read "Kaline: a biography" (Jim Hawkins). Fascinating read. Played over 20 years with the Tigers. A (usually) quiet man able to focus on doing what he loved most -- being the best baseball player he could be -- and being successful! He was neither vain nor seeking the spotlight and was never involved in scandal. He was too busy working to improve his own stats. Money didn't determine how well (or if) he played. He outlasted decades of general managers, team managers, coaches, and team mates. For years the Tigers were close to going to the World Series, but only once were they victorious. Guess what I want to say is, maybe today's astronomically high-paid baseball players aren't cut out to work at being the best. Like so many others, they want to be paid for showing up and expect great things (World Series) just to happen for them.

Well now that the Baseball season is over and the World Series as well, perhaps maybe both Chris Illitch and Al Avilla didn't notice that the Nationals won the World Series. Okay so some of you are probably asking "What's the point here right?" Well in case you all didn't see and notice, there are three former Tiger pitchers on the roster for the Nationals and each of the three won their first ever World Series title for the Nats. The three are Max Scherzer along with Annabal Sanchez and Fernando Rodney. You can also add in that Justin Verlander was also a former Tiger pitcher so that makes four former Tiger pitchers in this year's World Series. Maybe both Chris and Al should've taken notes as you guys once had these four on your roster and then you let them go! Now three of the four are this year's World Series champions. Maybe someone should buy or send both Chris and Al for Christmas a DVD copy of the Nats team winning this year's World Series and they can both see along with remember when three of the Nats pitchers were once with Detroit and they can also take notes of how they let one of the greatest managers in all of baseball Joe Maddon go and ended up by going to the Angels. So let's see what Al and Chris plan to do in 2020!

Tick tick tick tick tick ---- ZZZZ ZZZ ZZZ as Chris Illitch has a Do Not Disturb sign hung outside his office door and Big Al is starting to enjoy his long hard earned vacation along with his seven assistants. In the meantime, I'll enjoy watching all the former Tiger players as the World Series unfolds ! Remember fans, Tigers season tickets for next year will be available soon.

Agree 100% Ed as always with your comments and OBTW, don’t tell me the Tigers are rebuilding people! They think they’re rebuilding is tough, give me a break already as I’m currently having parts of my folks’ house rebuilt. Now that’s rebuilding for you and my folks’ home is over 50 years old and needed upgrades. At the rate the Tigers are going, they too will be 50 or more years before they rebuild. It’s time to take out the trash now Chris! Out with the old and in with the new already as how much more suffering do us fans have to endure? In 1992 your father bought the Tigers and his dream was to win a World Series title for Detroit. Now, the eternal flame of Mike Illitch has been extinguished and what do we have to show for it in his memory? Instead of a dream to win a title Chris, you and Al have turned this disgraceful mess now into a royal nightmare which may never end! Wake up already and just fix the dang Tigers and cut out and quit the fooling and playing around!

Think you have a tough job ? Think again - it could be much worse - You could be in charge of selling season tickets for the Detroit Tigers !

It's time to clean house here.

As expected, the Cubs canned Joe Maddon and the Angels got rid of Brad Ausmus. Needless to say, take Ausmus off the list if you will for any new Tiger managers as hopefully Chris Illitch and company learned the hard way NOT to ever hire him ever again. Too bad they may be stuck now with Gardenhire now that Maddon is available. The Tigers should have tried to get him instead of Ausmus as maybe then by now they would have been to a World Series and perhaps even won a title by now but of course we will never know that answer. I do agree that it certainly is time to take out the trash and start cleaning up this royal mess with the Tigers from top to bottom. As I said and mentioned before I think that Al certainly needs to go along with Gardenhire. The rebuilding of the Tigers needs to start now if it hasn’t started yet. Just my two cents.

It's time to get out the axe and chop some 'dead wood'. I'd suggest we start in the front office. Should be a good selection of 'baseball' knowledgeable folks available very soon !

Well the end Finally came today and of course another loss as well to officially end this horrific and nightmare season for the Detroit Tigers. They now finish the season at 47-114 and will have the top pick in the 2020 baseball draft next year. Now the Tigers try and learn and figure out just where to begin and start as far as this mess and where and how to rebuild this once proud team back to glory again. My brother today told me that he definitely believes IF the tigers had gotten Joe Madden instead of Brad Ausmus if you will, they may have gotten back to the World Series maybe even winning it. Well, Madden I think did get the ax by the Cubs and now all Chris Illitch needs to do is get rid of Gardenhire and Al Avila and bring in Madden and a new GM in my opinion at least anyway. Of course we all know it won’t happen like that since of course they extended Al Avila’s contract and Gardenhire still has one more year to go on his contract. We will have to wait and see next season then if the Tigers have bottomed out yet or if the worse is yet to come here!

Well the Tigers split a double header yesterday in Chicago losing their first game but winning the second game. Their record now is 47-113 and the last and final game of this horrific and nightmare season will finally end after today in Chicago. If they lose today then they will have lost 114 games. Not a record though at 114 losses as the most losses were in 2003 at 119 under Alan Trammell. The Tigers will though have the top pick in next year’s baseball draft. Right now it’s possible as well that they may keep manager Ron Gardenhire yet for another year as he will be in year three of his contract a three year deal that he signed when he was hired and brought here in 2017. I saw and read where there will be several managers fired in the next few days and one that could get the ax is Joe Madden of the Cubs. It’s a shame and too bad the Tigers didn’t try to get him. Also ironic is Brad Ausmus managed the Angels of LA this season and they finished in fourth place in the West. Odds are he could possibly be fired after only one season with them and it’s too bad the Angels didn’t look at what he did for us before they got and hired him. So after today’s Tigers game, the end will finally arrive!

Ah Marc and Garbear as you guys are really bringing me back now to my childhood memories. To Marc, we got something in common here as Lance Parrish was also my favorite player as well from the 1984 team! When they traded him to Philly after they won in 1984, I was crushed as I couldn’t believe it. Later then came Matt Nokes and on July 4, 1988 a day before my birthday, my folks and I attended a home game to where Nokes hit a home run if I remember right that won the game for them. The 1984 team was something special as I still remember watching on TV with my Dad, when Jack Morris threw the no-hitter in Chicago as that was simply amazing then! To Garbear, you bring back great memories of the 1968 World Series. From what I hear from many stories, that was truly an amazing Series between the Tigers and Cardinals. My Mom used to tell me stories like you described about the games played during the afternoons as my Dad when he used to work for Ford, would listen to it on radio during his lunch. The 1968 team like the 1984 team had tons of talent and especially great pitching. Unfortunately though I was not even here and born yet when the Tigers won the 1968 World Series but at least I’m glad I got to see them win the 1984 title in my life time!

Was in high school in 1968 when the Tigers won the World Series. Were going up against the St. Louis Cardinals and the great Bob Gibson. Those were the days when the World Series was on TV in the afternoon. Was in the 10th grade at Onekama(MI)High School. I remember how exciting the Series was. Memories from a "few" yrs. ago.

Bookworm wrote:A footnote to my reply to Garbear: By the time I was a HS senior, I was the proud owner of 300 baseball cards. However, my mother (whose rules were determined by what people might say) determined I should dispose of the collection because it wasn't proper for a young, college-bound woman. (Hear my teeth grinding!)

I remember my favorite player was number 13 Lance Parrish! 84 Tigers were great.

Well the good news Ed is this is their last and final Home Game of the year at Comerica. The bad news, I see on their schedule they still play four more games yet after today in Chicago this weekend and the real bleeding if you will FINALLY stops after their game on Sunday while at Chicago. Maybe all of the Tiger fans should go out next week and do some celebrating if you will for the sake that this nightmare season will then finally be over with! Now they end up with the first pick in next year's baseball draft. Good Luck Tigers in 2020 let's see what they can do at that point next season?

Thank goodness - the bleeding stops today !

I find it very interesting and most people would never ever know this stat when compared to the 1968 and the 1984 Championship teams. Okay folks take a guess why don't you as far as which one of the two 1968 or 1984 I have the most autographs from as the results may surprise you? I won't give an answer here to spoil it but I just want to see what year most of you pick here as far as just what championship team I have the most autographs from at this point. I have a neat story to tell you all on that one someday!

A footnote to my reply to Garbear: By the time I was a HS senior, I was the proud owner of 300 baseball cards. However, my mother (whose rules were determined by what people might say) determined I should dispose of the collection because it wasn't proper for a young, college-bound woman. (Hear my teeth grinding!)

Noticed that they dropped another to the Twins today 5-1 and this now makes 111 losses and counting for the season. Just talked today to a friend of mine and she said that she is also very much disgusted with this team and the mess that Al and Chris if you will and NO that's not the NBC Sunday Night Football crew by the way. Point is though, this friend of mine is yet another like many of the Tiger fans who are just disgusted and just fed up with the way this team has performed this year and she also agrees that Al is part of the problem with this mess and that he needs to go! If the Tigers do decide after this year to retain and keep Gardenhire, then that pretty much sums it up and says all there is to say about this team and the direction and focus that they want to go in as far as their future. Some other friends of mine agree also, save your money and go to Jimmy John's Field to see and watch real baseball and save a boat load of money as far as going and spending money at the concession stands along with the parking. I hope and pray that their attendance and merchandise drops sharply and dramatically as maybe that will send a message that it's time for change fast!

Frank Lary was with the Tigers for a lot of yrs. Always will remember Rocky with his unibrow.

garbear wrote:First off, the Tigers didn't get Ron Gardenhire from the Twins, he was bench coach with the Diamondbacks after. He was roughly 3 yrs. away from the Twins when the Tigers hired him.
The thing I don't understand with the Tigers when they fired Dombrowski they kept his #1 man. If you decide to get rid of #1 you make it a clean sweep. That's what the Twins did and see where they are now. They had a couple bad yrs., but they made the turnaround.
Been a Tiger fan since growing up in Arcadia, MI, so I've been a fan for roughly 60 yrs. Charlie Maxwell was one of my favorite players. So were Norm Cash, Al Kaline, and Bill Freehan. Just hope they can turn it around

Ah Garbear, you're fanning old memories! As a young teen in Lansing, my favorites were Frank Lary, and Reno Bertoia, and the acquisition of Rocky Colavito absolutely sent me into orbit! I know, my perspective is totally different from any true-blooded male Tiger fan!

Totally agree with you 100% Ed and it's too bad the rest of the fans and Tiger Nation if you will don't do the same and see it the way we both do. I agree absolutely as one could definitely save tons of bucks big time by going to Jimmy John's Field and seeing real baseball and not a bunch of fake players like the Tigers have on the field now days. The prices I agree that they charge to go and see and watch the Tigers are outrageous and ridiculous as an average family can NEVER afford the prices that they charge down there at Comerica. Besides going to Jimmy John's to see and also watch a real baseball game, one might want to consider instead to save their money and try travelling to places up north like the Soo along with Traverse City and Mackinaw Island for popular visits and destinations when compared to wasting their money and time by going and watching the "Loveable Losers next season!" I for one would rather invest my dollars wisely at the St. Clair River or else by going and travelling versus wasting my bucks and time to see a bunch of pro players playing like High School and College players. Just my two cents here. Also, I've yet to go and see a game at the Jimmy John's Field and hopefully someday I'll get the opportunity!