Baseball Journal-Is that all there is? 10-19-12

I've been skeptical about the Tigers for much of the season when it became apparent they were under-performing. Yesterday, before the game, I was thinking "If they can beat CC, I'll believe."

I now believe.

It was the perfect storm of a great team finally flipping the switch and living up to their potential, meeting an exhausted, increasingly depleted and apathetic team, trying to stagger to the finish line, hoping their reputation would carry them.

There was an analyst on ESPN Radio yesterday that had a very detailed and well thought out plan for the Yankees next season. Item number one was the acquisition of Josh Hamilton and then a bunch of other additions and subtractions. What tickled me was the opening line, "Yankee management is just going to have to finally open up the checkbook," (sort of a loose quote there). As if the Yankees have been a model of fiscal restraint all these years.

Right now, Yankee fans are angry and want management to go out and buy their way out of this mess and gift-wrap a championship for them. And then nobody shows up to the games, because the necessary price increases for that strategy will kill attendance. I'm not sure if the Yankees make money on a year to year basis, but they sure won't under this plan. Theoretically, fans will show up for new superstars and bandwagon if the team gets hot, but not if they can't afford it.

Much of the Yankees success in the nineties was due to homegrown talent. They need to start focusing back in on that. You need a core group that the fans can watch grow and can root for, as opposed to a bunch of hired guns just showing up and expecting a championship immediately. They need a group of players whose salaries don't raise ticket prices. The Yankees' economics are going to be screwed for years because of the deals they've done. I don't think picking up another big, left-handed bat is really a need for the team, but Josh might draw a good crowd, fine. But the rest of the lineup just needs to be steady and have growth potential. You guys need to build, more than buy.

Oh, God. I'm can't believe I'm actually trying to help the Yankees. May as well get some praise out of the way while I'm at it. Jeter, great season. Ichiro, you're the only reason I'm sorry the Yankees lost. I would like to see you get a championship.

One of my favorite baseball memories was seeing the Tigers win the World Series in 1984. I'd love to see that again. Even better, the city has been so depopulated since then, I doubt they'll have a horrific riot afterward this time.

Their opponent is looking like the Cardinals. I'd give the Giants a chance, but Barry Zito is on the mound today for them. Yeah, he could pitch a great game like he has much of the year, but it seems more likely he'll pitch like he has before this year. [Edit: As near as I can tell that wasn't Zito pitching tonight.  It was Justin Verlander in disguise.  The Verlander just wanted to get in a little side work on his off day.  On to game six in Frisco.]  Who would have thought that it would be the starting pitching that would be letting the Giants down? They're not hitting sure, but neither did the 2010 championship team.

I really like this group of Cardinals. Game six last year, and then the game five NLDS this year, there's just no rational explanation. Plus, if they win the championship this year, I'm envisioning a scene. There's a pre-MVP party for Mike Trout being held in Los Angeles. That's a good idea, since Miguel Cabrera is actually going win it (or be robbed of it). Albert Pujols is there. As during the season, he's Mike Trout's personal assistant, you know, carrying his bags, getting his laundry, detailing his car. On the way getting some drinks for Mike, the World Series is on on a big screen TV in the background. And there are the Cardinals on the field celebrating another championship.

"Al, get my coat instead. We're outta here."

Albert Pujols wipes away an unmanly tear, "Yes sir, Mr. Trout."