But I think they need at least 4 to prove anything to anyone.

Thomas > Raburn

Go see Inglorious Basterds. Now. You have plenty of time before the game.

having to do with either a shiv between the ribs or a knee to the nether regions

Kurt may be a little torn for the next three…but we need to get 4 of them.

Sheffield needs to go away. Retire already, it’s an old boring act.

and obviously, I would prefer to keep Clete. Raburn has had some big at bats for the Tigers this year….but not enough.

I don’t think the Tigers will try to go more than two weeks a man down in the bullpen, although I guess the starting pitching could step up and make it a non-issue. There does seem to be a certain amount of “play it by ear” going on though.

Two in oakland and one at the big a. Angels are a matchup nightmare for us, and they are on fire. Split the trip and get home healthy.

I’ll take 3-3…but only if it means we stay at least 2 games ahead of the White Sox at the end of that stretch. They’ve got 3 against the Orioles before hitting a stratch of 4 versus the Red Sox and three against the Yankees, while we close the month against the Rays. I’d love for the Tigers to have a three game lead on the morning of September 1.

might make the game later, but for now i’m going to a friend’s house, watching Bill Nye the Science Guy, and getting drunk. if i do get here, i’ll be drunk. see you folks around.

In the interest of historical accuracy, and since I’m the oldest person around here and therefore responsible for keeping the archives in order, I must clarify the origination of the phrase “Bless You Boys”

I moved to NC in 1980, so I wasn’t around in Detroit to hear Al Ackerman (aka Acid Al) during the 1984 series. However, I WAS around during the late 70’s, a time of great wailing and gnashing of teeth by Tiger fans. And I distinctly remember Al using the phrase during that era, and it wasn’t a compliment. The Tigers found all sorts of ways to lose, and Al would just shake his head when reporting about the games and murmur “Bless you, boys.”

Sparky was hired in 1979. Five years later, he gave us a World Series championship. Al was still saying "Bless you, boys, " but with an entirely different attitude (especially during that 35 – 5 start). And that’s the usage we remember and celebrate in song and website.

1. I think the Tigers stand a pretty good chance of winning the division if they still lead after this weekend against the A’s. As I’m sure someone’s mentioned already, the White Sox have the worst road stretch imaginable, visiting the Red Sox, Yankees, then the Twins, where they struggle just as much as we do. On top of that, they still have a west coast trip left. The schedule clearly favors the Tigers at this point. Minnesota has been way too inconsistent this year to mount any kind of late season surge. No real horse in their rotation anymore.

2. Clete Thomas could be great for the entire team because he can actually show the whole lineup how to work a freaking count instead of shooting for the moon on the first pitch. I’m sick of watching other teams work Verlander and Jackson for just 5 or 6 innings while anyone posting on here could probably pitch a CG against the Tigers. Raburn is a nice role player, I don’t mind keeping him around. Our late inning bullpen finally (for once) has stability with Seay, Lyon and (as much as I hate to say it) Rodney.

3. Sheffield’s old, is he the only one who doesn’t realize this?

I may or may not be around for tonight’s game—currently dealing with some friend drama. My best friend and her boyfriend (coincidentally also one of my good friends) just broke up so she’s coming over. Depending on when she leaves I might be able to catch the end of the game. I’m pretty optimistic for this series though. Maybe I’m still glowing from yesterday’s win but I have a good feeling about these guys :) go Tigers!

Brian Roberts solo HR.

sounds like they “cleaned up” his rotator cuff and he is done until spring training (they didn’t say which year though)

I’ll catch the first inning at most. East coast team travelling to west coast should all be day games. Some us easterners have lives….