Based on the poll I took a couple of weeks ago, the majority of you responded in favor of meeting up at the game on Saturday, August 4th.

We've been happy in the lower baseline box along the first baseline, so I am going to try to put us back in section 113 or 114. The location is great; it's shady with a good view and not too expensive (seating chart here). Since the game is vs. the Indians, it comes with the premium seat price. Tickets will be $38 per person. If you do not wish to spend this much, by all means purchase your own ticket elsewhere and hang out with us before/after the game! Hopefully getting this info up early will help ensure room in everyone's budgets.

If you are seriously interested in coming - like, pretty sure you can make it and would be willing to pay very soon - please respond to the poll so that I can estimate how many seats we'll need. The amount I have to put down for a deposit is based on that estimate. If you're planning on bringing someone(s) please comment and let me know.

Thanks everyone, once I make the deposit I will update with PayPal info and an address for those who prefer to send in checks.

I'm a little belated this year, but I think we're all starting to know the drill when it comes to planning our meet-ups.

There's two options to pick from, per usual. July 21 and August 4, both Saturdays at 7:05 (click for link to 2012 schedule). Here is why I've picked them.

• July 4th falls on a Wednesday this year. The Tigers are home that following weekend, but I know lots of people have plans with family. Also, the Mud Hens will be away that weekend, so that's another strike against it.
• July 21st is a White Sox series. A downside to this weekend is that the Tigers have a day off the following Monday and then go on a road trip. However, they are home that entire week before it, so there's still a chance at more games for out-of-towners (like me). The Mud Hens will also be home the 20th-23rd.
• Both teams are home the weekend of August 4th, this is an Indians series for the Tigers. There were no other July weekend options, so there you go. I don't have kids but I assume most of you that do, or those of you that are teachers will still be on vacation then.

So, please fill out the poll. I'll close it later this week and then let everyone know what we've decided on and how much it'll cost. If you have anything to say about changes you'd like to see made or fun ideas, please don't hesitate to comment. As I've mentioned above, we'll be doing some sort of trip to Toledo again, as I chose the dates in order to make that possible. I will also say this: The Tigers are much more interested in being involved this year. I'm looking forward to that and you guys should too.

I'm just going to tell you straight up I don't care about Cooperstown. I realize to some baseball fans, Cooperstown and Ken Burn's baseball series and all that stuff is like, the epitome of off-the-field joy. Or something. Frankly, I have never watched a single episode of Ken Burns' series -- the man just bores me -- and I just don't give a crap who is or isn't in the hall of fame. That goes for any hall of fame, by the way. And for that matter, postseason awards. Baseball, hockey, football, college, Michigan, U.P., or otherwise. Sportswriters and broadcasters are ready to shed blood over who is All-U.P. or who gets in a hall of fame, and I think it's all pointless prattle. The athletes did their part on the field, that's where it ends for me.

The baseball debates, at least as they relate to the Tigers, grow even more tiresome.

I have written about baseball on the Internet since 2006. For most of that time, hall of fame talk was centered on Jack Morris and Alan Trammell. (And to some extent how Lou Whitaker got screwed.) Frankly, if my archives went back far enough at Mack Avenue Tigers, I'm sure I could find my original posts on the subject and just re-run them here, because nothing has changed. Morris might have been average in retrospect, but he sure stands out for the fame part. Trammell is his opposite case. What he lacked for fame, he made up for with stats on the field. Either should be in. Either should be out. Like I said, I don't care any more.

This keeping of players on the ballot forever thing seems ludicrous to me. Either you've got a hall of famer, or you don't. Those first ballot people? Those are your hall of famers. Taking eighty years to talk about it and gain ballot momentum and all that other stuff makes me weary. You make it in that way, your bust should be kept in the storage closet in the basement, I say. That's more like the hall of meh. And for every Bert Blyleven, you get a bunch of names hanging around doing nothing but taking up space with no real shot at getting voted in. Like Trammell.

Look, I like Trammell. He autographed a baseball card for me when I was a kid. (Eric Karros didn't, that SOB.) It would be great to see him rewarded, if that's what he wants. But I don't think it's an open-and-shut case, and I just don't really think it's real life-changing for me either way. So I don't care.

Anyway, that long rant was my way of introducing this thread for you to talk about HOF stuff.

Jay Jaffe at The Hardball Times published his projections today.

No surprise, Morris continues to inch closer but not get in, and Trammell is still far away but still on the ballot.

First off, I'd like to thank everyone for watching over the site while I was off in the woods of Luce County -- again. If you're looking for something different to do, check out Nature's Kennel and their sled dog adventures. It was pretty cool to visit, you definitely get a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I'm writing a story on it for a publication I write for or I'd share more but if you have any questions fire them at me.

Second off, Happy Festivus for the rest of us! (Who's going to start off the airing of grievances in our comments?)

Whether you're celebrating Festivus, Christmas, Chanukah (make sure you're following Sam's site), or my birthday, we hope you have an enjoyable weekend.

If the Tigers do anything interesting between now and 2012, we'll be all over it. Otherwise expect I might take it a bit slow for the next 10 days. Of course, I encourage you to keep visiting and bringing the news you find so we can post it on the front page.

Some gift ideas for what our favorite Tigers need to find under the Christmas tree this winter:

Alex Avila: About forty games off, and that Gold Glove that he deserved last season.

Brennan Boesch: Ryan Raburn’s second half, and a permanent spot in the 3 slot.

Ryan Raburn: Brennan Boesch’s first half, and a permanent spot in the outfield.

Ramon Santiago: His old utility role back, behind Martin Prado.

Don Kelly: His old utility role back, behind Chase Headley and Yoenis Cespedes.

Dave Dombrowski: Chase Headley, Yoenis Cespedes, and Martin Prado on the Tigers.

Brandon Inge: A shiny new splinter remover.

Jim Leyland: Three players for the top three spots in the lineup that can get on base, on base, on base.

Miguel Cabrera: The 2012 American League MVP award.

Jhonny Peralta: Two more seasons just like 2011.

Yoenis Cespedes: A personal interpreter employed by the Detroit Tigers.

Austin Jackson: A map of the strike zone

Daniel Schlereth: A map of the strike zone

Justin Verlander: The 2012 World Series MVP award.

Max Scherzer: Four months between April and September just like April and September.

Rick Porcello: An ERA that equals his FIP

Jose Valverde: Fifty more ninth inning leads

Joaquin Benoit: Fifty more eighth inning leads

Octavio Dotel: The seventh inning

Phil Coke: A full season in the bullpen

Gerald Laird: Forty hits and a 40% caught stealing percentage in forty games

Detroit Tiger Fans: A World Series Championship in 2012.

OK, your turn!

Part One can be found here.

I just realized I forgot to mention that my awesome friend Greg, of Stop The Wave fame, took us to In-N-Out Tuesday night. It was very much appreciated (by us and the radio folks we brought to go bags back for) because without someone else driving us to places besides the hotels, we had no mode of transportation besides calling a cab.

So, Wednesday. This involved waking up to Gio Gonzalez rumors and a vague presser with the Marlins that just turned out to be the announcement of the Jose Reyes signing. Afterwards the press spoke to Ozzie Guillen, and I snuck into the media room again:

The first word I could understand as I made my way into that crowd was "F&*%ING!", unsurprisingly.

Continue reading this post »

I guess since I called my old spring training posts "Allikazoo's Spring Training Insanity," it's only appropriate to do the same for my trip to the Winter Meetings this year. It's a fitting title.

So, yes, I went, since I'm only a quick 48 minute flight away. Try as I might, I couldn't get anyone to approve actual media credentials for me. But over the past couple years, Twitter has told me that doesn't matter because everything interesting happens in the lobby and other areas (read: bars) that anyone can get to. Twitter was mostly right.

I'm not sure how many people pay attention to nationwide weather, or how many of you read all the tweets complaining about the weather in Dallas this week. In case you are unaware: It. Was. Miserable. Like, wind chill of about 25 most days. That doesn't usually happen down here until February. Unless you are actually with MLB or super important, it was impossible to get a room at the actual hotel they held the meetings at, the Hilton Anatole. Luckily even though the area around it is nothing exciting, there were tons of other hotels within walking distance. Still, I thought long and hard about it every time I considered walking through the parking lot and across the street because it was brutal.

Continue reading this post »

Hmm, after writing that headline it would be a great time to have a Samara "Terrible Cartoon." 

Anyway, I may put together a piece on the odds of Justin Verlander actually winning the MVP, based on past voting and hype. In any case, I know you're going to want to talk about it so start talking! 

Update: Here's the story I promised.