A couple facts on Verlander

Mr. Verlander is becoming (if he isn't already) the best Tiger start since Jack Morris. Here's a guy who corrected a mechanical flaw with tremendous results. That tells me he's going to be good for a long time, barring unforeseen events.

I was glad to hear that they are working with Santiago to choke up and basically become the type of hitter that would keep him in the show. It seems everybody really likes him, and there's rarely a game where he doesn't do something that blows me away.

As far as postseason chances go, I know what the numbers are. It's like eating a hamburger, though. If you try to swallow it in one big bite, you'll likely choke and at the least won't enjoy it. You have to take little bites, savoring each one. This is why "meaningful games in September" have been enjoyable for me. I read a post somewhere else that said failing to make the postseason was unacceptable. If that doesn't sound like George Steinbrenner, nothing does. I don't want to look at things that way.

DavidTiger, an autographed ball from the Maestro is certainly a prize. That's a big piece of Tiger history. I might have his signature on a scorebook, but I'm not sure. One day in 1965 I got nearly the entire team as they left the clubhouse. In my mind's eye, I can see the names of Wert, Sparma, Horton, and some 20 others. I remember Kaline as he signed, being as smiling and patient as you would expect him to be. Norm Cash, who had hit a game winning homer that day, left stains from the orange he was eating. Sadly, as with many things from childhood, I don't know where that scorebook is today or if it even still exists.

Ahhhh....... memorabilia!!

I once nabbed a ball out in right filed off the bat of Duke Sims. I took it down afterwards and Big Al signed it for me. Like Rich---I don't know whatever happened to that ball. Durn it.

I do have a ball that was signed by a number of Tigers in the late 70's

It's getting a bit faded--do you think it might be worth putting under glass?

Lou Whitaker

Lance Parrish

Jack Morris

Jack Billingham

Dave Tobik

Dave Rozemza

I have another one signed by Marty Castillo...remember him?

Nice to have a day off!

Being the stats maven that I am (not) I looked up Bazardo's. He's pitched 12 innings, allowed 4 ER (3.00) 9 hits, 8 SO and ZERO walks. Yeah, I guess he's as good as any for that spot start on Saturday.

Frank Thomas just drove in Rios in the bottom of the 9th and the Jays beat the Yanks 2-1. Things get a little more interesting.

Rich, those are decent stats for Bazardo. I was thinking of that Sept. 2 bizarre (no pun intended) loss to Oakland after blowing a 5 run lead. In the 10th Yorman hit a batter then gave up a slicing bloop single on the line behind Inge and it was over. Can't blame him for that loss. Todd Jones had already blown the save. Other than that he has been ok, but again, only in limited work. I imagine JL would make a change if a run deficit should exceed 2, maybe 3 at the most. And maybe he is only hoping for 4 good innings from Bazardo, with 5 being a bonus.

Enjoyed your memorabilia stories. Lost balls and scorebooks are just part of the lore. I had some valuable baseball cards that just vanished about the time I went away to college. It was a period in my life where I was changing and my focus and interests were changing too. There's a lesson here for the young. Take the time to secure and preserve anything that is valuable to you, things that tie you to your past, your memories. They need not be valuable, just valuable to you. Go Tigers.

I'll tell you what JL is thinking with Bazardo on Saturday. He figures we're likely to lose anyway against Santana and my options aren't attractive anyway. Might as well not burn up anyone good. Let this kid take a bullet for the team. Heck, maybe we'll get lucky.

I'd thought about that too JT, but I think it would be a tactical mistake to concede any game at this point. There should be no giveaways. Santana is 15-11 with a 3.09 era which means he isn't getting much run support, so I think he is beatable, especially this year. He may neutralize Granderson, Perez and Casey though, but there's Santiago and Raburn to plug in. What the Tigers cannot afford to do is fall behind early by more than a run or 2. I would much prefer to see Kenny or Justin go head to head with Santana but its not shaking out that way.

Hey we made up some ground today on a day off!
You gotta love that and maybe it's the start of something negative for the Bronx Bombers.

We needed a break and even though the Jays were outhit they were victorious.

Maybe it's the start of a losing streak for the pitching challenged Yanks?

We've got what, six left with MN. I fear them most as a team that can derail our slim hopes. They love beating the Tigers especially in that hefty bag piece of @#$% they live in. We are going to have to "mash" this weekend to stay alive with the rotation we have going! One encouraging sign is Sheffield who appears to be coming alive a bit. He is the key! If he goes on a run, our chances just got infinitely better. We need about twenty one runs this weekend , spread out among the three games to sweep. Go Tigers

Cleveland beat Santana FIVE times this year!

At this point in time, I still maintain that we have a better chance of winning the division than we do the wild card. I don't expect much from Boston, really. Manny isn't even playing and they don't NEED to take the series.

We'll know how that score stands by Wednesday afternoon, if not sooner (cross your heart and spit). I can't shake this bad feeling that Jurrjens is finally going to have a rough outing.

In a strange way (very strange), this is sort of more fun than last September. We were struggling to just hold on and going pretty much crazy.

The guy who said that failing to make the postseason was unacceptable would have no idea what I'm talking about.