Tiger Geist

I finally have some time to discuss an article I came across yesterday on digg:

How to snag a souvenir baseball

The whole premise of this discussion revolves around bringing a baseball glove to the park. I have a problem with this — and i agree with Bill Simmons on this one, but men over 14 years of age are not allowed to bring gloves to the game. How do you eat a hot dog with a glove on? How do you drink a beer? How do you take the cap off of the flask of whiskey you smuggled into the stadium? Exactly. Tough it out, bare-hand that baseball. If you’re really worried about it, wear a hat. Everyone loves the videos of random guys saving their beer and using a hat to snag a ball.

Biggest offense of this article? It is from a website called “artofmanliness.com”. Art of manliness recommending bringing a glove to the game? You’ve GOT to be joking.

Am I crazy? No, you’re not allowed to bring a glove to the game. Thats for your kids. Is it impossible? Nope.  Evidence:

Here is the foul ball I caught in July, 2005 off of the bat of Jim Edmunds. It was 104 degrees out and there may have been some alcohol involved, so I look a little ragged. Nonetheless, bare-handed line drive catch — no glove required.

With Cleveland returning to their Division-winning form, maybe its best to escape the states for a few days and hit up Toronto.  One of the spring training games I attended this year was against the Blue Jays, and their speed (they left the big hitters at their home park that day) seemed to bother Detroit.  I think Bonderman thinks too much when speed is on first base;  as hinted by WXYT’s commentator (Jim Price I believe — mlb.tv’s quality isn’t always that great when i’m listening at work), Pudge’s throws aren’t as sharp recently — maybe he’s got a sore arm.  Well, starting the week 3 – 1 is better then they started last week, so let’s see how they bounce back.
Thoughts on the loss to Cleveland:

• Verlander needs to put it together.  Without him, there doesn’t seem to be a ’stopper’ on this team, someone to put an end to a two or three game losing streak.  Sad to think that the best pitching performance  this year has come from a minor leaguer.
• What effect, if any, does Inge catching mean to the pitcher?  Does it hurt the performance?  Verlander was just wild, but Miner got lit up pretty badly.
• Speaking of Miner, did Grilli play a game of “tag, you’re it” with him last week?
• Not to beat a dead horse, but against a big hitting team like the tribe, why isn’t rayburn playing over Santiago?  Is the plan to keep Raburn out of the infield?