Reasons Why The Tigers Flopped In The World Series

With the wind howling and the Tigers down to their final strike, Santiago Casilla gathered himself on the mound and ran a fastball down the heart of the plate ending the Tigers season. Miguel Cabrera was simply froze on a pitch he figured was going to nip the outside corner like the last three. As the Giants celebrated their second championship in three years and Buster Posey starting his career in Jeter-like fashion with two rings, I began to wonder why my beloved Tigers fell so hard. It was a fellow friend that told me via Facebook that I should blog my dismay. Well Colin, here it is. My reasons why the Tigers stunk worse than when someone steps in dog s**t and wonders where the smell is coming from.

The most obvious answer is that the bats went cold. But when you analyze the situation a bit further you see an imperfect relationship of how great pitching can only carry you so far. Aside from Justin Verlander getting lit up in Game #1, the pitching from Doug Fister, Anabal Sanchez and Max Scherzer was quite impressive. If the bats stayed even half as hot as they did against the Yankees, the Tigers are probably still playing. Along with the bats doing nothing, the big guns did not show up to play. Cabrera and Prince Fielder were nowhere to be found in the first three games and aside from a two run jack from Miggy, they might as well not even been there. For f**k's sake, Jeremy Affeldt, who's career ERA is above 4, struck out the side to end any threat in the 7th. And through all this, the guy that people couldn't stop ripping in the regular season was the one guy who kept hitting. Delmon Young, accused of being a racist and a waste of a roster spot, was hot throughout the playoffs and eventually led to him capturing the American League Championship Series MVP. I am sure that every Tiger fan who watched the game last night knew if the Tigers could get a win, the series could change drastically.  With Verlander going tonight and momentum in our favour, the road to getting back to San Francisco seemed a lot shorter. But when you can't hit it becomes a large problem.

Another large factor in the playoffs has been Jim Leyland. I want to clear up that this is not entirely his fault but a few things are. First off, people keep talking how he is a winner and how he makes the Tigers better. Well if one win in two World Series appearances along with a seven game losing streak in the Series is considered winning than this guy is Charlie Sheen. He once again failed to keep his players ready after a long layoff and did not correct the problem that plagued  the Tigers in 2006. The bullpen was rocky at times but barely kept it together. Valverde was a complete disaster and took up a roster spot that might have burnt Leyland if the Tigers would've won last night. He continues to trust  an incompetent third base coach in Gene Lamont and turns his nose to people with logical questioning to his lineup cards throughout the entire season. If Lamont holds Fielder and the Tigers score in the inning, the series is changed completely. I am sick of the lack of responsibility that Leyland holds his players accountable for and how he always pushes issues aside and say that they are part of the game. If part of the game is to get your ass handed to you on the national stage, then Leyland accomplished it. When Omar Infante was hit in the hand last night and left the ball game, Danny Worth was the backup. It was then I realized that with Valverde using up a roster spot and Infante now a no go, the Tigers are running thin on bodies. Who is to blame if the Tigers trot out Worth at second tonight if there was a game 5? It's Jim Leyland. Same ole problems and no answers. That is Jim Leyland's MO. Tony La Russa anyone?!

I will tip my hat to the San Francisco Giants to exposing the reasons as to why the Tigers were seriously over achievers even though the goal the entire year was to win the World Series. The Tigers got to the show by playing mediocre baseball for nine tenths of the season and then watch Chicago collapse like a house of cards. Once in, they took on an Oakland A's team that used the Moneyball approach better than the actual movie and took the Tigers the distance. The A's had over-achieved themselves and watched Texas blow the AL West to miss the playoffs. The Tigers then drew the Yankees who are a bunch of overpaid and washed up ballplayers with problems internally. This reminded me of the Lakers and Pistons in 2004, where Shaq and Kobe couldn't get along and handed the trophy to the Pistons. With the sweep, the Tigers drew a San Francisco team that was hot after coming off a seven game series that saw them overcome a 3-1 series deficit. A team that battled at the plate, had very good pitching and a closer that was lights out. I said it before the series and now my worst fears are confirmed, the Tigers have lost but not in a sweep. This is what happens when to many things go wrong and a great team does what they are suppose to do.

Congrats San Fran, and to all Tiger fans, lets take some time and rebound from this and watch a little hockey... oh wait!

Cheers,

a very irate italian!

Lancers vs. Warriors Recap!

Who Left The Red Sock In With The White Ones?!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone, this is the Irate Italian checking in after some homemade food put me in a coma! Ok enough talk of the food as my stretchy pants can't take it anymore. The Lancers went into the weekend knowing how important every point would be. With this in mind they welcomed the Waterloo Warriors to Tom Wilson Field for a special display under the lights. What would follow would be irritating, aggravating and pure bulls**t that had even myself astonished from what I saw. Here is the game story from the Windsor Lancers and Waterloo Warriors.

Pink socks? Pink Headbands? 

Before I could jump to conclusions and think these Lancers went soft on me by making their uniform look "girly", I was informed it was Breast Cancer Awareness Night at Tom Wilson Field. This was fitting as the biggest boob in the ballpark was standing directly behind home plate. No pink to be had just a blue uniform that would soon make him the target of an absolute inexcusable controversy. The umpires would impact the game to a point that would make any athlete lose their mind. How these ladies didn't is beyond me.

Home Field Advantage?

Before the contest could begin an issue with the diamond caused a 15 minute delay. Windsor pitcher Kelsey Schincariol noticed something was not right when warming up. She informed the umpire that the rubber footing, what the pitcher uses to propel themselves forward, was too far away from home plate. The umpire did not think it was but after one of the nearly couple hundred fans in attendance provided a measuring tape, it was realized it was four feet to far. After the adjustment was made the contest began.

In the top of the first, Waterloo's bats were met with stiff defence as Schincariol settled in. After a pop out and a single, Schincariol unleashed a wild pitch that moved the runner to second. A groundout moved her to third but that is as far as she would go as Schincariol induced a groundball for the final out. Just like that and Lancers are off to another start defensively. 

In the bottom half of the first, the Lancers wasted no time in getting the bats going. Erica Ruccolo looked to keep her bat hot as she just missed a fastball on the outside corner and popped out for the first out. Steph Manson came to bat knowing that easy outs for the Warriors was not acceptable. After going down 0-2 in the count, she fouled off three pitches and made the pitcher miss three times to drive the count full. On a pitch just a bit inside, she became jammed and grounded out to second for the second out. As Sarah Meeke came to the plate the clouds started to open and rain began to fall, but the rain couldn't cool off Meeke. Meeke, being a very patient hitter, waits until the Warriors pitcher leaves a fastball hung like an ornament on a christmas tree and then proceeds to smash it deep to right centre. The wheels on Meeke were going hard but the brakes almost went as she nearly overruns the third base bag. With Schincariol due up next Meeke looked quite comfortable at third and sure enough, Captain Clutch comes through and helps her own cause by slapping a ball to right to give the Lancers a 1-0 lead. A single by Sam Sidoli and a groundout by Ryanne Driscoll ended the inning.

Can't Touch This!

In the top half of the second Schincariol was dealing better than a casino dealer on speed. She strikes out the first batter with a fastball on the black. (the corner of the strike zone for my friends who are not up on their baseball terms) The next batter muscles a weak ground ball to reach first but it was what followed that makes every parents worst fear almost come true. Playing a sport with any sort of contact comes a risk that athletes routinely accept. Ball players accept the fact that they can be hit with multiple objects including but not limited to balls, bats, cleats, other athletes and even the odd umpire. So when Schincariol nearly had her screaming fastball come back at her and glance of her glove protecting her beautiful face, my stomach along with not only her parents but everyone in the ballpark, dropped as if I was on Top Thrill Dragster. I was almost sick to my stomach, my knees felt like Sugar Ray Leonard after taking a Roberto Duran body shot in the first fight. Schincariol immediately signalled she was okay but a chat after the game revealed to me she was shaken for the remainder of the inning. She sure as hell didn't show it as she settled down to induce a ground ball for the second out and struck out the third batter to end the inning. A fist pump confirmed Kelsey was ok and the Lancers were motoring along nicely.  Just in case you don't believe me about the umpire, check out this collision.

After both the Lancers and Warriors couldn't get anything going in their respective at bats, the bottom of the third saw the Lancers put ducks on the pond but fail to cash in. This has been a recurring theme for the Lancers which needs to be fixed before the Lancers hit the road this upcoming weekend. A fielders choice saw Schincariol score and extend the Lancers lead to 2-0 but that was it.

The Warriors saw an opening and pounced in the top of the fourth. An infield single and bloop single put two on for the Warriors and after a weak ground ball to hold the runners, a single scores one while the second runner holds at third. The next batter is caught in a pickle between first and second but this distraction causes the runner on third to sneak home for the game tying run. Schincariol tries to settle down but a passed ball advances the runners and an error from the infield makes it 3-2 Warriors. A ground ball ends the inning but the damage was done. At this point I do not blame Schincariol for the passed ball as playing in what many would describe as Hurricane Katrina, was not easy. The ball slips and it happens. Big f**king deal as Robert De Niro would say!

Sunny My A**!

The bottom of the fourth saw the Lancers go quietly as they couldn't manage to break wind let alone the zeros the Waterloo pitcher was putting up on the scoreboard since giving up two runs. The top of the fifth saw the Warriors add to their lead. After a fly out to Ruccolo in left, the Warriors get a speedy runner on first who quickly steals second to put herself in scoring position. The next batter strikes out looking on a change up, but the hitting with two outs is what separates the ladies from the girls. A double to left scores a run but the next batter tests the arm of left fielder Erica Ruccolo. A single to left has the runner on second thinking third base but Ruccolo cuts it off and launches an absolute rope from the outfield to get the runner at third. That was the final out and the contest had the makings to be a classic.

Now, as the Lancers once again did absolutely nothing in the bottom half, the top of the sixth saw the rain beginning to fall heavily and the umpires about to get themselves into water so deep that they would feel as if they were floating on a dingy. As Schincariol continues her masterful performance on the mound, the leadoff hitter lines a shot to left that is snagged by Ruccolo for the first out. The following batter sneaks a single through the infield and then proceeds to swipe second base like a girl on a shopping spree would her credit card. Now let me set the scene. One out, a runner on second in a 4-2 ballgame, as Schincariol sets up to deliver a full count pitch. She confirms before the pitch it is a 3-2 count. The next pitch is swung and missed on. The runner is strangely instructed not to go back to the dugout but instead go to first. The opposing manager tells the ump four balls were already thrown. Without even questioning the manager, the umpire awards the runner first base. This infuriates the Lancer bench boss. How in the f**k can you call a walk when strike three was already called, after you gave the pitcher the count? How do you have the balls to even make that call without even conversing with the other umpire? Another game I cover and another game the umpires put the screws to the Lancers, is all I can think in my head. As the runner stands on first he explains to the Lancers that he was "pretty sure" there was four balls. Then why on gods green earth are you confirming it was a 3-2 count to Schincariol. After the umpire tries to blow the issue aside and with the runner standing on first, Schincariol gets a pop out for the second out and a little help from her gritty outfield Ruccolo for the third out. As a ball is lifted to the gap in left centre, Ruccolo tracks it like a GPS would my cellphone and makes a sliding catch on a nice and slippery field to rob her numerical counterpart of extra bases. The catch was a message to the umpire from the entire Lancer team, Va Fa Napoli! This Lancer team was not rolling over.

In the bottom of the sixth and the Warriors up 4-2, it was now or never for the Lancers offence to get going. The bats would come to life. A single by Nadia Green and a well executed bunt by Steph Bouchey, which reminded be of Willie Mays Hayes in Major League, advances the runner. Just a beauty overall. Old school baseball to say the least. A passed ball by Waterloo allows Green to scoot over to third with one out. After a pop out by Manson, Meeke makes her presence felt again as she moves up the first base line to beat out a infield single and close the gap to 4-3. A strikeout ends the inning but the Lancers can smell a comeback.

The top of the seventh saw the defence come up big and help get the bats back to the plate quickly. Schincariol gives up a couple singles which leads to a run but with the score at 5-3, the Lancers looked excited to get to bat.

Leading off the bottom of the seventh Heather Metcalfe draws a walk and is followed immediately by a Krissy Johnstone single. A pinch runner was inserted for Johnstone as Ruccolo took to the plate. A very suspecting called third strike was issued by the umpire, almost to say he wants to get out of the rain as soon as possible. Ruccolo is not happy but what follows cannot help but bring a smile to her face. Manson decides that she has had enough of this pitcher and takes her deep to left field. The triple scores both Metcalfe and the pinch runner to tie the ball game. Extra innings would follow but not after Sarah Meeke's bat gave in and split into two. The first time I have ever seen that. I do not blame it for caving as the way Meeke was hitting the ball, that bat was being beat like it owed someone money.

Waterloo wastes no time and trying to bounce back as they score the runner on second courtesy of the international tiebreaker rule. After a double to put another runner on second, another double puts runners at second and third. Controversy would strike again. A single to left has the runner going from third but Ruccolo once again has her arm tested. The throw is on the mark for Schincariol who is covering home plate. The runner slides directly into the tag and into Schincariol's leg. The umpire signals safe immediately. Schincariol, who already was walking back to the mound thinking she recorded the out, turns around with a look on her face that had the caption "don't piss on my shoes and tell me it's raining", written all over it. The umpire then has the audacity to say to those in attendance that  the play "wasn't even close". Are you kidding me?! It is a bang, bang play at home and you are telling me it was not close?! Look at Kelsey's sock! It still had the markings from the spike on it! Give me a break.

After this call the Lancers were never the same as they drop a heartbreaker 10-6 in extra innings.

The issue extends beyond the play between the two teams, the issue is the umpires. How can every ladies fast pitch game I watch continuously have the worst umpires imaginable. The men's baseball league have umpires that are competent and do things by the book. It seems as though once they pass their prime they are sent to the ladies league where bad eyes and asinine rule making is acceptable. Making the rules up as you go shows no professionalism. I am by no means the best writer in the world but I dress the part and act accordingly. I follow the rules and make sure not to piss off the big wigs. What the umpires do to women's fast pitch, in general, is disgusting and downright wrong. I can understand why coaches go crazy and become Youtube sensations.

On a closing note the Lancers hit the road this weekend for a pair of doubleheaders that will impact their playoff hopes. Whether it be positive or negative is up to the Lancers but all I am hoping for is that the umpires let the ladies play and avoid being total boobs.

Thanks again to all my readers and followers as I will be back shortly with another post.

Until then Go Lancers! and I hope to be writing about the playoffs very shortly.

This is the Irate Italian signing off! And as I write this sentence my Detroit Tigers have advanced to the American League Championship Series!

Cheers!

Lady Lancers Slay Gryphons!

Good day fellow followers!

The Irate Italian is back and boy am I excited to report on what I can safely say was a absolute thriller on a beautiful, fall Sunday at the ball park. I'm talking the Lady Lancer and Guelph Gryphons, who did battle at Turtle Club. To my shock, and definite embarrassment, these ladies can play. Below is my article on one heck of great day and I would like to thank the Ladies for not s**tting the bed when a person who is reporting on them is in the stands. (It happens more often than you would think). Without further adieu here is what you have all been waiting for!

Click, clack! Click, clack! 

Here we go Lancers!

That noise was all I heard when I bestowed my presence upon the Lady Lancers Fastball team and their game against the Guelph Gryphons. The original idea of covering a version of baseball that saw ladies play instead of men, the ball replaced with one the size of a mango and the pitcher deliver the pitch underhanded, was not exactly how I pictured spending my early Sunday afternoon. But with the sun shining and a promise needed to be kept, I hopped into my truck and made my way to Turtle Park. This is where the Lancers call home. This is also where the grounds crew had to use a shovel and a hose to remove my jaw from the shale ridden soil surrounding the diamond. What I saw on the field Sunday was not only a shock but I found myself caught up in a game that an hour earlier made no sense to cover. 

Ladies were firing softballs on a line, back and forth with not even a sense of hesitation in their steady preparation for battle. Starting pitcher Kelsey Schincariol was busy warming up by pounding the catchers mitt with fastballs many guys couldn't mimic while throwing overhand. All along the constant click, clack, click, clack, could be heard resonating into the bleachers and stimulating a feeling within that was reminiscent of playoff baseball across the river. I was jacked up and the game was just about to begin.

A rough start for the Lancers as the Gryphons grab an early 1-0 lead in the top half of the first inning. Schincariol would settle down and strikeout the final batter for the third out. One of seven strikeouts on the day. The Lancers put the hard hats on and went to work. Sam Sidoli decided, that with a reporter in the stands and a lead to snatch back from the Gryphons, to go deep to right center for a two RBI double  bringing in Schincariol and Sarah Meeke. That would be it for the Lancers but a 2-1 lead is nothing to complain about.

Now at this point in the contest, I am absolutely taken aback as to the skill level these ladies are playing at. This is definitely not your average Thursday night beer league softball game where people are lobbing meatballs that would make my nonna envious, but rather a league where the ladies take a no bulls**t approach to their preparation and play, in the field and at bat. These ladies are for real and realizing this, I adjusted accordingly. (The nice way of saying I stopped screwing around and got down to business)

After Guelph laid an egg in the top half of the second, the Lancers once again took full advantage of a Guelph pitcher that had trouble locating her pitches. The term "Juuuuuuuuust a bit outside!" came to mind multiple times as she couldn't hit a bull in the a** with a shovel. A rough going to say the least.

Up in the bottom half of the second was the rugged left fielder that the girls call "Ruccs". Erica Ruccolo stands all of 5'2"but the artistry she displays with a bat in her hand would make Dustin Pedroia proud, as she fouls off three legitimate strikes to finally bloop in a single to right field. After Steph Manson drew a walk, Schincariol once again helped out her own cause by driving a double to right and scoring Ruccolo with ease. With Meeke back at the dish, she triples to the gab in right center as if to say to Schincariol, "anything you can do I can do better ;)". The triple brings in Manson and Schincariol and that would be all the damage the Lancers could inflict on their opponents. 

With a slight lead and her teammates swinging the hot sticks, Schincariol was doing her part on the mound as she made the Gryphons' job absolutely excruciating. With two down in the third and the third batter sitting on a 2-2 count, Schincariol unloaded a nasty changeup that had the Guelph batter looking like she was swinging a garden hose. Strike three it was and the infamous "three up, three down!" line could be heard around the ballpark, it just happened to come from my mouth. I was into the game and these Lancers were putting on a show. 

Thanks for coming out, strike three!

Unfortunately that show was delayed as the Gryphons decided to come to life and hold the Lancers in the bottom half of the third. With Sidoli on first and one out, Ruccolo once again made her presence felt. She took a 2-1 offering to the deepest part of the park in left, slamming a double to put ducks on the pond at second and third. It was what followed that could have easily turned the tide in the contest. Steph Bouchey drilled a hanging breaking ball back to the pitchers feet where she snags it for the out. She really had no choice or she probably would be missing her tibia which for those who are not caught up on their anatomy, is the load barring bone in you lower leg.The instinctive Ruccolo takes off like a fat kid eyeing a bag of Skittles at third but it isn't until she is halfway that she realizes Sidoli didn't leave the three bag. She is doubled up at second and the inning is over. The inner Gronkowski almost came out of her as she wanted to slam the helmet, but distribution of funds obviously prevented that.

Ahh.. bye!

As both teams did absolutely nothing in the fourth inning, the fifth inning was where the winds began to blow. As the Lancers take back to the field an aroma could be smelt that most athletes recognize. That odour was fear, it was weakness, it was their opponent gasping for life. But instead of letting their feet off the accelerator, the Lancers cut their opponents deep and watched the blood spew all over. The killer instinct, the winners perfume, the sweet smell of the last stand from Guelph and it was up to their defence to lead the charge.

A bloop single and a bunt put a runner on second for Guelph. The next batter drove a ball to left. Ruccolo fields it on one hop and the madness begins. The batter rounds second and the attention turns to the runner at third. Schincariol holds the ball and baits the runner on third to stay. As this happens she rifles the ball to first gets the runner in a pickle and grabs the out. As the out is recorded the runner on third darts for home. Bouchey gets the ball at home and blocks it like an offensive lineman stifling the rushing defensive end. Double play and the Lancers could smell the blood in the water and they were the sharks! With a stab at shortstop to secure the third out, the bats went back to work.

The Gryphons had one last breath in them as they held the Lancers in the bottom half of the fifth. Schincariol went to work in the top half of the sixth with a nasty change up for a called third strike. This almost caused a death in the ballpark as the pitch was so dirty I almost choked on my applesauce. A couple groundouts had the Lady Lancers one inning away from a victory.

When the bats went south in the bottom half it was the leather that put the Lancers head over shoulders above the Gryphons. With Schincariol out for the seventh to close out what can be described as nothing short of a gem, Guelph tried to sneak their way back into the contest. With a runner on the first, a Guelph batter connects on a 1-0 offering and sends it to the fence in right. The ball rolls under the fence. The right fielder digs it out and throws it in. The umpire calls time with runners on second and third. Almost instantly the Guelph bench boss begins to leverage against what the umpire did. He claims the runner should advance as she could have taken home. The Lancers felt when the umpire called time, the defence stopped playing. To be fair, the relay was to first and without the stoppage, there would have been a play at the plate. After a controversial ruling the runner was awarded home plate.

I got this ladies!

Schincariol was not happy but she did not display her displeasure with the call, she instead bunkered down and unleashed a flurry breaking balls and inside fastballs that painted the corners and had Guelph hitters swinging the white flag. A strikeout, followed by a groundout and a pop out secured the 5-2 win for the Lancers.

Asked after the game if she was unhappy with the call Schincariol said that "the ump called time and you can't reverse time. Their coach baited him (the umpire) into changing his mind. Like, not a big deal as we refocused and got the next couple outs."

At this point I was toast, I was in awe. I was left speechless as to how these ladies could play and I totally underestimated them. What can be said is that as I left Turtle Club that day I left with a piece of humble pie tucked away nicely in my backpack and the sound of cleats going to work in the background as the Lancers prepared for their second game. Click, clack! Click, clack! That's the sound of a Lancer program ready to change the view of many like they did mind. That's the sound of Lady Lancer fastball!

I would like to thank the Lady Lancers for their outstanding play while I was at the ballpark and I encourage everyone reading to check them out this Friday in Forest Glade under the lights. Game time is set for 5 and 7pm at Tom Wilson field. I'll see all of you there!

As always leave your comments here on the blog or on Facebook. I always love to hear feedback!

This is the Irate Italian signing off! Cheers knuckleheads!