I was only 10 when the Tigers and Cardinals last got together but it was a very memorable world series for me. I was listening on radio via armed services radio and can still remember Northrup's drive being misplayed by Flood in Game 7. It was a great series with Micky Lolich stealing all the thunder from the 30 game winner McClain. Lolich was the David Wells of his time a rotund but very effective LHP. The manager of the Tigers moved his CF Mickey Stanly to play SS for all 7 games even though he had been the regular CF the whole season. Has any manager made such a ballsy WS move since then? I can still remember almost everyone of the Tigers from that series as I was rooting for them to avenge the loss of my RedSox in 67 to the Cardinals. Gates Brown, Willie Horton, Bill Freehan, Dick McAauliffe, Al Kaline, and my favorite at the time Jim Northrup. What a great collection of hitters and characters. Retrosheet shows good ole Dave Campbell with 9 at bats. I assume the Padres picked him up in 69 with the expansion draft.

Via Rotowire:
Both Cubs GM Jim Hendry and Mets GM Omar Minaya have announced they'll bid for the rights to negotiate exclusively with Matsuzaka in November, and there are as many as eight major league teams who have already notified MLB they'll bid on the Japanese ace, according to the Chicago Tribune and Newsday.

Besides the Cubs and Mets, we know the Mariners, Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox and Rangers are likely to bid on Matsuzaka, and other teams, including the Angels and Orioles, could be interested. The owner of Matsuzaka's Japanese club, the Seibu Lions, has stated he'll likely formally announce Matsuzaka's availability in late October, at the conclusion of the Japan Series. Matsuzaka would be made available to MLB teams via the posting system. The Japanese star righty is certainly drawing interest in baseball circles, and other areas as well; Popular Mechanics, of all magazines, published a technical analysis of Matsuzaka's famous "gyroball" pitch in their latest edition.

wow - Eric Byrnes is excited.

My HD cable is still broken. I am not a fan of this Time Warner takeover. Two weeks ago our HD cable got all screwed up and we called and were informed that 'the sun' was to blame for all the scramblevision and that it would recede by the 11th. Now its the 21st and it still sporadically breaks up all the time, generally at times when things I want to watch are on.

i gotta admit i'm pretty excited my self

Go Motor City

I wanna root for the Tigers, but since I always find myself pulling for the underdog, that's hard to do. Perhaps I'll just enjoy some World Series baseball.

Cardinals in 6. Eckstein MVP. You heard it here first.

6

the Tigers are the underdog!! they haven't won a WS in ages. StLuis has alot of trophies its Detriot's chance to shine.

7

no no Detriot in 5 or 6

If the Cardinals win the WS then the 7 games series is just luck. :)

No pitcher has impressed me as much as Verlander since Nolan Ryan.

[6] lol! duly noted.

[8] there is simply NO WAY the tigers are any kind of underdog in this world series. i guarantee you none of the players are thinking about franchise history during the games.

i can't believe Anthony Reyes is pitching game one?

12 are you rooting for the Cards Vishal?

nice start by Detriot

8) The Tigers and Cardinals have won the exact same amount of world series titles in the last 40 years.

how about in the last 100 years??

Motor City or bust!

If Uniroyal still existed I'd love to see them break out the Tiger during this series. Feeling nostalgic. Expecting a sweep myself.

I wonder how many times McCarver is going to bring up the cold weather/curveball thing. It so obviously not effecting Verlander's curve...Its been nasty so far tonight.

i wonder if Rolen is on LaRussa's good side now that he hit a 4 bagger.

i didn't know The LA times hired women reporters?

I was 18 have have the same memories. They moved Mickey Stanley to SS because Kaline just came off the DL and needed to make room for him. They had outfielders of Horton, Stanley, Northrup, Kaline. SS Ray Oyler was a really poor hitter.

For the first time in five weeks, I watched a sporting event in it's entirety: UCLA vs. Notre Dame. Today.

I'm done.

no, i'm rooting for the tigers. but my point remains that the past 100 years of baseball history has zero impact on this world series, or any world series really.

how often does that happen?

24

true but it's been such a long time since Detriot's been in a world series that i'm rooting for them. Verlander has a mean spinner

Is there any reason to pitch to Pujols with a base open and two out? Never mind throwing him a straightball.

You know, I'm declared as rooting for the Tigers for all the usual reasons already mentioned here, but I find myself rooting for the Cardinals at least tonight despite myself, and I'm sure it's all because I'm tired of the National League bashing. There's this sense of entitlement that the AL has already won the series, being the superior league and all, and thus it's a little satisfying to see the Cards at least scaring the Tigers so far. Still, I'll be surprise if I can sustain any rooting interest for St Louis, given my general dislike of them for various reasons.

You pitched to Albert Pujols with a runner on, two outs and first base open, and that is why...YOU SUCK, JIM LEYLAND!

Jim Leyland must be a great motivator. It takes a special person to hit their worst hitter third, use the worst pitcher on the team as the closer, and pitch to Pujols in that situation.

26 I hate to break this to you, but the Tigers have won a World Series more recently than the Cardinals. Last World Series title: Tigers 1984, Cardinals 1982.

YOU SUCK, JIM LEYLAND!

an ego can blind judgement at times

i thought the Cards won one in '87?

For the record, I like the Cardinals for many reasons above and beyond my endearing hatred for a certain cleat-wearing AARP member. There's the whole thing with the Cubs, and I can't stand the Cubs (I grew up rooting for them and after '03 I realized that it was kind of like staying married to a guy who beats you.) There's the fact that their fans are completely deserving of all of the praise they get. I also wrote my senior thesis at Berkeley about the Curt Flood case. I'm wearing my Flood jersey right now.

Mostly, though, I just hate Jim Leyland.

33 The Twins won in '87. By the way, that Twins team was probably worse than this Cardinals team.

Joe Buck and McCarver just made me hate Placido Polanco.

Watching Verlander pitch makes me glad the Padres decided to draft Matt Bush.

34 I meant to write "enduring" but I also think "endearing" applies.

35

true i just remembered

Joe Buck makes me hate a lot of things, but mostly Joe Buck.

having family in Detriot also contributes to me rooting for the Tigers.

There's the fact that their fans are completely deserving of all of the praise they get.

boooooo.

34 "There's the fact that their fans are completely deserving of all of the praise they get." Mark, you should ask Bob Timmerman here about that subject some day. ;-)

Yeah, I still am in disbelief about the way they pitched Pujols. Talk about a wake-up call.

Just saw this
6 "I wanna root for the Tigers, but since I always find myself pulling for the underdog, that's hard to do."

That's nice - thanks, I'll try not to disappoint. ;-)

I have been to several games at Old Busch during my brief lifetime and every time I've been impressed by how the fans actually watch the game (as opposed to the "fans" at Coors Field, who act as if the game is an inconvenience or the fans at Wrigley, who play drinking games) and how a relatively tiny proportion of people leave early even if it's a complete blowout either way.

It's interesting how Buck and McCarver are all sexy for Justin Verlander despite the fact that he's losing by three and his given up two big home runs. Obviously they are still working from the scripts prepared for them by Fox's Department of Making Sure Nobody Enjoys Baseball Games (the guys who brought you "Scooter").

Anthony Reyes was born in Downey Ca.

Oh I'm relatively neutral on the subject of Cardinals fans - or would even agree with you on their loyalty at Busch - but still, for amusement you should discuss this with Bob at some point.

Wow, Verlander's stuff is filthy, and lots of K's. And yet Reyes has outpitched him overall and Tigers are losing 4-1.

if I ever see Scooter again, I may take a hostage. I'm glad they finally came to their senses about that, a cartoon character more annoying than Muttley or Scrappi Du, and yet at least Scrappi Du didn't interrupt baseball games to "espouse knowledge".

49

Scappi Du was the cousin of Scooby-doo right?

Detroit's freeswingerliness has really helped Reyes. Because they're getting themselves out on first and second pitches, he's pretty much stopped messing around with the changeup and is just throwing fastball/curve. Where are your magical powers of motivation now, Jimmy L.?

50 He was Scooby's nephew, or evil spawn, it doesn't matter much... ;-) Scrappy Doo, I meant to type. Must have been thinking of Husker Du.

51

it's just a matter of time before they figure out Anthony Reyes.

52

he was the little tough dog that picked fights all the time, i remember now.

52
A Husker Du reference, I am amazed.

It is weird to hear all the PRIDE people speaking English.

Hey ToyCannon, Does Reyes look remind you any of Denny McLain?

Has Verlander been sitting at 90-92 MPH all night? I wonder if the extra innings are finally catching up to him like they've been saying they would. During the season he'd sit at 95 all game pretty much.

The fact that the Tigers beat the A's has done nothing but endear them to me. Go, Kittycats!

Does it seem as if Fox was utterly unprepared for this storyline? Here they have a wealth of information about Verlander's likes and dislikes and all they have to say about Reyes is that he wears his socks high. Well, I could have told you that.

I knew I should have put money on the Cardinals winning this series. If this year's playoffs have taught us anything, it's to take the popular opinion and bet the other way.

Watching Pujols pull in at third with that big grimace... that might just cost the Cards later.

It is weird to hear all the PRIDE people speaking English.

it's saturday beer night!! for me atleast.

Hey everybody! I am still alive. I was indeed wearing UCLA clothing to the game at Notre Dame. It wasn't problem. The fans there are very nice. And for 59 minutes and 33 seconds they were very, very, very angry.

The two guys behind me were Chicagoans right out of an SNL skit. The liked to Samardjiza a lot. They were happy at the end.

I'll have a longer post Monday and I may need someone who can do some simple Photostop for me.

63
I heard the same thing from other UCLA fans at the game. That makes me respect them a lot more.

63

are you timpsy Bob?

Hey, Scott Rolen has a large bald spot.

I doubt UCLA fans will care much about visiting Notre Dame fans next year. But I have to go up to one next year and say "Welcome to Pasadena, I hope you have a nice time."

It'll probably be an alum who lives in Glendale.

i wonder if Buck & McCarver are biased towards the Cards, it dons't seem like it to me.

68 Oh, absolutely not. One thing I will say in Buck's favor -- in that regard he is a total pro.

69

i've always thought he does a good job

Chip Carey as well.

Reyes is quietly pitching a very good game (hop i jinx with that remark)

What a day for Bob, first the UCLA game, now two errors on one play. . .

Jon is busting a ghost today

72

not to mention the bald spot on Rolens hair

72

Andrew Shimmin is not your real name right?

37-I hope you're kidding.

76 Depends if he's a Padres fan or not

75- It is, actually. Why do you ask?

i still like Detriot's chances

i always thought you were the dude that comes out on Leykus101

79- Me too, but, then, I'm rooting against them. . .

Is Bluebleeder87 your real name? I knew a Bluebleeder87 in high school once. (hee)

80- I've been told I had a face meant for radio, but I didn't follow up on it. If I had, I wouldn't be anything like Tom Leykis. I don't hate women even a little bit.

the Cards beat us in '04 that's reason enough to root against them

I just noticed that Marcus Thames hasn't played for a while. What's up with that?

83

rumor has it that he loves many many women

ps i swear i thought you were baxter (a frequent Leykis guest)

Dang Vitor. Never let his fists fly.

i really thought Detriot was gonna win today

i really thought Detriot was gonna win today

sorry about that

Ryan Howard is at the PRIDE event and so is Chuck Norris!

Tigers are going down with a fight

So that's the new trend in MLB managing, leaving your starter in one batter too long?

great pitched game by Reyes

wow game finished at exactly 8:00pm

so, that was ugly for the Tigers

DodgerSims nailed the NLCS Game 7 result and gave the Cardinals a win expectancy of 55.68% for game one of the World Series. I really don't see the rush to annoint the Tigers champs.
vr, Xei

55.68%. That's cutting things pretty fine, isn't it?

Stan from Tacoma

98. 65.23% for game #2.
vr, Xei

Detriot in 5 or 6

100. Pistons or Red Wings?
vr, Xei

i don't really fallow basketball

102. So, Red Wings in 5 or 6? I really don't see them getting by the Sabres. vr, Xei

Wazzup peeps? Have I missed anything the last two days? Kinda busy over here, what with the whole turning-22-today thing...

Happy birthday das411! Why did I think you were older than 22?

Happy birthday das411! Welcome to the world of 22.

The NYT has an interesting story about modern stadium amenities and how they've in part overtaken the game as the draw for the customers.

http://tinyurl.com/y74tvo