Sports Blog

Ssshhhh - Don't tell the Underdog Detroit Tigers - but they are three wins away from a World Series appearance. This team just makes me smile. Last night, Barry Zito is plugging along, retires the first eight Tigers he faces, and then, wham, he's pulled after 10 of the next 13 Tigers reach base. Just another day at the ballpark for the 2006 Detroit Tigers. I don't care who they face in the World Series, I just hope they get there.

The playoff format is so interesting. And it's the same in all pro sports. You name it - football, hockey, baseball - the team with the best record gets to start at home - something that should be an advantage. I think the rule should be changed - the team with the winning record should get to decide whether or not they start on the road or at home. A split in the first 2 games is an advantage in games 3 and 4. Your top 2 pitchers shouldn't care if they pitch at home or not. I know, it's about last ups, too. But ask the New York Yankees if, in hindsight, they might have had a better fate had they started on the road. We'll never know. But what we do know is that there is usually a lot of pressure playing at home. Which brings me to my next point. Is it me, or do the Detroit Tigers even know they are in the post season? I really haven't noticed the heavy weight that starts to descend on a team trying to win a series. I did notice it in the New York Yankees and it was definitely apparent in the Oakland Athletics last night. But what's with the Tigers? Time will tell - but in the meantime, don't anybody say anything.

A couple of quick comments. Credit where credit is due. It seems George Steinbrenner agreed with me and decided to keep Joe Torre - good move, George. As I said yesterday, Joe Torre isn't the problem. Even Steinbrenner has trouble handing someone $7 million to go away. And no, there won't be an extension to the contract. So, now what?

Interesting comments by General Manager Brian Cashman about Alex Rodriguez. When asked about A-Rod's status, he replied "I fully expect him to be here. We're going to figure this thing out together". Fully expect? Figure what out? Huh? Okay - reading between the lines, moving A-Rod and his contract is not completely out of the picture. The no-trade clause is also obviously another big problem. Let's face it, life in New York for A-Rod must be borderline miserable right now. He would be smart to give Brian Cashman a list of teams he would consider moving to. And then get on with his life. That's if he can admit to himself that things in New York will never work out for him. What were those stats again? .290; 35 home runs; 24 (ouch) errors and .071 (OUCH) in the post season against that team from Tigertown. (By the way, A-Rod's stats in his last 12 post-season appearances? 4-41, no RBIs and an ugly .098). Joe Torre was criticized for moving him to 8th in the batting lineup. Rodriguez is lucky he got an at-bat. The Yankees are on the hook for $15,900,000 of A-Rod's $23,000,000 due in 2007. George will be willing to pay a big portion just to unload this contract.

And, finally, we all know that George Steinbrenner has new, bigger fish to fry. George needs pitching. Who doesn't? And he will hotly pursue negotiating rights to Daisuke Matsuzaka, MVP for the World Baseball Classic. Matsuzaka and the Seibu Lions will command big bucks. And George will be right there with the vault open. And what about other potential signings for the Yankees? Any interest in Barry Zito? What about Jason Schmidt? They already have Mike Mussina and I'm sure they want to keep him. Yes, many more ways for George to spend money. And spend he will. George will be spending a lot of time with Scott Boras in the off season - agent to Alex Rodriguez and, in all likelihood, the same agent for Daisuke Matsuzaka.

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