They just can't beat the teams they have to beat (WTBS, 1982)

It was September 2005 and we all knew that Alan Trammell probably wouldn't be back as the Tigers manager. It was said that he had lost control of the club house, especially Tiger face, Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez. At this point in '05, the Detroiters were 63–71 and on their way to another poor finish.

Okay, I'm going to fly back in time, back to the early '80s and the only teams we could watch regularly. The Braves were on WTBS and the Cubs were on WGN. The Carey boys, announcing on either channel. I used to watch both teams just because it was cool to watch baseball. Where we lived (Elk Rapids, Mich.) we couldn't get Pro Am Sports System (PASS) so Tigers games were out unless TV 7&4 happened to be showing a game announced by George Kell and Al Kaline.

The Braves back in the early '80s were in the same division — The National League East — as their arch–nemesis, the Los Angeles Dodgers. This was the era of the unbalanced schedule and prior to inter–league play, so the teams would play each other like 13 or 14 times. The Braves, an up–and–coming team, could not beat the Dodgers. It was so classic, that the TBS tagline was something like, "The Braves will be playing the Dodgers, the team they just can't seem to beat."

As I ramble here, you'll understand that I feel like the Tigers (when they're in their decent eras) can beat the heck out of the teams they should beat, but struggle against the weaker teams. I just don't understand their problem with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. I don't understand why they can't beat the White Sox of Chicago during the 2007 season.

Where's the mojo, baby? Bring it back! And soon.

Cheers, peace, and salutations. And to all of you who read RWA and started back to school today, have a wonderful year.