Getting ready for baseball

No, I did not attend the Tigers Caravan event in Traverse City on Sunday or Mt. Pleasant on Monday. I used to really enjoy going to these fests and events WHEN THE EXPECTATIONS WERE LOW. Now, though, that everybody and his brother (well, okay — not you!) have become Tigers fans, there are too many people in attendance.

Seriously, when we went to Spring Training in 2004, there were about 10 folks there watching practice and asking for autographs. And most of those 10 people were Tiger die–hards who have retired to Florida and have nothing else to do. Now, those 10 are pushed to the back by all the new "fans" and the folks who get autographs and five minutes later have the on the Internet to sell.

Dare I say, it was more fun when they (were losing 100 games a year). At least the in person stuff was more fun. In '06, the year they turned the corner — the first year of the Jimmy Leyland Era — I attended about 15 games. No one was sure they were in it to win it, but it was exciting. The playoffs and World Series were awesome as well. Now, though, with upgrades at several positions, the expectation is there for the Tigers to WIN BIG! The atmosphere should be incredible at the CoPa. With nearly 25,000 season ticket packages sold, good luck getting "okay" seats at the ballpark.

I'm ready for baseball!


Hopefully, the Chicken Man will make an appearance in Detroit Rock City in October.