October 24, 2012

Reprinted from October 2006 — All Roads Lead to the Tigers


It was a different time. The beginning of the new era of the Detroit Tigers. It was on the side of the road that it all happened. 

The following is from the Detroit Free Press, dated October 16, 2006. It's Losey's latest in a series of playoff articles. He tells a pretty cool story about some Tiger fans he met "on the road" in June. Enjoy!

As is the case with many of my articles, I actually have to go to Wal-Mart or Barnes & Noble to find the magazine. I usually know when the issue hits the street; I just never know when or where I'll find it. The same was true for the Sporting News. I was excited to see the Tigers' piece and had just made an unsuccessful hour-long trip without finding it.
Steven D. Lott; Steven D. Losey; Rick Heitmeyer; Ken Kreiner. 
Photo by John Huckins. 

Earlier in the year I had bought my dream car on eBay, a '79 Corvette. For the first time in my life I also bought a custom license plate that read DETTGRS and had mentioned both in the Sporting News article.
As I was driving back from Battle Creek I was traveling down I-69 just outside of Tekonsha. I was on my phone, listening to my stereo and enjoying life with the T-tops out. I peered into the passing lane and noticed some guys in a van coming up alongside the 'Vette. They were frantically waving their arms and attempting to get my attention.

The plate that started it all. 

For a second I thought I was on fire or had a flat. Just then I noticed the front passenger holding the Sporting News up to the window. It was my article and he had it!

I pulled over to the side of the road and four guys piled out of the van. It was Ken Kreiner and Steve Lott from Vestaburg, and John Huckins and Rick Heitmeyer from Mt. Pleasant (yeah, I know ...). They were on their way to see the Toledo Mud Hens (West Michigan White Caps).

Apparently Rick had just read the piece and when they saw my plate and my car they couldn't believe it. We shook hands, took some photos and I autographed the article. It was a really cool moment for me.
Since then we've all become friends and have hung out at Comerica Park, and it all happened because we love the Tigers!

Contact STEVEN DOUGLAS LOSEY at publicity@stevelosey.com.

October 21, 2012

World Series Bound!

They're going back to the World Series.

 Prior to the game, Chris Brown and I checked out the Comerica Park haunts. Things were looking good. Even the Tiger was fired up! Later on, the Tiger would finish off a couple of brooms and enjoy a SWEEP! 
 Shot from Cheli's Chili across the street, the scoreboard reminds us that it's ALCS time in the D. 
 Even the son who left home in anger, Jack Morris, seems to have made peace between himself and the Tigers. He was around and visible. He threw out the first pitch the night Verlander pitched — which I thought was awesome and appropriate. 
 Let's think about changing the scoreboard to WORLD SERIES!!!
 Coke, thinking of warming up and closing the game out on Thursday afternoon. 
 Mason and Mark Grossbauer took in the game on Thursday. Good game to choose! 
 World Series Bound!!! 
 Prior to the game, the Fillmore had a great idea on their scoreboard. 
That is a great idea, Mr. Tiger! 




October 17, 2012

Wouldn't It Be Amazing …

… if the Tigers return to the World Series. 

I have attended Spring Training for the past few seasons. My parents have a place in Lakeland now, so we'll probably continue to go down. Last February, we were in town when the players arrived — most of them early. There was a buzz in Tigertown. You could feel that the team expected to be playing late into October.

The 2012 season was an up–and–down season with many inconsistencies mixed in. A couple of times  in the season, I was convinced that this crew was going nowhere and that the manager probably was. Jim Leyland is fiercely loyal and a stubborn manager. He sticks with his players through thick and thin, much like we do as Tigers fans.

Throughout the season, my friends and I would talk regularly about this squad. We kept saying one thing: If the Tigers can make it into the playoffs, their pitching could probably beat anyone else's. The starting pitching has been above phenomenal. The bullpen, besides one pitcher, has been solid.
Phil Coke is taking advantage of his new role and throwing well. He made the ninth inning interesting last night, but he struck out Raul "Legend" Ibanez to end the game and the Yankee threat. Make no mistake, the Yankees had the tying run on second base.
Jim Leyland continues to amaze with his handling of the Tigers in 2012. I've complained about him and called for his ouster, but he's done a good job keeping this team focused on the ultimate prize. I suppose he'll be back in '13, with a team that could be posed to do more damage.
This good time in Tigers baseball would have made Grandpa Morgan proud. It's hard to believe we went to our last Tiger game together seven years ago. It was in late 2005, the last season of Alan Trammell's managerial stint in Detroit, and the last season before the renaissance. The Tigers are now in the upper echelon of teams — they have star power (probably the best pitcher and best hitter) and are willing to do whatever it takes to improve. It's a good time to be a Tigers fan!




October 14, 2012

I were commissioner of Major League Baseball …

One thing I would change. Add double headers into the mix. 


Not these silly 1 p.m./7 p.m. games where the spectators have to pay for both, either. I'd make it 1 p.m. followed by a 2o minute break. I would do this every Sunday for every team from the middle of June through August. That's 12 or 13 Sundays where you would play not 12 games, but 24 to 26. By doing this, you could end the season on September 15 and start the playoffs. 

The wildcard games could become best of three, and everything else could remain the same. The World Series would be done by October 15 every year, so we wouldn't be faced with the bitter cold and rain we've seen the last few postseasons. 

I love postseason baseball, but it gets tough when the weather gets so cold. I can take the cold, but can the "average" fan deal with it? 


October 13, 2012

The Closer

A shut down closer …
Closers are considered an indispensable part of Major League Baseball teams. Former Tiger John Hiller once was an elite closer, saving 38 games in the early '70s. Closers in the old days would sometimes pitch two or three innings — and often came into a tight save situation with runners on second and third and one out or so. You know who I'm talking about: Rich Gossage, Dan Quisenberry, Willie Hernandez.


In 1984, even when Willie Hernandez saved 32 games, he threw 140 innings in 80 games, his sort of co–closer Aurelio Lopez threw 137 innings and saved 14 other games. Neither of them were high strikeout pitchers. Hernandez actually won the MVP and Cy Young awards that season. 

I can name every single closer the Tigers have had since the '70s. I used to be able to tell you each league leader each year, but that memory has been replaced by other things — more important stuff, you know. But, I've never been a big fan of the closer. 

I think it's an overrated position, maybe the most overrated in baseball. Come in and pitch one inning with no one on base and get credited with a save. Come on, really? I thought maybe the rule had changed since the '70s, but really, it's how managers have manipulated the rule. 

We talk about the mentality of the closer and all that jive, but come on — how many saves really save a game. The way the position is used these days, it should be called a "Game Closed" or something like that. I mean, the way the position is manipulated, the save statistics are way blown out of proportion. 


If he's not the closer on your team, you don't like Jose Valverde. 
Could Al-Al Alburquerque be next year's closer? 






October 11, 2012

2006 | Postseason Review

Winning. Is. Fun. 
More fun than last night. 
After the Tigers won the Division Series in 2006, the Fox Theater marquee displayed a "congrats."

Section 128, just prior to the Tigers beating the Yankees. 

Chris Brown and Rob Wise celebrating in the D.

Denny Kreiner, Chris Brown, Ken Kreiner, and Dan Thering. In front of Tiger Stadium. 

Dan Thering, Chris Brown, and Denny Kreiner prior to the final game of the Championship Series. 

Could this be the day? 

Getting closer. Did Jason Grilli just walk the bases full? 

The infamous Chicken Man, who was everywhere that night.  

Always wanted to get one of those "first edition" papers. 

Remember when Leyland was magic? 

Oh, let's hope for something like this!!!

October 10, 2012

Put me in coach …

Tiger Stadium (1912–1999)

Chris Brown and I go back to the '70s with our interpretation of the 1979 Detroit Tigers yearbook cover. Right out at second base in the D. Of course, in reality, maybe the Tigers shot was taken in Lakeland, but … ah, for the sake of the Tigers, it was at Tiger Stadium! Which is where we were. 


Haven't found out exactly what this is, but it's found around Tiger Stadium and we also found one in Grand Circus Park. It's an Old English D with Mark Fidrych at the bottom, fixing the mound. I'm sure he was also talking to the ball …


October 04, 2012

Amber & Courtney at Comerica Park

Before the bullpen moved! 


October 03, 2012

It's that season when we all hate the Yankees

This one goes way back. To 1978, or 1973. Maybe all the way to 1971! 


This post is a journey
This photo above is back when the Tigers weren't good, but their drafts had been incredible and the nucleus of the 1984 World Championship team was being created. Amazingly, Mark "The Bird" Fidrych would not be a part of those great '80s teams. But, in 1978, I went to a double header on "helmet day." Now, look at the coolness of the picture above. There's six–years–old Ricky wearing the old school '70s style Tigers helmet (don't know about the fingers in the mouth deal, but that's not important), Dad (or Carl) wearing a sweet '70s style polyester shirt with the cool collar (made by Mom, or Sally), with the most popular brand of beer in the '70s (made, of course, in … Detroit) sitting on a cooler in the background. There is no picture that screams "1970s" like that one. I think it's an awesome photo! (Thanks, Mom, for digging it up — among others). 

The Tigers are back in the playoffs. 

I'll be the first to say that I had my doubts on a number of occasions this season. 

This team is inconsistent. To say the least. 


Brennen Boesch was hyped in Spring Training as the consumate number two hitter who would benefit from Miguel Cabrera hitting behind him and Prince Fielder behind him. Boesch never took off this season, though. So little in fact, that I doubt he'll even be on the postseason roster.

The Old English D represents the city of Detroit. Everyone recognizes it as such. I've been a fan of the Tigers since forever, or at least 1976 when Mark Fidrych took over the city. I've been a fan of the city since this mid–90s.


My Grandpa, when he was hospitalized back in 2005 once told my Dad that he was impressed at how well I knew my way around Detroit. At the time I didn't really think I knew my way around, but enjoyed trying to decipher the unique set–up that is the Detroit road/street/avenue/boulevard system. Safe to say, back then, I tried to find Woodward Ave. I thought that would get me somewhere.


Austin Jackson has had a great season. He's the catalyst, and I'm predicting right now that as AJ goes, the Tigers will go in the playoffs. I expect now that they're in, that the Tigers are going to go on a nice little run. Who's with me on that?


I made this collage in 2010, when Joel Zumaya as still trying to make the team out of Spring Training. Miggy was becoming a force then — but now, he's become outrageous. I'm so glad he's a Tiger.


Of course, suggesting that AJ is a key and Miggy is an outrageous Tiger, that doesn't discount the fact that we have Justin Verlander, one of the greatest pitchers of his generation. I'm sure he's going Saturday night — and rain is forecast in Detroit, so what's going to happen? Usually, the rain happens on the road to Justin, often in New York City. If I'm the team the Tigers are going to play in the first round, I'm not excited knowing the JV is pitching game one.


It all started with some tickets purchased in Spring Training.


And the arrival of Prince Fielder, who reported early. And ready to rumble for the Detroiters.


And a chance meeting with Mr. Tiger, Al Kaline, in Spring Training in Lakeland. The voice still booms like it did on TV with George Kell for all those year.s

And a manager who keeps it level. Even if I complain about him and his coaches regularly. 


And the kid who's loved baseball since 1973 (or maybe even 1971, for all I know) is going back to the playoffs. Down to the "D," a place where playoff baseball, or even good baseball, was absent for many years. The Tigers from the mid–1990s through the mid–2000s weren't very good. But the Tigers today, they're getting better …


Different variation of the 1978 picture. Still love the helmet and the shirt. And I'm sure the Stroh's was good. But, when the Tigers won it all in 1984 and I was 12 years old, I never thought that I'd be 40 before they challenged for another one. Let's make this the year. They line up well with their American League counter–parts. If the role players can come through and we can play a little better defense, this is going to be fun!