Don't Look Back, Because Something Might Be Gaining On You
Rob Sanford
The title is a quote from the late, great Satchel Paige...which means you can't live your life or play baseball in fear instead of doing what you did to become successful. Or 'just win and everything else will take care of itself'.....something almost every manager has said at one time or the other. This is how I feel about the Tigers right now. Yes, the Twins and the White Sox have drawn closer but you can't keep looking back and expect to take care of the task ahead. So as we approach the All-Star break the team will have to find a way to keep that intensity and desire. The last couple of years they have fallen apart in the second half so hopefully they won't worry about everyone else and play the way they did in the latter part of the 1st half.
I have seen Denny McLain, Mickey Lolich, Jack Morris, and even "The Bird" but I have never seen a Tiger pitcher in the zone as much as Justin Verlander is right now. It boggles my mind when I see 100 mph fastballs in the 8th inning, change ups that just come out of nowhere, and I haven't even talked about his curve and slider. I have to keep reminding myself he is only human and therefore can fail....or maybe not.
Ryan Raburn.....I've said enough how I feel about him. Speaking of someone else that doesn't seem human, at least on the baseball field, Miguel Cabrera is incredible. He makes hitting look so easy, he can cut his swing down to send it up the middle, or hit a ball 500 feet. I remember how he played at first base when he first started, and has come light years from those days. He is vital to the team and without him...forget any chance for the postseason. I'll keep my fingers crossed nothing happens to him.
While I ranted and railed against interleague play...I have to say I'm looking forward to playing the defending World Champs, San Francisco Giants. They have a pitching staff that is out of this world so the Tiger hitters will be challenged big time. Besides the baseball....I've also have also liked their uniforms.
