I Love You Maggs, But.......

Rob Sanford

I will not deny it. I have a sentimental attachment to Magglio Ordonez. He provided me one of my biggest thrills as a Tiger fan....his home run in 2006 that sent the Tigs to the World Series. But maybe it's time to look at facts. He is just not producing and at this point looks like Father Time is catching up with him. Manger Jim Leyland says he believes that Maggs can still help the club down the stretch. I don't disagree with that assertion, but maybe it's time to realize that Ordonez is no longer an everyday designated hitter. His outfield play isn't terrible, but here again, the constant pounding on his legs have taken its toll.  Don't discard him like a rag, he deserves better than that....but even he must know...he's not the same player that hit that home run on that autumn evening in 2006

There was an interesting article last week in the Wall Street Journal about a partial answer to the splintering bat problem. A entrepreneur and a Denver real estate agent got together and decided to try out an idea. They cryogenically froze some bats at 310 degrees below zero then slowly returned them back to room temperature. What happened??? The bats were 26% less likely to splinter that those that weren't frozen. So far, no comment from major league baseball.

Maybe I'm over sensitive....but when I moved here from Grand Rapids 10 years ago...I was amazed at how few even realized the West Michigan Whitecaps were a class "A" minor league affiliate of the Tigers. Some didn't even know there was a team. Well yes, Virginia not only is there a team, some of the top Tiger prospects have played there. Last week it was announced the team and the Tigers have agreed on a 4 year contract extension on the affiliation. Over the years Brandon Inge, Joel Zumaya, Duane Below, Alex Avila, Ramon Santiago, Ryan Raburn, Brennan Boesch, Andy Dirks, Don Kelly, Will Rhymes, Adam Wilk , Jacob Turner, Casper Wells, and Jair Jurrgens. There are more...but I think you get the point. Good baseball is played in the boondocks!!