While I regularly dig on the Lions, I do in fact usually enjoy the preseason games. They tend to be bizarre, off-kilter affairs, with 5th stringers deciding the outcome. Perhaps it's the 0-16 hangover or simply Lions-fatigue, but I missed the first three games this year. I did watch a bit of the 4th game last night. On the Lions first possession, Aveion Cason opened up with an impressive 7 yard gain up the gut. On the next play, Stafford was sacked for a ten yard loss. On 3rd and long, Stafford hit Calvin Johnson on the sideline with a pinpoint pass that CJ almost broke for a TD. After another 30 yard gain to Calvin, the Lions were in Bills' territory. Stafford quickly threw another bomb. Calvin, double-covered raced past the defenders and caught the ball for a touchdown.
Wait. This is the Lions.
Flag. Holding on Jeff Backus. Bring the ball back.
On the next play, Stafford was blind-sided and fumbled the ball. Thank you again, Jeff Backus. Ladies and Gents, these are your 2009 Detroit Lions!
The Return of Gum Time!
The Tigers somehow pulled off an extra-inning win yesterday despite managing only 5 hits. Clete Thomas gave the Tigers a 3-0 advantage with a 2-run triple in the 7th, and it looked like smooth sailing against the weak-hitting Tribe. Yet, Fu Te Ni quickly lost the lead after facing just 4 batters. Both Asdrubal Cabrera and Shin-Soo Choo notched 2-out hits to score 3 in the 8th. Miner relieved Fu Te Ni and pitched remarkably well into the extra innings, not allowing another hit.
RyRa led off the bottom of the 10th with a sharp double. Cleveland then walked Cabrera. I was begging for Maggs to lay down a bunt until they showed a stat that he hadn't sacrifice-bunted in 11 years (!!). Nevertheless, he was walked on 5 pitches. With the bases jacked and Polly at the plate, Cleveland brought in the infield. Polly swung and badly missed the first pitch in the dirt. On the next one, he sent a flyball to center-field, not terribly deep. Sizemore made the catch and threw home. Surprisingly, RyRa easily tagged-up and scored. I thought there would be a play at the plate, but Raburn's speed must be better than I thought.
Lost in the late-inning drama was Nate Robertson's quality start. He pitched 6 scoreless innings on a mere 80 pitches. My guess is he'll continue in the rotation, perhaps giving Washburn a few days off to rest an ailing knee. Blanking this Cleveland team does not mean Nate's ready to face the Yankees or Red Sox, but it's no doubt Nate's best start in years. The past two years, he's struggled against everybody. Well done, Gum Time!
Sad News
For those outside of Detroit, I doubt this story will get much coverage. I found out this morning that Ernie Harwell has "incurable cancer." He likely only has a few more months with us. While we've been blessed with fantastic announcers in Detroit (including the current team of Mario and Rod), Ernie Harwell will forever be my voice of the Tigers. He's a legend.
Sad news about the voice of the Tigers. I remember being terribly disappointed when I heard, around 1992 (?) that Ernie had been fired by the Tigers. That was the stellar reign of Mr. Dominos (was it Bo that actually fired the legend?). Regardless, I was living in Chicago and was in the interminable search for a parking space and flipped to an AM radio station to listen to whatever MLB playoff game was on. What to my wondering ears did appear, but the melifluous voice of Ernie Harwell. He had been brilliantly hired by CBS radio. I know that he and the Tigers mended their fences and he did broadcast more games for them, but at that time as I sat in my 1984 Pontiac Sunbird (having now found a parking space some 15 minute walk from my apartment), I enjoyed the voice that transported me to summer days in Troy hearing the static emanating from Grandpa Kopera's transistor radio while playing catch in a shady yard. They say that "smell" is the most nostalgic sense, but for those of us that grew up with a soundtrack of Tiger baseball, Ernie Harwell's unique and dulcet voice has always brought me home.
ReplyDeleteYou guys are choking me up with your memories of Ernie Harwell. I have never seen a more beloved announcer. So articulate and so classy.
ReplyDeleteAnd just a side note, there is a link to a wdiv (detroit nbc i believe) article about Ernie Harwell on CNN.com.
Having lived in a few major markets over the years, I believe we are truly blessed in Detroit with our excellent cadre of announcers.
ReplyDeleteFor the Wings, Ken Kal ("He shoots, he SCO-ooooorzzzz) and Paul Woods do an excellent job for radio. Ken Kal may eventually reach legendary status if he broadcasts another 20 years. On TV, Ken Daniels is also an excellent play-by-player, though he's a relatively recent addition (within the last 10 years). Color guy Mickey Redmond is hit-or-miss, though the old-timers dig him.
The Pistons have my personal favorite George Blaha. Already a local legend, Blaha has broadcast Piston games my entire lifetime. He currently has the erudite Greg Kelser doing color, and it's the best teaming yet. Those fellas are so pro, even-keel, and respectful of the opposition. Just an awesome broadcast team.
Even the Lions have new kid on the block Dan Miller - a DC transplant who moved to Detroit about a decade ago. In that time, Dapper Dan has transformed the Fox news into THE place to get local sports info. Dapper Dan is super-smooth and pro. As a non-native Detroiter, he's got no homer tendencies. His color guy is Jim Brandstater, ex-UM football player, who's decent. Former Lion PBPer, Mark Champion, now does Pistons games on radio.
As for the Tigers, Mario and Rod are fantastic on TV, but the radio is a different story. PBP Dan Dickerson is solid, but his color guy, Jim Price, is awful. Perhaps he just sticks out because the other announcers are so good. Regardless, he, for some reason, always eats while on the air. He thinks he's hiding it, but those damn lip-smacks while eating a hot dog give it away. So unprofessional and annoying. Just wait till the commercial break! There are 17 during a baseball game!