Shootin' From the Hip

Where do we start? I can't hold it in any longer. What a crappy weekend of sports.

Thoughts on the Tigers:

Let's be honest, they overachieved. If you were told August 1st they would be two games from the World Series, you'd love it. They never should have beat the Yankees in game 5. The frustrating part is the Tigers could have swept the Rangers if they just had timely hitting...and walked Cruz once or twice...or threw every ball at his earhole. How do you not drill that guy in the ribs by game 3? When they meet up in 2012, someone better have the stones to put one right between his numbers.

Detroit was plagued by timely hits the entire series. Texas's game plan was obvious: be ahead after the 5th inning, throw four different (unhittable) closers in each of the remaining innings. Ball game. Detroit has the starting pitching to win, but Austin Jackson looked like a Little Leaguer in the box. Avila needed rest. Lots of guys were banged up. Verlander never got his two full games...or a good strike zone. That zone in game 1 of the Texas series was terrible.

I am disappointed because for the month of October I got to enjoy Tigers baseball via the antenna. Actually, I watched two full post-season games with Fox muted and listening to 97.1 The Ticket play-by-play. It took some getting used to, TBS had about a 2 second delay and FOX had about a 9 second delay. When Fister pitched, I thought for sure I'd hear two pitches before I saw one on TV. The Tigers also played better when I did it that way, so I couldn't break the ritual in the middle of the series. In fact, pretty much any time I listened on the radio (car, kitchen, basement, etc.) the Tigers found instant success. (Remember when Detroit was down 3-0 in game 1 of the Texas game before the rain delay? That was all me. I got home just in time to see Avila bat after the second rain delay with bases loaded to hit a dribbler to second. Remember when Detoit played the day game (game 4) of the Texas series and they jumped out to an early lead? All me again.)

I don't know how much of the WS I'll watch with Texas in it. I'm bitter now. Texas was better, but Detroit had their chances.


Thoughts on the Lions:

I was at the game. My first Lions game at Ford Field. I think my current Lion record is 1-3 (with two losses coming from the 49ers...Alex Smith wasn't exactly Steve Young.) In the words of Big Daddy, I must be bad luck. I broke the Lion streak and I was at game 4 of the Yankee series that was 1-10.

The Lions got exposed. Blitz all day and stop Johnson. That was the quietest 7 catch - 117 yard day I've heard of. He was not utilized at all. The running game? Yikes. I will admit I was very impressed by the noise of the crowd at the game. We were sitting in the endzone in the upper level and it was very loud. It was also the looooooonnnnnnngest game ever. Didn't get done until after 4:45. We got up from our seats before they snapped the ball on the last play, so we missed all the Jim v Jim commotion after the game. In my opinion, Harbaugh didn't do anything Schwartz hasn't done all season after a win. Schwartz was just being a poor sport. He's just as emotional in other games (check out his trash talking in the 3rd quarter with Dez Bryant of the Cowboy game on the catch that was challenged and found to be out of bounds. Schwartz dropped a nice "INCOMPLETE MR. FALCON" lip-bomb on national TV...more on "Mr. Falcon" later.)

Very disappointed on the Lions last two positions. They had three timeouts and 1:51 remaining to just get to the 35 yd line to tie the game. Then at the end they couldn't do jack squat. No targets to Johnson at all. Just throw him the bleep ball!


The "other" game:

I've never watched a Michigan game where they played Wayne State, Oregon, and Baylor all in the same day. Anyway, moving on. You know how they say you can throw out the records and rankings for these rival games? No doubt. Michigan should never have been ranked #10 and MSU was better than the #19. But, that isn't UM's fault where they are ranked. MSU was by far the better team on Saturday...and the last 4 years for that matter. So, no congrats for doing what EVERYONE expected and that was beating Michigan for the fourth straight time. The better team won. Plain and simple.

I was very disappointed in the use of Denard and the lack of adjustments. MSU man-handled the O-line all day, yet nothing changed, just more yards lost on sacks. Why did they go away from their only game plan...keep the ball in Robinson's hands and let him get free. The worst part is they never figured it out, yet with 9 minutes to go in the game, THEY WERE STILL IN THE GAME! His running has to set up the pass. Granted, UM had numerous scoring chances with great field position all day. The whole Gardner thing didn't work and I'm not sure what they are thinking there. He looked sloooooooooooow.

MSU is a very good team, maybe Top 10 good. UM is still a much improved team, maybe Top 15 at best. If that game is at UM, I'm still not convinced UM wins. MSU has the better team and they did what was expected...beat a weaker opponent.

Yes there was lots of unsportsman-like stuff that went on, mostly by MSU. I just wonder why Gholston wasn't ejected. They clearly saw him punch the UM player or else a flag wouldn't have been thrown. Gholston was very dirty and a dink. He should definately be suspended. Even the D-Coordinator was quoted in the Free Press that he wanted them to play "60 minutes of unnessasary roughness." Side note: Gholston is a beast at D-end for MSU.


What was worse?:

I'm still debating what was the worst loss of the weekend. I think the Tiger season ending was the worst. The Lions are still in good position and the UM loss was expected. It was just frustrating the offensive scheme was so bad.

REACT TO ME!!!!!!!