Tigers On Top

I love Kenny Rogers. He defies explanation. How do you pick up pretty much exactly where you left off in the World Series after surgery and rehab? Tell us your secrets, O Wise Gambler!

After a needed day off thanks to the rain, the Boys got back to the business of winning today behind the Gambler, who turned in six efficient innings of one-run ball against those pesky Rangers. I think my favorite moment had to be when the radar gun picked up the speed of an outgoing line drive (which was caught to end the inning) at 96 mph. Kenny cracked up the whole dugout by taking credit, saying it was his pitch that went 96, even going so far as to stick out his tongue at actual flameballer Justin Verlander. Rod and Mario were in amused disbelief that a starting pitcher, in the middle of a game, would actually drop the game face and make his teammates laugh. That’s Kenny for you–he brings more to this team than his great pitching, and considering how he pitches, that says a lot.

At least some of the offense decided to show up today, especially in the form of Carlos Guillen who came through with a clutch bases-loaded hit, and a scorcher of a homer by Gary Sheffield. And it’s possible neither of them will go to the All-Star game … I agree with our broadcasters. I would put the Tigers A-lineup, with Kenny or Justin on the mound, against the National League All-Stars any day. And that would be one hell of a game. The Tigers could all be All-Stars!!! Just think about where we were four years ago, and think about now. Amazing, isn’t it?

My boy Jonesy pitched a happily uneventful ninth for his 19th save of the year, and is inching ever closer to that milestone of 300. I’m hoping (and this isn’t that selfish, because it would be very good for the Tigers) that the Tygs go on a tear throughout July, and that Jonesy gets his 300th save against the A’s in Oakland when I can be there. Well, either that or wait till late August when I’ve got tickets to my lone home Tigers game of the season against the Yankees … I would soooooo love to see him do that. I’m pretty resigned to him never making the Hall of Fame, but 300 saves would silence, at least momentarily, some of his more annoyingly vocal critics, the ones who call for his head with every blown save.

Speaking of milestones, I know this is a Tigers blog but I can’t help noting Craig Biggio’s 3000th hit (as well as the two that came after, on his FIVE-HIT night!). Thanks to the miracle of Extra Innings, I got to watch the epic Astros game and see the hit and the touching celebration that followed. As a San Francisco native watching the relationship between Bonds and the fans grow progressively more dysfunctional, it warmed my heart to see the unabashed love that Biggio has for Houston and vice versa. There are no rumors surrounding him, just a whole lot of love and respect for the way he plays the game and the way he conducts himself as a person. 

It was one of the most beautiful moments I’ve ever seen. His two sons came running out of the dugout, where they were allowed to serve as batboys while their dad was chasing 3,000; his wife and daughter rushed out of the stands onto the field to hug and kiss him; and all his teammates gathered around to embrace him and applaud him. Ex-Tiger Brad Ausmus, one of Biggio’s best friends, was one of the first to get to him.

But possibly the sweetest moment came a little later. Biggio went down into the dugout, maybe into the clubhouse, and when he emerged he had his dear teammate Jeff Bagwell by the hand. Baggy, of course, wanted the moment to be Biggio’s alone, and was being rather resistant, but Biggio pulled him all the way out to the middle of the diamond, where he raised their clasped hands as the noise of the crowd reached a new level. He said later that he wanted the fans to be able to say a proper goodbye to Baggy, like they never were able to. It was the perfect gesture–those two have shared practically everything in their careers–and shows you just the kind of man Craig Biggio is.

Just to cap the night perfectly, Biggio ended up with FIVE HITS, including the infield hit (again with the busting of the ass) that started the game-winning rally in the bottom of the eleventh. One of my absolute favorite ex-Tigers, Brian Moehler, had pitched the top of the inning and given up a home run to put Colorado ahead, 5-4. With two out, Biggio hit a sharp grounder to short, beating out the throw by running as hard as he could right out of the box. Hunter Pence (my pick for NL Rookie of the Year) followed up with one of the softest doubles imaginable, and then Berkman loaded the bases by getting plunked. Carlos Lee sent a grand slam soaring into the Crawford boxes to end the game in a victory for the Astros, who probably found new places to hold joy that they’d never thought of before. What an amazing night for them. I couldn’t be happier for Biggio.