A Night At The Ballpark
Now that the Tigers are seemingly out of the race for American League Central Division, are you still as likely to go to a game at Comerica Park? Or have you turned your attentions to the Lions (good luck) or the upcoming college football season? I got the chance to announce the fireworks after the game on Friday night, and fans are still coming out in big numbers, and seem to be just as excited about a night at the ballpark as they were in April.
I think those of us in the media sometimes get cynical about the games and how much fun fans have just to see their favorite players in person. Of course, the fans would rather get a chance to cheer on a winning team, and hope that the Tigers make it to the playoffs or World Series. But even if that doesn't happen, each game is an event that can be enjoyed and appreciated in and of itself. I remember Ernie Harwell saying that it wasn't hard to get excited about broadcasting a game, even when the Tigers were losing and mired in last place, because no two games are alike and anything can happen in baseball, where a team is never out of it until the very last out is recorded.
Going to a game is also a major investment for families, who can easily drop 200 bucks after they pay for tickets, parking and food. Because of that, most fans may only get to a game or two per year. And it's the experience of going to a game with your dad or mom or kids that will remain long after the details of the game are forgotten.
The Tigers may not have much of a shot of catching the Twins or White Sox this season, but it was nice to see them play inspired baseball this weekend against Cleveland. Armando Galarraga, Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander all turned in excellent outings, and the bullpen and hitters finally came through in the clutch.
It's nice to see Brennan Boesch starting to get some hits again. Let's hope he's out of his slump that has been dragging his average down for the past two months. Don Kelly, who initially made the team for his defense, has now started to become a very good hitter. And rookie Will Rhymes has been a pleasant surprise, with four hits on Sunday.
