The Tigers are looking very strong now for a serious contention for the World Series now that they signed Prince Fielder. Who would have thought that because Victor Martinez in out for the season we would go and get such a huge addition to the team.
I am excited and look forward to the 2012 season. Go Tigers!
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Monday, July 11, 2011
Toledo Mudhens are a lot of fun
People may think that the Detroit Tigers may be the only baseball team in town. Or maybe even the only tea worth spending any money on at all.
This couldn’t be more from the truth. The Toledo Mudhens have been around for years and it is just a short drive down the freeway to go and watch some up and coming ball players. Maybe you will even be fortunate like I was and get to see a player like Saline resident and Detroit Tiger Brandon Inge doing some rehab to get back to the majors.
Inge had been sick with mononucleosis and was down in Toledo last week when I was able to watch the Tigers’ AAA team play the Columbus Clippers. The game itself was a lot different than a professional game but I will say it is nice once in awhile to see that difference and get watch what these guys go through in order to make it to the majors.
They aren’t making a lot of money and I will bet you that Inge’s salary for one year is way more that what the entire Mudhen team makes. That being said the level of play at Toledo is nowhere near what you get at Detroit.
But, it is cheaper to go to Toledo to watch a game and you will get a seat that is probably better than what you will see with the parent club in Detroit.
They do all kinds of crazy promotions and things between the innings. One of my favorite has to do with picking a certain player from the other team and making them the goat of the game. If that player strikes out during the game a certain section gets free ice cream.
I couldn’t really tell if that pressure wore on the opposing batter but I will say he didn’t strike out at all. In fact, it appeared he had better game. Maybe when they play Columbus again they should pick someone different who may be more likely to strikeout.
Some of the players on the team like Fu-Te Ni and Clete Thomas have been up in the majors before and sent back down. Others like Andy Dirks and Brennan Boesch are up with the Tigers and may stay for awhile.
One player, Max St. Pierre has been with Toledo for years and never really gotten a chance at the majors. He is still holding onto that dream of getting up to the “Bigs” and having fun getting paid for doing what he loves. Although if he got into the majors he would get paid quite a lot more money.
His debut for the Tigers on Sept. 4th of last year made him the oldest Tiger position player to make the MLB since Mike Roarke in 1961. He got a hit during his first start.
The game is fun at any time but the minors tend to make a few more mistakes than the majors. You also get to see more pitchers. The Mudhens threw about five pitchers on the night I went.
I was also fortunate to see a fireworks show, which was fun I will admit but the most interesting part of the entire night was just watching the people and enjoying a very laid back atmosphere.
I would say run out and get season tickets buy season tickets but it might be nice for a change of pace or even a couple times a year. The game is fun and every player has a different story.
Some will rise to the top and end up in the majors while others may reach Toledo and that will be the highest level they ever play. Whatever the case if it comes to Detroit they will more than likely have to come from farm team down in Toledo.
So grab you mitt and put on your baseball hat for an enjoyable time down in the minors.
Check out the Mudhens Web Site at www.toledomudhens.com.
Dave Merchant is a staff writer for Heritage West Newspapers and can be reached at dmerchant@heritage.com.
This couldn’t be more from the truth. The Toledo Mudhens have been around for years and it is just a short drive down the freeway to go and watch some up and coming ball players. Maybe you will even be fortunate like I was and get to see a player like Saline resident and Detroit Tiger Brandon Inge doing some rehab to get back to the majors.
Inge had been sick with mononucleosis and was down in Toledo last week when I was able to watch the Tigers’ AAA team play the Columbus Clippers. The game itself was a lot different than a professional game but I will say it is nice once in awhile to see that difference and get watch what these guys go through in order to make it to the majors.
They aren’t making a lot of money and I will bet you that Inge’s salary for one year is way more that what the entire Mudhen team makes. That being said the level of play at Toledo is nowhere near what you get at Detroit.
But, it is cheaper to go to Toledo to watch a game and you will get a seat that is probably better than what you will see with the parent club in Detroit.
They do all kinds of crazy promotions and things between the innings. One of my favorite has to do with picking a certain player from the other team and making them the goat of the game. If that player strikes out during the game a certain section gets free ice cream.
I couldn’t really tell if that pressure wore on the opposing batter but I will say he didn’t strike out at all. In fact, it appeared he had better game. Maybe when they play Columbus again they should pick someone different who may be more likely to strikeout.
Some of the players on the team like Fu-Te Ni and Clete Thomas have been up in the majors before and sent back down. Others like Andy Dirks and Brennan Boesch are up with the Tigers and may stay for awhile.
One player, Max St. Pierre has been with Toledo for years and never really gotten a chance at the majors. He is still holding onto that dream of getting up to the “Bigs” and having fun getting paid for doing what he loves. Although if he got into the majors he would get paid quite a lot more money.
His debut for the Tigers on Sept. 4th of last year made him the oldest Tiger position player to make the MLB since Mike Roarke in 1961. He got a hit during his first start.
The game is fun at any time but the minors tend to make a few more mistakes than the majors. You also get to see more pitchers. The Mudhens threw about five pitchers on the night I went.
I was also fortunate to see a fireworks show, which was fun I will admit but the most interesting part of the entire night was just watching the people and enjoying a very laid back atmosphere.
I would say run out and get season tickets buy season tickets but it might be nice for a change of pace or even a couple times a year. The game is fun and every player has a different story.
Some will rise to the top and end up in the majors while others may reach Toledo and that will be the highest level they ever play. Whatever the case if it comes to Detroit they will more than likely have to come from farm team down in Toledo.
So grab you mitt and put on your baseball hat for an enjoyable time down in the minors.
Check out the Mudhens Web Site at www.toledomudhens.com.
Dave Merchant is a staff writer for Heritage West Newspapers and can be reached at dmerchant@heritage.com.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Good luck Wayne Welton
As a sports reporter and a reporter in general I talk to a lot of people and I get quite a bit of information. I would like to say I will miss Chelsea's Wayne Welton not being an athletic director anymore.
I didn't really ever cover Chelsea directly but I did on a few occasions interview him and get quotes. In my opinion one of the nicest and most professional AD's I ever had the pleasure to work with.
I was at a baseball game quite recently at Lincoln when Chelsea was in town and they gave Wayne a going away present for all his years as AD. I thought that showed a lot of class from Lincoln AD Eve Claar, the Lincoln principal and Splitter baseball coaches Marty and Carlos Lozano. When another school looks that highly on you as a professional that shows me the ultimate compliment.
I know Wayne will be back as the baseball coach and I look forward in my teams battling him. Enjoy your retirement you deserve it!
I didn't really ever cover Chelsea directly but I did on a few occasions interview him and get quotes. In my opinion one of the nicest and most professional AD's I ever had the pleasure to work with.
I was at a baseball game quite recently at Lincoln when Chelsea was in town and they gave Wayne a going away present for all his years as AD. I thought that showed a lot of class from Lincoln AD Eve Claar, the Lincoln principal and Splitter baseball coaches Marty and Carlos Lozano. When another school looks that highly on you as a professional that shows me the ultimate compliment.
I know Wayne will be back as the baseball coach and I look forward in my teams battling him. Enjoy your retirement you deserve it!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Life as a blogger
I have been blogging now for quite a few years for the paper and I am not exactly sure who or if anyone reads this stuff. I try to make it interesting and worth while for people to read. It doesn't always work out that way.
I loves sports and I cover mostly high school sports but I have also covered and interviewed such former Belleville players as Cullen Jenkins, Ian Gold and even TJ Lang who played and Eastern Michigan University and is now a Green Bay Packer.
I have interviewed such players as Joe Montana, Lem Barney, Kirk Gibson and Chet Lemon to name a few. It is a fun gig if you can get it. The hours can be kind of a hassle what with a family and all but the rewards can be pretty good.
I guess you never know what will happen and sometimes that is the best part. Keep on reading and I will keep on writing. Thank you for your support and I look forward to hearing from you.
Dmerchant@heritage.com.
I loves sports and I cover mostly high school sports but I have also covered and interviewed such former Belleville players as Cullen Jenkins, Ian Gold and even TJ Lang who played and Eastern Michigan University and is now a Green Bay Packer.
I have interviewed such players as Joe Montana, Lem Barney, Kirk Gibson and Chet Lemon to name a few. It is a fun gig if you can get it. The hours can be kind of a hassle what with a family and all but the rewards can be pretty good.
I guess you never know what will happen and sometimes that is the best part. Keep on reading and I will keep on writing. Thank you for your support and I look forward to hearing from you.
Dmerchant@heritage.com.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Red Wings are thrilling
Okay,
Winning the last three games in a row for the Red Wings has been interesting. No, let me put it another way it has been exciting.
Now all they have to do is win one more game tomorrow night and they get to go to the next round. The last two games I have watched have been some of the best professional hockey I have ever witnessed.
I just hope they have some energy for the final game. I also hope that Jimmy Howard can stand on his head and do a great job.
Go Wings!
Winning the last three games in a row for the Red Wings has been interesting. No, let me put it another way it has been exciting.
Now all they have to do is win one more game tomorrow night and they get to go to the next round. The last two games I have watched have been some of the best professional hockey I have ever witnessed.
I just hope they have some energy for the final game. I also hope that Jimmy Howard can stand on his head and do a great job.
Go Wings!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
area tracks teams will be strong
Lincoln and Ypsilanti track teams for both the boys' and girls' will be relatively strong this season. I know both teams run and compete in the Southeast Conference's White conference but I feel this teams could give the ones in the Red conference a run for their money. I really like the two coaches that Ypsilanti (Torin Moore) and Lincoln (Derek Gonzales) have. These coaches know their track and they know how to be successful. I am looking forward to some good meets from both the Splitters and the Phoenix. Manchester and Belleville track should be decent as well. I am still learning the ins and outs of the Cascades but with each sport I feel I get a better understanding of who is good and who isn't. Belleville has no track due to construction of the new school and athletic fields. They may be asking Romulus for some help for a place to run and compete. I am not sure how that will work out. Rest assured things are going to get hot and heavy and in a hurry. I can't wait until the weather is nice and in the 80s. If anyone has ideas of some track features or spring features here is my email and all you have to do is send them to me at dmerchant@heritage.com or leave it as a comment on this blog.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Belleville's home game at EMU
Most players in any sport like to have a home field or a home court advantage. This week the Belleville basketball teams took to the hard courts of Eastern Michigan University to face a familiar foe in Romulus.
The games were considered home games for the Belleville Tigers and the Lady Tigers. Part of the reason the teams played at EMU was because Belleville High School is because they are getting a new school and the parking lot is completely torn up and it would have been impossible to host the Eagles’ and their fans for this classic hoop matchup.
Tiger Athletic Director Rod Fisher said they had a game at EMU about six years ago before he was the athletic director.
“It was when Ypsilanti and Belleville were both ranked in the state,” Fisher said. “It went well.”
He said last year during the home game against Romulus they had to turn people away at the gate because they couldn’t hold that many in the gym at Belleville.
“I anticipate that we will have a crowd between 1,200 and 1,400,” he said. “The first time we played it was close until the fourth quarter.”
Junior Kaylynn Counts said it felt different to play a game in the university setting.
“We practiced here the day before,” Counts said. “It didn’t feel at home.”
Fellow junior Diajah Ruffin made an interesting point about the game.
“It is not about the arena,” Ruffin said. “It did take away an advantage.”
Tiger coach Don Hickman said that it a good experience for his players to be able to play on a college court but also said that it doesn’t always make for the best games.
“I would have preferred to have played at Belleville,” Hickman said after the loss. “It was a great experience for our kids but we didn’t have all the pomp and circumstances.”
Hickman said there wasn’t much they could do without a parking lot so they were very grateful that the people at EMU and the staff were able to let them play a game at their facility.
Tiger junior guard Jerome Pearson said he liked having the game at EMU but admitted it did take something away from the classic Belleville and Romulus basketball battles.
“We had to adapt to it,” Pearson said. “There was not as much hype and it wasn’t as big.”
Whatever the reason for having the game at EMU this rivalry between the two schools is great for high schools sports and I have seen well over s dozen really good battles between these schools and I have to say it is better played on each other’s court.
I don’t think these teams need to play at EMU or any neutral site unless it is the post season and the teams are battling for advancement into the state finals.
I have seen some great players in these matchups. From Belleville’s Mohamed Conde and Nate Hand from Romulus’ Ron Coleman and Jerret Smith there have been some games that in my opinion were just awesome to watch.
These games last Friday left me with s lot less to remember than the games of the past. I know the arena doesn’t make that much of a difference but for my money I want to watch these teams battle either at Romulus or Belleville.
The games were considered home games for the Belleville Tigers and the Lady Tigers. Part of the reason the teams played at EMU was because Belleville High School is because they are getting a new school and the parking lot is completely torn up and it would have been impossible to host the Eagles’ and their fans for this classic hoop matchup.
Tiger Athletic Director Rod Fisher said they had a game at EMU about six years ago before he was the athletic director.
“It was when Ypsilanti and Belleville were both ranked in the state,” Fisher said. “It went well.”
He said last year during the home game against Romulus they had to turn people away at the gate because they couldn’t hold that many in the gym at Belleville.
“I anticipate that we will have a crowd between 1,200 and 1,400,” he said. “The first time we played it was close until the fourth quarter.”
Junior Kaylynn Counts said it felt different to play a game in the university setting.
“We practiced here the day before,” Counts said. “It didn’t feel at home.”
Fellow junior Diajah Ruffin made an interesting point about the game.
“It is not about the arena,” Ruffin said. “It did take away an advantage.”
Tiger coach Don Hickman said that it a good experience for his players to be able to play on a college court but also said that it doesn’t always make for the best games.
“I would have preferred to have played at Belleville,” Hickman said after the loss. “It was a great experience for our kids but we didn’t have all the pomp and circumstances.”
Hickman said there wasn’t much they could do without a parking lot so they were very grateful that the people at EMU and the staff were able to let them play a game at their facility.
Tiger junior guard Jerome Pearson said he liked having the game at EMU but admitted it did take something away from the classic Belleville and Romulus basketball battles.
“We had to adapt to it,” Pearson said. “There was not as much hype and it wasn’t as big.”
Whatever the reason for having the game at EMU this rivalry between the two schools is great for high schools sports and I have seen well over s dozen really good battles between these schools and I have to say it is better played on each other’s court.
I don’t think these teams need to play at EMU or any neutral site unless it is the post season and the teams are battling for advancement into the state finals.
I have seen some great players in these matchups. From Belleville’s Mohamed Conde and Nate Hand from Romulus’ Ron Coleman and Jerret Smith there have been some games that in my opinion were just awesome to watch.
These games last Friday left me with s lot less to remember than the games of the past. I know the arena doesn’t make that much of a difference but for my money I want to watch these teams battle either at Romulus or Belleville.
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