RockyMountainWingGal

Nice 9th inning comeback vs. the As - only to lose in the 10th inning. A missed play at second and a few bad pitches from Zoom and......that has been the story of the season. Missed opportunities! Outside shot at the wildcard still. Everytime the Tigers get a chance to move up a game - they blow it. I'd like it things turned around - but realistically not going to happen. I'll still watch until the end though - might as well go down with the ship!!!!

Finally - a series win - and vs. the Yankees nonetheless. And to cap it off - a smokin' from the mound and the bats of the Bronx not-so-bombers. If anything, this season has had some very fun moments. Pennant race will be fun - don't know if they can do it. I guess we'll see if this last game gives them a lift. I think starting pitching is the biggest ?. Bonderman is totally lost. Rogers is probably lost for the season (I haven't heard otherwise). BP is coming around now with Zoom and Rodney. It would be fun to bust out the division win and see what they can do in the post-season. Here's hoping for the best - :beerbuddy:

As dismal as the Tigers have been, we're still in a tight and very winnable race for the division. It's about time to win a series. This could be it: lost the series to Cleveland, I'm not sure this team can come back from several games behind. Our only dependable starter is Verlander. Our only hope with pitching is for Rogers to come back and win some games. JL continues to play Grilli - baffling - I could see playing him if we were already behind by 10 runs, but why in a tight game - that's basically tossing the game right there. Oh well, the home series with Cleveland will tell all - I'm not giving up - but it's the way the Tigers don't really compete alot of games that is disheartening....

Thanks - although I called Directv and they cannot tell me if I will even get the Big Ten Network since I am outside the midwest "footprint". I would of course be willing to pay for that station nonetheless and cancel the espn gameplan. THe only reason I have the gameplan is because of the stupid "regional" ABC telecasts - always pissed me off - I should get to choose which game I want to see. I'm still suspicious that I'll get all UM games. I guess I can cancel my gameplan and just see what happens this season - usually I get about half the games regardless. thanks for the info.

OK two in a row feels like a godsend right now - and vs. the horrible D. Rays but who cares. I am in shock that Leyland ever even tries to put in Grilli - he almost single handedly blew that game last night - that should definitely be it for him - the writing is on the wall - he sucks. Plus with Rodney able to pitch some innings - he should be benched - permanently. Question related to that - Since Robertson pitched 7.2 innings and we were ahead - how does Grilli blowing the lead get a no decision for Nate? I get confused on how they keep their stats sometimes. Plus, Nate pitched well and could have really used the win for his confidence - then Grilli comes in and blows it - pisses me off.

I cringe everytime he gets sent out - actually true for most of the BP - but I just don't get it either... Tigers are reeling - well w a new series starting vs the horrible Devil Rays - maybe we can win 4 in a row...

I actually agree with what he said - it's the truth, just noone wants to awknowledge that. I actually went to Michigan at the same time as him - actually knew him - and it's true all the football players were in 'sports communications". It's a widepread problem not just to Michigan but the whole NCAA - actually college sports - NCAA basketball is 10x worse - they're a joke. I don't see it as backstabbling at all - although I do question why he is bringing all this up now (yes the job thing - but Carr isn't going anywhere yet). He'll always be a Michigan guy even if he is saying something unpopular with the University. p.s. noone answered my question about the Big 10 network? Maybe noone knows anything yet? I guess I'm in jeapordy of seeing NO Big Ten games if they are excluded from the espn gameplan.

I don't agree with your statement - even though animals are not on equal footing with humans - there are still plenty of laws against animal abuse. Just because people are carnivores (I was actually a vegetarian for 10 yrs but now am an omnivore) and wear animal products (ie leather, wool) doesn't mean they mistreat those animals. I actually work with animals for research and I am under close scrutiny for how they are treated. I can lose my license to do animal reasearch if I am found to not be taking proper care of the animals or mistreating them - I am constantly being inspected including unannounced visits. The round the clock veterinary care is probably superior to the medical care many people receive. Just because an animal is euthanized, does not necessarily mean they are mistreated. Although I would never get this argument past PETA.

Actually considering most of the dry hockey announcers, I found him quite entertaining. I like not knowing what is going to come bellowing out of his mouth on national tv at any moment - apparently NBC didn't like not knowing either though.

Count some more - the pen sucked as bad as ever tonight - and there is no help coming via outside apparently. So it's up to Zoom and Rodney (cough-cough) to save the day.

I've heard this arguement. The difference to me is that the former were "allegations" whereas we pretty much know Vick was fighting and murdering dogs (even if he gets off I think most would agree the evidence is overwhelming that he did these things). As for Kobe - I personally don't like him - but nobody really knows what happened between him and the accuser. The girl freely entered his hotel room. As a women, I take rape cases very seriously, but I am aware that celebrities are targets for false accusations for money and attention (aka Duke). The fact that they didn't have much of a case makes me very unsure of what occurred - other than he cheated on his wife. I am not as familiar with the Lewis case, although I would hope if he was involved in a violent crime - he would have been kicked out the NFL (wasn't he jailed for awhile or was that for drugs?). Don't care for him either way. Just the fact that Vick is stupid enough to run a dog fighting ring and cruel enough to do some of the things he did - just makes him a disgusting person in my mind. There is no doubt on my part that he is guilty - regardless of the court case - kind of reminiscent of OJ- guilty but not convicted. Also, in my mind, if you are willing to torture animals for your personal pleasure, you are probably willing to treat people the same way.

Been watching (or listening) all season but haven't posted here yet. Bummer if the Sox get Gagne - better to have him in the NL. Of course the Tigers were on a roll until I was in Michigan/Ontario area for 10 days - then they go on a mega losing streak. Unfortunately they've been out of town so I missed getting to go to Comerica Park - never seen a game there. Time ticking on any trades. I think the starting pitiching will be fine in the long run - just a bad few weeks. Hope Rogers can fully recover. Bullpen is of course horrific - it's a sad statement when everyone is so excited for Rodney coming back. I still think this team can go the distance - too bad we're not in the NL....Go Tigers!

BIG TEN NETWORK and ESPN GAMEPLAN question: If anyone has any info on the new Big ten network can you share it with us? I subscribe to ESPN gameplan and I noticed the flyer in the mail lists all conferences EXCEPT the Big Ten, and there are quite obviously missing pictures of any Big Ten teams in their flyer - usually have at least UM and OSU on there... The BigTenNetwork site just says they have some kind of contract with Directv, but not sure which states, etc. I need to cancel this by Aug 26th if the Big Ten is not aired through ESPN anymore. However, the losers at DirecTV cannot even tell me what the situation is - they have a contract with the Big Ten network - but it *might* just be for the Big Ten states. They cannot guarantee me that the Big Ten will be included this year in the ESPN package - which is the only reason I pay for it in the first place. Any info? Sorry if this was discussed above - I cannot read all 3 pages right now... thx

lol I graduated from HS in '86 so I think I have a right to compare schedules over the years. Most fans think the NHL "rule" that weights divisional play sucks - and that's their right. My comment isn't a slam on younger wings fans, it's just simply that they have to live with this ridiculous schedule and maybe didn't get to experience the older rivalries and scheduling. Hell, even the pre-lockout schedule was better - alot more inter-conference play. I stand by my assertion that in the long run, the current way isn't good for the Wings. I'd like to see the travel budget for the Wings vs. some low market eastern team that hardly leaves their state.....doesn't seem fair to me.

Seriously, the people that actually like this schedule must be about 15 and they simply don't remember great rivalries with Toronto, etc. Even before the lockout, you got to see each team every year. That way, it would be no more than every two years that you got to see a particular team play at the Joe. Now it could literally be years.... Fu*k Columbus, Nashville, and other teams that acutally like this sh*t. The schedule should be about the fans, and it clearly is not.

Like I reiterated above - the schedule just flat out sucks. If I held tickets in Detroit, I'd demand to bring in some East teams/orig 6 teams/less central division sludge OR give up my tickets.....

Terrible, horrible schedule, as usual in the new NHL era. No Rangers, no Fliers, etc. The interdivision schedule is just an embarrassment to hockey. They should give tickets to 4 games vs the blue jackets away for free.... OK opening vs. the Ducks is contrived - good first game to get people to watch. But seriously, they need some marquis match-ups. Each team should play each other. Original 6 teams should play each other once a year at least. Also, it would even out the travel for all teams. So instead of the Wings and Stars flying to the West coast every few weeks, the east teams would have to do it too. Sorry to rant, but the schedule is the single worst thing about the *new* nhl.....

First, good for Shanny. I'm glad he found a place he likes to play and the fans appreciate him. He's still one of my favorite Wings - classy guy all around. Second, I also was wondering about the cap and bonuses. There must be some way to figure it in, or a certain amount of bonuses are allowed. Otherwise, teams could always fit everyone under the cap and just make up the difference with "bonuses and incentives". One could just put - if you score 10 goals you get 5 million extra at the end of the season - etc...

Nice...noone else picked that up. I like that Holland is not overpaying for players. We've been bit in the butt by that before. Let's just wait and see how the season goes...

OK what did you expect in the cap era? That we were going to sign Bert, Smythe, Schneider, Forsberg, and Drury? Come on, it's not that way anymore - although I personally miss those days. This team has not gotten any worse - that's for sure. The defense is essentially the same - sans the questionmark in Markov. But we do get Kronwall back. The offense is minus Lang - and he really took a step down this year. Sure he got a few key goals in the playoffs and I thank him for that - but otherwise, not worth the money. We all know Bert was a rent-a-player and essentially a non-factor in the playoffs. So where have the Wings had their worst offseason? I would pose this question - can the Wings win their division? The obvious answer is yes, of course. Therefore there is no urgency in my mind to overpay for some left-over forward. We will have opportunity at the trade deadline. This team was a hair away from going to the finals - it's not like we needed some major overhauling....

Good post. I'm one of the people not bitching. Let's come back here during the season and see how these three are working out on there new teams. My guess is that Lang will be OK in Chicago - no pressure - anything helps that team - good fit for him, good for him to get way overpaid. He can float all day long - noone will care. I'll be surprised if Bert makes it through the season healthy - not wishing him any harm - I just think he's washed up. I wouldn't have risked 4 mill a year on him either. Calder - who cares. Made no big impact here - won't anywhere else. OK depth player, but not for us. Wings have alot of young(er) guys on this team. Cheli and Hasek are really the only two bondfide old farts!

I remember there being alot of debate about whether Hudler vs. Kopecky or even Hudler vs. Bertuzzi should play in the playoffs. Babcock obviously prefered the other guys over Hudler. You're speculating that was because of his size vs. a team like the Ducks or Sharks. I guess I'm wondering, if that was the case this year, wouldn't it be the case next year too? Seemingly we will play "bigger, tougher" teams in the playoffs again - or so they're called (we were way tougher than the Sharks). I guess I'm just wondering what people think will change this year - the kid's been around awhile so I agree - this is a *pivotal* year for him.

I believe he lives around LA. Therefore, I see no way he wants to spend a season in Philly AND the eastern conference. The signings of Schneider and Bert make it seem almost a given he will retire. Makes no sense.

Too much money for a guy who spends alot of his time in Grand Rapids imo. btw, how does the cap work with the minor system? If you sign a guy to the Wings but send him down, he still counts vs the cap. But if you sign a guy to the Griffins and bring him up, does he then start counting vs the cap? Just curious....

Phew! That settles that. Thanks Dom for not breaking the bank. Actually, remember when he returned some of the money during the *failed* first comeback? If we go far in the playoffs again, the Ilitches owe him some kind of side favor.....Go Hasek-Go Wings!