At the Corner

Rough weekend, great year

(Photo By Detroit News)

I could have avoided the television and internet over the weekend and went on in complete bliss. Saturday night was a big night for this fan, landlocked in Afghanistan and completely at the mercy of the American Forces Network for live/taped sports and ESPN.com and twitter for the latest scores and stats. Not a good statistical day for the biggest game on the slate, Game 6 of the American League Championship Series.

But let’s focus on the positive.

So now we're all in clinical depression. Where from here

A few observations.

1. I don't need to pay for additional television access to baseball games. I can't keep up with what's on during the playoffs already. If baseball were food, I'd weigh 500 lbs. Since I'm usually eating when watching games on TV, I'm quickly approaching that number anyway.
2. My wife thinks I'm an alcoholic, since I drink during Tiger playoff games. I drink because they lose, I drink because they win. I drink because I'm worried about what will happen next year. I drink cause I still think the Tigers never should have traded Granderson, but all my friends disagree. You have become "all my friends." Gee, maybe I am an alcoholic.
3. And now for the important stuff: what are we gonna do about next year. Somebody get me a Stroh's.

ESPN: Delmon Young activated, will play in Game 2 today

From ESPN website

ARLINGTON, Texas – The Detroit Tigers added Delmon Young to their American League Championship Series roster to replace Magglio Ordonez, who is out for the season with an ankle injury, the team announced Monday.

Manager Jim Leyland said Monday afternoon that Young will start in left field and bat third for the Tigers in Monday's Game 2 (4:19 p.m. ET first pitch).

"He was tested by the doctors and did all kinds of other workouts and exercised yesterday. I just spoke with him," Leyland said. "We were going to wait. It was going to be like an NFL kind of game-time decision. But we've already made the decison. He's fine, swinging good. And he will play.''

Young had been removed from the Tigers' ALCS roster for the series against the Texas Rangers because of an oblique injury, but the Tigers' lack of alternatives in the minor leagues prompted the team to bring him back in hopes that he might be able to contribute.

"He's feeling pretty good," Leyland said. The Tigers skipper said Young "did all kinds of workouts ... We've already made the decision ... he will play."

Leyland had prepared two lineups for Game 2 with Young in one but not the other and was waiting to see Young hit and throw before making his decision.

With Brennan Boesch already out for the season with a thumb injury, Detroit was down to Austin Jackson in center field, Ryan Raburn in left field, and left-handed hitters Don Kelly and Andy Dirks in right.

Clete Thomas had been mentioned as a possibility to replace Ordonez, but he's a left-handed hitter and batted .251 with a .715 OPS in Triple A.

Maggs Out!! Who Gets Called Up?

Ok boyz, Maggs is now out for the year because of an ankle injury. He probably broke it again is my guess. Ok, who gets called up now? My guess is Will Rhymes, but after last nights twitter incident who knows. Will Leyland hold a grudge? I think the sleeper is Clete Thomas who is the only other outfielder on the 40 man roster.

What do you think and how does this affect the Tiger's chances? Stay tuned.

Breathe Deeply, it's just the first game...

Relax, last night wasn't really all that bad. Just one of those nights.

Verlander will get another shot, and everything will be OK. I hope.

Meanwhile, pay attention to the commercials tonight. There are some pretty good ones you've been missing while you're running for beer. Then vote on your favorite at right. (I tried to include a direct link, but I just couldn't do it.)