End of Season's Greetings

'Tis a sad day in Lakeland: the Flying Tigers played their final game of the season. Other than a few weeks of Instructional League in September, Tigertown and Joker Marchant Stadium will go without baseball until February when pitchers and catchers report.

As far as wins and losses, it was an unsuccessful season, but the Flying Tigers had an ever-evolving lineup and they sent several players on up to Double A Erie.

"Bless you boys."

Porcello leads FSL in ERA

Rick Porcello

Joker Marchant Stadium

May 28, 2008

Tigers prospect Rick Porcello has Florida league's best ERA
BY JON PAUL MOROSI • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER • August 29, 2008

Rick Porcello completed his first professional season Wednesday with an outing that recalled his impressive stint with the Tigers during spring training.

Porcello, the Tigers' first pick in the 2007 draft, pitched six innings and got the victory in the Lakeland Flying Tigers' 1-0 win at Ft. Myers. He allowed three hits, walked one and improved to 8-6.

Of the 14 outs that came in play, 13 were ground balls -- thanks in large part to a hard sinker that averaged 92 m.p.h. and reached 95.

"He was outstanding," said Jon Matlack, the club's minor league pitching coordinator. "He ended like he started: throwing the ball extremely well."

Porcello, a 19-year-old right-hander, is the second-youngest starter in the Florida State League, according to research through Retrosheet.org. His 2.66 ERA led the league, and he compiled that mark while on a 75-pitch limit in each start.

Wednesday's start was Porcello's first since Aug. 12. (He had been sidelined because of an illness.) He pitched 125 innings, and Matlack expects him to pitch in the instructional league this fall. Porcello did not use his slider most of the season, which enabled him to focus on his curveball and change-up. Matlack said he has seen progress with both pitches -- particularly the change-up.

"From a developmental standpoint, this young man did everything he was asked to do this year," Matlack said. "I'm extremely pleased with the results."

"The Paris of the Midwest"

Detroit is the star in Kid Rock video
BY BRIAN McCOLLUM • FREE PRESS POP MUSIC WRITER • August 28, 2008

Kid Rock will be the name next to the title, but there's another star at the heart of the rocker's new video: Detroit.

Cameras rolled Wednesday at the Motown Historical Museum, the final stop in a 2-day shoot that found Rock and a film crew mingling with Detroiters at assorted city landmarks.
The project: "Roll On," the fourth single from Rock's album "Rock and Roll Jesus," which sits at No. 2 on the Billboard chart. The storyline: a sentimental visit through Detroit, with Rock driving a Lincoln Continental convertible to such spots as Tiger Stadium and Lafayette Coney Island.

"You couldn't have scripted some of the stuff we got," he said. "This isn't a tourism video. I really wanted to capture the heart and soul of Detroit, and that's the people. I think it's one of the most beautiful things about the city."

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080828/ENT04/808280388

Back in the Day

OPENING DAY.

April 13, 1976.

$1.50 bleacher seats -- best bargain in Detroit!

Tigers lost to the Brewer 1-0. Jim Slaton hurled a compete game for Milwaukee. Ray Bare started for Detroit. John Hiller relieved in the 7th and got the loss. 48,612 fans witnessed the action. Time of game: 1:57!!!

Opening Day lineup for the Tigers:

Ben Oglivie CF

Dan Meyer 1B

Willie Horton DH

Rusty Staub RF

Alex Johnson LF

Milt May C

Aurelio Rodriguez 3B

Tom Veryzer SS

Gary Sutherland 2B

For the Brewers:

Charlie Moore LF

Don Money 3B

George Scott 1B

Darrell Porter C

Henry Aaron DH

Sixto Lezcano CF

Bill Sharp RF

Robin Yount SS

Pedro Garcia 2B

"You've got to knoow when to hold 'em...."

Kenny Rogers placed on waivers, could be traded soon

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080826/SPORTS02/808260384/1050

Thanks for the Memories

We were by Tiger Stadium earlier last week. Here is what it looks like now. It appears they are leaving the park from first to third base. At least that is where they are stopping for now. Very hard to see them do this. Many fond memories, many great times.

Freddy Garcia heads to Toledo

From today's Free Press:

Veteran right-hander Freddy Garcia, signed by the Tigers this month to a minor league deal, has been promoted to Triple-A Toledo and will pitch for the Mud Hens on Wednesday. Garcia pitched in a game Saturday night for the first time since the Tigers signed him. He pitched two scoreless innings for Class A Lakeland.