Tiger Pitching

I was checking out the box score for yesterday's game and noted that Willis pitched fairly well. I then checked out team stats and saw that her was leading the team in ERA and Quality Starts. Unfortunately, he is also leading the team in walks. I suppose that two out of three ain't bad.

Dreams of Fields

Hey guys, thought you might like to see this story I wrote about Daniel Fields for the University of Detroit Jesuit High School alumni magazine:

Dreams of Fields
By Tom Hagerty ‘72

Daniel Fields has big dreams: “I want to win a Gold Glove, make the All Star team and spend my whole career with the Detroit Tigers.”

While most of his former classmates finish their freshman year of college, Fields, a 2009 graduate of U of D Jesuit, plays center field for the Lakeland Flying Tigers, Detroit’s minor-league team in the advanced Single A Florida State League. In less than a year, he went from U of D Jesuit to spring training, where he practiced with Tiger stars like Justin Verlander, Magglio Ordonez and Miguel Cabrera.

For Fields, baseball runs in the family. His father, Bruce, played for the Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners. Since his playing days ended, he has held various coaching jobs in the Tigers organization and now serves as minor league hitting coordinator for the Cleveland Indians.

“Playing professional baseball has always been my dream,” says Fields. “I hung around my dad’s teams ever since I was six years old. When I was about 12 years old I started thinking I could actually do it.”

Fields enjoyed a stellar playing career at U of D Jesuit, and he credits baseball coach Al Fernandez for his dedication. “He was always there for me,” says Fields.

Named Michigan’s Mr. Baseball during his senior year, Fields received an offer to attend University of Michigan on a baseball scholarship. When the Tigers drafted him, however, he decided to sign with his hometown team.

“To sign or not to sign was a very tough decision,” he says. “I didn’t decide until a few hours before the deadline. Now I’m confident I made the best decision. I might not have signed with any other team, but the Tigers are definitely an exception.”

What goes through his mind when he imagines himself playing his first game for the Tigers at Comerica Park?

“That would be unbelievable,” he says with a big smile. “I can’t even imagine it. I know I’d have lots of family and friends cheering for me, and it would certainly be emotional. I definitely look forward to it. Playing for Detroit is a dream of mine. It’s important for me to represent my school, the city of Detroit and where I’ve come from.”

Fields says his older brother, Aaron, influenced his decision to attend U of D Jesuit. “When Aaron went there I fell in love with the place and wanted to go, too. Aaron always said it was a great school. I liked how the students all got along, and I loved the excitement at the sporting events.”

According to Fields, his Jesuit education played a key role in his development.

“U of D Jesuit made me more mature. The lessons I learned there helped me deal with the decision to sign with the Tigers. I know I had the academic background to do well in college, so I would’ve been fine either going to U of M or signing with the Tigers. I have no second thoughts.”

After graduating and signing with the Tigers, Fields reported to Lakeland, Fla., to play in the Florida Instructional League. There he experienced the thrill of wearing a Tigers uniform for the first time as a pro.

“I was used to putting on Tigers jerseys as a kid,” he says, “but the first time I actually put one on and played a game was very exciting.”

The biggest difference between high school and pro baseball, says Fields, is the speed of the game. “Not only the pitching but also the pace of the game. And the players are bigger, faster and stronger.”

But Fields knows about strength and speed. Baseball America rated him the best athlete and fastest base runner in the Tigers’ minor league system.

Fields played shortstop in high school. In spring training, however, the Tigers asked him to learn a new position, center field.

“That took some getting used to,” he says, “but now I feel very comfortable in center.

“I also hit the ball well and had a good spring. I was a little nervous at first, but I felt more comfortable as time went on. The Tigers’ veterans are awesome. They’re always talking to you and making you feel at home.”

High school and college players often struggle when they turn pro and switch from the livelier metal bats to wooden ones. Fields, however, has had no trouble making the transition.

“I used metal bats in high-school games,” he says, “but my father always had me hit with wood in practice, so it’s no big deal.”

Apparently not. In his first seven games with the Flying Tigers, Fields hit .308 with three runs batted in and three runs scored. He also walked three times and stole three bases while playing flawlessly in center field.

While Fields has grown comfortable at bat and in the field, he’s still adjusting to fans asking him to sign autographs or pose for photos.

“I think it’s funny,” he says. “I laugh to myself when it happens because it’s hard to see myself doing it. I guess I’m just not used to it yet.”

On a typical day, Fields arrives at Joker Marchant Stadium at 2 p.m. for a 7 p.m. game.

“I love it because I can sleep until noon,” he says with a laugh.

His pregame routine includes lifting weights, hitting in the batting cage, and taking fielding and batting practice with the team. Before a game he’ll stretch and throw in the outfield with his teammates.

Right now, he can’t imagine doing anything else. “I love this game” he says, breaking into a huge smile.

Although he finds himself hundreds of miles from Detroit, Fields stays close to his family.
“

My family is a big influence on me,” he says. “They’ve been there for me since day one. They helped me with the decision to sign with the Tigers. I talk to them every day after a game. If I have a good game they congratulate me. If I struggled they say, “Go get ‘em tomorrow.’ They’re always there for me. I love my family”

While working hard to establish himself as a pro baseball player, Fields also devotes time to his spiritual life.

“I pray a lot,” he says, “and U of D Jesuit strongly influenced me in that area. One major thing I took from there was St. Ignatius. When we graduated we received St. Ignatius necklaces, and I don’t think I took mine off until Christmas time. We studied him a lot in religion classes, and I say the prayer of St. Ignatius. As you get older you focus more on prayer. I still say that prayer, and I know I’ll say it from now on.”

On a firm foundation of faith and family, Daniel Fields stands poised to make his dreams come true.

Tiger Starters and .500 ball

Have we had one well pitched game this season? I do not think so. With Willis have a tummy ache last night, we started Brad Thomas from Austrailia. He has not started a major league game in 9 years and it looked like it, but staying in our .500 pace we pulled one off anyways. We need to have more success from our starters. Cabrera also frustrated me at the end of last season, but he is hitting the cover off the ball and leads American League in ribbies. Not sure what is happening with Laird. Go Get Em Tigers!!

Brennan Boesch

Well I am happy to see this kid getting his chance in "The Bigs" I first headr of him a year ago. One of his rookie cards was for sale at a show I was at. The price was cheap and the dealer said the kid was a "shoo in". So I bought the card. I then went home and researched him online. A weeird story about him is that last year during spring training he got locked in the bathroom in the dugout for 1/2 an hour.
He has hit and fiugred in the scoring in his first two gaes in the Bigs - let's hope it continues.

PS - If I had Gregg's skills I would be posting a picture here, but no such luck

Classic Home Run Derby

Remember the old TV show "Home Run Derby?" (Not the the All-Star trick they play once a year nowadays.) I happened to be channel-surfing today, and found it again.
What strikes me is how boring most of these shows were. The hitters quickly collected three outs, (after all, they had to squeeze nine innings into a half-hour show) the interviews were lame and listless, the host, Mark Scott, got tepid comments from the hitters like "He didn't miss that one by much."

One chuckle is when he gushes "Today's grand prize winner gets $2,000!"
That wouldn't have picked up Miguel Cabrera and Freddie Garcia's bar tab last fall.

"And if they hit three consecutive home runs they get another $500 prize!!!" Wow.

Curious that the announcer make a big deal out of "this stadium favors neither American nor National League hitters." Other than the fact that it's a tiny little symmetrical little minor league park, why would it favor neither leagues' hitters?

Maybe the best show was Willie Mays vs. Mickey Mantle. Classic, but I present it to you here. http://vodpod.com/watch/1362508-classic-home-run-derby-mickey-mantell-vs-willie-mays-pt-1

Sadly, (if you enjoyed HRD) the show didn't last long, and neither did its host. It was only in syndication from January 9 to July 2, 1960. Just days 11 later,on July 13, Scott died of a heart attack at the age of 45, and that's all she wrote, baseball fans.

Another trivia question, since ya'll did so well on the U of M question: who made the most money on Home Run Derby?

Trivia Quiz for the Day...

The University of Michigan recently retired the jersey number of one of it's greatest baseball players in a ceremony at Alumni Stadium. Can you name him and the other five (without looking it up on line)who have had such an honor bestowed on them?

Hey guys, I am new to the blog. I met Greg through a career network group. I am very excited to join this group. Love the Tigers, was even at the 1968 world series, the game Detroit lost 11-1. Jim Northrup hit a home run for the only run. Looking forward to everyone's posts.

Frank