Brother Tom posted a juicy tidbit on FB a week or so ago about how Prince Fielder was in a funk last year, not just because he was going through a divorce, but teammate Avisal Garcia was having an affair with Fielder's wife. According to the story, Cabrera pulled his groin or intestinal muscle in breaking up a clubhouse brawl between the two.
The episode led to the immediate trade of Garcia, and the eventual trade of Fielder.
All very salacious. I have two questions:
Was it true?
Why didn't the Detroit media report on it?
Perhaps if it was the product of some blogger's imagination, it doesn't warrant any media coverage.
If it is true, I can't imagine the media covering it up. This isn't the era of Mickey Mantle's binge drinking being ignored.
Stories of marital infidelity pop up all the time, but if this is true, it clearly had an impact on the field.
Which tends to lead me to think this is a gross work of fiction.
What do you guys think?
Verlander has a Special "Nurse" for Rehab
It sucks to be Justin Verlander. The latest from US Magazine.
Kate Upton On-Again With Ex-Boyfriend Justin Verlander: Details from Their Sexy Vacation.
January 22, 2014 6:00 PM
Kate Upton On-Again With Ex-Boyfriend Justin Verlander: Details from Their Sexy Vacation.Discreetly dating! Kate Upton and Justin Verlander are on-again after the two were spotted "looking very cozy" together in the Bahamas last weekend, a source confirms to Us Weekly.
The buxom model, 21, and the Detroit Tigers pitcher, 30, "spent all weekend in the Bahamas together" on gorgeous New Providence Island, the insider tells Us. "We spotted them looking very cozy having dinner at the restaurant Mahogany House near Lyford Cay," says the eyewitness. Upton, who had her hair in a bun with a blue scarf, and Verlander, wearing a white button-down shirt, were "sitting on the same side of the table" for the romantic meal.
The Other Woman actress and Verlander first met while shooting a commercial for MLB 2K12 back in 2012. While their initial breakup timeline remains unknown, the Sports Illustrated model split from DWTS alum Maksim Chmerkovskiy after a six-month long relationship that ended in December. Rumors of Upton's potential rekindled romance with Verlander were sparked after the athlete and blonde bombshell were snapped together by an eagle-eyed Flyers fan who was at a hockey game in Philadelphia on Saturday, Jan. 11.
Verlander is currently in Philly recovering from a core muscle repair surgery performed in a local hospital last Wednesday following a December injury. The pitching ace shared a cute picture of himself relaxing and smiling in a physical therapy room on Tuesday, Jan. 21: "'They try to make me go to rehab and I said'…. Yes, yes, yes," he wrote two days after exchanging flirty football-related tweets with Upton.
The MLB player, who calls himself a "semi-pro golfer" in his Twitter bio, is also looking to buy property at Albany, a luxury resort community in the Bahamas, that was co-created by Tiger Woods, the source adds. The resort is located on the island of New Providence and features a championship golf course.
Fellow sports enthusiast Upton has been busy immersing herself in the sports world after she shared a recent photoshoot with New York Jets and Giants players for Vogue magazine on Monday, Jan. 20.
Kate Upton On-Again With Ex-Boyfriend Justin Verlander: Details from Their Sexy Vacation.
January 22, 2014 6:00 PM
Kate Upton On-Again With Ex-Boyfriend Justin Verlander: Details from Their Sexy Vacation.Discreetly dating! Kate Upton and Justin Verlander are on-again after the two were spotted "looking very cozy" together in the Bahamas last weekend, a source confirms to Us Weekly.
The Other Woman actress and Verlander first met while shooting a commercial for MLB 2K12 back in 2012. While their initial breakup timeline remains unknown, the Sports Illustrated model split from DWTS alum Maksim Chmerkovskiy after a six-month long relationship that ended in December. Rumors of Upton's potential rekindled romance with Verlander were sparked after the athlete and blonde bombshell were snapped together by an eagle-eyed Flyers fan who was at a hockey game in Philadelphia on Saturday, Jan. 11.
Verlander is currently in Philly recovering from a core muscle repair surgery performed in a local hospital last Wednesday following a December injury. The pitching ace shared a cute picture of himself relaxing and smiling in a physical therapy room on Tuesday, Jan. 21: "'They try to make me go to rehab and I said'…. Yes, yes, yes," he wrote two days after exchanging flirty football-related tweets with Upton.
The MLB player, who calls himself a "semi-pro golfer" in his Twitter bio, is also looking to buy property at Albany, a luxury resort community in the Bahamas, that was co-created by Tiger Woods, the source adds. The resort is located on the island of New Providence and features a championship golf course.
Fellow sports enthusiast Upton has been busy immersing herself in the sports world after she shared a recent photoshoot with New York Jets and Giants players for Vogue magazine on Monday, Jan. 20.
HOF Ballot Time
Well, only one of us has a Hall of Fame ballot (and I'm curious about your picks, Jeff) but it's always fun to think about what we would do on the ballot.
This year's ballot is chock-a-block full of greats. (See http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/hof_2014.shtml)
IMHO, that's a real problem for our Tigers, like Jack Morris, who faces his last shot at the hall before waiting for an old-timers selection. (Only 10 nominees may be selected from the ballot.)
Although it won't be his last opportunity, the same problem for Alan Trammel.
Yes, I would pick both of them.
Sean Casey? I was surprised he was on the ballot, but when I looked up his record, http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/caseyse01.shtml I could see that by the time he hit the Tigers, his glory days were in the distant past. He had a good career, with a lifetime average of .302 but I just don't think he had a HOF type career. 130 home runs over a long 12 year career just isn't that great. Nice guy, but just doesn't cut it.
Similarly, Todd Jones, who had three tours of duty with the Tigers, and a good career, but an ERA of almost four, and an overall losing record don't make him the Christy Mathewson.
Kenny Rogers is probably the toughest pick of our Tigers. He had a long career (20 years) and won more than he lost. He was certainly a guy you'd want in your rotation for most of these years, but with an ERA north of 4, I don't think he's HOF quality.
BTW, I ain't voting for anybody who even sniffs like PEDs. (But I'll let you do so if you think it's no big deal.
So what other eight players would I vote for?
*Craig Biggio
*Jeff Bagwell
*Curt Schilling
*Greg Maddux
*Frank Thomas
*Mike Mussina
*Tom Glavine
I'm torn between Edgar Martinez and Lee Smith.
Cast your vote, even if you don't get around to it until after the election.
This year's ballot is chock-a-block full of greats. (See http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/hof_2014.shtml)
IMHO, that's a real problem for our Tigers, like Jack Morris, who faces his last shot at the hall before waiting for an old-timers selection. (Only 10 nominees may be selected from the ballot.)
Although it won't be his last opportunity, the same problem for Alan Trammel.
Yes, I would pick both of them.
Sean Casey? I was surprised he was on the ballot, but when I looked up his record, http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/caseyse01.shtml I could see that by the time he hit the Tigers, his glory days were in the distant past. He had a good career, with a lifetime average of .302 but I just don't think he had a HOF type career. 130 home runs over a long 12 year career just isn't that great. Nice guy, but just doesn't cut it.
Similarly, Todd Jones, who had three tours of duty with the Tigers, and a good career, but an ERA of almost four, and an overall losing record don't make him the Christy Mathewson.
Kenny Rogers is probably the toughest pick of our Tigers. He had a long career (20 years) and won more than he lost. He was certainly a guy you'd want in your rotation for most of these years, but with an ERA north of 4, I don't think he's HOF quality.
BTW, I ain't voting for anybody who even sniffs like PEDs. (But I'll let you do so if you think it's no big deal.
So what other eight players would I vote for?
*Craig Biggio
*Jeff Bagwell
*Curt Schilling
*Greg Maddux
*Frank Thomas
*Mike Mussina
*Tom Glavine
I'm torn between Edgar Martinez and Lee Smith.
Cast your vote, even if you don't get around to it until after the election.
Now that's a Deal!!!
Finally, the Tigers listened to me!
This just in from the Dallas Morning News.
The Texas Rangers have seen another former member of their franchise go to a contender.
The Detroit Tigers have agreed to a deal with Joe Nathan, according to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman.
Nathan was 43-of-46 in save chances in 2013, with a 1.39 ERA and 73 strikeouts in his last season in Texas. The six-time All-Star is 39 years old. In his two seasons in Arlington, he had 80 saves and 151 strikeouts.
The Tigers have won three straight AL Central titles without winning a World Series, and some feel a closer was a key void in last year's playoff run.
I hope he knows what he's doing...
A starting pitcher for three minor leaguers? Does that really move us forward?
We need a closer: a proven closer.
Maybe Rondon is ready. Maybe they have faith in Smyly. Maybe Santa will be good to us.
I'm a died in the wool AL fan, but has anybody even heard of these guys?
We need a closer: a proven closer.
Maybe Rondon is ready. Maybe they have faith in Smyly. Maybe Santa will be good to us.
I'm a died in the wool AL fan, but has anybody even heard of these guys?
Am I the only one who doesn't like "The Trade?"
Nope. Headline in the Dallas Morning News today - "Mega-deal looks like a mega-steal for the Rangers."
I'll grant ya, I don't generally like change. I didn't like the Granderson trade, but I'm OK with it now. I didn't like the Harvey Keunn for Rocky Colavito trade, but I got over it. Of the three DMN columnists talking about the trade, two of them thought it was a great one for the Rangers.
I'll grant ya, I don't generally like change. I didn't like the Granderson trade, but I'm OK with it now. I didn't like the Harvey Keunn for Rocky Colavito trade, but I got over it. Of the three DMN columnists talking about the trade, two of them thought it was a great one for the Rangers.
Don't kid yourself, Kinsler is no longer an All-Star second baseman. He's been getting hurt a lot, and although he's fairly fast for an older guy, he got caught stealing a lot.
But I guess what I like least about the trade is what the facts are about Fielder. He isn't what he used to be either. That's been a fact for the two years he's been with the Tigers - he hasn't been what he used to be in Milwaukee. He was certainly good at protecting Cabrera in the lineup. But it seems like pitchers were afraid of a phantom.
So maybe Martinez can fill that role. Maybe moving Cabrera back to first, and giving Castellanos a chance at third is a good idea.
Maybe it is the best we can do. But I don't have to like it.
Now go get some relief pitching, boys. That's what we really need.
And so, on to the Ausmus era...
I wish they had picked someone with some real managing experience, but they didn't ask my opinion. The reports have it that Ausmus is a "baseball brain," but honestly, I don't think the best managers know when to change pitchers, when to call the hit and run, pitchout, etc. I honestly think most of us could do that stuff.
I think there are two things a manager does that we never see, and probably make all the difference.
One is spotting the talent, and capitalizing on it. But managers have a whole squad of coaches, minor league managers and scouts to advise on that.
But the most important thing a manager does is the same thing a manager does in an office or shop: get the best out of his employees by creating a a workplace that doesn't distract, but supports and encourages.
Hopefully you've had a manager who has done that for you. Lordie knows most of us have seen the opposite.
Perhaps the worst example in sports is the current "drama" with Richie Incognito and the Miami Dolphins.
When the rookie wasn't coming to "optional" workouts, coaches told Incognito to "bring him in line." Regardless of what actually transpired, the coaches and management failed to do their job of "managing" this young talent. They gave that responsibility to Incognito, who clearly wasn't up to the task.
As soon as he was drafted (or maybe even before) team officials should be telling the rookie how much they were looking forward to having him on the team. Tell him they were relying on him. Tell him how important he was to their plans. These "volunteer" workouts were clearly a problem sign that something was wrong. (My Marine son-in-law calls this kind of thing being "volun-told.")
Maybe NFL rules don't allow coaches to order players to these sessions, but couldn't they call him, and ask him if everything is OK at home? Was there anything they could do to help him get to the workouts? Repeat messages from above, "we're relying on you, we need you, you can make a real difference, etc., etc.)
Instead of solving the problem, Miami coaches made it far worse.
Managing is not a skill most people are born with. Certainly some a better than others, but it's generally a skill that is taught and learned by experience. Let's hope Ausmus is an incredibly fast learner.
I think there are two things a manager does that we never see, and probably make all the difference.
One is spotting the talent, and capitalizing on it. But managers have a whole squad of coaches, minor league managers and scouts to advise on that.
But the most important thing a manager does is the same thing a manager does in an office or shop: get the best out of his employees by creating a a workplace that doesn't distract, but supports and encourages.
Hopefully you've had a manager who has done that for you. Lordie knows most of us have seen the opposite.
Perhaps the worst example in sports is the current "drama" with Richie Incognito and the Miami Dolphins.
When the rookie wasn't coming to "optional" workouts, coaches told Incognito to "bring him in line." Regardless of what actually transpired, the coaches and management failed to do their job of "managing" this young talent. They gave that responsibility to Incognito, who clearly wasn't up to the task.
As soon as he was drafted (or maybe even before) team officials should be telling the rookie how much they were looking forward to having him on the team. Tell him they were relying on him. Tell him how important he was to their plans. These "volunteer" workouts were clearly a problem sign that something was wrong. (My Marine son-in-law calls this kind of thing being "volun-told.")
Maybe NFL rules don't allow coaches to order players to these sessions, but couldn't they call him, and ask him if everything is OK at home? Was there anything they could do to help him get to the workouts? Repeat messages from above, "we're relying on you, we need you, you can make a real difference, etc., etc.)
Instead of solving the problem, Miami coaches made it far worse.
Managing is not a skill most people are born with. Certainly some a better than others, but it's generally a skill that is taught and learned by experience. Let's hope Ausmus is an incredibly fast learner.
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