I am enjoying watching former Detroit Tiger J.D. Martinez of the Boston Red Sox, destroy opposing pictures during the MLB playoffs. He is a player that Detroiters/Tiger fans really appreciate. He came to the Tigers after being released by the Houston Astros prior to the start of the 2014 season. The Tigers signed him to a minor league contract and assigned him to the Toledo Mudhens. He spent the first month at Toledo where he was knocking the cover off the ball. The Tigers brought him up in late May. He has been on a hitting tear ever since. In the years since being released by Houston he has been with three teams, the Tigers, Diamondbacks, and the Red Sox and he is putting up Hall of Fame numbers. Here are his key slugging stats for each of those three teams: Tigers: 4 years, 99 homeruns, ,912 OPS (800 is above average), Arizona: 1 year, 29 homeruns and 1.107 OPS, Boston: 4 years, 114 homeruns and .912 OPS. His playoff career stats: 9 home runs and 1.021 OPS, his 2021 playoff stats: 3 homeruns and 1.301 OPS. The best part is listening to the TV commentators talk about the influence he has on his teammates because of the extraordinary work he puts in, including studying video immediately following every at bat, and making notes on every pitcher following each at bat. In last night’s telecast Joe Buck and John Smoltz talked about how Red Sox manager Joey Cora tries to get J.D. to lighten his workouts, because he would hit all day if he was left to himself. Cora said J.D.’s recent ankle injury has been a blessing because he has had to cut down on his workouts. J.D is a special hitter that Tiger fans like me have really come to appreciate even though he is playing for the Red Sox.
We stole one today in Petoskey. It was mid-60s and not a cloud in the sky. I played golf in shorts and Leah did a 22-mile bike ride with one of her friends. By Thursday it will come to a screeching halt with highs in the low 50s.
The Michigan Independent Citizen Redistricting Commission continues to get plenty of feedback regarding the draft maps they have submitted for public comment. Here are excerpts from an opinion article in today’s Detroit News by State Senator Adam Hollier, Democrat from Detroit.
“Like many Michigan residents, I had high hopes for the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission. The commission moves the power of drawing the state’s legislative maps out of the hands of power-hungry politicians and into the hands of everyday voters. Unfortunately, the commission’s recently submitted maps miss the mark — they go from 17 majority-Black districts to zero for state House, state Senate and congressional districts. Tell them Wednesday at Detroit’s TCF Center you think they can do better.
The maps, under consideration and open for public comment, will all but ensure the city of Detroit, the population of which is nearly 80% Black, has little chance of Black representation in Congress or in the Michigan House and Senate. That’s an injustice that must be fixed. Thankfully there is a better map out there that — while not perfect — fixes some of the critical errors found in maps currently under consideration. Maps submitted by NAACP/Promote the Vote create enough Michigan House and Senate districts to satisfy the Voting Rights Act and address decades of racial gerrymandering. These and many other maps, like those submitted by the Detroit Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., present a far better path for Detroit representation than what is under consideration.
On Wednesday, the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission will hold a hearing in Detroit where the public can comment on the maps currently under consideration. I am encouraging anyone who has even the slightest interest in who represents them in Washington, D.C., and in Lansing to join our coalition of faith leaders, elected officials, unions and community activists at the TCF Center beginning at noon to voice our concerns with the current maps and why the commission must do better.“
Stay safe. Wash your hands regularly. Schedule your vaccine and booster. Wear your mask. Social distance.
Orchid of the Day: J.D. Martinez. He is no longer a Tiger, but Tiger fans everywhere are rooting for him.
Onion of the Day: The Haitian gang members who kidnapped 17 missionaries and are demanding a $1 million ransom for each one. Human nature can be disgusting.
Quote of the Day: “I feel like (Goff) needs to step up more than he has. And, I think he needs to help us, just like everybody else. I think he is gonna need to put a little weight on his shoulders here, and it’s time to step up and make some throws and do some things.” Lion’s head coach Dan Campbell on quarterback Jeff Goff following Sunday’s loss to the Bengals leaving the Lions as the only winless team in the NFL.