A.J. Hinch
The Tiger manager has worked wonders with the Tigers this season, especially considering the injuries to the starting pitchers and key position players. He has also overcome the loss of their number two starter, Jack Flaherty, at the trade deadline. Despite this, the Tigers are one game above .500 and for the first time since 2016 are playing meaningful games in September.
However, A.J. is driving me crazy with the constant pinch hitting to get the left on right or right on left hitting matches. At some point in time, A.J. needs to let some of the future core players bat against all pitchers. Especially, those who have the potential to be studs, such as Kerry Carpenter.
Carpenter, a left-handed hitter, currently has a ,939 OPS which is 100 points more than Riley Greene who is second on the team in OPS. Yet, A.J has only allowed Carpenter to have 22 at-bats against left-handed pitchers and 181 against right-handed pitchers. Carpenter has the potential to be a thirty homerun and 100 RBI player if he is allowed to grow and face both left-handed and right-handed pitchers on a regular basis.
In yesterday’s game against the Padres, the Tigers were down 1-0 and A.J. had Justin Henry-Malloy pinch hit for Carpenter. Malloy, who was just brought up from the minors and has an OPS .300 less than Carpenter, struck out. The move made no sense to me.
Delay, Delay, Delay.
Former president #45 continues to do everything in his power to delay being held accountable for his actions related to January 6, the Big Lie, falsifying legal documents, and the federal documents case. He is relying on two things; SCOTUS will view everything he has done falls under presidential immunity, and he wins the election in November 2024.
He was convicted as a felon in the falsifying legal documents case. His sentencing on the thirty-four counts of falsifying documents is scheduled for September 18. You can bet that #45 and his lawyers are doing everything in their power to make sure September18 does not happen.
What has changed?
Four years ago, the age of Joe Biden was a major talking point by his opponent #45 as Biden was the oldest candidate to ever run for president. Four years later, Biden after a terrible debate performance, realized that at 81 he was no longer electable.
Now we have #45 running for president at age 78 a year older than Biden was in 2020 when #45 and his re-election team were making a big deal about Biden’s age, even referring to his as Sleepy Joe.
To no one’s surprise #45 and his team have changed their tune about age and the ability of an eighty something to perform the duties of president.
The hypocrisy of it all.
Michigan Football
There is a lot on the line for Michigan this weekend as they take on Texas at noon at the Big House. Texas walloped Colorado State 55-0 in their first game and Michigan struggled to beat a good Fresno State team 30-10. Michigan’s sixteen game winning streak is on the line. It is the longest active streak of any major college football team. Also on the line is their twenty-eight-game home winning streak.
In their first game, Michigan looked like a team who was playing with an entirely new offensive line, a former walk-on quarterback, and a slew of new receivers. Michigan did not show much on offense, but their defense looked like a force that will keep them in games until their offense has a chance to jell. They also found out they have a kicker who is a difference maker. With two field goals over fifty yards in his first game at the Big House, Michigan should be able to score once they cross an opponent’s 35 yard-line.
On offense Michigan played smashmouth football which for three quarters looked ineffectual. In the fourth quarter, the offensive line started wore down Fresno State and Michigan was able to run the ball effectively.
This Michigan team is going to get better every game. Whether they will be good enough to get by Texas on Saturday, I am not going to bet on it.
Post Labor Day
There is no better time to be in northern Michigan than the six weeks from Labor Day to mid-October. The sun is brighter, the air is cleaner, the traffic is half of what it was a week ago, the nights are cool, and most of all the golf courses and bike paths are free of all the vacationers.
I love it up here at this time of year.
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Quote of the Day: “They are finally back in school again.” Most parents this morning after the kids left for school today on the first day of school for most Michigan schools.
Orchid of the Day: The Detroit Tigers organization for the wonderful tribute they had this past weekend honoring the 1984 Detroit Tigers. The last Tiger team to win a World Series. See my Video of the Day.
Onion of the Day: The University of Michigan police for handing out a parking ticket to a golfer at Radrick Farms golf course this summer because the golfer’s tires were over the yellow line in the golf course parking lot. Fortunately, the golfer appealed the ticket and the fine was reduced $5 dollars. The judge hearing the case only had one question for the golfer which becomes my Question of the Day: How did you play that day?
Video of the Day: Tigers honor 40th anniversary of 1984 World Series team (mlb.com)