As I write this post, the Detroit Tigers have the best record in the major league (43-24). To put things in perspective, in 2003, the Tigers had 43 wins all season. While this is very exciting, I have had a hard time getting excited.
This is the third season that Jesse and I have purchased quarter-season tickets (21 games) and I have really grown to enjoy this team. However, I loved going to the games in 2003 because there was something gratifying about not being a fair-weather fan. I supported the team even though they were the brunt of every joke you can think of. Jesse and I met that summer and he even came to games with me. It also helped that there were approximately two other people there in the crowd so we could sit where ever we wanted. I was sad to see Alan Trammell go after last year. He is a hometown hero and I think we all wanted to see him do good things. I felt like due to injuries we didn't get to see what this team could really do. I am, however, glad that the Tigers staff made decisions based on building a team that can win and we are seeing the effects of those decisions. It took me a long time to admit that this team is better off without Tram. He just didn't seem to have the experience to build this club and Jim Leyland clearly has what it takes. The first two years we bought tickets because if we bought them we would be able to get all-star game tickets. We decided to get them this year too and I am so glad we did.
The list of differences between this year's team and last year's team is long. Leyland has made some some seemingly really strange decisions. But those decisions have worked. For example, a couple weeks ago Carlos Guillen, shortstop, was put in at first base. I was shocked because he has always been a really solid shortstop (when he is healthy). We watched Guillen run around looking like he had no idea what he was doing, trying to field balls when he should have been covering first base. Leyland started Guillen at first base again recently and he did well. Who woulda thunk it?? Yesterday I almost shit myself when Ledezma came in to pitch. He was brought up last year but was really bad and was sent back to Toledo. He was called up again on Wednesday. He struggled but pitched the 8th inning and ended up doing well. I see all these things going on but one of the biggest changes is that this team is having fun. They are clearly working their asses off but they are smiling. They are laughing in the dugout and look like they are just having a ball. Of course winning is more fun than losing but it is like they just woke up and realized that they are good and belong in the major league. They look like they really love baseball.
So with all this wonderful stuff happening with this team, why haven't I really felt excited? Part of me is waiting for it to all fall apart. The numbers are great. We all hoped for a .500 season and they are exceeding that hope. It is just taking a long time for me to realize that this team is solid. And after several years of disappointing records, I am afraid that this is all going to come to a sad end. I guess I just need to celebrate and enjoy this while I can.
Either way, I'll still love the Tigs.
And as I write this, the Tigs are beating the Cubs, 4-0 in the middle of the 2nd.
Go Tigs!!
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1 comment:
I know how you feel, Jen. I had similiar feelings when the A's started to do really well a few years ago and the couple thousand of us who would come out to games on Monday or Tuesday nights were overrun with people climbing onto the bandwagon. There was certainly something special about being there for the baseball and not just for the wins.
But I don't blame people for staying home when their team is losing. You have more fun at the park when your team is having fun (and winning).
I think you should let yourself believe in this Tigers team. If they don't make it all the way, at least they will have had a better season than they have in awhile.
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