During last nights Detroit Tigers/Minnesota Twins game manager Jim Leyland was ejected for arguing with home plate umpire Paul Schrieber. The argument had to do with Schrieber putting his hand on the back of Tigers outfielder Magglio Ordonez to huury him along while he argued a called third strike.

First, hats off to Leyland for defending his player (he was on the field and in the face of Schrieber in seconds) and hats off to Ordonez for not returning the physical contact.

If a player or coach bumps or touches an umpire in any fashion they are suspended with the suspensions typically more than a game.

Now the situation has been reversed. An umpire makes contact with a player. This contact was not a defensive action but an arrogant action.

The answer is a simple one unless there is a double standard. Schrieber needs to be suspended for a series.

Continue reading "Ump makes contact with Ordonez"

I know it's only one game. It's only one win. But when was the last time one game or one win created such excitement for one player?

That player is Dontrelle “D-Train” Willis.

Willis picked up his first victory in a Detroit Tigers uniform last night. Willis gave up no runs and one hit while striking out five. He walked just two while retiring 17 batters in a row at one point.

Prior to last season this would not have been such a big deal. This would have been expected from Willis every five days. Unfortunately those expectations have not been around for a while.

Beginning in 2007, his last season in Florida, Willis lost command of his control. Willis allowed the most hits, runs, earned runs, walks and had the highest ERA of his brief career. This after winning Rookie of the Year in 2003, a Cy Young runner up in 2005 and two all-star appearances in '03 and '05.

Continue reading "D-Train in Motion for the Detroit Tigers"