Vinny
10-06-2006, 04:28 PM
Sorry, Jethro, deceiving thread title:
First you party, then you performBy Todd Jones - SportingNews (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/tsn/mlb/article/SIG=10tmms2oa/*http://www.sportingnews.com)
http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/cn/headshots/todd_jones.jpghttp://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/p/sportingnews_lo_70x24_2.gif (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/tsn/mlb/article/SIG=11025kss8/*http%3A//www.sportingnews.com/)
When the Tigers clinched a playoff spot for the first time in 19 years, we were in Kansas City. It is not the best place for a baseball team to celebrate. The Royals don't allow alcohol in their clubhouse, so once we ran out of our liquid artillery on the field we headed back to the clubhouse and poured bottled water on one another. Lame, I know. I even saw one of our strength and conditioning guys get Powerade poured on his head. It was a little embarrassing, but what the hey, we were in the playoffs.
After our flight landed back in Detroit, our owner, Mr. Ilitch, and his family threw a big impromptu party on the tarmac. There was a band, and there was food and drink for everyone in the organization from the secretaries to the doormen. This was when I realized how many people are affected by how we play. As the band played "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" and we were celebrating with our families, it hit me: We're going to the postseason.
I've been there only once, but as hard as it is to get into the postseason it seems even harder to do well after you're there. Like everyone, I've seen how the playoffs are dominated by pitching. Pitching is so important that you see teams hold out pitchers in the final days of the season to set up their rotation for the playoffs -- even if it means settling for the wild-card spot instead of a division title. You're in trouble if you have to go with your No. 4 starter in the couple of games because you burned out your ace to get in.
So who does better: a team that runs away with its division such as the Mets or a team that has to scratch and claw to the bitter end to get in such as the Dodgers. The Mets were able to give guys extra rest and line up their rotation. The Dodgers came in with momentum because they had to play so well down the stretch. I'm not sure which team I'd rather be on, but I guess we'll find out when we see how those teams play. Something else I've always said about the playoffs: Your supporting cast has to show up. Superstars carry their teams all season, but when the playoffs start they're out of the equation. They don't get pitches to hit because opponents won't give them a chance to win games. It's up to the next guy to step up. When guys do that, you have a chance for something special. And more celebrations.
http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060924/capt.1600db302e0c45aba51261a14c44f195.tigers_royal s_baseball_mocr108.jpg
Am I missing something here?
First you party, then you performBy Todd Jones - SportingNews (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/tsn/mlb/article/SIG=10tmms2oa/*http://www.sportingnews.com)
http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/cn/headshots/todd_jones.jpghttp://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/p/sportingnews_lo_70x24_2.gif (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/tsn/mlb/article/SIG=11025kss8/*http%3A//www.sportingnews.com/)
When the Tigers clinched a playoff spot for the first time in 19 years, we were in Kansas City. It is not the best place for a baseball team to celebrate. The Royals don't allow alcohol in their clubhouse, so once we ran out of our liquid artillery on the field we headed back to the clubhouse and poured bottled water on one another. Lame, I know. I even saw one of our strength and conditioning guys get Powerade poured on his head. It was a little embarrassing, but what the hey, we were in the playoffs.
After our flight landed back in Detroit, our owner, Mr. Ilitch, and his family threw a big impromptu party on the tarmac. There was a band, and there was food and drink for everyone in the organization from the secretaries to the doormen. This was when I realized how many people are affected by how we play. As the band played "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" and we were celebrating with our families, it hit me: We're going to the postseason.
I've been there only once, but as hard as it is to get into the postseason it seems even harder to do well after you're there. Like everyone, I've seen how the playoffs are dominated by pitching. Pitching is so important that you see teams hold out pitchers in the final days of the season to set up their rotation for the playoffs -- even if it means settling for the wild-card spot instead of a division title. You're in trouble if you have to go with your No. 4 starter in the couple of games because you burned out your ace to get in.
So who does better: a team that runs away with its division such as the Mets or a team that has to scratch and claw to the bitter end to get in such as the Dodgers. The Mets were able to give guys extra rest and line up their rotation. The Dodgers came in with momentum because they had to play so well down the stretch. I'm not sure which team I'd rather be on, but I guess we'll find out when we see how those teams play. Something else I've always said about the playoffs: Your supporting cast has to show up. Superstars carry their teams all season, but when the playoffs start they're out of the equation. They don't get pitches to hit because opponents won't give them a chance to win games. It's up to the next guy to step up. When guys do that, you have a chance for something special. And more celebrations.
http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060924/capt.1600db302e0c45aba51261a14c44f195.tigers_royal s_baseball_mocr108.jpg
Am I missing something here?