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<channel>
	<title>When Baseball Was Fun</title>
	<atom:link href="http://whenbaseballwasfun.com/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://whenbaseballwasfun.com</link>
	<description>Companion web site for the book and Detroit Tigers Quarterly</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:18:43 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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			<item>
		<title>TIGERS TOP TORONTO 7-6</title>
		<link>http://whenbaseballwasfun.com/2010/03/04/tigers-top-toronto-7-6/</link>
		<comments>http://whenbaseballwasfun.com/2010/03/04/tigers-top-toronto-7-6/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:18:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>bobby</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Baseball]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://whenbaseballwasfun.com/?p=135</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On Wednesday the Tigers beat the Jays 7-6 in what seemed like a typical
ho-hum spring training game&#8230;HOWEVER, THREE SIGNIFICANT HAPPENINGS
TOOK PLACE.  And here they are:
a) JEREMY BONDERMAN, whom our inside Tiger source has told us is the key
to the Tiger&#8217;s braintrust  major spring training plans, took the mound after only
pitching 81 1/2  [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>On Wednesday the Tigers beat the Jays 7-6 in what seemed like a typical<br />
ho-hum spring training game&#8230;HOWEVER, THREE SIGNIFICANT HAPPENINGS<br />
TOOK PLACE.  And here they are:</p>
<p>a) JEREMY BONDERMAN, whom our inside Tiger source has told us is the key<br />
to the Tiger&#8217;s braintrust  major spring training plans, took the mound after only<br />
pitching 81 1/2  innings over the past two years, and FANNED THREE IN TWO<br />
SCORELESS INNINGS!  Fans, this is HUGE &#038;  BEAUTIFUL NEWS!  Just think, if<br />
the big guy can become the 4th power pitcher in the Tiger&#8217;s already strong<br />
rotatation&#8230;well, get ready for the cats to kick some serious 2010 BUTT.</p>
<p>b) SCOTT SIZEMORE looked fabulous as he handled his first double play pivot<br />
at second base flawlessly.  This is also huge because it was on this same play<br />
that his left ankle was broken.  After recuperating all winter this was his first<br />
time to turn the exact play and he did it perfectly.</p>
<p>WBWF has an interesting personal inside scoop story about SCOTT written by<br />
one of his best Chesapeake, Va. friends our son, BOBBY HOEFT II, and running<br />
in the Spring WBWF quarterly being mailed as we speak. This exclusive feature<br />
story will appear only in our in WBWF.  </p>
<p>c) Nate Robertson threw 1 1/3 innings and walked 3 while giving up 3 hits and<br />
2 runs. This man is simply an unexplained TIGER MYSTERY! He has never had<br />
any success. We have published his sorry stats on this web site and in the<br />
WBWF Quarterly over and over while asking the Tigers to send him packing,<br />
but here he is still taking an important roster spot while some other deserving<br />
real MLB player loses out!! If any of you fans reading this have a clue let us<br />
know. Just remember that we were wise to his short comings BEFORE they<br />
gave him this HUGE MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT!!! What a farce. Mr. Mike<br />
Ilitch should be asking some serious questions while he forks over his hard<br />
earned pizza momey for NO RETURNS!</p>
<p>posted by bobby hoeft on 3-4-10</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<item>
		<title>2010 SPRING TRAINING TIGER OPENER</title>
		<link>http://whenbaseballwasfun.com/2010/03/03/2010-spring-training-tiger-opener/</link>
		<comments>http://whenbaseballwasfun.com/2010/03/03/2010-spring-training-tiger-opener/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:59:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>bobby</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Baseball]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://whenbaseballwasfun.com/?p=133</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Once again FLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE provided the opening opponent for the good
guys down in Lakeland and the results once more were the same as the Tigers
trounced the college kids 13-1.
What we found significant were the two gigantic taters hit into the wind by
CASPER WELLS &#038; RYAN STRIEBY.  Wells is an outfield candidate with lots [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Once again FLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE provided the opening opponent for the good<br />
guys down in Lakeland and the results once more were the same as the Tigers<br />
trounced the college kids 13-1.</p>
<p>What we found significant were the two gigantic taters hit into the wind by<br />
CASPER WELLS &#038; RYAN STRIEBY.  Wells is an outfield candidate with lots of<br />
MLB pop in his bat.  He&#8217;s one of the fastest players in the Tiger&#8217;s system too.<br />
Look for him to push hard for that center field opening.  He will give the<br />
Tiger brain trust a tough decision before opening day.</p>
<p>LEFTY PHIL COKE threw two scoreless innings. Don&#8217;t be surprised if he turns out<br />
to be that southpaw starter that JIM LEYLAND is looking for.  He struck out<br />
three with his blazing fast ball.</p>
<p>In the seventh inning guess who got into trouble?  As always JOEL ZUMAYA is<br />
an accident waiting to happen.  In less time than LEYLAND could lite up a<br />
Camel, the big Z allowed a single, a walk and a hit batter to load up the sacks.<br />
He then struck out two to escape&#8230;we think Z watched Rodney too much last<br />
year&#8230;don&#8217;t you?</p>
<p>Talk about protecting a big investment. The Tigers kept SCOTT SIZEMORE out<br />
of the lineup because &#8220;the field was too wet and he&#8217;s still coming back from a<br />
broken ankle.&#8221;  PHOOEY!  Let this hustling kid play.  Our son, BOBBY II, who&#8217;s<br />
a good buddy of SIZEMORE, says that: &#8220;SCOTT WANTS TO PLAY EVERY INNING<br />
OF EVERY GAME AND HE&#8217;LL NEVER GET TIRED.&#8221;  WBWF predicts a great future<br />
for MR. SCOTT SIZEMORE.</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s a tid bit about JOHNNY DAMON.  We recall attending the last game played<br />
at TIGER STADIUM against KANSAS CITY.  In the outfield on that sad day the<br />
ROYALS had two future star kids playing.  Did they become stars?  They both have<br />
played in numorous all star games!  Their names: CARLOS BELTRAM &#038; JOHNNY DAMON.<br />
And KC left them both get away!!</p>
<p>posted by bobby hoeft on 3-3-10.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<item>
		<title>THE SPRING EDITION OF WBWF IS READY.</title>
		<link>http://whenbaseballwasfun.com/2010/02/25/the-spring-edition-of-wbwf-is-ready/</link>
		<comments>http://whenbaseballwasfun.com/2010/02/25/the-spring-edition-of-wbwf-is-ready/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:50:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>bobby</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Baseball]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://whenbaseballwasfun.com/?p=131</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[THE SPRING QUARTERLY IS READY FOR MAILING WITH THE FOLLOWING SCOOPS:
A) An inside look at SCOTT SIZEMORE as told by his Chesapeake pal and our
    son: BOBBY HOEFT II;
B) BILLY HERMAN writes about what it was like being a CUB against the Tigers
    in the 1935 World Series;
C) ERNIE [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>THE SPRING QUARTERLY IS READY FOR MAILING WITH THE FOLLOWING SCOOPS:</p>
<p>A) An inside look at SCOTT SIZEMORE as told by his Chesapeake pal and our<br />
    son: BOBBY HOEFT II;</p>
<p>B) BILLY HERMAN writes about what it was like being a CUB against the Tigers<br />
    in the 1935 World Series;</p>
<p>C) ERNIE HARWELL writes his &#8220;LONG GONE&#8221; column;</p>
<p>D) &#8220;FROM JAPAN WITH LOVE&#8221; by KOHEI NIRENGI;</p>
<p>E) An inside profile of RED WILSON, former Tiger catcher, by RED himself;</p>
<p>F) What it&#8217;s like to face big league pitchers by WILLIE HORTON;</p>
<p>G) Born in BUGSCUFFLE, OKLAHOMA, by the great humorist and former Tiger<br />
    catcher, J.W. PORTER.</p>
<p>To subscribe write us at wbwf@sbcglobal.net for details.</p>
<p>posted on 2-25-10 by bobby hoeft.</p>
<p>C) ERNIE HARWELL writes his &#8220;LONG GONE&#8221; column;</p>
<p>D) An inside profile of &#8220;RED&#8221; WILSON , former Tiger catcher, written by himself;</p>
<p>E) From Japan with love by KOHEI NIRENGI;</p>
<p>F) </p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>OLD SCHOOL HUMOR IS GONE FOREVER, or is it?</title>
		<link>http://whenbaseballwasfun.com/2010/02/16/old-school-humor-is-gone-forever-or-is-it/</link>
		<comments>http://whenbaseballwasfun.com/2010/02/16/old-school-humor-is-gone-forever-or-is-it/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:44:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>bobby</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Baseball]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://whenbaseballwasfun.com/?p=129</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Just when you think the pranks of the GAS HOUSE GANG are LONG GONE, a story
from an old schooler pops up.  To prove it I received this hand written letter
from VIRGIL TRUCKS a few days ago.  We will reproduce it exactly the way VIRGIL
wrote it for your good old fashioned baseball laughter.
&#8220;AS YOU [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Just when you think the pranks of the GAS HOUSE GANG are LONG GONE, a story<br />
from an old schooler pops up.  To prove it I received this hand written letter<br />
from VIRGIL TRUCKS a few days ago.  We will reproduce it exactly the way VIRGIL<br />
wrote it for your good old fashioned baseball laughter.<br />
&#8220;AS YOU KNOW SATCHEL PAIGE AND I WERE<br />
GREAT FRIENDS.  WHEN I WAS WITH HIM AT<br />
THE SAINT LOUIS BROWNS . WE WERE GOING<br />
FROM PHOENIX, ARIZONA, TO PLAY THE CUBS<br />
IN MESA.  THIS WAS IN 1953.  AND THERE WAS<br />
NOTHING BETWEEN PHOENIX AND MESA BUT<br />
CACTUS TREES. THAT&#8217;S ALL JUST CACTUS. SO<br />
I SAID TO SATCHEL: &#8220;I&#8217;M GOING UP INTO THOSE<br />
CACTUS AND GET ME A BABY COYOTE, AND TRAIN<br />
HIM LIKE A DOG.&#8221;<br />
SATCH SAYS TO ME: &#8220;MAN, THAT&#8217;S THE MEANEST<br />
CRITTER ALIVE! HE&#8217;LL TEAR YOU UP.&#8221;<br />
SO, I SAID:  &#8220;I&#8217;LL TRAIN HIM AND PUT HIM ON A<br />
LEASH AND THEN I&#8217;LL LET YOU PET HIS HEAD.&#8221;<br />
&#8221; OH SURE&#8221;, SATCH SAYS, &#8220;I&#8217;LL PET HIM ON HIS<br />
HEAD WHEN HIS HEAD IS AT LEAST SIXTEEN FEET<br />
FROM THE REST OF HIS BODY.&#8221;</p>
<p>BOYS WILL BE BOYS ON A LONG BUS TRIP ACROSS<br />
THE HOT ARIZONA DESERT DURING SPRING TRAINING<br />
OF 1953.</p>
<p>You can contact VIRGIL TRUCKS at :<br />
        1016 WATERFORD TRAIL<br />
        CALERA, ALABAMA  35040-7613</p>
<p>If you ask him nicely I&#8217;m sure that he&#8217;ll<br />
send you an autographed baseball card.</p>
<p>HE IS WELL &#038; HEALTHY AND STILL LOVES<br />
LIFE &#038; BASEBALL!!</p>
<p>posted 2-16-10 by bobby hoeft</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<item>
		<title>OUR TIGER SOURCE SPEAKS AGAIN!</title>
		<link>http://whenbaseballwasfun.com/2010/02/15/our-tiger-source-speaks-again/</link>
		<comments>http://whenbaseballwasfun.com/2010/02/15/our-tiger-source-speaks-again/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:22:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>bobby</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Baseball]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://whenbaseballwasfun.com/?p=127</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Spring training is closing in and the Detroit baseball media is busy looking
helter  &#038; skelter for some Tiger tid bit to write about.  So we&#8217;ve
been over loaded with stories about what the Tigers need to win the central
division and what they don&#8217;t need.  Recently one Tiger beat writer went
so far as to [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Spring training is closing in and the Detroit baseball media is busy looking<br />
helter  &#038; skelter for some Tiger tid bit to write about.  So we&#8217;ve<br />
been over loaded with stories about what the Tigers need to win the central<br />
division and what they don&#8217;t need.  Recently one Tiger beat writer went<br />
so far as to list TEN BIG QUESTION MARKS that they will need to be<br />
answered by opening day.</p>
<p>Our inside the Tiger club house source says HOG WASH! He says the Tigers<br />
are looking at one person as the key as to whether they might challenge the<br />
Bronx hot dogs for the whole chillada.   And that one person is big<br />
        J E R E M Y    B O N D E R M A N     and do you know what: WE AGREE.</p>
<p>Think about it.  We know from their history that VERLANDER, PROCELLO and<br />
MAX SCHERZER will be their three big starting horses. Fans don&#8217;t seem to be aware<br />
yet of how huge the acquisition of SCHERZER was to this team.   They will be.<br />
A team with three starting power pitchers is looked upon with saliva running down<br />
the cheeks of opposing managers.  HOWEVER, a team with FOUR of em&#8217; WOW!</p>
<p>Enter MR. JEREMY BONDERMAN.  Tiger fans will remember that just two years ago<br />
he was one of those horses we just mentioned. With his operation to his throwing arm<br />
supposedly reaping dividends and the big strapping kid that he is HE JUST MIGHT<br />
LEAD THIS TEAM TO NEW HIEGHTS OF ACHIEVEMENT!</p>
<p>The Tiger brass know this.  They know that a team with four starters primed to<br />
take the mound and mow down enemy hitters with fast balls from 95mph to<br />
100mph and with sliders that run all over the plate&#8230;.well WHEW! They know that<br />
CONNIE MACK was right on.  Our source has heard them talk and tells us so.</p>
<p>So dear Tiger fans have fun watching these other small question marks like<br />
Everett, Ordonez, Sizemore, Guillen and maybe Jackson but bear in mind<br />
                JEREMY BONDERMAN is the big key to keep your eye on.</p>
<p>submitted on 2-15-10 by bobby hoeft</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<item>
		<title>JOHNNY DAMON WANTS TO WEAR THE ENGLISH &#8220;D&#8221;!</title>
		<link>http://whenbaseballwasfun.com/2010/02/02/johnny-damon-wants-to-wear-the-english-d/</link>
		<comments>http://whenbaseballwasfun.com/2010/02/02/johnny-damon-wants-to-wear-the-english-d/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:59:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>bobby</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Baseball]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://whenbaseballwasfun.com/?p=124</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Well, wadaya&#8217; know.  Johnny Damon in a Tiger uniform?  This morning&#8217;s
Detroit FREEP says that Damon&#8217;s agent, Scott Boras, is telling the Tigers
that Damon likes Detroit and would welcome the chance to play at the
COPA.
WBWF says that the fit would be just about perfect. Here&#8217;s why:
     1) He would be [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Well, wadaya&#8217; know.  Johnny Damon in a Tiger uniform?  This morning&#8217;s<br />
Detroit FREEP says that Damon&#8217;s agent, Scott Boras, is telling the Tigers<br />
that Damon likes Detroit and would welcome the chance to play at the<br />
COPA.</p>
<p>WBWF says that the fit would be just about perfect. Here&#8217;s why:<br />
     1) He would be the answer for the leadoff spot;<br />
     2) He brings his .282 BA, 24 Taters and 82 rbi&#8217;s with him;<br />
         Granderson hit .249, 30 hr&#8217;s with 71 rbi&#8217;s.<br />
     3) He hits from the left side, exactly what the Tigers need;<br />
     4) He brings two world series rings with him which translates into<br />
         a winning attitude and clutch performances;<br />
     5) HE REJECTED THE YANKEE&#8217;S $14-million contract! Anyone that<br />
         rejects the bronx idiots is AOK with WBWF!!<br />
His one negative is his agent. We just plain don&#8217;t care for this guy&#8217;s<br />
selfish attitude&#8230;but, if he can steer Damon into MIKE ILITCH&#8217;S TIGER<br />
NATION we will forgive him.</p>
<p>So in conclusion: GO GET HIM TIGERS!!</p>
<p>filed by bobby hoeft only 20 days from spring training on 2-2-10.</p>
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		<item>
		<title>INSIDE SOURCE SPEAKS AGAIN</title>
		<link>http://whenbaseballwasfun.com/2010/01/30/inside-source-speaks-again/</link>
		<comments>http://whenbaseballwasfun.com/2010/01/30/inside-source-speaks-again/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 30 Jan 2010 17:22:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>bobby</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Baseball]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://whenbaseballwasfun.com/?p=122</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Our source inside the Tiger&#8217;s clubhouse tells us that:
JUSTIN VERLANDER will sign an extended contract for six years worth 88 million
dollars with the last year gauranteed. When?  Within a few weeks;
And that although the media is predicting great things for CURTIS GRANDERSON
in a Yankee uniform the Tigers are not believing it for one minute. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Our source inside the Tiger&#8217;s clubhouse tells us that:</p>
<p>JUSTIN VERLANDER will sign an extended contract for six years worth 88 million<br />
dollars with the last year gauranteed. When?  Within a few weeks;</p>
<p>And that although the media is predicting great things for CURTIS GRANDERSON<br />
in a Yankee uniform the Tigers are not believing it for one minute.  Curtis cannot<br />
lead off for them due to his high amount of K&#8217;s and that he won&#8217;t fit into the<br />
middle of their congested  lineup, which leaves only the bottom. It&#8217;s<br />
very hard to believe that the Bronx billionairs gave up that much for a bottom of<br />
the lineup hitter.</p>
<p>Both of these items from inside the club house hit the nail right on the head,<br />
especially the first one.  We applaud the Tigers for making VERLANDER A TIGER<br />
FOR LI FE.  Not long ago they completely missed the target with JACK MORRIS<br />
and ended up biting the bullit.  Actually, MORRIS and VERLANDER are very much<br />
alike with their bulldog game day attitude.  Anyway  WBWF  does not want the<br />
VERLANDER story to end like the MORRIS fiasco.</p>
<p>As for the GRANDERSON tidbit: it makes a lot of sense.  Credit the Tigers for seeing<br />
the same future for him in a Tiger&#8217;s uniform.  Even in 2009 the handwriting was on<br />
the proverbial wall.</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s one of our own: the starting rotation on opening day will consist of: JUSTIN<br />
VERLANDER, RICK PORCELLO, MAX SCHERZER, JEREMY BONDERMAN and ARMANDO<br />
GALLARAGA.  Bet the farm on it. The big surprise for 2010 will be GALLARAGA. He will<br />
come back big time with his new slider.<br />
posted 1-30-10 by bobby hoeft.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<item>
		<title>IN MEMORY OF MR. SUNSHINE: MIKE PAPISTA</title>
		<link>http://whenbaseballwasfun.com/2010/01/25/in-memory-of-mr-sunshine-mike-papista/</link>
		<comments>http://whenbaseballwasfun.com/2010/01/25/in-memory-of-mr-sunshine-mike-papista/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 25 Jan 2010 18:18:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>bobby</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Baseball]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://whenbaseballwasfun.com/?p=120</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[MANUEL &#8220;MIKE&#8221; PAPISTA left us the other day on Saturday, January 23, 2010.
He was our legal advisor for the WBWF, but more than that he&#8217;s been a dear
friend ever since I met him on the campus of Southeastern High School in the
Fall of 1944. His smile was infectious and his person was brimming with enthusiasm
and [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>MANUEL &#8220;MIKE&#8221; PAPISTA left us the other day on Saturday, January 23, 2010.<br />
He was our legal advisor for the WBWF, but more than that he&#8217;s been a dear<br />
friend ever since I met him on the campus of Southeastern High School in the<br />
Fall of 1944. His smile was infectious and his person was brimming with enthusiasm<br />
and respect and love.  I write this not as some mamby pamby jibberish. I write this<br />
because it goes straight to this man&#8217;s big heart &#038; soul.  I knew him well.</p>
<p>We played baseball and football together at Southeastern, capped off by winning the<br />
Baseball City Championship in 1947 at ole Briggs Stadium.  Mike was in the middle<br />
of our lineup and also played an errorless left field. In 1997 he coordinated a 50 year<br />
reunion of the team held at a restaurant in Greektown and then a ball game at Tiger<br />
Stadium.  Everyone on that team looked to him for leadership and guidance. He had<br />
it all and never once complained about any problems that he might be facing. Rather,<br />
he was always there to share that big wonderful Greek smile along with a pat on the<br />
back.  He loved life and was always ready to share it.</p>
<p>I remember visiting him on the University of Michigan campus in 1949. He loved this<br />
school and it showed as he happily showed us around Ann Arbor and the Campus.<br />
He was a student in their Law program and went on to a tremendous career in the<br />
Detroit legal community. If the residents of his new home need legal advice or just<br />
a helping hand with some heavenly problem MIKE will be there for them.</p>
<p>So GOODBYE old friend.  Keep the porch lite on like you did in 1949 to give us guidance<br />
into your special new residence.  AGAPE, MANUEL.                     bobby hoeft</p>
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		<title>WAS CONNIE MACK RIGHT?</title>
		<link>http://whenbaseballwasfun.com/2010/01/24/was-connie-mack-right/</link>
		<comments>http://whenbaseballwasfun.com/2010/01/24/was-connie-mack-right/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 24 Jan 2010 16:35:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>bobby</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Baseball]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://whenbaseballwasfun.com/?p=118</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Most baseball purists say that he was when he made his famous comment
about pitching being about 80% of the game meaning that it&#8217;s how you
pitch that baseball that wins baseball games in MLB.  WE ALSO AGREE.
If that be the case then the Tigers should be in for one helluva year! They&#8217;re
loaded with their starters [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Most baseball purists say that he was when he made his famous comment<br />
about pitching being about 80% of the game meaning that it&#8217;s how you<br />
pitch that baseball that wins baseball games in MLB.  WE ALSO AGREE.</p>
<p>If that be the case then the Tigers should be in for one helluva year! They&#8217;re<br />
loaded with their starters and their relievers.  No wonder our inside source<br />
talks about the excitement inside the Tiger management crew from DOMBROWSKI<br />
down to LEYLAND.  That&#8217;s also why they spent big cash for a top notch<br />
closer.  SO LET&#8217;S LOOK AT THIS PITCHING STAFF.</p>
<p>JUSTIN VERLANDER&#8230;the big horse!  Everyone knows that he&#8217;s MVP material.<br />
RICK PORCELLO&#8230;14-9 last year coming close to the AL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AWARD.<br />
MAX SCHERZER&#8230;coming over from the NL. Listen to one of baseball&#8217;s best judges<br />
                        of talent, TONY LARUSSO, describe him&#8221; &#8220;HE&#8217;S AN ALL-STAR.&#8221;<br />
                        We think we pulled off another DOMBROWSKI steal.<br />
JEREMY BONDERMAN&#8230;He&#8217;s a strong candidate for the 4th spot.  And a good one.</p>
<p>Now for the fifth starter&#8217;s role which should bring a smile to LEYLAND&#8217;S craggy<br />
face. Why? It&#8217;s loaded with a young, fresh crew of power pitchers.<br />
RHP JACOB TURNER&#8230;who turns 19 in May is a 6-5, 210 pounder who can throw<br />
                              a late breaking fast ball in the mid 90s.<br />
LHP CASEY CROSBY&#8230;he&#8217;s 21 with a 10-4  record and an era of 2.41 at Western<br />
                             Michigan last year. He whiffed 117 with his 98 mph fast ball.<br />
RHP CODY SATTERWHITE&#8230;is 22 and has a deceptive delivery and a 94-97 fast ball.<br />
                                     In 49 innings at Erie last year he struck out 52 with an ERA<br />
                                     of just 3.47!<br />
Last, but not least let&#8217;s not forget DONTRELLE WILLIS.  He&#8217;s acting and talking like<br />
a born again talent who, let&#8217;s not forget, was a NL All Star.  Maybe we&#8217;ll have a big<br />
positive surprise on our hands come spring training.</p>
<p>In the bull pen they are also loaded with power poitchers in GALARAGA (also a strong<br />
candidate for the 5th starter&#8217;s role) PERRY, ZUMAYA,  VALVERDE, SCHLERETH, COKE,<br />
SEAY, MINOR, FU-TE NI and FIGARO.  </p>
<p>YEP&#8230;JIM LEYLAND WILL BE ALL SMILES WITH HIS POWER PITCHERS IN 2010!</p>
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		<title>FORGIVEN??  YES, YES, YES !</title>
		<link>http://whenbaseballwasfun.com/2010/01/23/forgiven-yes-yes-yes/</link>
		<comments>http://whenbaseballwasfun.com/2010/01/23/forgiven-yes-yes-yes/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 23 Jan 2010 21:54:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>bobby</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Baseball]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://whenbaseballwasfun.com/?p=116</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In yesterday&#8217;s Detroit FREEP, MIKE ROSENBERG writes about the contrite MIGUEL
CABRERA, quoting him as follows:
     &#8220;I FEEL HAPPY. I FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE. I FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE
      EVEN WITH YOU GUYS. I THINK IT&#8217;S GOING TO BE A NEW SEASON, A NEW
      [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In yesterday&#8217;s Detroit FREEP, MIKE ROSENBERG writes about the contrite MIGUEL<br />
CABRERA, quoting him as follows:<br />
     &#8220;I FEEL HAPPY. I FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE. I FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE<br />
      EVEN WITH YOU GUYS. I THINK IT&#8217;S GOING TO BE A NEW SEASON, A NEW<br />
      LIFE FOR ME.  I&#8217;M GOING TO BE A BETTER DAD, BETTER PERSON, BETTER<br />
      PLAYER, BETTER WITH THE FANS.&#8221;<br />
And, then in good ole fashion Detroit style, Mr. Rosenberg writes:<br />
      &#8221; I suppose this will not be enough for some fans. I suppose some people<br />
       think  CABRERA should have asked each member of the media to measure<br />
       his blood-alcohol content by taking a pound of flesh.&#8221;<br />
What fans are Rosenberg talking about?  After those wonderful words of MIGUEL<br />
above what DETROIT fan would be asking for &#8220;A POUND OF HIS FLESH?&#8221;</p>
<p>WBWF PREDICTS THAT ON OPENING DAY IN DETROIT WHEN MIGUEL CABRERA IS<br />
INTRODUCE THE RAFTERS OF COMERICA PARK WILL SHAKE FROM THE FORGIVING<br />
CHEERS OF A SOLD OUT TIGER NATION&#8230;..And not just at the COPA, but from<br />
the shores of Lake Michigan to the shores of Lake Huron true Tiger fans will forgive<br />
this lovable big contrite M I G U E L     C A B R E R A!!!</p>
<p>Prediction: This huge first baseman will one day enter into the hall-of-fame wearing<br />
an english &#8220;D&#8221;      filed on 1-23-10 by bobby hoeft</p>
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