Year: 2013

Robinson Cano, Jay-Z, and Aleister Crowley

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Why is Robinson Cano associating with a turd like Jay-Z?

Does he know what Jay-Z believes in?

In the photo below, Jay-Z is wearing a sweatshirt with the famous Aleister Crowley saying, “Do What Thou Wilt”.

Satanist Jay-Z and his Aleister Crowley Sweatshirt
Satanist Jay-Z and his Aleister Crowley Sweatshirt

Who is Aleister Crowley?

Aleister Crowley is described by wikipedia as an occultist.  But the truth be told, he was a satanist. I know he denied being a satanist but his explanation was that he didn’t believe satan existed.

Here are some of the words of wisdom Crowley spewed in his book the law:

  • Compassion is the vice of kings
  • Stamp down the weak and the wretched, this is the law of the strong
  • Worship me with fire and blood
  • Worship me with swords and spears

Sounds like a satanist to me and this is a guy Jay-Z, Robinson Cano’s agent, follows.

Jay-Z is linked to other occult/luciferian groups founded by Crowley.  For more information click here.

So back to the original question, why would Robinson Cano associate with a turd like Jay-Z?  Does he believe in the same things?

“God I love baseball.” Roy Hobbs | The Natural

Tigers Sign Rajai Davis…

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Forgive me for not immediately ordering a Davis home jersey.

The detnews is reporting, hat tip Nebaraska, that the Tigers have signed, former Athletics and Blue Jays outfielder, Rajai Davis, to a two year contract.

Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — The Tigers have struck — they just haven’t struck gold. (UNDERSTATEMENT)

According to a report from Sportsnet.ca’s Ben-Nicholson Smith, speedy outfielder Rajai Davis and the Tigers have come to an agreement on a two-year contract. The Tigers have yet to confirm the move, but The News learned late Monday night that the Tigers were zeroing in on adding offense, and were likely to strike soon — and perhaps at the winter meetings.

Davis is a right-handed hitter who is in line to be in a left-field platoon with the left-handed-hitting Andy Dirks.

Keep reading here.

I don’t get it. Another platoon player? Great, he has speed but his on-base percentage is .312.  It is still impossible to steal first base, isn’t it?

This makes the Fister trade look even worse. What are the Tigers going to do with Lombardozzi?  A three way platoon with nobody that can hit.

All this wheeling and dealing and the Tigers still don’t have anybody to play left field.

And, they’re down a pitcher.

I feel another Dirksburger episode flaring up.

Should this be posted under WTF?  It seems that category is getting flooded this off season.

“God I love baseball.” Roy Hobbs | The Natural

Williams & DiMaggio…

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Below is a link to a great article about Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio from the Boston Globe.  H/T-William Wallace

People who know me are aware that I like Ted Williams.  No, I never saw him play, but he was my Mom’s favorite so I kind of inherited an affinity for Teddy Ballgame along with my passion for baseball.

Here is a clip from the article, Two unmatched MLB stars, opposite in many ways:

On December 11th, 1951, Joe DiMaggio announced his retirement in New York.
The fabled Yankee Clipper, who had just turned 37, said his decision was prompted by advancing years, a spate of physical ailments and the simple realization that as a player, “I no longer have it.”
Addressing a gaggle of reporters, photographers and newsreel cameras at the Yankees’ Manhattan offices in Squibb Tower, Joe said that “when baseball is no longer fun, it’s no longer a game. And so, I’ve played my last game of ball.”

Responding to questions, he said his greatest thrills had been the 56-game hitting streak of 1941, and his smashing return to baseball in Boston during the summer of 1949, when he belted four home runs in three days after missing the first 65 games of the season due to a heel injury. Asked whom he considered the greatest of present-day hitters, Joe replied: “Ted Williams. He is by far the greatest natural hitter I ever saw.”
The heir to Ruth and Gehrig, DiMaggio had personified a certain graceful nobility, and the Yankee aura of success and invincibility during his relatively short career spanning 1936-1951, with three years out for World War II. In Joe’s 13 seasons of supple-but-sparkling defensive play and prodigious, clutch hitting, the Yankees won an astonishing 10 pennants and nine World Series, a record that served only to put a sheen on his skills and reputation, and define him as a winner.
DiMaggio’s acknowledgment of Williams at his farewell press conference was fitting since the two were by far the dominant players of their era — baseball’s Golden Age — and came to be joined at the hip in fan discourse. During their careers and into their retirements, there were endless debates about who the better player was, or who was most valuable to his team, and both men remained rivals for the rest of their lives. For Ted, the rivalry was friendly. For Joe it was fierce.
 
The two were opposites in many respects.
DiMaggio was shy, backward and hardly spoke at all. Traveling in a car across country in 1936 to his first spring training as a Yankee with fellow San Franciscans Tony Lazzeri and Frankie Crosetti, Joe never uttered a word, until he was asked if he would like to share the driving, whereupon he said he didn’t drive.
Williams, on the other hand, was a chatterbox, with a boisterous, voluble personality and a curious mind. Joe, whose teammates called him the Sphinx, was stolid. Where Ted was explosive and colorful, Joe made it a point to conceal his emotions.

Check out the rest of the story here.

“God I love baseball.” Roy Hobbs | The Natural

Tigers Trade Fister for Three Humpty Dumpties

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What kind of a trade is this?  We give you a solid 3rd or 4th starter and you give us 3 guys you don’t want.

The Tigers traded Doug Fister to the Washington Nationals for Steve Lombardozzi, Ian Krol, and Robbie Ray.

Lombardozzi is a light hitting, platoon, player who can play second base and left field.  He’s not playing second base so what is the plan, have him platoon in left with Dirksy?

Ian Krol is a left handed pitcher that former Nationals manager, Davey Johnson, stopped using late in the season because he had a 5.74 ERA after June.

Robbie Ray is another left handed pitcher but he’s 22 and pitched in A and AA last year.

This doesn’t look like a trade that a contending team makes, but what do I know.

At least one scout quoted in an article at MLB dot com, agrees with me however.

Like I’ve said before, my track record on trades hasn’t been that great but I really hate this deal.  The Tigers give up Fister for what Ernie Harwell would call three Humpty Dumpties.

FYI:  This post had to be posted under WTF.

“God I love baseball.” Roy Hobbs | The Natural

Tigers Trade Fielder…

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to Texas for Ian Kinsler!

According to this post at CBSSports dot com, the Tigers have moved Prince Fielder.

The Rangers and Tigers have agreed on a blockbuster deal to send Prince Fielder to Texas for Ian Kinsler, pending physicals and the approval of at least Fielder, CBSSports.com has learned.

There was no word yet of any other players being involved, so it may just be a one-for-one swap of stars. Fielder’s salary is much larger, and it is believed money will got Texas in the deal it wasn’t certain how much.

I like Prince Fielder but I think the Tigers made the right move.  I know overall, Prince’s numbers with the Tigers, looked pretty good.  But as Mark Twain once said, “there are lies, damned lies and statistics.”

I’m not sure why but it just didn’t seem like Prince was a good fit here.  He really couldn’t come through when Cabrera struggled, which was rarely, and Prince’s performance in the post season was nothing short of an abomination.  He could have been charged with two errors in the 9th inning of game 2 of the ALCS,  he got picked off at third in game 6 of the ALCS, and he didn’t drive in a post season run since game 2 of the 2012 ALDS against Oakland.  That being said, I like Prince, he just didn’t fit in here.  With all of his personal problems perhaps a change of scenery is just what the doctor ordered for Prince and the Tigers.

With Kinsler’s acquisition, it looks like Ian will go to second, Miggy will go to first, and Castellanos, though I ‘m not sold on him yet, goes to third.  Kinlser can fill the lead off slot in the lineup and let Ausmus move Austin Jackson down to the 7th or 8th spot.

Perhaps, even more importantly, the Tigers may have freed up enough money to sign Cy Young winner Max Scherzer.

Now for left field.  I hope Ausmus didn’t inhert Dirksburger syndrome.  He’s not the answer.

Hat tip to Nebraska, Vart, Sark and Mickey for giving me the news.

Also, a belated congratulations, from Flashin’ Leather to Miggy and Max!

“God I love baseball.” Roy Hobbs | The Natural

CONGRATS SARK!

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Flashin Leather contributor, Greg Sarkisian, finished second in batting average for the Old English D’s of the Men’s Senior Baseball League (MSBL).

On September 24, 2013, the 35 Old English D’s, completed a 23-4 season, by winning both the Detroit Green Division regular season and playoff championships by defeating the Astros 21-5 in the second game of a sweep of the best of three championship series. The D’s are the first Green division team in Detroit MSBL history to top the 23 win mark (regular and playoffs combined) and we finished with a .500 mark against upper division 35 teams.
The D’s were led by improved defense, stellar pitching and solid hitting. Our defense improved dramatically. In 2013, opponents scored 114 runs, only 60 were earned. In 2012, opponents scored 219 runs on us, 106 were earned.
Our main pitchers, Tim Lata and Brian Birchenough, finished in the Top 4 of all major pitching categories, including Wins, ERA, WHIP, Strike Outs, and innings pitched. Tim Lata won the 35 Detroit MSBL pitching triple crown.
Our offense was a total team effort. We had three of the top four hitters for average- Greg Sarkisian finished 2nd, Kevin Wojtylko finished 3rd and Chris Priebe finished 4th. Brandon Florence led the division in stolen bases. We had six players in the top ten in walks and four players in the top ten in RBI’s- Brian Birchenough was 2nd, Todd Palmer was 3rd, Kevin Wojtylko was 5thand Chris Priebe was 7th.

Our team was started by four guys who met at the Detroit Tigers fantasy camp 6 years ago. We played for other Detroit MSBL teams and thought it would fun to be on the same team during the summer. Our current team has seven Detroit Tigers fantasy camp alumni. Our team has become like a 2nd family for many of the guys on the team. Our families have become friends, we have vacationed together and some have even stood up in weddings for one another. Winning the 2013 35 Detroit Green Division Dual Championship was a great accomplishment for all of us.

I’m sure Sark Flashed some Leather as well!

“God I love baseball.” Roy Hobbs | The Natural

Brad Ausmus is New Tigers Manager

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CBS Sports dot com is reporting that Brad Ausmus will replace Jim Leyland as the Tigers manager.

The Tigers will name former big league catcher Brad Ausmus their new manager, reports Adam Spolane of SportsRadio 610. He will travel to Detroit on Sunday to finalize a contract.

Ausmus, 44, has never managed or coached at the big league level. He served as the manager for Team Israel in the qualifying rounds of the World Baseball Classic this spring. Ausmus has worked in the Padres’ front office as a special assistant since 2010.

Despite the lack of managerial experience, Ausmus is widely regarded for his baseball acumen and leadership skills. He has been considered a future manager since his playing days and recently interviewed for the Cubs’ vacant managerial seat.

Ausmus played 18 years in the majors, including three with the Tigers (1996, 1999-2000). He was a defense-first catcher who won three Gold Gloves (2001-02, 2006) and made one All-Star Team (1999).

I was hoping the Tigers would hire former Phillies manager Charlie Manuel.  But it doesn’t seem like he was even being considered.  That being said, based on who the Tigers were interviewing, I’m glad they chose Ausmus.

Catchers seem to make good managers.

Let’s hope Ausmus can help end the 30 year World Series drought.

“God I love baseball.” Roy Hobbs | The Natural

Should the Tigers Dump Alex Avila aka A Squared Money?

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Paul Swydan at ESPN Insider thinks so.

When Alex Avila suffered an injury in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series, there was a lot of worry that he wouldn’t be able to play in Game 6 either. In reality, though, the Tigers would have been fine without him and should be looking to replace him heading into next season.

That’s certainly a touchy subject, considering that his father is the team’s assistant general manager, but the simple fact is that Avila didn’t cut it this season. His 0.6 WAR (per FanGraphs) ranked just 37th overall among catchers, and 26th among 32 catchers who had at least 300 plate appearances.

Swydan makes some good points but getting rid of Alex doesn’t seem likely.

Hat Tip Nebraska for pointing out this article.

“God I love baseball.” Roy Hobbs | The Natural