We’ve all had that moment. You need some help; there’s a problem you can’t fix with the resources you have. You’ve tried reaching out for help, only to be turned away. You know who could make it work, but you have a history. They didn’t do so hot for you in the past — in fact, they haven’t done a lot of good work for anybody else either. But you’re getting desperate, and they’re the best of what’s left.

Two local pro teams had to make that awkward phone call recently.

The Detroit Tigers had a plan going into the spring: put hard-throwing Bruce Rondon in the closer position. Plan B? There was no Plan B. So when Bruce Rondon got knocked around a bit in March, the front office decided the rookie needed some time with the Mud Hens, and the Tigs would just work the ninth inning into long relief. Except —that didn’t work out either. Tigers manager Jim Leyland, known to be loyal to a fault, turned to a guy who they just fired a few months ago: Jose Valverde.

Papa Grande had a brilliant couple of years in 2010 and 2011, saving 51 consecutive games across the two seasons. His 2012 was a little less than brilliant: While he still managed 35 saves, his 3.78 ERA was pretty brutal, and he blew two games in the postseason, including Game 1 of the ALCS, where the Tigs had a 4-0 lead headed into the ninth inning only for Valverde to give up two 2-run home runs. The Pinstripes won that in 12 innings, Valverde never saw the field again and the Tigers lost the series. Detroit immediately sent Valverde packing.

Valverde made his return to Comerica Park on April 24, in front of a small crowd and with the Tigers nursing a 2-run lead over Kansas City. The crowd cheered (which, in all honesty, was a shock to me), and while Valverde’s location needed work, his speed was up to snuff and he managed the three outs to get the save. It could be luck, or it could be the greatest make-up story of all time.

Meanwhile, in Cleveland, the Cavaliers continue their post-LeBron struggles. Kyrie Irving is clearly the future of that program, but the team decided that head coach Byron Scott was not in the blueprint for success. And while wild speculation flew around that team owner Dan Gilbert wanted Phil Jackson to coach the team (and I want Warren Buffet to look at my 401(k), but that’s not going to happen either), eventually they landed on a familiar face: Mike Brown. He led the Cavs during the LeBron years to three Eastern Conference Semifinals, one Eastern Conference Final and one NBA final appearance, but never a title. The Cavs fired him in 2010 in what I thought was a poor ploy to keep LeBron in town. James went to Miami anyways.

Gilbert said at the press conference that firing Brown was a mistake, and he hopes that having him back in the fold is the missing piece to bring the Cavs back into the playoffs. Mike better hope that’s the case. He’s had two coaching gigs, and each one has been with a giant of the sport: LeBron in Cleveland and Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles. Both teams were unable to win titles (though, as we’ve clearly seen this year, the problems in the Staples Center were not on the coach).

I’ve never been one too keen on seeing athletes (or coaches) go back to tread old ground, with the lone exception of the one-day contract “so I can retire a Fill-In-The-Blank.” Too often, these decisions are made not with logic, but with nostalgic memories. Owners and fans expect the same sort of results out of these guys that they had when they were with the teams the first time. But the situation is different: the players around them are different, the coaches might be different and, quite simply, they’re older. For every Phil Jackson coming out of retirement, there’s a Michael Jordan coming out of retirement.

The early returns on Jose Valverde look positive — it could be that the Big Potato reheats easy. As for Mike Brown, he looks twice-baked to me.

Matt “Shaggy” Culbreath is sports director at 1370 WSPD.

Tags: Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Tigers, Jose Valverde, LeBron James, Matt Culbreath, Mike Brown, Shag on Sports, Shaggy Culbreath

This entry was posted on Monday, April 29th, 2013 at 8:40 pm and is filed under Shag on Sports, Sports.
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I thought out loud, “Please don’t send in Papa Grande. JV has got them to the ninth, please Jim, no Papa Grande.”

Then Jimmy Leyland walked out to the mound with one out in the ninth inning of Game 3 of the American League Championship Series, to take the ball from his ace. As the skipper began his slow trek, he lifted his left arm, notifying Phil Coke that his services were needed. My prayers were immediately answered.

My family room has become more of a church lately, except for the occasional excessive swearing, where my son and I pray to the baseball gods with simple requests like, “Please give Delmon Young the strength to not swing at the first pitch,” or “Please give the skipper the ability to hear my thoughts and the courage to follow my every direction.”

My La-Z-Boy, soiled with beer stains following blown saves in the American League Division Series, acts like a very comfortable pew and nearby wood acts as an “anti-jinxing” knocking place. The rules of the church and my family room are very similar. Do not talk during the game unless directly asked a question. Yelling is allowed during appropriate moments. Cursing is allowed at any age level if done immediately and without proper thought. If you or your actions “jinx” the Tigers, you will be excommunicated from the Baumhower family forever or until your jinxing has been reversed.

In 1984, a 9-year-old version of myself was given the equivalent of “baseball crack” as the Tigers had the dream season. PASS Sports filled our living room almost every night, an additional cable purchase that I still have no idea how my dad got approved by my mom. I remember wanting to eat  only Lay’s Potato Chips because they came with a circular, exclusive Tigers’ baseball card. Jack Morris, Kirk Gibson, Chet Lemon and Lance Parrish were a huge part of my family that year and became a part of the fabric of my life. Then a magical thing happened and the Tigers beat the Padres to win the World Series.

The next year came and I was convinced the Tigers would win it again but somehow they came up short. This trend has continued ever since, with some occasional moments of hope, like 1987, 2006 and last year.

The 2006 World Series appearance and loss to the St. Louis Cardinals was a breakthrough in my life and family. After numerous disappointing seasons through the 1990s and of course the dismal 2003 season, I had sworn off baseball. I was married, we had a young son who was struggling to communicate (we had just  been given the diagnosis of the “A” word for him) and had his baby sister.

Baseball seemed almost a waste of time, as it distracted me from fatherly duties. Having a 4-year-old son with obvious social issues can give any father concerns; my biggest fear was that this sweet-souled boy would be bullied when he went to school.

Then it happened. I stumbled upon a Tigers game and it caught his eye. He was mesmerized. This excitement snowballed into an immediate shopping spree at Dick’s, and our game of catch began. Then the greatest thing occurred. Our game of catch turned into conversation and ultimately an obsession. The progress he made from memorizing baseball card stats, which he actually was reading, to imitating Mario Impemba’s play-by-play was the breakthrough we were praying for. The 2006 World Series was a turning point for him, almost a confirmation of his love. The game, in fact the very team, that was a huge part of my childhood was now a huge part of his.

I had often explained to women that the Detroit Tigers were my mistress, but in actuality they have always been a part of my family. Some families “summer” in Maine, the Carolinas or Florida. We “summer” in the “D.”

I have no idea what to do if 2012 becomes the year of the Tigers.  I had always hoped my son would witness such a special year, so he would be cursed for life as a Tigers fan, as I was in 1984. The moment feels incredibly closer than in the 28 previous years. I honestly think I would cry a little if it happened — probably a lot. I know for some it is only a game, a “pastime,” but for some of us, it is much more.

Nov. 1 will mark the one-year anniversary of my son’s Papa Bob’s passing. He was a man who shared his love of the Tigers with his grandson, confirming it was OK for men to love a team or a sport. Nov. 1 is also the scheduled date of Game 7 of this year’s World Series. My religious beliefs have evolved from my Catholic upbringing to a loose self-fitting set of thoughts. I choose to believe in karma, signs and that everything happens for a reason.

There will be no greater test of my faith than if the Tigers are in a Game 7 scenario, because I know someone  upstairs will be pulling strings for his grandson.

I wanted to dedicate these words to the memory of those Tigers fans who couldn’t wait the 28 years to see this. I know they are helping from somewhere, where ever you believe them to be.

God bless these boys!

To follow Jeremy Baumhower’s occasionally excessive swears, friend him on Facebook or Twitter.

Tags: Detroit Tigers, Jeremy Baumhower, Media Watch

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 18th, 2012 at 3:38 pm and is filed under Community, Media Watch.
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The purple that stands for Domestic Violence Awareness Month is often overshadowed by a sea of pink for breast cancer.

This year, the presidential election — and the Detroit Tigers’ run for the World Series — serve as yet other distractions.

On Oct. 16, when many people were watching the debate or the American League Championship Series game, three people, including a 3-year-old, were killed during a domestic violence dispute in Lake Township.

In the middle of all this, I noticed a Facebook post asking for prayers as the tragedy unfolded in the apartment complex.

I tried to get some additional news, but local media outlets were focused on the Obama/Romney brouhaha.

Later, I learned that three people had been killed. Before being shot by police, Jorge Duran shot and killed his ex-girlfriend Amber Jones and their son.

I was the first to tell Nancy Neylon, executive director of the Ohio Domestic Violence Network, about these latest domestic violence victims. Based in Columbus, she hadn’t heard the news yet.

Neylon said anyone who sees, hears or suspects domestic violence should call law enforcement, even if it seems small or just yelling.

“If you see something that is potentially dangerous, you could get killed,” Neylon said. “It is really important

that you call law enforcement.”

Don’t worry about getting involved in someone else’s business or wasting a police officer’s time. People rarely hesitate to call when seeing other types of crimes, she said.

“Your civic duty is to make a call to law enforcement. How bad do you feel if someone gets killed or badly injured?” she said.

“It is better to call than to do nothing.”

Neylon said domestic violence awareness doesn’t always get the attention it deserves, but the presidential election should be a chance for additional dialogue.

“Frankly, the election gives us an opportunity to highlight the needs of women,” Neylon said. “I would have loved one of [the candidates] to say domestic violence is an economic issue, as well as fair pay, as well as access to health care.”

When a woman is in a relationship, her partner could be controlling the finances, which is a tactic of abusers, she said. Sometimes the batterers sabotage the women at work or don’t allow them to get a job — or even an education.

Neylon knew of one woman whose husband urinated on all of her professional clothes before a big business meeting, hence putting her job in jeopardy.

If the woman does leave, the abuse doesn’t necessarily end. Many abusers will continue to visit and harass the woman, she said, which affects everyone in the family.

This makes domestic violence awareness just as important as breast cancer research. Both need a cure.

There is a lot of pink out there, which is good, but we would like to add some purple, Neylon said.

Email questions or comments to Toledo Free Press Community Ombudsman Brandi Barhite at bbarhite@toledofree press.com.

Tags: Brandi Barhite, Community Ombudsman, Detroit Tigers, Nancy Neylon, Ohio Domestic Violence Network

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 18th, 2012 at 2:59 pm and is filed under Community, Community Ombudsman.
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Toledo catcher Alex Avila returned to the Tigers on June 21 after finishing up his three-game rehab stint for the Mud Hens this week.

Avila, who was scratched before Detroit’s June 2 game with an aggravated right hamstring, first attempted to return from the injury too quickly and had to leave a June 5 matchup against the Indians. He was then placed on the DL before finally returning to action with the Mud Hens on June 18.

“I feel 100 percent, I am ready to go,” Avila said. “I knew that coming here I was fine and was 100 percent, it was just about getting back in the rhythm of the game.”

It didn’t take long for Avila to get back into the swing of things. The 25-year-old catcher went 3 for 7 from the plate in Toledo with one RBI in three games for the Mud Hens. He caught in two contests and served as the designated hitter once.

“Alex looked fine. This was just a matter of getting more at bats and timing,” Toledo head coach Phil Nevin said. “He came to me after the second at bat [in his final game] and said his timing was good and he saw the ball well. Then he went up there and had a nice at bat, got us a run and tied the game, giving us a chance.”

“All I was trying to do was just play and get back in the rhythm of the game,” Avila said. “That’s all I was trying to do. You get a feel for it once you play in a couple games. The first game was a little like spring training and then after that you just go back and it’s like riding a bike.”

Avila, last year’s American League All-Star starter behind the plate, has started the season a bit slower than 2011. The Hialeah, Fla., native is hitting .250 with five home runs and 20 RBI in 144 at bats this year. With the recent success of the Tigers, who have won six of their last eight contests, Avila is ready to rejoin the roster that has pulled to within 2.5 games of first place of the AL Central lead.

“They have been playing well,” Avila said. “I have been watching them play and I want to go up there and contribute.”

The timing of Avila’s return couldn’t have been better. Backup catcher Gerald Laird injured his left hamstring rounding second base on June 20 just as Avila was finishing up his last game in Toledo. Laird will avoid the DL, but his injury means Avila is the lone catcher on the Detroit roster after sending Bryan Holaday back to the Mud Hens.

Avila looked as healthy in his first game back for the Tigers as he did in Toledo. He went 1 for 4 at the plate as Detroit grabbed a 2-1 victory in 10 innings over St. Louis. The Tigers will now travel on a 10-game road trip beginning with a three-game series in Pittsburgh beginning June 22.

Tags: Alex Avila, Detroit Tigers, Mud Hens, rehabilitation, Zach Davis

This entry was posted on Friday, June 22nd, 2012 at 8:49 am and is filed under Baseball, Mud Hens, Sports.
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While recovering from an injury, one of the more prominent members of the Detroit Tigers made his way through the Mud Hens lineup this week.

Detroit starting center fielder Austin Jackson played in two games this week for Toledo as he began his return to the major leagues on a rehab assignment.

“It felt pretty good getting back into the swing of things and kind of getting the blood flowing again,” Jackson said. “It was tough trying to get the timing back and I definitely wanted to see some pitches and wanted to swing a little bit too just to see if I felt anything. I didn’t have any pain so that’s definitely a good sign.”

Jackson was placed on the 15-day DL after he suffered an abdominal strain on May 16 at home against Minnesota. With Jackson in the lineup this season, Detroit boasts a record of 19-18. Without Jackson, the Tigers are just 8-14 in 2012.

“I thought Austin looked good,” Toledo starter Adam Wilk said. “He ran down balls where it just looks like he’s cruising but he’s flying around the outfield covering a lot of ground. Our outfield isn’t as big as it is in Detroit but it looks like he will be able to cover that ground again. He’s got his speed back and he looks fine in the outfield and at the plate.”

In 2012, Jackson is hitting .321 in the majors with 29 runs and 17 RBI. He has also hit five home runs and walked 20 times while striking out 30 times in 140 at bats. That walk-to-strikeout ratio of 0.67 is a career-high, over double that of last season’s mark of 0.31.

In his time at Toledo, Jackson went 1 for 8 at the plate with two strikeouts and was caught stealing once in two losses for the Mud Hens to Charlotte. His time in the lineup, however, was more about testing his body to see if he was ready. That test included seeing his reaction to swinging and missing on a pitch, running down fly balls and attempting to steal a base.

“His first at bat was probably the most telling one for us,” Toledo head coach Phil Nevin said. “To start out the game and swing and miss a couple times with those obliques, those are the ones that are going to get you some times. To see him swing and miss and feel fine his next at bats, he looked fine to me. He ran after a couple balls in the outfield and reached for them. He looked fine.”

With Jackson returning to Detroit he was immediately inserted back into the leadoff spot on June 9 against the Reds. Despite going 0 for 4 at the plate, Jackson and the Tigers edged out Cincinnati 3-2, grabbing their second win in the last six games.

Tags: Adam Wilk, Austin Jackson, Detroit Tigers, Phil Nevin, rehab assignment, Toledo Mud Hens

This entry was posted on Monday, June 11th, 2012 at 2:06 am and is filed under Baseball, Mud Hens, Sports.
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After a brief stop in the major leagues, the Mud Hens’ designated hitter is back.

Brad Eldred returned to Toledo this week after being called up to play in five games for the Mud Hens’ parent organization, the Detroit Tigers.

“It was a good experience,” Eldred said. “My first game there was at Yankee Stadium so that was a good place to start out, just getting to enjoy the team and being with those guys. You just get to know some of those guys and get to be a part of the lineup of a really good caliber team.”

Eldred got the call up thanks to a pair of moves by Detroit. He originally was promoted to replace released infielder Brandon Inge and remained on the squad with the suspension of designated hitter Delmon Young. Eldred competed in five games for the Tigers, going 3 for 16 at the plate with one run and one RBI, striking out six times. He played in three games against New York and two against Kansas City.

For the 31-year-old Eldred, the promotion came as a bit of a surprise. For a minor league designated hitter who can play first base, looking up at a major league roster full of first base and designated hitter possibilities including Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder and Young was far from an ideal situation for an aspiring MLB player. With his success in Triple-A and Young’s suspension, however, he was able to get that shot.

“Did I really expect to get called up? Probably not,” Eldred said. “At the same time, I got a chance to play a few games and hopefully moving forward I will get a few more chances. You don’t know what is going to happen with guys getting hurt or traded so all you can really do is take care of your end of it by playing well so that if something comes up you get the chance to play up there.”

For Eldred, the promotion made the fourth year of his career he’s reached the majors and the first with Detroit. Eldred has previously reached MLB in 2005 and 2007 with Pittsburgh and again in 2010 with Colorado. He has a .203 career batting average in 276 at bats with 15 home runs, 34 RBI and 109 strikeouts.

Eldred’s promotion was just a matter of time after his play this season. The designated hitter leads the International League in just about every major category at the plate, including batting average (.350), runs (27), home runs (14), RBI (40), total bases (89), slugging (.890) and on-base plus slugging (1.295).

With those statistics, Eldred’s future in Toledo appeared to be in doubt after he was sent back to the minors. Since Eldred is out of minor league options, he needed to pass through waivers to return to the Mud Hens lineup. That gave each MLB team a chance to obtain his services, requiring that they pick up the remainder of his contract, which runs through the end of the year.

“It’s tough, you really don’t know what to expect,” Eldred said. “There’s got to be some sort of fit, injury or a team has to have a need. Plus it’s only a two- or three-day period and in that time frame no one was looking. It’s kind of a tough thing.

“At the same time, I really didn’t know I was going to be [in Detroit] either. You really can’t plan more than one game at a time. I know that’s one of those old sayings but that’s all you can really do because you don’t really know what to expect. You don’t know what plans they have for you so you just can’t look too far ahead because you might think one thing is the case but it’s really not.”

With no team claiming Eldred through waivers, Toledo will remain the benefactor of his hot hitting this season. Although head coach Phil Nevin expressed his disappointment, wishing to see his player remain in the majors, he is happy to see him back in a Mud Hens uniform.

“Once he’s in this uniform it makes us better without a doubt,” Nevin said. “Whenever a player comes back from the major leagues, is that good? You are disappointed for them. At the end of the day, when we get rolling and take the field the next day we are a better team [with Eldred], without a doubt.”

Although Eldred was disappointed he will not see any more major league action for the time being, he is also happy to be back in Toledo if he does have to play in the minors.

“If you are going to be in Triple-A, there’s not many other places, if any, that are as good as here — especially with the group of guys that we have,” Eldred said. “So far it’s been a lot of fun and we have a pretty solid team. I think it’s going to be exciting and it makes it more fun when you have a team that can put wins on the board with guys that go about their business the right way.”

With Eldred on board, Toledo is tied atop the IL with Indianapolis at 19-13. They also have a 6-2 record against defending two-time defending champion Columbus (17-15) in 2012.

Tags: Brad Eldred, designated hitter, Detroit Tigers, Mud Hens, Zach Davis

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 10th, 2012 at 4:00 pm and is filed under Baseball, Mud Hens, Sports.
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After battling an early season injury, Detroit Tigers infielder Brandon Inge returned to the Mud Hens for a series against Louisville this week as part of his rehab stint.

In three games of action for Toledo, the 12-year veteran went 1 for 9 at the plate with one run and three walks.

“I just needed to test my injury to make sure that I could cover anything that could be thrown at me in the big leagues,” Inge said. “Everything that possibly could have happened happened here, so that was perfect.”

Inge was placed on the 15-day disabled list after an injury on March 30 after suffering a strained left groin in the preseason. He used the time in Toledo to help test his injury before returning to Detroit’s roster on April 14.

“It felt great,” Inge said. “Injury is pretty much healed. I maybe feel it a little bit but nothing that can keep me from playing.”

The Mud Hens had lost three of their first four games of the season before Inge arrived, but despite his lack of offensive production, the team’s fortunes changed. Toledo won all three games Inge played in and has moved to second place in the International League West at 4-3.

“That [winning streak] is good,” Inge said. “That’s a good atmosphere for the boys here and hopefully they can run with it.”

Inge was the designated hitter in his first game before moving to second base in his last two, where he is expected to play in Detroit. After the Tigers’ acquisition of prized free agent first baseman Prince Fielder in the offseason, Inge’s spot at third base was taken due to former first baseman Miguel Cabrera’s move to third.

Detroit is off to a 5-1 start and is 1.5 games ahead of second place Chicago in the American League Central Division. The Tigers are just one of three teams in baseball with one loss or less and the only team from the American League.

“I just play hard and have fun,” Inge said. “That’s all you can do. Just give the best effort you can every single day so that win, lose or draw you know that you put your best effort out there. That’s what I bring every day, and it seems like that’s what they are doing as well, too.”

Tags: Brandon Inge, Detroit Tigers, International League West, Miguel Cabrera, Mud Hens, Prince Fielder, Zach Davis

This entry was posted on Saturday, April 14th, 2012 at 2:23 pm and is filed under Baseball, Mud Hens, Sports.
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In front of 12,000 fans at Fifth Third Field, the Detroit Tigers topped the Mud Hens 8-3 on April 4 in an exhibition matchup. The game was the first between the Tigers and their Triple-A affiliate in the past 12 years and all proceeds are to be donated to charity, with half going to the Detroit Tigers Foundation and half to Helping Hens Foundation.

“Boy, what a beautiful day and a neat atmosphere. It was just a perfect day for baseball,” Toledo head coach Phil Nevin said. “It was a special day for the city, without a doubt. I know everybody has looked forward to it for a long time, and I don’t think it disappointed. You couldn’t have asked for a better day outside and there was a great crowd. They saw some big league guys for a while, it was a really neat day.”

Tigers first baseman Prince Fielder, taken by Jason Mack

Detroit’s high-powered offense, which finished fourth in baseball with 787 runs last season, showcased its newest addition in slugging first baseman Prince Fielder, who signed a nine-year, $214 million deal in the offseason. The Tigers’ major hitters, including Fielder (0 for 1, R) and Miguel Cabrera (1 for 2, R, RBI), played the first few innings before giving way to their backups. That starting unit propelled Detroit to a 6-1 lead in the first three innings.

The Tigers’ starting lineup racked up a combined nine hits in 20 at bats, scoring seven times while driving in six. Delmon Young (2 for 2, 2 R, RBI) scored a pair of runs while Ryan Raburn (1 for 3, R, 2 RBI) drove in two. Catcher Alex Avila (2 for 2, RBI) also notched a pair of hits with a run batted in.

“There’s no doubt about it, on paper they are as good as it probably gets,” Mud Hens first baseman Ryan Strieby said. “They are going to be a tough team to beat, that’s for sure.”

With the victory, Detroit extended their lead in the all-time series — but not by as much as you might think. The Tigers historically lead the series by an 11-9 margin, and there have also been two ties.

A combined 46 players entered the game, including 27 from Detroit. Among those on the Tigers who have previously played in Toledo are Brennan Boesch (OF), Andy Dirks (OF), Don Kelly (UTIL), Rick Porcello (SP), Ryan Raburn (OF), Ramon Santiago (2B) and Danny Worth (3B)/

Porcello got the start and allowed three runs on seven hits and lasted just 4.2 innings. He gave way to Wilsen Palacios, who shut down the Mud Hens, giving up just one hit in 4.1 scoreless frames.

For Toledo, leadoff hitter Quintin Berry (3 for 5, R) led the way offensively with a game-high three hits. Third baseman Audy Ciriaco (1 for 3, R, RBI) had a run and an RBI for the Hens while Strieby (1 for 4, RBI) also drove home a runner.

Fu-Te Ni earned the loss after being tagged for six runs on nine hits in 2.2 innings against the Tigers’ starting lineup. Other than Luke Putkonen, who gave up two runs in an inning of work, five Toledo relievers combined for 5.1 scoreless innings: Brooks Brown, Matt Hoffman, Brayan Villarreal, Austin Wood and Jose Ortega.

The game was the preseason finale for both teams. Detroit will host the Red Sox in their season opener at 1 p.m. April 5 while Toledo will host the Indianapolis Indians at 5 p.m. April 6.

See more photos from the game in our Facebook gallery.

Tags: Detroit Tigers, Detroit Tigers Foundation, exhibition, Helping Hens Foundation, Phil Nevin, Toledo Mud Hens, Zach Davis

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 5th, 2012 at 10:06 am and is filed under Baseball, Mud Hens, Sports.
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For the first time since 2000, the Detroit Tigers are coming to Toledo.

The Mud Hens will host Detroit in an exhibition game at noon April 4 at Fifth Third Field with proceeds set to go to charity. Half will go to the Detroit Tigers Foundation and the other half to the Helping Hens Charitable Fund.

The meeting will mark the first exhibition game between the Tigers and Mud Hens since they played at Ned Skeldon Stadium in Maumee on June 1, 2000. The game is scheduled to be broadcast on FOX Sports Detroit.

Such exhibition games between a parent club and its affiliate team are rare, said Tigers’ director of minor league operations Dan Lunetta.

“These types of games are a rarity anymore; clubs now oftentimes go to a major league venue to conclude the spring training portion of the schedule,” Lunetta said. “It’s not a common occurrence.”

Although the practice of minor league teams hosting their major league affiliate has become uncommon, it was not always that way.

In fact, as part of the affiliation agreement between Major League Baseball and its minor leagues, the parent company used to be required to play its Triple-A club in an exhibition or pay the club $10,000. Around 2000, however, that rule was negotiated out of the agreement and the game became optional, leading to the 12-year hiatus since the Tigers have been to Toledo.

“Over the years, [Tigers general manager] Dave Dombrowski, Dan Lunetta and I have always had conversations about the possibility,” said Mud Hens President and General Manager Joe Napoli.? “The Tigers are kind of in a tough spot because everyone would love to host a Tigers exhibition game, including other communities, Double-A, Single-A and rookie ball clubs. All those cities would love to have them, too.”

In order to bring the Tigers to town, Napoli made an offer they couldn’t refuse. He suggested Toledo host the game and the teams could split the proceeds between their respective charities.

“That was the deal-maker,” Lunetta said. “Even absent of that, we most likely would have still scheduled the game, but when Joe made that proposal to us, that really allowed us to say, ‘Let’s play the game this year.’ What a wonderful thing to do for the charitable organizations that will benefit from the game.”

“They got back to us and said they loved the idea,” Napoli said. “That’s the notion that persuaded the Tigers to consider it and we can’t be more thankful. The Toledo community has responded in outstanding fashion, as they always do, so we are going to have a huge crowd and as a result over time there will be many charitable organizations that will benefit from the net proceeds.”

The exhibition game is set for the day before Detroit’s season-opener at home at 1 p.m. April 5 against the Boston Red Sox. The Tigers will travel to Toledo by bus and will take batting practice prior to the game, which will be open to the public.

That type of exposure to Detroit’s fans in Toledo is exactly what Lunetta and the Tigers are looking to bring.

“When you have your Triple-A club located so close to your major league club, there is going to be a natural strong fan base because of the close proximity,” Lunetta said. “At least now with the exhibition game, it gives the fans the opportunity to see the club live in a one-time game.”

The game will also give some fans the opportunity to see players they once watched play in a Mud Hens uniform.

Among the Tigers’ 40-man roster, 19 have played in Toledo: Al Alburquerque (pitcher), Duane Below (pitcher), Brennan Boesch (outfield), Phil Coke (pitcher), Andy Dirks (outfield), Brandon Inge (third base), Don Kelly (utility), Luis Marte (pitcher), Victor Martinez (catcher), Andy Oliver (pitcher), Rick Porcello (pitcher), Ryan Raburn (outfield), Ramon Santiago (second base), Max Scherzer (pitcher), Daniel Schlereth (pitcher), Jacob Turner (pitcher), Brayan Villarreal (pitcher), Adam Wilk (pitcher) and Danny Worth (third base).

“There’s no question there are going to be guys that played for Toledo that most likely will never see Toledo again,” Lunetta said. “I’m sure it presents some nice memories for them.”

Another connection is Tigers manager Jim Leyland, a native of Perrysburg. Leyland’s son, Patrick, was drafted by the Tigers in 2010.

The Tigers and Mud Hens have the fifth-longest affiliation between a major league team and its Triple-A affiliate, behind the Atlanta Braves/Gwinnett Braves (1966), Kansas City Royals/Omaha Storm Chasers (1969), Boston Red Sox/Pawtucket Red Sox (1973) and Chicago Cubs/Iowa Cubs (1981). The Tigers and Mud Hens joined forces in 1987.

“We have a tremendous long-standing relationship with the Toledo Mud Hens,” said Tigers President, CEO and General Manager David Dombrowski in a news release. “This exhibition game gives Mud Hens fans an opportunity to see the Tigers at Fifth Third Field, which is one of the finest ballparks in all of minor league baseball.”

With it having been 12 years since the Tigers last came to Toledo and no word when the next meeting between the two squads might be, Tigers fans who want to see their team play at Fifth Third Field may be waiting a while if they cannot get tickets to this year’s game.

“There are no guarantees this will happen again,” Napoli said. “The Tigers were gracious enough to do it and we as a community are lucky enough to have the timing work out where they have a fantastic team. We are talking about arguably three of the top 10 players in the game being on the Tigers with Prince Fielder, [Miguel] Cabrera and [Justin] Verlander. How often does that happen? We are incredibly excited.”

Season ticket holders were given the first opportunity to purchase tickets before about 1,000 tickets were offered to the general public on Jan. 7, selling out within 15 minutes, said Erik Ibsen, assistant general manager of tickets and operations. A limited number of standing-room only tickets, which went on sale starting March 3, are left for the game, he said.

The Mud Hens will follow up the game with its home opener on April 6 against Indianapolis at 5 p.m., kicking off a three-game weekend series with the Indians.

Tags: Dan Lunetta, David Dombrowski, Detroit Tigers, Joe Napoli, Toledo Mud Hens

This entry was posted on Saturday, March 31st, 2012 at 6:36 pm and is filed under Baseball, Mud Hens, Sports.
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Down in Lakeland, Fla., the boys of summer actually start arriving prior to the onset of spring and have been doing so since 1934.

Detroit Tigers' Prince Fielder waits on deck to bat against the Minnesota Twins March 21 during a spring training baseball game in Lakeland, Fla. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Save for three seasons during World War II, when the team played its spring ball in Evansville, Ind., Lakeland has been the spring training home for the Detroit Tigers, a relationship that’s in its 76th season, the longest between a major league team and a spring training city.

Tigers fans from across the country flock to Tiger Town each spring to take in the historic atmosphere surrounding Joker Marchant Stadium.

“Every day, you come across people that this has been something they’ve wanted to do their whole life is come to Joker Marchant Stadium and see a game, or come to Tiger Town and just see it,” said Ron Myers, the Tigers’ director of Lakeland operations, who started as an intern with the organization in 1981.

“The exciting part is to see how many people know about this place, and it’s always been on their list of things to do. Once they see it, they feel it, they experience it, you can see the smile on their face, and I think any time I see that, it just makes you feel pretty special.”

‘Smokeless factory’

In Lakeland, the Tigers represent more than just a professional baseball team to check out each spring. Since Detroit first started playing spring ball at Henley Field in 1934, the organization has became a fixture in the community.

“We’re a smokeless factory in the community,” Myers said. “And our job is to produce major league players.”

“The real magic, I think, to the Lakeland and Detroit relationship has been the longevity,” said Bill Tinsley, who serves as liaison to the Tigers and is manager of community resources development for the City of Lakeland. “Jim Campbell as the [former] president and CEO for the organization had a great relationship with the parks and recreation department and other city officials.”

Tinsley has worked for the City of Lakeland since 1971 and became the city’s parks and recreation director in 1993 prior to his current position. With more than 40 years of experience, he has seen the relationship between Lakeland and the Tigers grow into what it is today.

“The Tigers have been engaged in the community since their inception here, or their first arrival here, back in the days when they came in on a train,” Tinsley said. “The Chamber of Commerce and the city have recognized their value to the community and the contributions here. They used to meet them at the train and carry their bags to the hotel downtown that they stayed in back in the early years.”

As times have changed and baseball has evolved over the last century, so has Detroit’s relationship with Lakeland. What used to be an eight-week spring training process is now a yearlong courtship between the city and the Tigers.

“Now, 12 months out of the year the Tigers have a presence in the community with operations and activities that are going on,” Tinsley said. “They’re engaged, and the facility operates as a great sports revenue source. We call it our ‘smokeless factory,’ if you will, in that there is a tourism element that is 12 months out of the year with teams coming in and everything from college to high school to amateur sports, pro sports and activities that are going on that the Tigers are playing host to.”

Mutual respect

The common thread between Lakeland and the Tigers in their 76 seasons together is a mutual respect for the other.

“It’s just something that if we all walked in the same room together, if nobody had a logo on, you wouldn’t know who worked for the City of Lakeland or the Detroit Tigers,” Myers said. “It’s an all for one, one for all. It’s a relationship that’s very hard to describe because it’s so good.”

For Tinsley, that level of respect for the Detroit organization has come from the way the Tigers front office has treated city officials.

“They have always treated us — Dave Dombrowski, Al [Avila] — these are folks that treat us as partners and equals, not as in service to them,” Tinsley said. “There is a reasonableness that’s brought to our relationship, an understanding of the economics that we have.”

According to Tinsley, the nature of that economic situation is that all the facilities in the state of Florida are managed, run and owned by either municipal or county government, except for Disney. The Tigers, he said, have brought a give-and-take nature to their relationship with Lakeland and stay true to their word.

“If you’re looking for what really is the key to the sustainability of an organization, it’s having excellent business people that whatever they say, you can take it to the bank,” Tinsley said. “And that’s the open, honest relationship we’ve had from the Tiger organization, from the owner down to the people in the front office.”

That mutual respect at the top has had a trickle-down effect to the many players Myers and Tinsley have seen over the years, including Toledo’s 2011 Pitcher of the Year Duane Below.

“From here in Lakeland to every level, everybody’s been great,” Below told Toledo Free Press from Lakeland, where he was spring training with the Tigers.

A native of Britton, Mich., Below was drafted by Detroit in 2006 and has worked his way up the ranks of the organization, from Single-A ball to competing for a spot in the rotation with the Tigers.

“They want you to succeed,” Below said. “They help you in any way they can, and I think that goes a long way to say for (Michael) Ilitch (owner of the Detroit Tigers) in hiring the staff that he has.”

Lakeland has been such a special place that several Detroit players either keep a residence there or call it home, including star pitcher Justin Verlander.

“These guys learn to love this city because quality of life has always been important in our city,” Tinsley said. “No small part is the contribution that’s made by the Tigers’ residence here.”

The early years

Since the time Clare “Doc” Henley and the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce approached the Tigers in 1933 about making the city their spring training destination, making the Detroit organization and its players feel at home has been a priority for the city and its parks and recreation department, which maintains the Tiger Town facilities.

“Our parks and recreation department, we’re so proud of them,” Tinsley said. “They do have almost a sinful pride in the complex, in its history. I don’t think you can plan well without taking a good look back.”

Detroit’s early years in Lakeland were spent at Henley Field, a 1,000-seat ballpark that saw the likes of Al Kaline, Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth and Ted Williams in its heyday. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997 and is still used by Florida Southern College and Lakeland High School.

In 1966, the Tigers began playing at their current spring training home, Joker Marchant Stadium, named after Lakeland’s former Parks and Recreation Director Marcus Thigpen Marchant, who went by “Joker” and played a vital role in making sure Detroit was taken care of in Lakeland.

With an original seating capacity of 4,900, Joker Marchant Stadium has undergone several expansion and renovation projects to bring the ballpark up to date. Including the estimated 1,000 lawn seats on the berm, the stadium now has an approximate capacity of 9,000.

“The city has just been great in bending over backwards to make sure that our facilities don’t take a backseat to anybody even though our age is a lot more than some of the newer complexes being built,” Myers said.

Among the criteria discussed when considering any upgrades to Joker Marchant Stadium and Tiger Town are player development and fan enhancement, the latter of which was brought to the table by Tigers’ President and General Manager Dave Dombrowski, Tinsley said.

“Our leadership has been able to focus on the big picture and view and recognize that $35 to $40 million of economic impact — our stimulus that comes from having a major league team spring train in your city — are real dollars that are vested into your community,” Tinsley said.

Development of Tiger Town started in the 1950s at the location where the Lodwick School of Aeronautics and Lakeland Municipal Airport once stood.

Sprawled over 85 acres and home to both the Tigers and their Class-A advanced affiliate, the Lakeland Flying Tigers, Tiger Town features a three-story dormitory, cafeteria, recreation hall and administrative building, making it both a historically unique and comfortable facility for players to train.

“The city officials, the city manager Doug Thomas, going all the way back throughout the years, the city has been a great supporter of ours,” Myers said. “They understand what a great relationship this is, along with the county. So we have a city, the county, that are these great backers of our organization. It’s just been a great relationship all the way around.”

Keeping it going

Neither party sees an end to the historic relationship between Lakeland and the Tigers in the foreseeable future.

“I was not in every discussion that’s taken place over the 76 years, but I can tell you the relationship between the Detroit Tigers and the City of Lakeland and Polk County would be hard to be replaced,” Myers said.

The team’s current contract with Lakeland expires in 2016, but Tinsley said he doesn’t think anybody on either side wants the relationship broken.

“The way that you do that and keep that from happening is keep surprises out of the relationship,” Tinsley said. “Open, honest communication exists, and then future planning to anticipate needs before they become emergency needs that can’t be taken care of. So we’re always looking at ‘How are we going to improve ourselves and make ourselves better and stay on top?’”

Not to mention he and Myers have had a lot of fun at their respective jobs over the years.

Myers, who grew up in Michigan with a college baseball coach for a father, has had baseball in his blood since he was a bat boy for his dad as a child. He has cherished the opportunity to work with the many players he’s seen over the years, including Verlander, Below, the longest-tenured Tiger in fan favorite Brandon Inge and Michigan native John Smoltz.

“There’s too many to name,” Myers said of memories created over the years. “Every day, I consider it a blessing. I’ve had a great career. I enjoy what I do. I mean, I could go for days as far as [memories go], and I’d leave one out and that would probably be better than the next one. I’m very grateful, and I’m very lucky to have the position that I have.”

Tinsley, meanwhile, has formed friendships with many Tigers over the years and has taken great pride in showing them what Florida has to offer, from fishing and wild hog hunting to catching an alligator with Bo Schembechler’s son.

“I will tell you I love the people that I’ve met and have learned to appreciate that although they are big celebrities on the national front, many of these folks one-on-one, they’re good people,” Tinsley said. “I’ve just met so many quality people through that relationship that it’s just been a gift to me.

“I hit the job lotto 42 years ago.”

Tags: Bauman's Breakdown, Bill Tinsley, Detroit Tigers, Duane Below, Henley Field, Joker Marchant Stadium, Lakeland, Mike Bauman, Ron Myers, spring training, Tiger Town

This entry was posted on Saturday, March 31st, 2012 at 2:18 pm and is filed under Baseball, Bauman's Breakdown, Sports.
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