Opening Day and Why People Are Idiots

I heard Mike Valenti say on the radio on the way back up to MSU after the game "On Opening Day, the last thing I'm worried about is the game." Honestly, this really can't be more true. The mood in Comerica Park wasn't really focused on how these guys were going to start competing with Jason Grilli being the top option out of the pen, or what was happening in Cleveland at the same time.

Instead, more important issues like where the planes were during the fly-over, where the quickest bathroom line was, and who the hell is Clete Thomas were on the minds of Tiger fans. In other words, the kind of issues that usually follow 45,000 drunken people gathered together in one area.

Downtown Detroit was crawling with people, the rain was holding off, there was baseball being played, and the excitement of a winning season was palpable in the air. It was great to be in attendance for those first six innings that the Tigers held the lead. But, when Verlander left the game with two runners on and Grilli coming in, no one really minded. When those runs scored and the Tigers fell behind, everyone kind of shrugged (exception: when Guillen tied things up in the eighth, the place went nuts). And when the lead was gone for good and the game was over, everyone kind of shrugged and smiled because baseball had started again.

However, the type of fan that the Tigers are attracting now are truly baffling me. People were shocked, SHOCKED, that Granderson was not starting. Edgar Renteria was drawing the ire of the fans near me for not getting a home run or something equally impressive during his first at-bat. Brandon Inge got the loudest ovation of the Tiger starters (read that sentence over again).

Listening to the post-game radio show, people started questioning Jim Leyland's tactics in the final few innings. Why put in Thomas? Why make Inge bunt? Why bat Renteria lead off? What was he thinking, what was going on, oh God, the season is over already.

Here are the answers- Thomas was in because Leyland trusts him, and that should be all the reason we need. Look at his plays in the field and the double he hit as proof. Inge bunting with Thomas on second was the savviest call to make - guy on third, one out instead of the (especially with Inge) more probable runner on second, one out. Oh, and Renteria is batting lead-off because he's a proven professional hitter that today's 1-5 performance doesn't reflect at all.

(Rant beginning)
The on-going obsession with Brandon Inge among the casual fanbase stuns me as well. Through the whole ordeal of looking to move him, he's been bitching that he won't do certain things and that he wants out. If he wasn't being paid so much money to do such a shitty job (major leaguers making Inge's money don't hit .250), then maybe you'd be starting at third base some where, Brandon. Instead, do your job and shut up and enjoy that fat wad of cash in your wallet. Miguel Cabrera has something Inge doesn't - a Gold Glove. However, when he makes an error on his first play, the cries of "Inge would have made that play!" suddenly start coming out of the woodwork.
(Rant Over. To Inge's credit, his throw from centerfield to nail a runner at the plate in the 11th was awesome.)

The only downside of today's game for me was the realization of the team's worst fears - late game collapses. Only one earned run for the pen today, but Grilli did a great job of serving up a fat pitch to John Buck to score the tying run and Bobby Seay allowed the run to make it 4-3. Neither was earned, but those are the runs the bullpen has to prevent. Denny Bautista looked a bit shaky at times, but for the most part looked good. The hit to score the winning run was off an at-bat that he battled and battled and got a good pitch hit. Nothing he can do there.

Just one game out of 162. No reason to worry yet, just be happy to have baseball back.