Let's Watch the World Series!

Hey, everybody.  I suppose I'd be in Saint Lewis right now, freezing my ass off in one of those outfield seats they set aside for the press at an MLB Jewel Event--that's what Major League Baseball calls the Championship Series', the World Series and the All Star Game when you apply for credentials: "Jewel Events"--but I'm here all warm and dry in the rumpus room getting ready for the first pitch and that isn't all bad.

Just between you and me, and I know this is going to sound awful, but there is a part of me (a little, tiny part but a part nonetheless) that is not unhappy that the Tigers didn't advance.  The first two rounds of the playoffs flat-out wore me out.  I don't know what it is, but covering a playoff game is approximately a magnitude of difficulty greater than covering your run-of-the-mill Championship season game.  I was getting to the ballpark around 2pm for an 8:30 start and leaving around a quarter after two the following morning.  Then I'd be up and on the air talking about it at 6.  I can honestly tell you that last Friday, the day after Game 5 of the ALDS, I was as tired as I had ever been, professionally speaking.

On the other hand, I hate that I am not there to see history being made, which is what the Series is all about.  All in all, I would have preferred that the Tigers had advanced.  And you know what?  After Cabrera hit that ball off of third base to turn a for-sure double play into an RBI double, sparking Detroit's game-winning rally last Thursday to send the ALDS back to Texas, I was sure that what I had seen was an omen, something we'd look back on for as long as there was Tigers baseball and point to it as the exact moment the 2011 Detroit Tigers became a team of destiny.

But, not to be, and now the Tigers have gone from being a team of destiny to being a team in the half-off bin.  To wit...

WHAT:         Postseason Merchandise on Sale at The D Shop

WHEN:         Now – End of Month
                The D Shop Hours: Monday-Friday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

WHERE:         The D Shop - located at Comerica Park on the corner of Witherell Street and Montcalm Street
               
WHY:         Beginning today, all Tigers fans will receive fifty percent off all postseason merchandise at the D Shop. Items available for purchase include the 2011 AL Central Division Champions T-Shirts, AL Central Division Champions Caps, Official Clubhouse T-Shirts and Official Clubhouse Caps. Other items available include Comerica Park exclusive pennants and decals as well as commemorative baseballs and pins. The offer is only valid for postseason merchandise and while supplies last.

CONTACT:         The D Shop at (313) 471-2673.

Oh, well.  As least there's good deal to be had out of all of this.  

What I am going to do now is peruse tonight's game notes for interesting World Series tidbits, and then I'll be back to pass them along.  

DVR "Suburgatory" and "Modnern Family" and "Countdown" and all your other favorite shows, the World Series is about to begin!

This is the 107th World Series, did you know?  And there is this.  One of the two major leagues has a big lead in the all-time World Series, series.  Do you know which one? THE AMERICAN LEAGUE has the overall lead in the World Series, 62-44, but the National League has won three of the last five with wins by the Cardinals in 2006, the Phillies in 2008 and Giants in 2010. Since the Yankees won three straight World Championships from 1998-2000, the two leagues are knotted at 5-5 in the Fall Classic.  However, over a longer span in the World Series, the A.L. hastaken nine of 15 since 1996; 12 of 19 starting 1991; and 17 of 28 times beginning 1983. (Courtesy, Major League Baseball).

Also from MLB: Tonight’s Game 1 calls for a cool and cloudy forecast, with a  projected 47 degrees game-time temperature, according to Weatherbug.com as of 11:00 a.m. today.  The 47-degree start would be the second coldest game-time temperature for a Game 1 of the World  Series since temperature stats were kept starting in 1975. The coldest Game 1 was a recorded 41 degrees at game time in 1979 at Baltimore, October 10 against Pittsburgh. Update:  The official game time temperature is 49 degrees.

On this date (October 19):  In 2004, the Boston Red Sox force a Game 7 in the  ALCS against the Yankees, with Curt Schilling and his surgically repaired ankle guiding Boston to a 4-2 victory, their third straight win after being down 0-3 in the series;