Tigers Baseball!!

Yes, it's true that the Tigers have really blown it since the All Star Break, and are in great danger of not making the playoffs. But that's OK! We bought our tickets early in the spring, and we went to see them play the NY Yankees on Friday night, August 24. We got to the park at like 4:30, for a 7:00 game, and wandered around some, having a quick dinner in Greektown, then I even played a little craps at the Greektown Casino. (Side note: I hadn't played craps since my brother and I went to Aruba with his company like four years ago, but I somehow thought I would still be some kind of expert. Well it turns out I didn't remember any of the rules, and it reminded me that when I played in Aruba A) We were drinking and B) I had an expert at my side in Tim Schowalter at pretty much all times.) Anyway, I got through it and walked out up just over $40 (high roller, baby!!). After that it was time for the game!

D'OHH! On the way over it started to rain. Then it really, really, really started to rain. We figured they'd call the game, but little did we know the night we were in for... we hung around with the masses trying to stay dry before finally going to Tigers store, which was indoors and air conditioned (and we had to wait in a line, in the rain, just to get in). We got out of that around 8:30, still with no idea if they would play. So we headed over to Hockeytown to hang out there, keep cool, and watch the sports channels to see what was happening. I mean, at this point there was not one word at the ball park, no announcement, no clue as to what was happening. So we left Hockeytown at about 9:30, when we saw on TV that they were taking the tarp off the field. Play ball, right? Not quite. By the time we got back to the ball park and found our seats, they were actually putting the tarp back on the field. So now what? We pretty much just hung out with nothing to do, until finally they made the first announcement of the night: The game would start at 11:06 PM. So now we know. We stayed of course, and found some good club chair seats on the main level (that's almost a story in itself), and watched a great ball game with a lot of offense. But at the end of nine innings, it was tied! And it was just past 3:00 AM Saturday morning. I sort of insisted that we leave at that point, but in my defense I had a big day in Holland Saturday, with several couples coming out to the lake, their kids, a big dinner, etc. And while it was only 3:00 AM, we still had the 2 hour plus drive. So we left, and in the end Guillen hit a three run, walk-off homer in the 11th inning. Should we have stayed? Sure I guess, but I got home at 5:30 AM as it was. I got about three hours sleep, then it was time to face the day Saturday... (see next post!)