Tag: Detroit Tigers

Lions’ Penei Sewell tosses out first pitch for Detroit Tigers home opener

Detroit Lions lineman Penei Sewell earned the honor of tossing out the first pitch for the Detroit Tigers home opener

Last year brought plenty of reasons for celebration for the Detroit Lions. They clinched their first division title, made a formidable push in the playoffs, and secured numerous All-Pro and Pro Bowl selections. As the draft approaches, the Lions are poised to bolster their roster with key additions to complement an already robust core, aiming to silence any lingering doubts about the legitimacy of their previous season’s success and address any unfinished business.

One standout player who has captured the hearts of fans since being drafted by the Lions in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft is Penei Sewell, a cornerstone of the team’s resilience and formidable presence, which has elevated the Lions’ offensive line to among the league’s best. Despite being just 23 years old, Sewell serves as a vocal leader for the squad, rallying his teammates with his boundless energy and unwavering spirit.

Given his infectious attitude and uplifting demeanor, it was a natural choice when the Detroit Tigers invited Sewell to throw the first pitch at their home opener. With the Tigers off to a strong 5-1 start to the season, anticipation is high as they prepare to take on the Oakland Athletics at Comerica Park. With Sewell in attendance, his presence is likely to inject an extra dose of energy not only into the players but also the fans, creating an electric atmosphere for the game.

We have seen this before with the Detroit Red Wings, who brought Lions like Aidan Hutchinson, Ben Johnson, and Jameson Williams to ring in the game by setting off the goal horn. Each of them brought them luck as the Red Wings went on to win each of those games.

Will Sewell be able to bring in the same luck for the Tigers for the home opener? Just have to wait and see, but I’m sure the energy is electric for some afternoon baseball.

The Tigers’ Jason Foley threw 3 unhittable 100-MPH sinkers with so much movement

These pitches are RIDICULOUS.

The Detroit Tigers have a serious pitching weapon in Jason Foley, and if you didn’t know about him before — he had a 2.61 ERA in 70 games last season — you need to now.

Foley closed out the Tigers’ 1-0 win over the Chicago White Sox, and in the process, he threw some serious heat with movement, a combo we’ve seen in pitchers like Jordan Hicks. This dude throws a sinker in the triple digits, which is just wild and very unhittable.

Check this out and tell me what you do with this. I’ll tell you, I’d be fooled by these every single time.

Every Major League Baseball team’s best promotional giveaway in 2024

What is the best giveaway your favorite MLB team is doing in 2024?

The Tigers’ Andrew Chafin had the most hilarious response to a long interview question

This was SO FUNNY!

There is no shame here for Jason Benetti, the reporter who asked the always entertaining Detroit Tigers pitcher Andrew Chafin about his slider, some “mental issues,” and then cleaning up his pitches, all in one breath.

But Chafin’s response to that query was too good. The pitcher had this to say: “You said a whole lot right there and I couldn’t remember exactly what you said.”

There was another question about building stuff, and Chafin was even funnier: “I can build whatever you want, bud, just give me the tools.”

Check it all out below, including the full three-minute interview with Benetti:

Andre Lipcius traded ahead of 2024 MLB season

Former Vol Andre Lipcius traded ahead of the 2024 MLB season.

Former Vol Andre Lipcius was traded from Detroit to the Dodgers on Monday.

“The Los Angeles Dodgers have acquired infielder Andre Lipcius from the Detroit Tigers for cash considerations,” Los Angeles announced. “In order to make room on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers transferred left-hand pitcher Clayton Kershaw to the 60-day injured list.”

Lipcius played for the Vols from 2017-2019 and was an All-American. He was selected by Detroit in the third-round (No. 81 overall) of the 2019 MLB draft.

Lipcius appeared in 169 games, including 168 starts, at Tennessee. He recorded a .300 batting average, 25 home runs, 126 RBIs, 122 runs, 190 hits, 37 doubles, two triples, 90 walks and 21 stolen bases for the Vols.

The former Vol made his Major League Baseball debut with Detroit on Sept. 1, 2023.

Saul Young/USA TODAY Network

Jason Benetti joining the Detroit Tigers’ booth is the latest gut-punch for White Sox fans

The White Sox keep finding new ways to torture their fans

All summer long on the South Side of Chicago, the cries for Jerry Reinsdorf to sell the White Sox grew louder and louder in the very literal sense.

The latest decision to let beloved play-by-play man Jason Benetti go should make those cries even louder.

The sentiment has been there for years, of course, but beginning with the ill-fated decision to hire his old pal Tony La Russa to guide the team’s equally ill-fated rebuild to the finish line, chants of “Sell the team!” had become as much of a tradition at Guaranteed Rate Field as the seventh inning stretch or fireworks after home runs.

Fans paid for billboards outside the park and flew banners inside it demanding Reinsdorf just give it up already. The 87-year-old seems to have taken that as a challenge.

You think you have it bad, now? You think our decision-making is problematic? Just wait.

Here’s your new general manager, Chris Getz, a man who failed so poorly at developing a farm system for the White Sox that he could only fall up.

Don’t like that? Don’t worry, Getz is poaching from the Kansas City Royals — the only franchise more woebegone than Chicago in the American League Central — to advise him.

Still not done complaining? Ok, say goodbye to Tim Anderson. We’ll dump him without even trying to learn if his bad 2023 was an aberration or see if there’s trade interest for him at any point next year. Dylan Cease is on the block, too.

The war of attrition took a drastic turn on Thursday morning when the team announced Benetti is leaving to join the booth of the rival Detroit Tigers.

Benetti is a born-and-raised South Sider. A man who grew up rooting for the White Sox and someone who instantly engaged fans with intelligent discussion, silly antics and fun brain teasers that made tuning into games worth it — even when there was no reason to care about the players on the field.

When Hawk Harrelson retired, landing Benetti felt like a godsend. He was the complete opposite of a broadcaster who had become more catchphrase than person. Someone who revived Steve Stone in the analyst seat next to him and proved the former Cy Young winner could still have fun at the ballpark. Benetti knew, above all else, the show was not about him and yet he still found a way to elevate every major moment.

The final outs of no-hitters thrown by Lucas Giolito and Carlos RodĂłn immediately come to mind. So do the less extraordinary accomplishments throughout the season, like when another Luis Robert Jr. robbery in centerfield was met with “Outrageous, 88!”.

Even spring training games were worth tuning into when Benetti was on the call. As his national profile grew stronger with gigs calling college football and basketball, the Olympics and ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball, it was impossible not for Sox fans to feel a sense of pride.

“He’s ours.”

Now, he’s theirs. A damn Detroit Tiger.

How much worse can it get for Chicago? The limit does not exist.

Hell, at a sports business conference in Los Angeles, Reinsdorf got up on stage admitted the best strategy was to just be decent until September to keep fans coming out. He ranted about being at the mercy of the “dumbest” owners around the league who had the audacity to spend money on quality players.

If we’re being completely honest. the clock is ticking on Reinsdorf’s tenure whether he sells or not. He’s 87, remember.

The real shame of it is that when that day does come, when the Sox broadcast clicks on for the first time without Reinsdorf occupying the owner’s booth, they’re going to want to have someone with heart summarize the highs and lows, the World Series and rebuilds and the muscle of Reinsdorf on those few days when he did care.

No one was better suited for the job than Jason Benetti.

Miguel Cabrera had to borrow Spencer Torkelson’s glove and turned it into an epic gift after final MLB game

A passing of the torch in the coolest way.

Sunday’s game between the Tigers and Guardians had no playoff implications with both teams out of contention on the final day of the season. But the game still meant so much to Detroit as it was the last time future Hall of Famer Miguel Cabrera would play in a big-league game.

And his send-off at first base couldn’t have been scripted any better.

Cabrera had not played in the field at all this season as the full-time designated hitter, but when the eighth inning came around, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch inserted Cabrera into the game at first base. There was just one issue: He didn’t have a glove.

Spencer Torkelson then offered his glove to Cabrera for the cameo at first, and Miggy didn’t have to wait long at all to get some action in the field.

On the second pitch of the inning, Steven Kwan hit a sharp grounder to first that Cabrera fielded with no problem and stepped on the bag to a massive ovation. Hinch then subbed Cabrera out of the game there to give him a proper send-off from the fans.

When it came time to return the glove to Torkelson, Cabrera turned it into an incredible signed gift.

What a gesture and what a day for baseball. Fans loved everything about the moment for Cabrera. I don’t think Torkelson will mind getting a new glove given the circumstances.

Andre Lipcius records two-hit performance against Royals

Former Vol Andre Lipcius records two-hit performance against Royals.

Detroit defeated Kansas City, 7-3, Thursday at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan.

Former Vol Andre Lipcius stared at third base for the Tigers. He was 2-for-3, recording one run and one walk.

The former Vol was a third-round selection by Detroit in the 2019 MLB draft (No. 83 overall).

Lipcius played third base and shortstop for Tennessee from 2017-19 and was selected to the SEC All-Freshman team in 2017.

He became the third Vol during the Tony Vitello era to debut in Major League Baseball, joining Garrett Crochet (2020) and Ben Joyce (2023).

Vitello has served as the Vols’ head coach since 2018.

Detroit will next play Friday, beginning a three-game series against Cleveland.

First pitch is slated for 6:40 p.m. EDT at Comerica Park.

Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports 

Tigers fans gave Miguel Cabrera a fantastic standing ovation ahead of his MLB retirement

This was an awesome gesture for retiring Miguel Cabrera from Tigers fans.

It’s the final week of MLB legend Miguel Cabrera’s storied career, and Detroit Tigers fans gave him a hero’s welcome as he embarks on his closing stretch at Comerica Park.

As Cabrera stepped up to the plate in his team’s Tuesday night tilt with the Kansas City Royals, Detroit fans gave him a standing ovation to recognize all that he’s meant to the franchise since arriving in 2008.

He’s a franchise legend for the Tigers, and this is how you welcome a franchise legend home before he begins his well-earned retirement.

Kudos to all the fans at Comerica Park for ringing in this special moment for Cabrera.

This is exactly what you want to see for Cabrera as he continues with his final week in the MLB.

He should get all of his flowers, and he’ll certainly have a grand farewell in the Tigers’ last game against the Cleveland Guardians in Detroit on Sunday.

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The careless, frugal A’s messed up with their wine retirement gift for Miguel Cabrera in every way

Miguel Cabrera may have preferred non-alcoholic champagne.

Future Hall of Fame slugger Miguel Cabrera is nearing his retirement from the MLB and he is receiving some love in his final professional games.

It’s not uncommon practice to provide something nice for a legend before they transition into retirement. The Guardians gave him a custom guitar as a nod to the nearby Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, for example.

On Thursday night, meanwhile, the A’s honored Cabrera with a cabernet sauvignon from Caymus Vineyards. It was nice of the team to honor the 12-time All-Star and two-time AL MVP. But a little more thought may have gone a long way.

Cabrera spent three months in an outpatient treatment program to focus on getting sober in 2010. He faced legal issues due to his drinking in 2009 and again in 2011.

When the Tigers won their division in 2012, out of respect for his sobriety, the team made sure to have non-alcoholic champagne available. Still, though, Cabrera excused himself from the celebration.

As recently as last year, when he recorded the 3,000th hit of his career, he celebrated with a glass of non-alcoholic champagne. The A’s really could have used just an extra second of research to make sure they respected his sobriety.

Oakland, however, isn’t the only team to make this sort of mistake. The Marlins (where he played from 2003 until 2007 and where he won his only World Series) got Cabrera a bottle of rum.

Houston got a bottle of wine for Cabrera as well but at least that one was a touch more personal as it was from the vineyard that Astros manager Dusty Baker owns.

The A’s (almost predictably) didn’t have as much to offer in the mindfulness department. If you were wondering if this is some kind of vintage wine that could have value, the results show that he could have gotten his hands on his own at the same size from the same year for around $90.

Now, if your buddy got you a bottle of well-reviewed $90 wine, that is pretty generous. But remember: The A’s are worth over $1 billion!

In fairness to the organization, though, it’s not like they are spending a ton of money on their own players either. They currently have the lowest payroll in the MLB and Cabrera has a yearly salary that is more than 50 percent of the entire books for the A’s.

For what it is worth, the bottle was autographed by the team. But it is unlikely how much that would actually increase the value of the present. It isn’t exactly exciting to have the signatures of a team that is more than 30 games below .500 and the worst record in the MLB.

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