Joe Halstead's Texas Rangers Fan Profile

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Detroit Tigers fan and blogger.

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Mount Pleasant

Who am I?

I am an avid fan of the Detroit Tigers, who feels the need to flood the public square with my opinions now and then.

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Joe Halstead's Weblog Posts


Halstead: Leave Ozzie Guillen Alone posted on 04/13/2012

I'd like to know who thinks that the United States shoiuld be described as a place where someone's unpopular opinion should cost that someone thousands of dollars.

Honestly, who believe that this is how our great country should be? No one?

I only ask this question because this is exactly what is happening to Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen.

Guillen expressed admiration for Cuban dictator Fidel Castro because of Castro's staying power amidst numerous assassination attempts, a decades-long embargo and enormous political pressure from Cuban dissidents abroad, most notably in southern Florida.

My God, hide the kids and bolt the doors- someone said something unpopular!

I could, at this point, expound on the possibility that Guillen was being slightly facetious. We might ask Guillen, for example, if Castro has been good for Cuba, or if Cubans should love Castro, or if other nations' leaders should emulate Castro's model of leadership. Surely, Ozzie Guillen would not answer in the affirmative to any of that.

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The Detroit TIgers Must Approach This April Like the Playoffs posted on 04/06/2012

It is said- and correctly so- that while a pennant may not be won in April, a pennant may be lost in April.

On this note, the Detroit Tigers have immediate cause for concern. Their early schedule- in the month of April alone- includes two more games against Boston, a three-game home series with the Tampa Bay Rays (April 10-12), a four-game home series against the American League Champion Texas Rangers (April 19-22) and, just to pour a bucket of salt water over the wounds incurred, a three-game series in the Bronx Apr. 27-29.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland is known for using his entire roster liberally. OFers Clete Thomas and Andy Dirks, and 2Bmen Danny Worth, Ramon Santiago and, eventually, Brandon Inge, might see significant playing time.

But, should they?

The Tigers made substitutions in the 2011 post-season out of necessity. They were beat up, and running out of players. Luckily, some of those substitutes stepped up in a big way, such as UT Don Kelly and Santiago.

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The Detroit TIgers Scratch Out Gutsy Win on Opening Day Versus Boston Red Sox posted on 04/05/2012

It's really refreshing to see the Detroit Tigers win on national televison. Aside from September's telecasts last year, the Tigers usually play just poorly enough to remind ESPN and Fox National to stop carrying Tigers games.

Not so on this chilly but sunny- and sold out- Thursday afternoon.

Justin Verlander cruised along on the strength of a devastating back-door curve ball, mixing in his fastball mostly to keep hitters honest or to get a two-strike count. According to MLB Network's Mitch Williams, Verlander never topped 94 mph.

Cruise control- 8 innings pitched, zero earned runs, 2 hits, 7 strikeouts and a walk. The MVP has returned, although he earned a no-decisoin. Interestingly, it was closer Jose Valverde who notched the win, after blowing his first save opportunity of the 2012 season. Valverde was perfect in 49 save opportunities last year, and in 3 opportunities in the playoffs.

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This Year's Detroit TIgers Will Not Repeat 2008 posted on 04/04/2012

Detroit Tigers fans are justifiably too excited for words about the Tigers' prospects for the 2012 season.

The Tigers added Prince Fielder to an already-strong core comprised of superstars Justin Verlander and Miguel Cabrera. RF Brennan Boesch is back, and will play right field every day. Up and down the lineup are dangerous, powerful hitters like the aforementioned Boesch, as well as SS Jhonny Peralta, C Alex Avila, LF Delmon Young and even 2B Ryan Raburn- hitters who should do well to complement the explosiveness of Cabrera and Fielder.

Then, there is the Tigers bullpen, featuring returnees such as closer Jose Valverde and setup man Joaquin Benoit. Joining them will be journeyman Octavio Dotel and youngster Colin Balestar, whose spring training performance suggests that he left his control problems behind when he was traded from the Washington Nationals to the Tigers.

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Detroit TIgers Place Inge On 15-Day DL, Defer Final Cut For a Week posted on 04/03/2012

Second baseman Brandon Inge has been placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to March 30th. That means he'll be eligible to play on April 14th against the Chicago White Sox in Chicago. 

Non-roster invitee Drew Smyly, the young left-hander who won the fifth spot in the Detroit Tigers rotation this spring, is not yet on the roster. He'll start the season with the Triple A Toledo Mud Hens. The Tigers will carry 11 pitchers until Smyly's start comes up. RHP Al Alburquerque, you'll remember, won't be back until somewhere around the All-Star Bfreak, at the very least. 

The end result of all of this is that OFers Clete Thomas and Andy Dirks are both on the active roster for Opening Day. However, one of them will have to go to Triple A when Smyly makes his first start, or when Inge returns, whichever happens first. Likely, Smyly will join the team first. Moreover, since it now appears clear that the Tigers are committed to using Inge in the last year of his contract, 2B Danny Worth will be bumped to the minors.

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