10/29/2006

Cards' winning strategy? Hit the ball to the pitcher

By Jeff Peek
Staff writer

Well, that was a nice little punch in the stomach.

It was also embarrassing.

And humiliating.

Think Jim Leyland is second-guessing himself, wondering if maybe he should have started Kenny Rogers in Game 5 of the World Series?

Rogers might not have pitched any better than Justin Verlander did in Friday's 4-2 loss — which, by the way, clinched a title for the St. Louis Cardinals. But the suspected Smudge-gate conspirator might have at least been able to throw the baseball to third with more accuracy than a Little Leaguer.

Errors, errors and more errors — a record-setting number, in fact.

The Tigers needed just seven short days to turn a feel-good season of entertaining baseball into a horrible reminder of the 12 years that preceded it.

Somehow when we weren't looking, the ghosts of ugly seasons past returned to haunt every Detroit fan who ever dreamed of a World Series championship.

I think I saw Chris Holt pick up a bunt and throw it over the head of Craig

Paquette ... and Eric Munson boot a grounder before

firing the ball past A.J. Hinch ... and Gene Kingsale slip in the outfield, allowing a double to sail past him to the wall.

For the love of Hiram

Bocachica, can anybody here play this game?

That week off before the Series started was about as helpful as a boat in the

Sahara. The Tigers sat so long they lost every bit of momentum they gained in wins over the Yankees and Athletics.

But hey, let's give credit where credit is due. Not only did St. Louis get some key hits — David Eckstein reached base more times in one game than Pudge Rodriguez and Placido Polanco did in the entire Series ... combined! — but the Cardinals only fell down once when the Tigers threw the ball away. And that time didn't really count because the umpire awarded Scott Rolen home anyway.

It's pretty sad when Tony LaRussa's pregame speech sounds like a pre-school teacher talking to her students before recess.

"OK, everyone, make sure your shoes are tied. Now, just hit the ball to the pitcher, and the Tigers will do the rest. Any questions?"

Once upon a time — a whole week ago — the Detroit Tigers were favored to kick the living daylights out of the Cardinals, who barely finished above .500 during the regular season.

But after playing some of their worst baseball of the year, the Tigers and their fans had to endure the ultimate insult. Jeff Weaver — one of the team's castoffs, a player they privately labeled a cancer — was the winning pitcher in the Series-clinching finale.

Ouch.

It's enough to bring Gary Knotts and Willie Blair out of retirement.