Dates: 9/7/06- 9/10/06
Result: LWLL
Record: 76-69
Overall impression: Getting shutout in the last game seems fitting, since the Tigers seem to be on their way to being shut out of the playoffs. Brutal September so far (4-6), and a shame considering the opportunity they had. Remaining schedule alternates between awful teams (KC and the White Sox) and first place teams (Toronto).
Division: 3rd place, 9.5 games back
Wild Card: 4.5 games back
AL Picture:
1) LA
2) Min/Tor
3) Tor/Min
WC: Oak/NY tied
In the hunt: Cleveland, Detroit (but chances are slim now)
NL Picture:
1) NYM
2) Ari
3) Hou
WC: Phi
In the hunt:
LAD
Slipping away:
Florida
This is a pivotal series!
Situating the Tigers:
Record: 70-62
Division: 4.5 games back of Twins, .5 back of Indians
Wild Card: 4 games back of Yankees, behind Indians and As.
This is also the last series before roster expansion. We'll get into September schedule after this series, but if the Tigers are going to make noise, it's now or never.
Result: Series win! WLW
Pitchers: Rogers, Miner + bullpen, Bonderman
Good: Rogers steadies the ship in game one, leading to win. Bullpen solid. Ichiro has homer and triple. Bonderman solid outing in game three
Bad: The Miner/Ledezma tandem can't handle the Yankees and the offense doesn't do much in game two, meaning that at best the Tigers break even as far as the WC standings go.
Heading into September, here's the breakdown:
Record: 72-63
Division: 5.5 games back, as Minnesota's gotten hot
Wild Card: 3 games back of New York
AL Picture:
1) LA
2) Toronto
3) Minnesota
WC: NY
In the hunt:
Cleveland
Detroit
Oakland
NL Picture:
1) NYM
2) Arizona
3) Houston
WC:Philly
In the hunt:
LAD
Slipping away:
Florida
Cincy
Atlanta
August 21-24
August 17-20, 2006
Weird day:
Gym (air conditioning out, then power goes out while I'm in the hot tub)
Meijer (very quiet)
Wait for Levi bus
Franklin Public Library (Levi coupons and free book)
Lions Legend near library
T-Ball
Showtime (Spider-Man Across The Spiderverse)
This day just felt like an obstacle course. Lots of tarring on roads in Franklin plus Naomi either not listening or taking forever. Power goes out while at gym, so I'm not eager to go back on Friday.
August 14-16, 2006
Levi and Naomi,
I am your father
(sigh)
Father sounds so official
It sounds like a name for the non-fun times
"Dad" sounds fun
It's what I should be called
When we're all laughing and getting silly
You're into books right now
Where poop and diarrhea reign
Thank goodness they don't rain
My son and daughter, forgive me
I am learning on the job
And overreacting to your overreacting
Serves no greater purpose
I love being a dad
"Father" does sound like a job description
And sometimes it is a tough gig
Scrubbing out soiled underwear
Calming nerves after a fall
Guiding you through a change
Maybe sometimes "father" is necessary
To get to the times when I'm a dad
So it's not all bad.
August 7-9, 2006
Result:
Series win
Record: 63-52
Division: 1st
Overall feeling: Uneasy following sweep by Indians, but Twins series more encouraging
Playoff picture:
AL:
1- Angels
2- Blue Jays
3- Tigers
WC: Twins/Indians tie
NL:
1) Mets/Phillies
2) Diamondbacks/Dodgers
3) Astros
WC: Too muddled
Standings:
Tied with Twins for first place
Trends:
Got swept by Indians. This division is going to be very rough.
Next up:
A series with those Twins.
Current playoff picture:
AL:
1) Los Angeles Angels
2) Toronto Blue Jays
3) Minnesota/Detroit
4) Detroit/Minnesota
In The Hunt:
Cleveland
Oakland
New York
Baltimore
NL:
1) Philadelphia
A jumble for the rest of the spots
5.2 mile run
Oak Creek Library*
Home- Captain Underpants for the 4th time
Mall
45 minutes of cleaning up poop from carpet
*Was supposed to be playgroup, but rained out
Work
Stinky garbage can (yuck)
Library (movie night cancelled)
Watch Captain Underpants movie
NBA Finals- Nuggets beat heat
Levi is so excited about his last day of kindergarten. We're going to a smoothie place for lunch and then mini-golfing.
I'm managing my emotions better in front of the children and not being as easily provoked.That's leading me to enjoy them more than I could in the past and just observing them.
Levi is such a cool kid. He's kind and easygoing with his classmates and friends and gets along with Naomi so well. In the last year, he's gotten into chess and drawing and graphic novels (and even some non-graphic stuff).
Summer big dates:
Today- last day of school
Saturday- kick off tee-ball season.
June 18- Father's Day
June 19- Summer school starts
June 23- Summerfest
June 24- Shawano to Sam and Laura's cabin
July 1-3- John's cottage
end of July- summer school ends
August 12- Wisconsin Dells (and Steven and Deric!)
Let's go through the years that I remember the best:
2011: This was a pivotal year for me. Mom moved out of her place and into assisted living. April 30th into May 1st was the last time that Steven, Dad, Mom and I were in the same room at the same time. I also met Sarah for the first time on August 5th after chickening out of calling her the month before because I thought she was making fun of my glasses. Turns out she liked them. I told her I loved her in October. She told me she loved me on New Year's Eve.
I haven't blogged about my current OOTP season, which is a replay of the 2006 season with the Detroit Tigers. In real life, they lost the World Series in seven games to the St Louis Cardinals.Nearly halfway through the season, we're hovering near the .500 mark. Marcus Thames has been great offensively and the offense has been OK, but the pitching has not been consistent.
A trade was just completed that sends 3B Brandon Inge and SP Nate Robertson to Seattle for Ichiro and SP Jarrod Washburn. With a previous trade for Rich Aurilia, the Tigers were set at 3B and Inge wasn't getting at-bats.
Now, the starting lineup probably looks like this:
RF Suzuki
SS Guillen
DH Ordonez
LF Thames
3B Aurilia
C Rodriguez
1B Shelton
2B Polanco
CF Granderson
Or Suzuki could play CF with Ordonez in RF.
