The Republican party is making hay on something of a familiar note: hitting Detroit while its down. Several GOP leaders and conservative commentators, Newt Gingrich and Glenn Beck among them, are citing Detroit as exactly what happens when Democratic leadership rules for long periods of time.
Are such criticisms fair? When an area becomes so dependent on a single industry, as Detroit had been relying on the automotive industry for so long, then it is natural that when the one suffers the other must. Further, such things as the Interstate Highway System cut through many viable neighborhoods during the 1960s and led many to leave town. For these and other reasons, it arguably an overstatement to blame all the city's woes on its leadership.
Yet that cannot excuse areas where leadership has failed Detroit and Detroiters. Indeed it is rather simplistic to see an area suffer without consideration of how its politics may have contributed to the decline. Think what you want of him, but Coleman Young did not exactly help the situation. His bluster and confrontational style surely did not attract outside help. Kwame Kilpatrick, well, we know what being Mayor meant to him, and he is paying the price of his own arrogance. As a result, when we get decent Mayors such as Dennis Archer and Dave Bing, we ought not be surprised at the uphill battles they have faced.
Is it coincidental that our Mayors have been Democrats? That our Council has been ruled by Democrats for decades? Does anybody even know who was the last elected Republican to win a Detroit elective office? And would they have been swallowed by their loyal opposition regardless? That Detroit offices are held as nonpartisan matters not one whit. We know to whom they pledge their loyalty.
That the troubles with Detroit may ultimately have sprung from multiple reasons of varying effect is fair to consider. But while we cannot say that some of the city's problems were wholly of her own making, we cannot absolve Detroit leaders of the role they played. That they were overwhelmingly Democrats must mean something. It is pretty obvious that such meaning has not been lost on the rest of the state, nor the nation in general.
Showing posts with label Baseball. Jim Leyland. Detroit Tigers.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Baseball. Jim Leyland. Detroit Tigers.. Show all posts
Monday, May 23, 2011
Thursday, March 31, 2011
The National Pastime begins a New Season
Baseball is continuity. Pitch to pitch. Inning to inning. Game to game. Series to series. Season to Season.
- Ernie Harwell
No, those are not the usual words with which Mr. Harwell used to inaugurate a new baseball season. Yet they serve as a reminder, in this first full season without him, that the game goes on. Even the great ones such as Ernie Harwell recognize and love that aspect of the game. It is always with us in a way in which the other major sports simply are not.
The 2011 season begins today. That continuity which he spoke about goes on. That triumph of Americana begins again. The first pitch will come today in many areas, tomorrow in others, but it comes. The Boys of Summer are here, and no doubt Ernie has the best seat in the house.
Play ball!
- Ernie Harwell
No, those are not the usual words with which Mr. Harwell used to inaugurate a new baseball season. Yet they serve as a reminder, in this first full season without him, that the game goes on. Even the great ones such as Ernie Harwell recognize and love that aspect of the game. It is always with us in a way in which the other major sports simply are not.
The 2011 season begins today. That continuity which he spoke about goes on. That triumph of Americana begins again. The first pitch will come today in many areas, tomorrow in others, but it comes. The Boys of Summer are here, and no doubt Ernie has the best seat in the house.
Play ball!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
A Leaner Detroit may Not Be So Bad
Can Detroit turn a loss into a long term gain? that is the question being asked now that the Census figures are out, showing the Motor City's population is now less than what it was in 1910, an entire century ago.
The numbers are being disputed in certain corners, yet that really isn't particularly important. It doesn't take a brain surgeon to see that the City is way down from its both recent and extended past. The simple fact is that, with a few exceptions in areas of town which seem more oases than anything else, where a commitment to neighborhood has stayed in place, as folks have found greater prosperity they've a dying Detroit.
Indian Village, Woodbridge, Corktown, Old Redford; these and a few other areas are strong because the people there believe in them. That's something that a government can't really ensure, a government at any level. True, it can help by providing the stability of services which make neighborhood possible. It can make sure there is adequate police protection and that the trash gets picked up. On the whole, Detroit has had questions about those and other areas of legitimate public function for years.
Things appear brighter now, what with hip hop mayors out of the way and a serious respected local hero is running the show. Detroit can survive; she will simply have to do it with fewer numbers. Yet there is a strength in that. It should be easier to service the city with less to service. Ultimately, all we can do is hope and pray, and for those of us still here, keep the faith. In the end, that's all that accomplishes anything worth doing.
The numbers are being disputed in certain corners, yet that really isn't particularly important. It doesn't take a brain surgeon to see that the City is way down from its both recent and extended past. The simple fact is that, with a few exceptions in areas of town which seem more oases than anything else, where a commitment to neighborhood has stayed in place, as folks have found greater prosperity they've a dying Detroit.
Indian Village, Woodbridge, Corktown, Old Redford; these and a few other areas are strong because the people there believe in them. That's something that a government can't really ensure, a government at any level. True, it can help by providing the stability of services which make neighborhood possible. It can make sure there is adequate police protection and that the trash gets picked up. On the whole, Detroit has had questions about those and other areas of legitimate public function for years.
Things appear brighter now, what with hip hop mayors out of the way and a serious respected local hero is running the show. Detroit can survive; she will simply have to do it with fewer numbers. Yet there is a strength in that. It should be easier to service the city with less to service. Ultimately, all we can do is hope and pray, and for those of us still here, keep the faith. In the end, that's all that accomplishes anything worth doing.
Friday, February 18, 2011
We Are All Role Models
Miguel Cabrera, the first baseman for the Detroit Tigers, has been arrested on a charge of drunk driving. This is the second incident in about a year and half which involves the slugger and alcohol. It also brings forth a myriad of questions.
Is he sick? What kind of help does he need? If he needs help and is willing to accept it, he should of course get it. Yet we must be careful about calling a problem with alcohol a disease. That kind of thinking can very easily be used to assert that he has no personality responsibility with regards to what he drinks. The man may need help, but he cannot be written a blank check on his actions either.
What should the Tigers do about the situation? Well, again, help him if he will take it. Some question whether he should be suspended from the team. That should not be ruled out. Like it or not, a star of Cabrera's caliber more than many other given individual owes something to the organization he represents, and to the fans. He is a role model and must be made aware of that. He is called to act better, and nothing less than that.
The fact is that we are all role models to one degree or another. Athletes, fairly or not (and we are wont to argue fairly) are held to higher standards, are judged by higher values than the majority of the people. They should be, because they are a form of hero, whether they want to be or not. It is difficult to imagine that that hero worship is not in truth sought by the modern athlete. as such, he cannot claim no obligation in return towards the ones who look up to them.
Hopefully Mr. Cabrera will work all that out, for his own good as much as the for the good of people who know and admire him. Perhaps this latest escapade will remind of him of who he really is, and help him to live to that standard more fully and completely.
Is he sick? What kind of help does he need? If he needs help and is willing to accept it, he should of course get it. Yet we must be careful about calling a problem with alcohol a disease. That kind of thinking can very easily be used to assert that he has no personality responsibility with regards to what he drinks. The man may need help, but he cannot be written a blank check on his actions either.
What should the Tigers do about the situation? Well, again, help him if he will take it. Some question whether he should be suspended from the team. That should not be ruled out. Like it or not, a star of Cabrera's caliber more than many other given individual owes something to the organization he represents, and to the fans. He is a role model and must be made aware of that. He is called to act better, and nothing less than that.
The fact is that we are all role models to one degree or another. Athletes, fairly or not (and we are wont to argue fairly) are held to higher standards, are judged by higher values than the majority of the people. They should be, because they are a form of hero, whether they want to be or not. It is difficult to imagine that that hero worship is not in truth sought by the modern athlete. as such, he cannot claim no obligation in return towards the ones who look up to them.
Hopefully Mr. Cabrera will work all that out, for his own good as much as the for the good of people who know and admire him. Perhaps this latest escapade will remind of him of who he really is, and help him to live to that standard more fully and completely.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Note to Detroit: Salt the Roads!
As we demand more and more of our federal government (a habit we must break before we break ourselves) we tend to lose sight of what the proper role of government is at any level. This past weekend's winter storm in Detroit offers a great lesson in what we ought to expect of our local leaders.
Why is it that certain suburbs manage to do a decent job of clearing the roads while the largest city in the region can't get a handle on the task even two days after the blizzard has gone? A ride out Warren Avenue from the Wayne State University district, through the west side into Dearborn Tuesday morning should have raised the ire of any native Detroiter. The street conditions ranged from half bad to positively treacherous. There was no evidence of salt, and the best stretches of road were where it had the most direct sunlight. Yet the instant Warren arrived in Dearborn it was quite clear.
The trip brings back memories of the bad storms a decade ago which had the movers and shakers behind the North American Auto Show murmuring about taking the gala from Detroit if the city could not provide such basic services as clearing the highways and bi-ways efficiently. It would seem that that should have been lesson enough, yet here ten years later we are still faced with poor road conditions well after the storm has passed.
While the situation in our fair city is surely difficult, it yet begs the question of who has responsibility for the relatively simple task of getting the roads plowed and salted. If our local government cannot step to the plate and do what it should do quickly and well, it is rather galling to demand more from an entity a thousand miles away who is, or should be, naturally enough, concerned with bigger things. Detroit needs to get its act together and give citizens the local services their tax dollars merit. Until we can get satisfaction from the government powers closest to us, it is inane to think we can get better from those farther away.
Why is it that certain suburbs manage to do a decent job of clearing the roads while the largest city in the region can't get a handle on the task even two days after the blizzard has gone? A ride out Warren Avenue from the Wayne State University district, through the west side into Dearborn Tuesday morning should have raised the ire of any native Detroiter. The street conditions ranged from half bad to positively treacherous. There was no evidence of salt, and the best stretches of road were where it had the most direct sunlight. Yet the instant Warren arrived in Dearborn it was quite clear.
The trip brings back memories of the bad storms a decade ago which had the movers and shakers behind the North American Auto Show murmuring about taking the gala from Detroit if the city could not provide such basic services as clearing the highways and bi-ways efficiently. It would seem that that should have been lesson enough, yet here ten years later we are still faced with poor road conditions well after the storm has passed.
While the situation in our fair city is surely difficult, it yet begs the question of who has responsibility for the relatively simple task of getting the roads plowed and salted. If our local government cannot step to the plate and do what it should do quickly and well, it is rather galling to demand more from an entity a thousand miles away who is, or should be, naturally enough, concerned with bigger things. Detroit needs to get its act together and give citizens the local services their tax dollars merit. Until we can get satisfaction from the government powers closest to us, it is inane to think we can get better from those farther away.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
The end of the season
Today marks the end of the home baseball schedule for the Detroit Tigers. My family and I will take in the closer as we almost always have in the last 25 years or so. I think the only one we missed would have been during the 2006 season, when the Tigers made the World Series and it was simply impossible to make the last home game then, for obvious reasons such as inflated cost and heightened demand for tickets. Plus, when the playoffs are involved, you really don't know when the last game will be.
So, we will bundle up as it's only supposed to make it to 61 degrees by game time and watch the game. I made what may end up being a mistake by purchasing tickets on the first base side so that we would be in the shade fairly early, which only now means we'll be colder than if we were in a sunny area. Unpredictable Michigan weather; it was in the mid to high 80s just a couple of days ago and now we see lows in the forties and highs barely breaking the fifties. Go figure.
There is always a bit of sadness when baseball ends. Baseball is America's Game, no matter what those pigskin spikers claim, as evidenced in part by its having virtually no competition during the summer months among the major sports. It is the only game tightly associated with the American Spirit: individual prowess with team play and cooperation each having their stage within the game.
Today we bid it adieu in our part of the country, and begin the all too familiar wait until next year cries. Because that too is part of the charm of the sport. Next year is never really all that far away.
So, we will bundle up as it's only supposed to make it to 61 degrees by game time and watch the game. I made what may end up being a mistake by purchasing tickets on the first base side so that we would be in the shade fairly early, which only now means we'll be colder than if we were in a sunny area. Unpredictable Michigan weather; it was in the mid to high 80s just a couple of days ago and now we see lows in the forties and highs barely breaking the fifties. Go figure.
There is always a bit of sadness when baseball ends. Baseball is America's Game, no matter what those pigskin spikers claim, as evidenced in part by its having virtually no competition during the summer months among the major sports. It is the only game tightly associated with the American Spirit: individual prowess with team play and cooperation each having their stage within the game.
Today we bid it adieu in our part of the country, and begin the all too familiar wait until next year cries. Because that too is part of the charm of the sport. Next year is never really all that far away.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
August in Detroit
The Detroit Tigers, after treating their fans to several days in first place and a bit of pennant fever, have tanked. That's Detroit in August.
The Detroit Lions, the continually woeful NFL team and only franchise in the League for more than 40 years to have not have even appeared in a Super Bowl, lose their exhibition opener pitifully. That's Detroit in August.
The University of Michigan football team faces stiff penalties for possible violations of NCAA rules. That's August in Ann Arbor, which is close enough to count as Detroit.
The comic strip Cathy, a drawn out one joke story drawn and written by someone local to Detroit, Cathy Guisewite, has after 34 years announced that it will end its run in October. That's August in Detroit.
We were blessed with the announcement that attorney Geoffrey Fieger will run for mayor of or fair city in 2013. That's August in Detroit.
At least now we understand why so many youngsters look forward to the start of school at this time of year. It's a distraction from reality. A reality a little bit to real.
That's August in Detroit. Too real. It's a good thing native Detroiters are strong enough to handle it.
Hopefully, anyway. Mommy!
The Detroit Lions, the continually woeful NFL team and only franchise in the League for more than 40 years to have not have even appeared in a Super Bowl, lose their exhibition opener pitifully. That's Detroit in August.
The University of Michigan football team faces stiff penalties for possible violations of NCAA rules. That's August in Ann Arbor, which is close enough to count as Detroit.
The comic strip Cathy, a drawn out one joke story drawn and written by someone local to Detroit, Cathy Guisewite, has after 34 years announced that it will end its run in October. That's August in Detroit.
We were blessed with the announcement that attorney Geoffrey Fieger will run for mayor of or fair city in 2013. That's August in Detroit.
At least now we understand why so many youngsters look forward to the start of school at this time of year. It's a distraction from reality. A reality a little bit to real.
That's August in Detroit. Too real. It's a good thing native Detroiters are strong enough to handle it.
Hopefully, anyway. Mommy!
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Our Next Hizzoner?
Well, we native and lifelong Detroiters can now rest easy. Geoffrey Fieger is running for Mayor in the 2013 elections.
That announcement brings warmth to the hearts of us all. Or something akin to that. Warmth, after all, can be brought by from many sources. But let's say that we're all afire with excitement over the thought of Mr. Fieger becoming our next Mayor.
It just about assures the re-election of current Mayor Dave Bing. He ain't exactly Mr. Excitement, as Fieger has said, but the City of Detroit isn't really in a position for much more excitement. Kwame Kilpatrick has just about drained the excitement from us. We need our quiet time.
Detroit has been a laughingstock for long enough. We really don't need your help. Mr. Fieger. We seem to do a good enough job of providing laughs for the rest of the world as it is. Kindly save your jokes for the courtroom.
That announcement brings warmth to the hearts of us all. Or something akin to that. Warmth, after all, can be brought by from many sources. But let's say that we're all afire with excitement over the thought of Mr. Fieger becoming our next Mayor.
It just about assures the re-election of current Mayor Dave Bing. He ain't exactly Mr. Excitement, as Fieger has said, but the City of Detroit isn't really in a position for much more excitement. Kwame Kilpatrick has just about drained the excitement from us. We need our quiet time.
Detroit has been a laughingstock for long enough. We really don't need your help. Mr. Fieger. We seem to do a good enough job of providing laughs for the rest of the world as it is. Kindly save your jokes for the courtroom.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
No Big Hits
The Tigers lost last night in about the most frustrating fashion in which they could: in 12 innings, after having opportunities in the 9th and twelfth innings to blow the game part. With runners on third in each frame and only one out, no one could come up with the hit, or even the fly ball, which might have changed the outcome.
Fernando Rodney never should have pitched in the last inning either, but who knows what Manager Jim Leyland thinks? All we really can count on is that this will go down as one of the lousiest seasons in team history. How can you let a seven game lead in early September slip away? The word choke comes quickly to mind, but I doubt that explains it fully. The Minnesota Twins put on one tremendous late season charge, at one point winning 11 out of 12; that's hard to defense.
A lot of questions remain to be addressed: does Leyland overmanage? Do we give up too much offense with Laird, Everett, and Inge at the bottom of the order despite their good to great defense? Where will we find the rest of the starting rotation next year?
Sadly, we have all winter now to contemplate them. Baseball breaks your heart...
Fernando Rodney never should have pitched in the last inning either, but who knows what Manager Jim Leyland thinks? All we really can count on is that this will go down as one of the lousiest seasons in team history. How can you let a seven game lead in early September slip away? The word choke comes quickly to mind, but I doubt that explains it fully. The Minnesota Twins put on one tremendous late season charge, at one point winning 11 out of 12; that's hard to defense.
A lot of questions remain to be addressed: does Leyland overmanage? Do we give up too much offense with Laird, Everett, and Inge at the bottom of the order despite their good to great defense? Where will we find the rest of the starting rotation next year?
Sadly, we have all winter now to contemplate them. Baseball breaks your heart...
Friday, June 26, 2009
I'm Becoming a Curmudgeon: Part Six in an Everlasting Series
Overmanaging! I am sick and tired of it. I am especially sick and tired of how everybody seems to think that stupid thoughts and actions are actually good thoughts and actions simply because it has been drilled into their minds that they're in truth genius despite themselves. Yet overmanaging still reigns supreme in baseball.
Jim Leyland, the overmanager of my Detroit Tigers, overmanages with rapacity. Wednesday night he used six pitchers in a nine inning game. Two of them only pitched to one batter. Then, in the bottom of the ninth with his closer on the hill and in trouble (shocking!), he has only one relief pitcher left. What would have happened if the Cubs had tied the game? This is not long term thinking or big thoughts, folks. And I don't care that it worked: that could just be plain old dumb luck. Either way, simply because you got the best result doesn't mean you should have done whatever you did the way you did. You can race across the freeway at rush hour and perhaps make it safely to the far side. You were still stupid to do it. So again: six pitchers in a nine inning game? Outside of a bizarre series of injuries, that is silliness on a grand scale.
Still, in comes the closer in yesterday's game, because of course you simply must have a closer because...you need a closer, darn it, and the guy gets a save despite giving up a home run and a double. He has an earned run average of over four runs per game, yet he's our star reliever because he's designated the closer. What a vaunted position in the parliament of fools!
They need to tighten up the save rule: it is easily the most overrated statistic in baseball. The winning run ought to be on deck in order for you to earn a save; or you should have to pitch at least three innings while preserving the lead for the starter to get one. As it is, anybody ought to be able to get three outs with a three run lead at the top level of play. They get a statistical credit for that? It's a useless measuring stick.
Overmangers need to get rid of the situational left hander. Some guy gets two million a year just because he has a left handed delivery simply so he might have to pitch to one left handed batter in a game? Stupid, overthinking strategy, and nothing more. How much difference can in make? One in five thousand? A fresh arm of major league quality ought to be able to get out any given major league batter most of the time. Why this inanity over extremely slim statistical chances?
Stop overmanaging and let the players play the game, Jim. And Tony and Ozzie and Mr. Torre too. Baseball would go faster without all the unnecessary delays, and you would still be thought godsends so long as you team wins. Which it can, if it's any good, without all the hoopla over inconsequential overthinking.
Jim Leyland, the overmanager of my Detroit Tigers, overmanages with rapacity. Wednesday night he used six pitchers in a nine inning game. Two of them only pitched to one batter. Then, in the bottom of the ninth with his closer on the hill and in trouble (shocking!), he has only one relief pitcher left. What would have happened if the Cubs had tied the game? This is not long term thinking or big thoughts, folks. And I don't care that it worked: that could just be plain old dumb luck. Either way, simply because you got the best result doesn't mean you should have done whatever you did the way you did. You can race across the freeway at rush hour and perhaps make it safely to the far side. You were still stupid to do it. So again: six pitchers in a nine inning game? Outside of a bizarre series of injuries, that is silliness on a grand scale.
Still, in comes the closer in yesterday's game, because of course you simply must have a closer because...you need a closer, darn it, and the guy gets a save despite giving up a home run and a double. He has an earned run average of over four runs per game, yet he's our star reliever because he's designated the closer. What a vaunted position in the parliament of fools!
They need to tighten up the save rule: it is easily the most overrated statistic in baseball. The winning run ought to be on deck in order for you to earn a save; or you should have to pitch at least three innings while preserving the lead for the starter to get one. As it is, anybody ought to be able to get three outs with a three run lead at the top level of play. They get a statistical credit for that? It's a useless measuring stick.
Overmangers need to get rid of the situational left hander. Some guy gets two million a year just because he has a left handed delivery simply so he might have to pitch to one left handed batter in a game? Stupid, overthinking strategy, and nothing more. How much difference can in make? One in five thousand? A fresh arm of major league quality ought to be able to get out any given major league batter most of the time. Why this inanity over extremely slim statistical chances?
Stop overmanaging and let the players play the game, Jim. And Tony and Ozzie and Mr. Torre too. Baseball would go faster without all the unnecessary delays, and you would still be thought godsends so long as you team wins. Which it can, if it's any good, without all the hoopla over inconsequential overthinking.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
