Grand Rapids Griffins

Very proud of you wizards. You gave my dad, brother, and me an incredible run of games, not to mention what you did for our city.

Thanks, Griffins!

MVP: Thomas Tatar (leading goal scorer of AHL playoffs)

CONGRATULATIONS, CALDER CUP CHAMPIONS!

100 San Antonio

F/OT.

An all-time game. The Spurs were outscored 30-20 in the fourth quarter.

Manu went to the line with the Spurs up four, 28 seconds left in regulation. He made one of two to lift it to five.

James hit a 3-pointer to make a two-point game with 20 seconds left. Hope.

A Spurs snarf split another pair of free throws, opening the window by only upping the Spurs lead to 95-92.

*Ray Allen, “BANG” with 5.2s left from downtown to tie it 95-95, plus two ice FTs in OT after a steal from Manu with 2s left

*LeBron logged 50 minutes en route to a triple double with 32 points, including 18 in the fourth quarter and OT (fuck that headband)

*Tim Duncan scored 25 points in the first half, but just five for the rest of the game

*Bosh’s game-ending block (what balls) and block on Parker with 32s left

A let-em-play game that didn’t seem to go LeBron’s way whistle wise.

Miami has a game seven.

via 2013 NBA draft – Chad Ford Mock Draft 5.0 – ESPN.

ABC

9:00 PM ET

San Antonio Spurs vs. Miami Heat

Spurs lead best-of-seven series 3-2

*Game 7 if necessary will be in Miami Thursday night at nine on ABC

GO HEAT!

Truly unbelievable, but Max Scherzer went 10-0 as the sun set on a beautiful Michigan summer day. 1909 marks the last time a Tiger starter went ten and o.

The first inning got it going with a Miguel Cabrera two-run bomb to centerfield. Chris Davis answered the next inning with his solo shot to the same spot. The lead, 2-1, would be enough for this pitching staff in Detroit.

Max Scherzer and Drew Smyly kicked some snarf tonight. Max went 6 innings and struck out 10, the solo shot his only run allowed. He also got out of a bases loaded jam with a K. Smyly relieved 00Scherzer with a 5-1 advantage for the Tigers. He tossed three perfect innings, striking out three more Orioles.

We respect this city of Baltimore, but their starting pitcher hasn’t had an easy career, what with a 7+ ERA and 5 more earned in less than five innings today.

Omar Infante went 4-4 with a steal. Austin Jackson looked strong again, going 3-4 with an RBI and two runs. “Triple Crown” was also 3-4 and Jhonny Peralta hit 2-4 with an RBI and a run.

Tigers catcher Alex Avila was placed on the disabled list along with starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez. Avila was drilled in his wrist yesterday and regular back-up Brayan Pena replaced him in today’s game.

Tomorrow it’s the same teams at the same time, just Justin Verlander instead.

The Detroit Tigers can be voted for at mlb.com. All of our position players as well as a Home Run Derby Vote with Prince Fielder (reigning champ) and “Triple Crown” here http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2013/hrd/ballot.jsp.

July 15 on ESPN is the Derby in New York City, Shea Stadium (been there).

I saw Randy Johnson dominate the Mets http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN200408150.shtml in 8 and 1/3 innings with no runs, one walk, 5 hits, and 14 K’s while I was wearing my Johnson jersey.

Me

I remember him striking out the side swinging in the 6th and Mets first basemen Todd Zeile jawing at him as Big Unit sent him to the dug out. Amazing.

It’s game one of a three game series at home vs. the Baltimore Orioles.

7:08 PM ET is the expected start time on Fox Sports Detroit

HR’s: Torii Hunter (#300 career), Austin Jackson (both with one on)

W: Doug Fister (2 hits)

MINNY: 3 hits

Hunter’s late-inning double to the wall made it 5-2 before Joaquin Benoit recorded the final four outs.

NEXT: BALTIMORE BRING IT BACK (COMERICA PARK)

Tonight is the final game of the year at Van Andel Arena. I will be there with my dad and brother.

Game starts at 7:00 PM ET and is broadcast by WXSP for local TV – LET’S GET IT!

Rick Porcello threw seven innings and allowed no runs, no walks, and just three hits.

Drew Smyly was relieved from a jam by Joaquin Benoit in the 8th inning after catcher’s interference put runners on first and second base with only one out. Benny promptly struck out the next Twin and got the ensuing snarf to ground out.

“Implosion Train” Valverde strolled out for more Tigers torture in the bottom of the ninth in Minnesota. Leadoff batter Joe Mauer was given a 3-0 count, then was walked on 3-1. A miracle double play put us out of our misery, but not before Train hit the next batter on a 3-2 count. A called strike three ended the game.

WTF?

(Detroit Tigers starters have thrown 14 quality starts in a row and 19 out of their last 20.)

Target Field, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Today, 7:15 PM (ET)

Detroit

Tigers

Minnesota

Twins

@

Preview

Up five after three.

It was close, but Miami was on the edge all night as the dominant team since overcoming an early 15-5 hole.

Fuck the Spurs. Basketball is not meant to be lived or died by the three. Ask Charles.

The three is a deadly weapon, but use it right and respect it. Remember, there never was a three back in the day. Snarfs tried to get as close to the goal to score, like they do in soccer, football, hockey, and every fucking sport with a goal. Think about it.

LeBron James sat on the bench to start the fourth quarter. Dwyane Wade put on a clinic, outrebouding larger players and entering he-cannot-be-stopped mode. The lead was built to double-digits as James returned, refreshed. The pair plus Chris Bosh didn’t look back, with James and Wade scoring over 30 points apiece and the Heat winning 109-93.

The win was undeniably monumental for the Miami Heat, who tied the series 2-2.

James (15-25) Wade (14-25) (FGM-FGA)

Game Five: Sunday, San Antonio, Texas at 8:00 PM ET ABC

Game Six: Tuesday, Miami, Florida at 9:00 PM ET ABC

*Game Seven: Thursday, Miami, Florida at 9:00 PM ET ABC

There is just one problem: The guy charged with getting the last outs of games isn’t getting enough outs.

From ESPN Stats & Info: How Valverde blew the save:
A) Cain’s game-tying homer came on a splitter from Valverde, the only non-fastball Valverde threw during his outing.
B) Valverde has thrown 20 splitters in his past six games and allowed three home runs among those 20 pitches. He allowed no hits on the 21 splitters he threw in his first 12 appearances of the season.

Hitters went 3-for-39 with zero home runs against Valverde in his first 12 outings of the season, and are 10-for-27 with five homers in his past six appearances.

via Papelbon a fit in Detroit? – ESPN.

Tigers didn't need a Valverde blown save to remind them that they still need a closer. They've been looking hard, and will keep doing so.

— Danny Knobler (@DannyKnoblerCBS) June 12, 2013

Texas Longhorns closer Corey Knebel one step away from signing with Detroit Tigers | College Sports Blog.

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130612/SPORTS0104/306120114/Jose-Valverde-has-likely-thrown-away-his-second-chance-Tigers?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Sports

San Antonio, Texas

Spurs lead best of seven series 2-1

LET’S GO HEAT

The Griffins were rightfully upset and behind a riled up crowd scored two of their own in the second period to take the lead 2-1. Syracuse tied it 2-2 before the period closed.

The game stayed knotted at two for a while. The Grand Rapids crowd erupted when their team scored at the 4:49 mark. An insurance goal by the captain Jeff Hoggan with 2:28 left put us in the lead for good 4-2. The Crunch goalie freaked out and started punching Hoggan, removing his helmet before the captain emerged victorious!

Credit our goalie, too, who staved off several furies by the desperate Crunch.

I haven’t seen Van Andel Arena packed like that since the 2001 Arena Bowl! Attendance at Van Andel Arena was 10,102 (ahl.com).

STAND UP GRAND RAPIDS!

Van Andel Arena

(I feel like the Calder Cup belongs in the city with the Calder, don’t you?)

Don Kelly brought home Victor Martinez in the 2nd inning with a double, setting the score at 1-0. Kelly is 7-15 this year with RISP.

In the fifth, Detroit brought Mr. Furious home thanks again in part to Kelly. “The Don” singled Furious to third before DIRKS double-play RBI’ed Infante.

Those two runs would prove necessary. The Royal Snarfs scored two off Scherz to tie it 2-2. Dirks threw out Escobar stretching his snarf to a double, a play that was pivotal in a close ball game. If that runner stays in scoring position, maybe we don’t win.

V-Mart sacrificed a deep fly ball to score the go-ahead 3-2, bringing Miguel Cabrera home after he was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Prince Fielder drove “Triple Crown” to 3rd with a single.

J. Valverde notched another WTF save. He walked the first fucker, then tried to do the same to Butler, but the home plate umpire decided that ball four was strike three. I will take it! The Royals imploded, Butler was tossed for running back out onto the field from the dugout. This a 21st century tantrum, for no doubt his bitch ass saw the location on the tracker before deciding to freak out. Be a man and get thrown out without video replay, pussy.

Rejuvinated, Valverde actually had his fastball rise in speed back to 94-95. It was amazing, the radio guys attributed his early success minutes earlier to that 94-95 mph speed, saying he has sunk back down to 92-93 while getting bombed again. WHO KNOWS – BUT HE GOT TWO EASY OUTS AFTER THAT CLUTCH CALL TO END THE GAME.

Tigers win!

HOME RUN DON KELLY!

THREE RUN SHOT THAT WOULD BE THE WINNING RUNS FOR ROOKIE PITCHER JOSE ALVAREZ’S DEBUT!

The score was tied 1-1, and while listening on the radio with my brother and dad, the good karma soared through Comerica Park as we smashed open a 4-1 lead and final score.

The rookie looked sensational, showing Tiger depth to an electric rotation. Alvarez pitched a no-hitter until he let Snarf Raburn knock a homer out. He finished with six innings of three hit ball with seven strikeouts. You could tell he was a little tired after the fifth, letting two more hits in after the homer in the 6th.

Young Smyly pitched well enough to get the next two innings done before Benny struck out the final batter.

9IP, 1 R, 6 H, and 11K’s for Detroit.

Next up: Kansas City Royals on the road.

Game 1: Tonight, 8:00 PM ET

Starting Pitchers

Detroit: Fister (5-3, 3.27 ERA)

Kansas City: Guthrie (6-3, 3.66 ERA)