Page Twelve
THE MICHIGAN DAILY
"Wednesday, July 31, 1974
Page Twelve THE MICHiGAN DAILY Wednesday, July 31, 1974
JOHN KAHLER:
What
THERE IS JOY in Tigertown as the
Detroit Tigers head into Boston for
a two game series with the Red Sox. The
Bengals are the proud possessors of a
two game winning streak.
Laugh if you will at these modest
pretentions, but the fact remains that
the last time the Tigers won as many as
two games back-to-back was on July S,
when they swept a doubleheader from
Chicago. The next day began a skid that
saw the Tigers lose 15 out of the 17
games they played and fall to the cellar
in the American League East.
But the Tigers have now won three
of their last four, and have looked good
while doing it. So it appears that the
long slump is now behind the Motown
Bombers.
ALL TIGER FANS must have been
heartened by Joe Coleman's shut out
over the Red Sox, and John Hiller's
return to his untouchable form. Listening
to Ernie Harwell describe those home
runs flying out of Municipal Stadium
must also have been gratifying. Even
more cheering was the news that Willie
Horton's knee is now out of the cast
the Tigers need is...
and that Willie may return to action in
a few weeks.
It was inevitable that the Tigers would
start winning again; no club is capable
of sustaining .117 ball forever. But the
question raised during this skid, "What's
wrong with the Tigers?" will be haunting
the clb for the rest of the year.
Everyone seems to have an opinion
as to why the Tigers have played so
poorly this season. "The Tigers are too
old," say some, "They're too slow,"
say others, and some it up by saying
simply, "They smell." (though most use
a stronger-adjective.) All these are true,
but they are also all generalities.
IF ONE WANTS specificity, here are
three things the Tigers lack that are
considered necessities by most other
ball clubs.
The Tigers lack a leadoff hitter.
Mickey Stanley is a capable professional
who will give you the great catch in
center field every time you need it. But
his hitting has always been suspect. He
is currently hitting .221 with only 25
walks, statistics that befit a seventh
batter more than a leadoff hitter.
Marvin Lane was leading off for the
Bengals Monday night at Cleveland, and
he possesses the ability to advance him-
self into scoring position via the stolen
base. But, of the Tigers, only he and
Ben Oglivie can make that statement.
Only in the Tiger organization could
John Knox be considered a speed mer-
chant.
pHE TIGERS lack a power hitter. Ac-
tually, they had one and will have
one again if Horton can return to active
duty. But with Willie out of the lineup,
their lack of a longball threat became
painfully obvious.
The Tigers set a major league record
Monday night by belting four home runs
in the first inning. Al Kaline, Bill Free-
han, Mickey Stanley, and Eddie Brink-
man all connected in the historic out-
burst. But these homers were only Ka-
line's sixth of the year, Freehan's eighth,
Stanley's eighth, and Brinkman's tenth.
With Horton gone, Brinkman's ten round-
trippers leads the club, a sorry statistic
that speaks for itself.
The Tigers lack a stable pitching staff.
There has been no one in the rotation
that Ralph Houk could count on to pitch
consistently good ball. Mickey Lolich
started poorly, got hot, and then cooled
off again, Joe Coleman started well, hit
the skids, and is only now beginning to
regain winning form.
rpHE ACES of the staff have not come
through, and no one else has picked
up the slack. Lerrin LaGrow was not
expected to pitch winning ball con-
sistently, and he has lived up to expecta-
tions. Houk has tried Bill Slayback,
Woody Fryman, and Luke Walker as
fourth starters, with no success. Dave
Lemanczyk will get his chance Thursday
night at Milwaukee.
A good starting rotation can cover a
multitudes sins, but the fig leaf has not
been present for the Tigers this year.
The wonder is that, as disgracefully as
the Tigers have played, they have not
fallen out of contention. The fact remains
that this team is only six games out of
first. Tiger fans and the Tiger manage-
ment are still thinking of contention.
A more realistic hope is for a .500
season. If the Tigers finish above that,
Ralph Houk fully deserves to be called,
"The Miracle Major."
Tigers capitalize on errors
Five Beantown muffs
4 ' °hand Hitler 13th win
From wire Service Reports
BOSTON - Any team that
makes five errors in one ball-
game deserves to lose that
game, and the Boston Red Sox
did, losing to the Detroit Tigers
7-5 last night. The winning runs
for the Tigers scored on Bos-
tons' fifth miscue, a throwing
error by catcher Tim Black-
well in the ninth inning.
But the Tigers' rejoicing at
their third straight victory was
muted when it was learned that
centerfielder Mickey Stanley
will be lost to the club for five
weeks with a broken hand.
'Stanley injured his hand when
he was hit by a pitch thrown
by BoSox starter Reggie Cleve-
land in the fourth inning.
The Tigers went into the ninth
trailing 5-3, but soon tied the
game as Gary Sutherland sin-
gled and Al Kaline put one over
the infamous Fenway Park left-
field wall. A double by Northrup
chased Cleveland and brought
on Bob Veale, who struck out
Norm Cash.
Diego Segui then took over.
fly ball by Aurelio Rodrigiie'
moved Northrup to third. Catch-
er Blackwell noticed Northrup
wandering too far off the bag,
and in attempting to pick him
off, threw the ball into the left
field corner, enabling both run-
ners to score.
Singles by Bill Freehan, Jim
Nettles, and Jerry Moses gave
the Tigers a 1-0 lead in the
second. Boston tied it in the
third off Tiger starter Joe Cole-
man on a walk to Doug Griffin
and a double by Rick Miller.
The Tigers took a 3-1 lead in
the fifth as Rodriguez singled
and Ed Brinkman was safe on
an error by Carl Yaztremski in
left. Moses' fly to center scored
Rodriguez, Stanley was hit by
the pitch, and Sutherland sin-
gled Brinkman home.
But Coleman, who looked ex-
tremely good for six innins,
fell apart in the seventh. Singles
by Griffin, Blackwell, and Mil-
ler, and a home run by Cecil
Cooper resulted in four BoSox
runs and brought in John Hiller,
who stayed around to pick up
relay from second baseman Bill Grabarkewitz in yesterday's baseball action at wrigley F
The play occurred on a triple by Montreal's Willie Davis, who scored on the errant throw.
Expos won, 4-3.
Cavs' question:
Wh C ere's Campy?.
CLEVELAND OP)-The Cleveland Cavaliers' top draft
pick Campanella "Campy" Russell broke off negotiations
with the club yesterday after verbally agreeing to a contract
last Friday, the National Basketball Association club said.
Russell and his attorney, Arthur Morse, flew to Cleveland
yesterday, but after negotiations failed neither attended the
news conference called to announce the signing, an official
said.
Cleveland Coach Bill Fitch, who admitted it was a very
embarrassing moment, held the conference anyway.
"Friday, we reached verbal agreement with Russell at
6 p.m.," Fitch said. "The contract was of super star status.
It was a very good contract. It was the first hardship case
for the Cavaliers and the first hardship case for Morse. All
could live with the contract we made Friday."
He said Russell and Morse later insisted on having the
contract changed to include four more additions. Fitch said
he refused and the negotiations ended.
"We agreed on a contract Friday. I'll stand on the
contract we made," Fitch said.
Fitch wouldn't disclose the additions that Russell wanted
in the contract, but he said a "no-cut" clause was not part of
the problem.
W inless 'heels He walked Ben Oglivie, and a his thirteenth win.
Host Birmingham r Major League Standings
at R n ea rson
t RAMERICAN LEAGUE NATIONAL LEAGUE
The unvictorious D e t r o i t East East
Welhotteundefeated Bir Boson ' L Pet. Ga W L Pet. tt
Wheels ho stson 54 47 .535 - Philadelphia 53 49 .520 -
mingham Americans at Rynear- Cleveland 5a 48 .520 lye St. Louis 52 50 .510 1
son Stadium tonight (7:30 p.m.) Baltimore 51 50 .505 3 Pittsburgh 49 54 .475 4'
in what shapes up as a battle of Milwaukee 50 51 .495 4 Montreal 47 s3 .470 5
New York 50 51 a495 4 New York 45 55 .450 7
the haves and the have nots. Detroit 49 5 .485 5 Chicago 42 57 .424 91,
The Americans have the most west west
explosive offense in the World Oakland 60 42 .S5 - Los Angeles 66 37 .641 -
Football Leaue, while the Texas 52 51 .505 8 Cincinnati 62 43 .590 5
. Chicago 50 50 .500 9 Houston 55 49 .529 11'
Wheels have the least effective Kansas City 50 50 .500 9 Atlanta 53 51 .510 1314
defense. Minnesota 50 53 .485 10% San Francisco 48 57 .457 19
California 40 63 .388105 San Diego 44 as .419 23
Spearheading the Americans' Yesterday's ResultsY esterday's Results
offense is quarterback George Milwaukee 3, New York 2, 1st, 10 Montreal 4, Chicago 3, 10 inn.
Mira, who has been slowed all inn., 2nd, ine. Pittsburgh 6-4, New York 0-3
week with a sprained ankle but Detroit 7, tos or San Francisco 6, Atlanta 3,52 Inn.
Cleveland 5, Baltimore 6 St. Louis 4, Philadelphia 3
is expected to play. Mira sprain- Minnesota 7, Kansas City 3 Houston 8, Cinainnati 4
ed the ankle in Birmingham's Chicago at California, in. Today's Games
58-33 triumph over Memphis Texas at Oakland, ine. Montreal (Torrez 9-7 and Blair
last week. Today's Games 5-3) at Chicago (Bnham 9-11 and
Kansas City (Busky 14-9) at Min- Hutson 0-0).
Wheels' quarterback Bubba nesota (Blyleven 10-11). Pittsburgh (Ellis 6-9) at New
Wyche continues to lead the cir- Texas (Hargan 9-6) at Oakland York (seaver 7-6).
c ntingwith 45 comple- (Hunter 14-9). San Francisco (D'Acquisto 9-8)
Cleveland (G. Perry 15-4) at Bal- at Atlanta (P. Niekro 10-9), twi-
tions in 91 attempts for 630 timore (McNally 8-8), night. light.
yards and three touchdowns. Detroit (LaGrow 7-10) at Boston Houston (Griffin 11-3) at Cin-
(Tiant 15-7), night. einnati (Gullet 12-7), night.
The game will be broadcast New York (Tidrow 7-8) at Mil- St. Louis (Gibson 5-9) at Phila-
locally by radio station WWJ, waukee (champion 5-1), night. delphia (Ruthven 4-7), night.
Chicago (Johnson 3-0) at Call- Los Angeles (Ran 9-6) at san
Detroit. fornia (Lange 3-6), night. Diego (Friesleben 7-6), night.