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.