Fat Guy's Corner 05/15/2008

Slamming the door shut
Break out the butter, baby, the Detroit Red Wings are on a roll. Monday night the men in the winged wheeled jerseys took a commanding 3-0 lead in their series over the “Falling Stars.”
Detroit is playing like a hockey team poised to win the Stanley Cup. The win was Detroit’s ninth playoff win in a row and a franchise record. Montreal reeled off 11 in a row in 1993; maybe Detroit will eclipse that total here shortly. I don’t know the reason why Dallas goalie Marty Turco struggles so mightily against the Wings, but he just does. I mean, to give up five goals in your building is totally unacceptable in the playoffs. Marty is just 2-4-3 against Detroit at home lifetime. Coming into this series Turco needed to step up big between the pipes and he just hasn’t done that. I knew Dallas would struggle putting the biscuit in the basket against the Osgood.
Speaking of Osgood, how good has Ozzie looked in net? Ozzie is now 9-0 in the playoffs. I think he is playing the best hockey of his career right now. Dominic who? The Motor City can start revving up the engine for a Stanley Cup Finals appearance. Pittsburgh should take out the Philadelphia Flyers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Detroit and Pittsburgh will be battling it out for the Stanley Cup. Wow! I can’t wait.
Round-ball drama
Round two of the NBA playoffs has been nothing but home cooking. One road win has occurred as of Monday night. By who, you ask? The answer is our own Detroit Pistons.Yes, the Pistons defeated Orlando on their home floor, without Chauncey Billups, who was nursing a hamstring injury. Pretty impressive, I must admit. I guess the regular season does mean something after all. Let’s hope the Pistons can get it done tonight at home and end this series against the Magic. Billups can then heal up before the next series.
I don’t think Detroit can beat Cleveland or Boston without a healthy Billups on the floor. The problem with the Pistons is they take too many nights off, and I don’t know why. Please don’t let the Magic pull a rabbit out of a hat and send the series back to Florida. Rest will help you win the next series. I have a sneaking suspicion that Boston and Cleveland is going the full seven games. That could lead up to one week of rest for the Pistons if they take care of business.
Cellar dwellers
The lowly Detroit Tigers are holding down the cellar in the American League Central. That’s absolutely pitiful and shameful. Remember when the bullpen was the concern? Here’s a little tip: it’s not the problem. It’s the horrible starting pitching staff. Look at these gaudy numbers: Verlander 1-6 and a 6.43 ERA, Rogers a 5.82 ERA, Bonderman 2-4 and a 4.80 ERA, Robertson a stellar 1-4 with 6.64, and throw in Zach Miner’s 8.41 ERA and it adds up to a 16-22 record. If the ERA numbers keep climbing, they just might pass Gary Sheffield’s batting average. The Tigs are paying out big bucks to these pitchers and the results just aren’t happening; what a joke. The starting pitching needs to get better, or come October Detroit will be watching the playoffs from the couch.
One positive is that Armando Galarraga is 2-1 with a fine 3.07 ERA. Hooray ... at least one guy can pitch! Detroit is lucky the rest of the division is playing terrible baseball. I mean the Twins are in first place, for cripes sake. Detroit is an awful 4-12 against the division foes! Figure that one out. I sure can’t. Where’s Dontrelle Willis? Here’s my prediction: Dontrelle Willis will end up being a total bust in Detroit. I think he is all washed up already. No wonder Florida let him go at such a young age. The Detroit Tigers and the pitching staff needs to wake up before it’s too late! I can be reached at thefatguy@view newspapers.net. See you next week.