Monday Mop Up...my Tigers can't hit...Today's Baseball Birthday.

Good Morning!

As I punch the keys on the computer the BEST baseball movie ever made, The Natural, is gracing my TV screen.

It's a cold, blustery day here in Jacksonville, not exactly the weather we expect on April 22nd.

The Detroit Tigers bats are also cold.

After beating the Mariners on Wednesday night the Tigers were 9-5, with their ace RHP Justin Verlander going for the series sweep on getaway day, Thursday afternoon.

Verlander allowed just 2 runs...while the Tigers scored zero runs.

The Tigers lost 2-0 to the Mariners, the first of what is now a 4 game losing streak.

The Tigers then traveled to Anaheim, getting swept by the Angels, who outscored them 22-4.

The Tigers finished their one and only West Coast road trip this year with a 4-5 record, and their 9-9 record is now third best in the A.L. Central, behind Kansas City and Minnesota.

Maybe the Tigers could use Roy Hobbs and "Wonderboy" to help ignite the offense.

The Tigers have the day off and start a three game series Tuesday with the first place Royals.


Today's Baseball Birthday celebration is former Washington Senators first baseman Mickey Vernon.

Vernon broke into the big leagues with the Senators on July 8th, 1939.

In 76 games with Washington, Vernon collected 71 hits in 310 plate appearances, driving in 30 runs with 15 doubles, 24 walks, and 23 runs scored.

Vernon played 14 years with the Senators, and won two batting titles, in 1946(.353), and 1953(.337).

Vernon was a 7 time All-Star, and led the American League in triples three times, including a whopping 51 three baggers in '46.

Despite the fact that Vernon served for two years in World War II, he collected 2,495 base hits, 490 of them doubles.

Vernon drove in 1,311 runs, smacked 172 homers, and played a solid first base.

He retired with a .990 fielding percentage, and holds the big league record of recording an amazing 2,044 double plays.

Vernon was the #1 fielding first baseman, by percentage, in 1950, '51, '52, and '54.

After playing 19 big league season, Mickey Vernon finally fulfilled every boys dream, winning a World Series, as a coach and part time player with the 1960 World Champion Pittsburgh Pirates.

Vernon served as a big league coach for several teams, including becoming the first manager of the new expansion Washington Senators club in 1961.

Mickey Vernon passed away on September 24th, 2008, at age 90.

Happy Birthday Mickey!