Flint Township View

COVID slowing MLB play, NBA, NHL and PGA roll on

Fat Guy Corner


 

 

The Tigers First Place stay was a short one as predicted. The Tigers, after Sunday’s double header loss to the Cincinnati Reds, leaves their record at five hundred. The 5-5 start is pretty impressive for a team expected to lose often in 2020. I had the Tigers at around 2-8 or 3-7 after 10 games in 2020

The Tigers and Reds played seven innings of baseball in their doubleheader, a new MLB rule. The doubleheader rule was put in place because of so many COVID- 19 postponements so far here in the early start of the season. When you see some teams have played 10-plus games and others stuck at the three or four games played, I can see why the rule was put in place. I can see numerous doubleheaders over the next two months.

I stated a few weeks ago I thought there was a chance that the MLB season might not see the completion in 2020. Easy to believe when you see the Miami Marlins virus mess and now the St. Louis Cardinals have virus issues. The Tigers next opponent is the St. Louis Cardinals. I would think it has to make the Tigers players somewhat uneasy when they play the Cardinals — if they play is another issue. I certainly would be uneasy that’s for sure.

The Detroit Tigers bats have holes in them as they cannot hit a lick. A toothpick has a better chance getting a hit. Look at the averages of these no hitting Kitty Kats: Miggy .143, N. Goodrum .161, J. Candelario .095, C J Cron .172 absolutely pathetic! I give props to Jacoby Jones at .379 and Jonathon Schoop at .273 as the only ones getting it done at the plate! If the Tigers play five hundred baseball the rest of the way it will be a great season.

A quick look at the rest of baseball divisions and who is in the lead early. The American League has New York leading the East. The Minnesota Twins are leading the Central. The Oakland A’s and Houston Astros tied for first in the West. The National League East has the Atlanta Braves on top in the East. The Central’s top spot belongs to the Cubbies. The West is log jammed with the Rockies, Dodgers and Padres all at the top. Let’s check back in one month and see who leads all the divisions.

The NBA and NHL are back in action, which now means three of the four major sports are playing. I know I am loving it! I have watched a couple NBA games so far. My early impression is the defense is basically non-existent so far in these games. If you love pick-up basketball games then the restart of the NBA season is for you. It’s rec league basketball with great players.

The NHL is back on the ice and I have watched only a couple of those games also. I would rate the play as pretty solid actually for as long as they have been off. I love coming home from work and watching hockey in August, I must admit. The St. Louis and Colorado game was an excellent watch as was the Toronto and Columbus game. Who will raise the Stanley Cup in 2020? I have no opinion at this particular time, but I will soon.

The first major golf tournament is finally here. The PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco, California will be played this weekend. Yes, for those of you Tiger Woods fans, he will be playing in the event. If Tiger could pull off the victory it would be his 16th major championship. When was Tiger Woods last PGA Championship? The year was 2007, which the fat guy’s math says was 13 years ago. The man to keep an eye on is Brooks Koepka the two-time defending champion. The last threepeat at the PGA Championship was 1958. The fat guy’s two choices to win are Tyrrell Hatton or Patrick Cantlay. I have no specific reasons why I like these two golfers it’s totally a fat guy hunch. I can be reached at thefatguy@mihomepaper.com.