Probable MLB suspension of Jhonny Peralta more a blip than a disaster for Detroit Tigers

My column: http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/07/31/sports/doc51f98964abfce677858809.txt


Jhonny Peralta: Tigers can overcome his projected absence

My thoughts on the Detroit Tigers' trade...

The three-way deal, from the Tigers' standpoint, is essentially Avisail Garcia for Jose Iglesias. In regard to prospects, it's essentially a wash at this point. Garcia is an impressive athlete with good speed, throwing arm and ability to put the bat on the ball. At this stage, however, he has yet to develop the ability to pull a good major league fastball with any sort of consistently. It limits

Brady Hoke rapidly building Michigan into a national championship contender with recruiting

My column: http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/07/29/sports/doc51f6ed1048106418915342.txt


Brady Hoke: Getting it done on the recruiting trail

MLB trade deadline deal for Jose Veras fits Detroit Tigers perfectly - despite steep price

If you are expecting Mariano Rivera when Jose Veras joins the Tigers, you are going to be disappointed. There is nothing about him that suggests he is a "light's out" closer.
In fact, the way to go may be to keep Joaquin Benoit in the closer's role for awhile.
But Veras does make the Tigers' bullpen considerably better, giving manager Jim Leyland another viable option with either role in late

Why Detroit Tigers must be active at MLB trade deadline

My column: http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/07/28/sports/doc51f5a6295ffbe077556079.txt


Jim Leyland: Could use help at trade deadline

Detroit LIons, Reggie Bush, NFL training camp starts and those under a spotlight

My column: http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/07/20/sports/doc51eb5e5caa607132255144.txt

Reggie Bush: Lions need him to be great

5 questions as MLB returns from All Star Game

My column: http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/07/19/sports/doc51e867b85b457103106863.txt


Jason Grilli: Dealin'

Keys for the Detroit Tigers moving forward after All Star Game

- The schedule definitely favors the Tigers. They have no West Coast trips remaining, for example. But there are a couple traps. One comes right out of the break, when they travel to Kansas City and Chicago in back-to-back trips. The Tigers have not played particularly well in either place in recent years, and they are a combined 3-5 record against the White Sox Royals this season - although both

Part 3 of My series "The Mystery of Putting" Perhaps the biggest factor of all

My column: http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/07/18/sports/doc51e76a7c8bd29481638732.txt


At British Open, biggest question: Which way will it break?

If MLB suspends Jhonny Peralta of Detroit Tigers, it shouldn't be until next season

Let us start this out with an "if."
If Tigers' shortstop Jhonny Peralta is deemed by Major League Baseball to have violated its drug policy and is suspended, which has been widely reported as a possibility, it should not be until next season.
You won't find anybody less sympathetic with baseball's PED cheaters than I am, but the appeal process in this case must be comprehensive. Why? Because

Part 2 of my series "The Mystery of Putting" The oddity of anchor putting

My column: http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/07/17/sports/doc51e6214fa995c558838465.txt


Adam Scott: Won't putt like this in 2016

Part 1 of my series "The Mystery of Putting" Why putting is an art more than a science

My column: http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/07/16/sports/doc51e4855a73429339227630.txt


Ben Hogan: Classic example of how putting comes and goes

The mystery of putting

I have a three-part series "The mystery of Putting" that will be appearing in the print editions of The Oakland Press Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week. The series will be posted online as well at theoaklandpress.com.
Part 1 of the series will discuss the unpredictability of putting, Part 2 will be about the controversy and impending ban on anchor putting and Part 3 will be on greens,

My column: http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/07/14/sports/doc51e31e828f485663556785.txt


Jhonny Peralta: Will he be suspended?

Self-made distractions could hurt Detroit Tigers

My column: http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/07/11/sports/doc51df39ea81b3e738698837.txt


Jim Leyland: Overreaction to say the least

Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions, contract extension - a win-win, win-win situation all around

When last season fell apart on the Lions, many fingers of blame were pointed at quarterback Matthew Stafford.


Matthew Stafford: Part of the solution, not the problem

It's a natural reaction. Stafford is the QB. It is the most pressure-packed position in team sports. But the Lions' issues became so deep, even an immensely talented QB such as Stafford couldn't correct them. It would have been

Detroit Pistons are better with Josh Smith, but how much better, really?

My column: http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/07/09/sports/doc51dc3e785bf42325128690.txt


Josh Smith: Great talent or great player?

If the Detroit Tigers have an edge, it could be a traditional rival

Until Sunday's loss to the Indians, anyway, a week went well for the Tigers. Their left-handed hitters, who had been struggling mightily, woke up. Alex Avila, Victor Martinez and Andy Dirks all contributed significantly to the Tigers winning five of six games at Toronto and Cleveland. The much-maligned bullpen was pretty good. Justin Verlander and Rick Porcello both turned in strong starts. Even

Trout, Harper, Machado, Puig, Segura, Sabermetrics - why MLB is better than ever

My column: http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/07/08/sports/doc51d9d27439e49648170976.txt




Puig: Definitely belongs in All Star Game

NHL free agency cements still lofty status for Detroit Red Wings

My column: http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/07/07/sports/doc51d95f2ada4da406900100.txt



Alfredsson: Motivated

How the Detroit Red Wings can use NHL free agency to make a Stanley Cup run

My column: http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/07/04/sports/doc51d5088a261d1581780215.txt


David Clarkson: Fits Red Wings

Jim Leyland caused Rick Porcello suspension and Detroit Tigers could pay severe price

As much as I appreciate Tigers manager Jim Leyland giving a straight answer to a straight question, sometimes discretion is the better part of valor.
When he essentially announced to writers Saturday there was going to be payback for a high-and-tight pitch from Tampa Bay's Fernando Rodney to Detroit star slugger Miguel Cabrera, it setup a scenario where Major League Baseball had no choice but to

Where Calvin Johnson of the Detroit LIons should rank among Top 10 NFL players

My column: http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/07/03/sports/doc51d3a9019034c048938990.txt