Below catches ceremonial first pitch

The first portion of the following column ran in this week's Tecumseh Herald but I've added additional highlights and personal notes from the Tigers' game that readers may, or may not, find interesting.

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Comerica Park was sold out as Justin Verlander attempted to pick up his 25th win of the season last Saturday and despite being given a no-decision I was glad I went to see it.

The Tigers lost 6-5 against the Orioles but I was able to watch local hero Duane Below in action — before the game even started. He’s been turned into somewhat of a utility player as the Tigers scour their roster deciding who will advance into the post-season. Below caught the first pitch in front of a sold-out Comerica Park.

I caught up with Below in the Tigers’ Clubhouse after interviewing a calm but noticeably perturbed Verlander.

The Tiger’s ace and Cy Young award contender said his poor outing wasn’t a case of being nervous. It was a matter of not getting ahead in the count that was his problem.

“I put myself in a couple of jams and they came out big,” Verlander said. “You’ve got to be able to turn the page quick in this game, so, after three innings we’re down five nothing and my job from there is to go out and keep zeros up on the board and give our offense a chance, because with this offense you never know — we came pretty close.”

Verlander is in the running for Major League Baseball’s MVP award and has been compared to some of the game’s greatest as of late, but he said he doesn’t worry about that stuff — he steps to the mound and just thinks about getting the job done each and every game.

“You don’t pay attention to that kind of stuff,” he said. “You just go out there when your number’s called and you do whatever you possibly can to win. I feel like I put it together pretty good this year, the numbers ended up pretty good. Hopefully, I’ve got another five or six more starts ahead of me, so, I can’t really think about that stuff right now.”

Below had a large ice wrap on his left shoulder after the game but said everything was fine, it was routine for staying warmed up in the bullpen. He said the Tigers asked him if he’d catch the first pitch and he was glad to do anything to help out the team. It’s been thrilling to be with the Tigers for Below while the organization picked up the division championship and he hopes to be there with them during the playoffs. The roster has yet to be set so Below still has a chance, albeit slim, to be a part of the post-season Tigers’ team.

“I hope I get an opportunity,” he said next to his Clubhouse locker. “But they want to put the best team on the field to give us an opportunity to win. Hopefully I’m a part of it. If I am, I’ll work my tail off. If not I’m going to cheer them on and hope for the best.”

Me too. I hope, and pray, they stick with our boy Below.

“It’s been a great first year,” said Detroit Tigers’ number 64.

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[The following information was not included in the published newspaper column]

I had an idea it was going to be one of those days on the way to the game when my Chrysler’s check engine light came on. Upon arriving to the park my credentials were mixed up so I had to wait to get things worked out. When I finally got to the field, with the stuff I needed, I was told there wasn’t enough room in the media box next to the Tigers dugout by the city’s top sports photographer so I went over to the visitors side, put my bag down and marked my territory.

To my surprise, Duane Below comes walking out of the Tigers’ dugout to home plate and squatted down to catch the ceremonial first pitch of the game, thrown by one lucky, proud kid. Duane’s smile surpassed even mine as he signed the ball for the kid on the hill in front of thousands. I ran out on the field, took a few shots and said hey to Below. His head hasn’t gotten so big that he didn’t remember my name and that made me feel like maybe I did belong there.

I ran back to my spot next to the Orioles’ dugout and settled in to watch Verlander do his thing only he didn’t bring it — he blew it and proved he was only human. The first batter Verlander faced hit his first career home run in the top of the first inning. Not a good start but hey, no prob’ for this guy. He’ll shake it off. But, the next inning was even worse. The last thing I thought I’d see was the pitching coach stroll out to the mound and try to settle down the ace of this generation. I couldn’t tell you what was said but I did see them smile at each other, just for a second. Verlander got out of the pickle he was in and began putting goose eggs up on the board for the rest of his outing.

Fans were treated to a great over the shoulder basket catch by Austin Jackson in the second inning so I became even more confident that Verlander could get the win with the help of Detroit’s fielders, not to mention their bats.

The Tigers’ home photographer was a pretty cool older guy and he had given me a heads up that he’d be leaving his post on the home dugout side around the fifth inning so I watched closely, made my move and stole his position as soon as he budged. I was just feet away when Miguel Cabrera about tore the skin off a ball when blasting a homerun in the sixth inning. If I’m not mistaken, I swear I saw him whisper something to his bat and kiss it before belting out the ball.

Around the seventh inning stretch, people in the stands behind home plate began screaming like someone had just been murdered. A rat, big enough to be in a uniform and carrying a bat, was running around under their feet. While women and Oriole fans crawled over children to get away from the beast, a Tigers’ fan put his foot down and ended the chaos.

It had officially turned into one of ‘those’ days.

The Tigers tied the game in the eighth inning and the crowd again went wild. Unfortunately, Matt Angle, the guy that hit the first inning home run, laid down a perfect bunt in the top of the ninth inning and ultimately ended Verlander’s 12-start winning streak.

After the game I was kicked out of Tigers’ manager Jim Leland’s office because I was using a Flip to record his comments. I can’t say I’ve been kicked out of better places, although MIS was right up there. The security guy told me it was fine to interview the ballplayers with my gadget so off I went to the Clubhouse locker room. They made me put my camera away this time, hence, no more pictures of Duane’s locker to go with my column. I’m not sure if I can mention that one of Detroit’s starting players had a rash on his butt so I won’t, just in case. I didn’t turn my head like the ESPN lady when the boys were toweling off.

Verlander still gets my vote for MVP. Say what you will about the guy, he’s a phenom. He was given a no-decision for his efforts and has only five losses this year (24-5) out of 34 starts and he still has the playoffs to continue adding to an already impressive season.

The day after this column rolled off the press a story posted on the Tigers’ website listed a tentative post-season roster and Below is included as a middle reliever! The roster isn’t set in stone and can be changed but it’s great to see Below included in the first draft to face the Yankees. Verlander was scheduled to start in the series opener Friday in New York. Also listed as middle relievers were Joaquin Benoit, Phil Coke, Al Alburquerque, Daniel Schlereth, Ryan Perry and David Pauley.

[Detroit officially released its post-season roster on Friday morning (9.30.11, story by Jason Beck, MLB.com) and Below was not included. Ryan Perry was selected as a middle reliever instead.]