I’ve recently been on a quest to loose weight and get back into shape. My goal is to complete at least one triathlon next summer.  Boing Boing linked to a very interesting article this past week.  Before now, I was fairly embarrassed to mention that I have been using this service since mid February.  Then I read the following article and it put into words why this program has completely worked for me.

http://www.wired.com/gaming/virtualworlds/commentary/games/2008/08/gamesfrontiers_0811

When my wife and I set out to loose weight and return to a more active lifestyle, she urged me to attend Weight Watcher meetings with her.  The idea of sitting in a room discussing how over weight I was with complete strangers completely turned me off to the program.  However, being the “world’s greatest husband”, I found an alternative.  Weight Watchers offers an online program that allows you to log in and track your daily food consumption and activity.  This tool tuned into my obsessive-compulsive nature, and over the past six months I have been able to loose over 60 lbs.  On a daily basis I log in and have to be accountable to myself for what I have consumed.  No more stops at 7-Eleven for a Slurpie and a candy bar.  

Again, in catching up on my Boing Boing for the week, I came across another very interesting post.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080821110113.htm

Finally!  An answer to why I can sit down and eat a pound of pasta and still feel hungry.  Scientists are smart.

Also, please note that I’m not posting to brag about my weight loss.  Trust me, having more than 60 lbs to loose is nothing to brag about.  On the other hand, you should see my basketball game these days.  It has the ability to shred your achilles tendon.

Apparently, more than one person feels that it would be beneficial for me to blog here at Suburban Sprawl Music.  Those who know me are aware that I’m an obsessive sports fan.  Since 2004, I have in some capacity been a season ticket holder or have had access to season tickets at Comerica Park.  Not only have I seen my fair share of games down at Comerica Park, but I have been to 23 different major and minor league stadiums this season alone.

As a Tigers fan, I was very excited for a World Series Championship this season.  Obviously, it doesn’t look like this is going to happen.

So, here is my first installment of why my World Series dreams have been shattered.

Edgar Renteria – I knew the moment that this acquisition was announced that it would be a disaster.  The last time Renteria played in the American League, on a title contending team (the 2005 Boston Red Sox coming off of a World Series victory), he was unable to play up to expectations.  Not to mention that the Tigers traded two very good young prospects, which mortgaged the future for a run at a World Series title this season.

The better known of the two prospects was Jair Jurrjens from his time in the big leagues with the Tigers last season.  Detroit’s starting rotation has struggled all season with performance and injuries.  Other than Armando Galarraga and Zach Minor (3 starts on the season) no other Tiger starter has an ERA under 4.49.  I’m pretty confident the Tigers could use a young pitcher with his best years ahead of him with a record of 10-7 and a 3.12 ERA, Jurrjens’ current stats with the Atlanta Braves this season.

Trading away Jurrjens isn’t the only part of the deal that made me cringe.  The other highly touted prospect in the trade was outfielder Gorkys Hernandez.  Not only does he have a first name that is plural (let it be known that if/when my wife makes me have kids, a stipulation will be made that all first names must be plural - a battle I’m sure to lose), but he also is a player that has the tools to fill many of the holes that the current Tigers lineup has.  The current Tigers lineup lacks speed and a true lead off hitter. Curtis Granderson currently hits in the lead off spot, but he projects as a middle of the order guy as his career progresses.  Would Gorkys help this year’s team?  The answer would be no.  Hernandez is currently in High-A ball staring for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.  Nonetheless, he is revered as one of the games top prospects, being named to the Future Stars roster at the year’s MLB All Star Game.

So what has Renteria produced this year?  A whopping .257 BA,  .305 OBP (the lowest of his career), and 37 RBI to date.   Not to mention, that he doesn’t have any more range than what Carlos Guillen provided last year at shortstop.  The loss of Jurjenns alone makes this a one sided trade.  Time will tell if Hernandez becomes the every day MLB player I am confident he will become.

One thing that I do wonder is whether or not Dombrowski would have made the Renteria for Jurrjens and Hernandez trade if he knew he was going to acquire Cabrera and Willis just over a month later?