Tigers Minor League Baseball Blog

I’ve had some good questions regarding the differences in playing in the north and the south and how our home base of Lakeland (particularly Joker Marchant Stadium) stacks up against other places I’ve played. Well to start I have thoroughly enjoyed the first part of our season thus far in Florida, mainly because of the weather. Let me rephrase that; I enjoyed the first month, because we played maybe six games last month due to rain. It is much easier to start the season in perfect eighty degree weather as opposed to last year where the first game of the season was snowed out. Growing up in Michigan, I would like to say that I am used to playing in the cold, but I would be lying if I did. I don’t think anyone gets used to playing baseball in that kind of weather. Between the difficulty in trying to get loose and for hitters trying to hit the ball without shattering their hands is no easy task. Some may think that it would be better to pitch in the north because maybe the ball doesn’t carry as well, but at our level, if a good hitter gets it, you could be in the arctic and it wouldn’t matter. However, the downside is that in about a week or so, the florida heat is going to come in with full force. After 24 years of Michigan winters, I think I would rather tolerate a florida summer.
And with the summer upon us, I would have to say that there isn’t a much better place to be than Joker Marchant Stadium to call home. Sure some of the coastal cities may be a little better to be in off the field but honestly we don’t have all that much free time to get the most out of being on a coast. We can make our own fun anyway. Tigertown really does have one of the better set ups in the Florida State League. I could sit back and complain about petty little things that could be improved, but when we go to other places, I really do realize how good it is to be home.
The only bad part about Lakeland right now is the rain. I have never seen this much rain in my whole life, it is a phenomenon I am never going to understand. Oh, and by the way, yesterday was day one of hurricane season, I can’t even imagine what that’s going to be like. Well maybe it will be an upgrade because instead of raining for weeks at a time, it will only be a couple days. My mom wonders if there are plans to dome the field anytime soon. Sorry I don’t that sounds like a worthwhile investment in Mr. Ilitch’s eyes at this moment in time. I will say though, if he is willing to sign me to a multi-year, multi-million dollar deal, I might consider funding that project. Outside of that, I think we can deal with the rain until our field begins to float.