I feel you, @melissaheyboer. I feel you.
By Scott Swanson
May 7, 2012
Baseball. From its association with summer and rebirth, to the rich parellels between its growth and the growth of America, to the mano-a-mano pitcher vs. batter battle at its very heart, it’s an inherently magical and wonderful game.
But that’s not what this post is about.
Because, let’s be honest — once Opening Day has passed and your winter-tinged nostalgia for the game fades, you remember that the average baseball game is a three-and-a-half hour waking nightmare of hair-pulling, remote-control throwing, ump-cursing and Brandon Inge-berating (although sadly, we Detroit Tigers fans don’t have Inge to kick around anymore).
The national pastime can induce insanity in the hardiest sports fan, and Tigers fans have had to deal with some doozies lately, from game 163 to the only 28-out perfect game in MLB history to multiple incidents involving the police. Luckily, that’s what Twitter was made for (well, it’s also a remarkable tool for social marketing and communicating with target audiences — but that’s a different blog post for a different day!)
When the times get tough for your favorite team, Twitter lets you know that you’re not alone in your suffering. So for all you Tigers fans, here is a list of Tigers-related accounts that keep me (relatively) sane in the summer.
@blessyouboys – Bless You Boys, a blog run by fellow esteemed Yooper Kurt Mensching (@BYBKurt), is the cream of level-headed Tigers analysis, with plenty of humor and exasperation thrown in at appropriate times, like the below tweet sent during a particularly painful Jose Valverde-pitched 9th inning.
Sample tweet:
@philcokesbrain – Phil Coke, the Tigers’ oddball relief pitcher, has inspired this Twitter account, although he’s not associated with it. Hilarious and occasionally pushing the boundaries of political correctness (see his tweet below on Delmon Young’s recent legal problems), it’s a must-follow.
Sample tweet:
@fakeleyland – We all love the Tigers’ curmudgeonly manager, even when he does weird things like bat Don Kelly fifth. This parody account attempts to delve into his cigarette-addled mind. Note — this account is not for those uncomfortable with coarse language. In fact, it was hard to find a family-friendly sample tweet to post. But we know the real Leyland can curse a blue streak, so why should his doppelganger be any different?
Sample tweet:
@rodallenquotes – Rod Allen is the Tigers’ charming color commentator and drinking game-inspiration. This account simply collects the ridiculous things Rod says on any given night — and there’s usually a lot of material to work with. We see you, big fella!
Sample tweet:
@roartigers – This account is tied to the wonderful Roar of the Tigers blog, which features brilliant and absurd cartoons and Photoshops of Tigers and other baseball-related subjects. A recent favorite portrayed Justin Verlander riding a unicorn. And yeah, I hate Nick Swisher too.
Sample tweet:
On a somewhat more serious note, we understand that Twitter can be an intimidating place for those unfamiliar with it — so we often advise our clients that before they jump in feet-first, they should start an account, pick a handful of people to follow, and spend some time observing Twitter’s unique pace and language. If sports is your thing, following a few sports-related accounts may be a great place to start. Your confidence will grow, and you’ll begin to understand just how powerful Twitter can be for your business or organization.
And of course, we’re always around to help!
Scott is an obsessive music fan and collector, guitarist, and Detroit sports devotee. He’s earned a black belt in Okinawan karate, but has never roundhouse-kicked anyone who didn’t deserve it. He will gladly challenge anyone to a match of ping pong anywhere, anytime.
