Tigers don’t need to be your only baseball fix
Bummed when the Tigers are out of town? Or how about that darn All-Star break, when there’s no baseball ... for four days!
Well, if you’ve got a few bucks and a bit of gas, there are plenty of options to keep the baseball-obsessed fans occupied all summer long.
There are 10 other notable baseball teams in the state, and 11 if you include the good old Toledo Mud Hens (Toledo used to be ours, anyway) — many of the teams you’ve heard of, and some you haven’t.
The teams range from Triple-A — with players on the cusp of the major leagues — to collegiate level, with Single-A teams and independent-ball teams in the mix, too.
OK, so the talent may not be major-league-ready. And you can’t really latch on to one player to become a fan of, because he might not be there the next time you come to the park.
But it’s still baseball, and it’s still a darn good way to spend a weekday night or a weekend afternoon.
There’s also this little perk: Tickets are typically quite cheap, and if you do your homework, you’ll find plenty of bargains to be had.
And, let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a beer for a dollar or a hot dog for a dime?
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TOLEDO MUD HENS
Stadium: Fifth Third Field, 406 Washington St, Toledo, 43604
Level: Triple A
Affiliate: Tigers
League: International League
Season: Through early September
Tickets: $17 for club level, $15 for field level,
Dates to consider: May 6, Bring Your Own Instrument Night (fans with no instrument get a kazoo); May 27, Star Wars Night; June 16, Beatles Night; June 30, James McCann Bobblehead Giveaway; July 15, Andrew Miller Bobblehead Giveaway.
Players to watch: RPs Joe Jimenez, Bruce Rondon. If the Tigers 'pen is going to improve, it's probably going to have to come from one of these two, or both. Both have the talent, but it's taking time.
Outlook: If you haven't been to a ballgame at Fifth Third Field, you really are missing out. The stadium is so impressive (think Camden Yards) and you can get a look at players on the cusp of joining the Tigers. That said, the concession prices don't exactly scream "minor-league."
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GREAT LAKES LOONS
Stadium: Dow Diamond, 825 E. Main St., Midland, 48640
Level: Single A
Affiliate: Dodgers
League: Midwest League
Season: Through early September
Tickets: $9.50 for reserved box, $6.50 for lawn
Dates to consider: May 31, first-ever Pride Night; June 19, Midwest League Home Run Derby; June 20, Midwest League All-Star Game.
Player to watch: SP Devin Smeltzer. The left-hander was a fifth-round pick by the Dodgers in 2015, and is in his first full season of pro ball. He has 29 strikeouts in 23 innings, to just 14 hits allowed.
Outlook: Props, first, for the Loons hosting their first-ever Pride Night this season. For $20, fans for that game get a reserved box seat and a Loons Pride T-shirt. This also is an outpost for the Dodgers, who lately have had one of the best systems. Good, young talent.
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LANSING LUGNUTS
Stadium: Cooley Law School Stadium, 505 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, 48912
Level: Single A
Affiliate: Blue Jays
League: Midwest League
Season: Through early September
Tickets: $14 for advance executive box, $11 for box, $10 for bleachers, $8 for lawn
Dates to consider: June 17, Star Wars Night; Aug. 11, Jimmy Buffett Night; Aug. 19, Harry Potter Night.
Players to watch: SS Bo Bichette, 3B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. If the names sound familiar, it's because their Dads were stars in MLB. Bichette is batting .354, and Guerrero .342 with some monster homers.
Outlook: Another cool stadium, in a cool location, with a cool scene beyond the wall in right-field -- new, multi-colored condos taking shape. Being so close to Michigan State, the Lugnuts recognize their core base, so keep an eye out for their many dollar days and Thirsty Thursdays.
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WEST MICHIGAN WHITECAPS
Stadium: Fifth Third Ballpark, 4500 West River Dr. NE, Comstock Park, 49321
Level: Single A
Affiliate: Tigers
League: Midwest League
Season: Through early September
Tickets: $16 for premium, $14 for box, $12.50 for reserved, $8 for lawn
Dates to consider: June 2, Jack Morris appearance; June 9, Nate Robertson appearance; June 23, Pat Sheridan appearance; June 24, Star Wars Night; July 14, Dickie Noles appearance; July 28, John Hiller appearance; Aug. 10, Rick Leach appearance; Aug. 11, Eric Munson appearance; Aug. 25, Chris Shelton appearance.
Player to watch: SP Kyle Funkhouser. The Tigers' fourth-round pick in last June's draft, he's had one bad start and four good ones. He has 34 strikeouts in 20.1 innings, and won't be a Whitecap for long.
Outlook: This is a gem of a minor-league ballpark, and one that actually suffered a devastating fire in 2014 -- not that you would know, given how it looks today. This is a great outpost to get your first glance at some of the Tigers' top prospects and recent draft picks.
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TRAVERSE CITY BEACH BUMS
Stadium: Wuerfel Park, 333 Stadium Dr., Traverse City, 49685
Level: Independent
League: Frontier League
Season: Through September
Tickets: $15 for G.A. Short's Biergarten, $10 for reserved chair back, $6 for lawn
Dates to consider: Thrifty Tuesdays ($2 menu items), Thirsty Thursdays ($2 beer, sodas).
Outlook: They own the honor of the best minor-league nickname in the state of Michigan, and possibly all of the Midwest. This is independent ball, so most players are relatively young and went undrafted, or flamed out early in the minors. Either way, this is a fun time.
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UNITED SHORES PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL LEAGUE
Stadium: Jimmy Johns Field, 7171 Auburn Road, Utica, 48317
Level: Independent
Teams: Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers, Eastside Diamond Hoppers, Utica Unicorns, Westside Wooly Mammoths
League: United Shores Professional Baseball League
Season: May 11 through early September
Tickets: $35 for front row club, $20 for platinum club, $15 for infield plan, $15 for drink rail, $12 for backstop plan, $6 for lawn
Dates to consider: May 25, Boy Band Night; May 28, July 3, Helicopter Candy Drop For Kids; June 22, Vintage Baseball Night; July 8, USPBL All-Star Game; Aug. 3, Star Wars Night; Aug. 31, Beatlemania; Sept. 4, Battle of the High School Bands; Sept. 10, Championship Game.
Outlook: This is the second year of the startup independent league, which this year has added a fourth team. Year 1 was a huge hit, as a wildly affordable option for families to see some good young ballplayers, several of which got minor-league contracts in 2016.
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BATTLE CREEK BOMBERS
Stadium: C.O. Brown Stadium, 1392 Capital Ave. NE, Battle Creek, 49017
Level: College
League: Northwoods League
Season: May 30 through mid-August
Tickets: $27 for champions club, $27/$22 for party deck (beer/no beer), $10 for reserved box, $7 for reserved bleachers
Dates to consider: Promotional schedule not yet available.
Outlook: This is a place to see some true up-and-comers, as all players in the Northwoods League must still have collegiate eligibility. The legendary C.O. Brown Stadium was renovated recently, to cut capacity, and increase comfort, with more leg room and the like.
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KALAMAZOO GROWLERS
Stadium: Homer Stryker Field, 21 Mills St., Kalamazoo, 49048
Level: College
League: Northwoods League
Season: May 30 through mid-August
Tickets: $28 for suite seats, $28/$23 for party zone (beer/no beer), $11 for box, $8 for bleacher
Dates to consider: June 2, Frank Tanana appearance; July 15, Jennie Finch appearance; July 16, Mad Chad the Chainsaw Juggler appearance; July 28, Food Fight Night.
Outlook: Outside of the USPBL, this is the newest team in the state, starting play in 2014, filling the void after the Kalamazoo Kings of the Frontier League folded in 2011. It was the perfect fit, allowing for a rivalry with I-94 counterpart Battle Creek.
tpaul@detroitnews.com
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