Detroit, MI

Detroit Tigers ready for pressure of decisive ALDS Game 5: ‘Great opportunity to be great’

Published

2 years ago

October 11, 2024

Detroit Tigers ready for pressure of decisive ALDS Game 5: ‘Great opportunity to be great’

CLEVELAND — Despite not being able to close out a series win in the ALDS in Game 4 at home on Thursday, the Detroit Tigers are feeling relaxed and confident a day before the decisive Game 5 against the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday.

Manager A.J. Hinch said the team has stayed even-keeled throughout the run to make the playoffs and its first six games of the MLB postseason. He expects the same demeanor Saturday at 1:08 p.m. in front of a hostile road crowd with the season on the line.

“I’m so proud of our team and the way we are handling this — the loud music to the vibe that we are bringing tomorrow,” Hinch said. “It’s a great opportunity to be great. Like, everybody remembers these games and it’s a great opportunity. It’s not a burden, there’s no stress, no tension on our side. And we are going to enjoy every moment of this opportunity it’s where we are and where we want to be.”

MITCH ALBOM: With series on line, Detroit Tigers get playbook stolen by Cleveland Guardians

The Tigers did not have time to dwell on the back-and-forth 5-4 loss in Game 4 at Comerica Park Thursday, with an arrival in Cleveland on Friday morning. Left fielder Riley Greene said being able to compartmentalize and move on is crucial in October baseball, especially heading into a winner-take-all game.

“There is no room for getting down, it is win or go home at this point,” Greene said. “So, there’s no room for getting down on yourself and getting punched in the face. You always gotta punch right back.”

On Thursday night, first baseman Spencer Torkelson said the team didn’t want anything easy, and Game 5 starter Tarik Skubal agreed a day later. He said the team was embracing the challenge of having to clinch a second playoff series on the road.

“It’s why you play the game,” Skubal said. “For moments like this and for stages like this in this setting too. So I think our guys are going to respond well.”

The Tigers have spent most of the playoffs on the road, outside of the two-game homestand in Games 3 and 4 of the ALDS. They went 3-1 in their road games, sweeping Houston in the AL wild-card round and splitting Games 1 and 2 of the current series with Cleveland.

This will be the first decisive, winner-take-all postseason game for most of these Tigers players, but Hinch has experience in his time with the Houston Astros. He guaranteed something “unpredictable” would happen Saturday as both teams desperately try to advance.

“Everybody knows what’s at stake, there’s no secrets,” Hinch said. “It’s the best brand of baseball that you can get because everybody is all in in every moment, every pitch, every at-bat. Any one person can be the difference in the game.”

CARLOS MONARREZ: Maybe I jinxed Detroit Tigers, but I still think they’ll beat Guardians in Game 5 of ALDS

Rubber match for familiar foes

Game 5 will be the 18th meeting between the Guardians and Tigers in 2024. The Guardians took the season series 7-6 and the two teams have been evenly matched in a competitive playoff series.

There are no secrets left for the Tigers or Guardians to spring on each other and will come down to who can make one more play on Saturday.

“We know what we are going to get, they know what they are going to get,” Greene said. “I mean, we’ve seen each other so many times that we know what’s gonna happen. It’s just a matter of, who gets that big hit?”

The Guardians and Tigers have both heavily utilized their bullpens (with Detroit taking it to extremes), turned to key pinch-hit at-bats leading to game-winning hits in Games 2 and 4 and tweaked starting lineups to try to contend with starting pitching.

“I don’t see why tomorrow would be any different,” Hinch said.

Skubal ready for big moment

The Tigers have Skubal going tomorrow and are confident in their left-handed ace to show up again in a big moment.

“He’s going to handle it like the pro that he is and attack the strike zone and attack the hitters,” Hinch said. “He loves competition. He’s into it as much as anybody that I’ve ever put on the mound. And nobody better to give the ball to on the mound in this game than Tarik.”

Skubal has pitched 13 scoreless innings in two starts this postseason, leading to Tigers’ wins in both games. He started Game 2 of the ALDS and threw seven scoreless innings, eventually setting up a dramatic ninth-inning win.

On top of his ability as a pitcher — Skubal won the AL’s pitching Triple Crown this season — Hinch said he lifts the team and instills confidence in the whole roster. It was evident in the Tigers clubhouse Thursday, as every player said they were confident in Skubal pulling out a Game 5 win.

“I know how important every game is to him and I know what it means to send him out to the mound for the confidence in our team,” Hinch said. “He’s going to handle it like a pro.”

Skubal said the respect he’s earned in the clubhouse hasn’t gone unnoticed and is emblematic of the roster’s selfless approach.

“It means a lot coming from them,” Skubal said. “And I think that’s just kind of who we are as a time. We got to battle every single day, we are young, we want it more than anybody so it’ll be a ton of fun.”

Jared Ramsey is a sports reporter for the Detroit Free Press covering the city’s professional teams, the state’s two flagship universities and more. Follow Jared on X @jared_ramsey22, and email him at jramsey@freepress.com.

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Detroit, MI

Best barbershop in Metro Detroit: Finalists for this year’s Vote 4 The Best

Published

1 hour ago

June 19, 2026

Press Room

Best barbershop in Metro Detroit: Finalists for this year’s Vote 4 The Best

Voting on finalists open from June 22 through July 20

What is the barbershop in Metro Detroit? We’ve got our finalists for this year’s Vote 4 The Best category for best barbershop.

Here are this year’s finalists:

Andino’s Barbershop in St. Clair Shores
Bennies Barbershop in Trenton
Chivalry Barber Co. in Royal Oak
The Garage Cuts and Coffee in Plymouth
Walter T’s Grooming Company in Waterford Township

We received more than 16,700 nominations across our 80 Vote 4 The Best categories this year. Each category was then narrowed down to five finalists.

Click here to view the full list of finalists.

Now that nominations are over, voting on finalists can begin. Voting is open from June 22 through July 20, and you can vote for each category once per day during that time.

Click here to vote for finalists in all 80 categories.

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Detroit, MI

Top 10 ‘Hour Detroit’ Covers, As Voted By Readers

Published

12 hours ago

June 19, 2026

Press Room

Top 10 ‘Hour Detroit’ Covers, As Voted By Readers

As part of our 30th anniversary celebration last month, we asked Hour Detroit readers to vote for their favorite covers from the magazine’s history. With all votes tabulated, here are the top 10 Hour Detroit covers, as voted by our loyal readers.

10. May 2022

Our May 2022 cover story by Nolan Bianhi highlighted the rise of Detroit City Football Club. The cover itself, photographed by Sal Rodriguez and featuring DCFC’s rabid Northern Guard Supporters, also birthed the very funny #EdDuckerForever social media trend.

As explained by Editor-In-Chief Kate Walsh in her Editor’s Letter in the June 2022 issue, “When the DCFC fans noticed a fan holding a scarf that said “Ed Ducker Forever,” some were left scratching their heads…Most people figured out that Ed Ducker was born to cover a profanity front and center on our cover, but they didn’t leave it at that. #EdDuckerForever became a thing on Twitter, with DCFC fans and others creating a backstory for this fictional character, including tales of his prowess on the pitch and in the sheets, saving (or dropping) babies, his love of beer, etc.”

Truthfully, the whole incident is symbolic of the overall vibe at any DCFC match. If you’ve never attended one yet, what are you waiting for?

Another piece of trivia: former Hour Detroit digital editor Christina Clark is among the group of fans — she’s the one with pink hair. Coincidentally, the photo was taken before she joined the magazine.

9. July 2023

Featuring a stunning aerial photograph by William Cunningham, the cover for the July 2023 issue of Hour Detroit just draws you in with its beauty. The cover story by Kate Townley chronicled the many reasons (65, to be exact) why the Great Lakes are so great. Frankly, there are plenty more reasons to add to this already extensive list.

Hour Detroit's July 2023 cover featuring an aerial shot of one of the Great Lakes

8. April 2024

Like the DCFC cover, the cover for the April 2024 issue, created by Ryan Olbrysh, has an incredible kinetic energy. Based around Detroit hosting the NFL Draft, the “City Guide” cover story explored all of the details any visitor to metro Detroit should know and featured contributions from Bill Dow, Dana White, Juliana Lumaj, Mickey Lyons, and Jack Thomas.

Hour Detroit's April 2024 cover featuring fans gathered in the city of the 2024 NFL Draft

7. May 2020

For the May 2020 issue, Hour Detroit chronicled the impact of COVID-19 on metro Detroit in a nine-page special report by Steve Friess, Amy Haimerl, Joanne C. Gerstner, and Ashley Winn. The cover depicts the Spirit of Detroit monument wearing a mask and hospital scrubs. The poignant image is an original oil painting by Luke Mack for Hour Detroit.

Hour Detroit's May 2020 featuring a rendering of the Spirit of Detroit statue wearing a mask

6. January 2018

Abdul El-Sayed graced the January 2018 cover of Hour Detroit, was profiled by Lou Blouin, and photographed by Matthew LaVere. At that time, he was a 33-year-old Michigan gubernatorial candidate gaining lots of attention for his rising grassroots campaign.

The former director of the Detroit Health Department lost the Democratic nomination to Gretchen Whitmer. However, the man some thought could be the first Muslim governor in the United States now has a chance at becoming the first Muslim person elected to the United States Senate. El-Sayed, now 41, is in a very competitive 2026 Democratic primary race against Rep. Haley Stevens and State Sen. Mallory McMorrow. Primary elections for the open Michigan Senate seat vacated by a retiring Sen. Gary Peters will take place on Aug. 4, with the Democratic and Republican primary winners facing off in the midterm elections on Nov. 3.

Hour Detroit's January 2018 issue featuring Abdul El-Sayed

5. February 2021

On this cover photographed by Julia Pickett, contributor Steve Friess summed up Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s 2020 rather perfectly: “A pandemic. An ‘SNL’ parody. A kidnapping plot. And mean tweets from the president. Did anyone have a more bizarre and intense 2020 than ’the woman in Michigan’?” Friess’ cover story on Whitmer explored her 2020 experiences and describing them as “surreal” could be the most apt use of that word ever.

Hour Detroit's February 2021 cover featuring Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

4. January 2024

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell headlined our annual “Detroiters” list in 2024, which highlights the people making unique impacts on metro Detroit. His striking portrait, courtesy of the Detroit Lions, appeared on the cover, with contributor Jim McFarlin detailing the rise of Campbell becoming one of the most beloved Detroit sports figures in recent history.

Hour Detroit's January 2024 cover featuring Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell

3. June 2005

Detroit has been very fortunate to have some incredible local news anchors over the years. WDIV-TV’s Carmen Harlan is certainly among the most iconic. A Detroit native, Harlan joined WDIV-TV in 1978 as a general assignment reporter. Three years later, she became an anchor. Paired with Mort Crim, another legendary Detroit news anchor, Harlan continued to serve as anchor until her retirement in 2016. Photographed by Roy Ritchie, Harlan appeared on the cover of Hour Detroit in June 2005 for our “Best of Detroit” issue. In the 2005 edition of our readers’ poll, Harlan won three honors: Best local TV anchor, best TV hairdo (female), and best-looking TV personality.

Hour Detroit's June 2005 cover featuring legendary WDIV-TV anchor Carmen Harlan

2. April 2026

Our latest “City Guide” feature took on the theme of “Hidden Detroit.” In it, we examined lesser-known aspects and treasures in metro Detroit. The cover was of Tintoretto’s “The Dreams of Men,” which is featured in the Detroit Institute of Arts, but it’s in a surprising location. If you’re looking to find out where to spot this gorgeous painting, Jack Thomas and Kate Walsh share its location in their piece appropriately titled “Things You May Have Missed at the Detroit Institute of Arts.”

Hour Detroit's April 2026 cover featuring Tintoretto's 'The Dreams of Men,' which can be found on the ceiling at the DIA

1. June 2019

The 2019 “Best of Detroit” list served as a tribute to Aretha Franklin, who passed away in Aug. 2018 at age 76. Not only did the “Queen of Soul” win the honor of “Detroit Legend,” but she appeared on the cover via an original oil painting by Kim Frank Fujiwara. (Fujiwara won in the category of “Best Fine Artist.”) Simply put: This is a breathtaking cover. We admire and agree with our readers’ outstanding taste in their choice for the best Hour Detroit cover.

Hour Detroit's June 2019 cover featuring an original oil painting of Aretha Franklin by Kim Frank Fujiwara

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Detroit, MI

First responders honored after rescuing 12 people from capsized sailboats near Belle Isle

Published

22 hours ago

June 19, 2026

Press Room

First responders honored after rescuing 12 people from capsized sailboats near Belle Isle

DETROIT – Detroit first responders and several private citizens are being credited with helping rescue a dozen people after multiple sailboats capsized in the Detroit River near Belle Isle during severe weather last week.

The incident occurred shortly after 7:30 p.m. on June 10 as a line of thunderstorms moved through southeast Michigan, bringing strong winds to the area.

According to the Detroit Fire Department, crews were dispatched to Belle Isle near the beach following reports of overturned boats and people in the water.

Firefighters, EMS personnel, Engine 27, and Fireboat 2, known as the Sivad Johnson, responded to the scene.

When crews arrived, they found multiple small sailboats overturned in the river.

Officials said 20 people aboard seven sailboats were involved in the incident.

Twelve people were rescued from the water, while eight others safely returned aboard two boats that remained upright.

Fireboat 2 rescued four people from the water.

The Detroit Police Department Harbormaster rescued two more, while a private boater assisted three people. Another three were brought to safety by a nearby boat club vessel.

The operator of the sailing group said as many as 26 people were on the water before the storm arrived, with six making it back to shore on their own before rescue efforts began.

Despite the dangerous conditions, no serious injuries were reported. Officials said all rescued individuals declined medical treatment.

Authorities praised the coordinated response among firefighters, police officers, boat club members, and private boaters who assisted during the emergency.

“Be aware of your surroundings,” said Detroit Fire Department Fireboat Operator Daniel Familant. “To be honest, we do make a lot of the saves by the private boaters out there that are fishing or just having a good time, and people were out there screaming, ‘Help, help,’ and there they go, so everyone helps out. It’s an all-hands effort.”

Emergency crews remained on scene until everyone involved was accounted for.

Officials noted that one member of the Fireboat 2 crew was serving on the vessel for the first time during the rescue operation.

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