#4

Ryan Sturm

Nickname: Sturmy

Bat/Throw: R/R

Birthday: 7/17

Years Playing With The Tigers: 2001-present, ever since Coach Brandl signed me...13 years.

Position(s): IF/OF

High School/Graduation Year: Springfield High School - Class of 2002

College: THE St. Cloud State University

Family: parents: Robert "Bob" and Sharon Sturm; siblings: Mary Sturm, Karie Belling, Randy Sturm, Ann Leshovsky, Shauna Brockmann; the In-Laws: Todd Belling, Paula Sturm, Dan Leshovsky, Scott Brockmann

Job: Application Specialist and furniture hauler for Hayden Furniture

Best Part Of Playing Amateur Baseball: Playing in front of my Mom and Dad and many other great fans.

Thoughts on Brandon Wilhelmi's Return to the Tigers: Great to have my guy "Chuck" back with the Tigers. I was always pretty hopeful I would get to play with him again and will likely never forgive him for leaving me. Even though I would never tell him this in person...he is a pretty dang good player and an even better person. Happy to see he and his lovely wife Katie, and their young stallion of a man/future 1,000 point scorer, Blake back in Springfield. Good man, good teammate, superior gravel road driver...the guy likes to drive fast on those dang things.

Should both the AL and NL use the DH with interleague play all year long? No way, I am a firm believer in the theory..."If it isn't broke, don't fix it." God forbid an AL manager actually have to manage a game a few times out of the year.

Will Davis give Nocky an at-bat this year? I think he has to. You gotta let the big dog eat. When I am around the area spreading the Tiger Baseball love...you wouldn't believe how many times I get this question. The man can flat out mash. He is a opposing manager's/pitcher's worst nightmare with his switch hitting ability and flair with the red spikes. The man is a gamer and he needs the stage to showcase his abilities.

Who will be the first person to miss a sign? Wait...so you mean to tell me that Davis gives signs down there? I don't think I've gotten a sign from Davis in 10 years...especially on the base paths.

Favorite Baseball Announcer: Ken Harrelson for the Chicago White Sox - only because he is by far the most biased announcer in all of sports. There was a study done in the Wall Street Journal and their findings may even impress our own Vikings Announcer Paul Allen.
  "During the White Sox game - a 2-1 win against the Texas Rangers - Harrelson and Stone (but mostly Harrelson) made a whopping 104 biased statements," the Journal wrote. "To put that in perspective, the Cleveland Indians duo of Matt Underwood and Rick Manning ranked second with just 23 biased comments and 24 of the 30 teams had fewer than 10."
  "You caaaaan put it on the boooooaaaaaaaaard...Yesssss!"

What should happen if a softball shows up in the dugout? I am sure many of us have all seen the clip of the infamous Chicago Cubs - Steve Bartman ball being blown up...with that said, I think that would be a lot of fun.

Parting Thoughts: Gaylord Perry hit a home run after his manager said they'd put a man on the moon first. Debuting in 1962, Perry played in an era where pitchers weren't only expected to pitch, but hit as well. Talking to reporters over his pitcher's inability to hit, San Francisco Giants manager Alvin Dark joked "They'll put a man on the moon before Gaylord Perry hits a home run." During a game on July 20, 1969; a mere 20 minutes after Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon, Perry stepped up to bat and hit his first career home run.
  This leads me to believe that bold statements like, "Jason Nachreiner will get an at bat before one of our pitcher's hits a home run" do, in fact, work. Best wishes to Jason and the staff.
  #DavisNation