The Tigers streak into the final game of the regular season having won 3 in a row, 6 of 10, and 28 of 38. But, we’re still a game behind the Rangers as all Texas has done is won 5 in a row, and 9 of 10.
John Lowe covered the significance of today’s schedule in great detail this morning, as he points out that our best case scenario would be a W today, a Rangers loss, and opening the playoffs at home versus the Red Sox. The Rays pitching staff has everyone in a tizzy, but we won 6/7 against TB this year, so bring them on. But in all likelihood, we’ll be at New York on Friday night with CC Sabathia throwing a first pitch ball to AJax around 8:37pm Eastern.
A Porcello win today would grant the Tigers a trio of 15 game winners, two of whom posted a 4.4+ ERA. That says an awful lot about our lineup & bullpen.
Congrats to JV who, unless Weaver appears for a few scoreless innings, will win the pitching triple crown. Kershaw will do the same in LA, and this marks the first time since 1924 that both leagues have produced a triple crown winner.
Tonight’s Home Field Clinching Lineup Feature POG Prediction Ramon Santiago (and eventual ALCS MVP).
1. Austin Jackson, CF
2. Wilson Betemit, 3B
3. Delmon Young, LF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Victor Martinez, DH
6. Alex Avila, C
7. Jhonny Peralta, SS
8. Don Kelly, RF
9. Ramon Santiago, 2B
First.
Second.
I mean second-best record in the AL is something we still have a chance at, with the Angels actually putting up a fight.
Holy Grilli, why Perry there??
And why PH for Martinez, who was 3 for 3?
Leyland.
Angels just tied the Rangers up 1-1 in the top of the sixth.
Ugh, guess who isn’t on the playoff roster.
Ryan Perry isn’t a big league pitcher. It isn’t going to work.
Perry came in from the pen with plane tickets to NYC.
Whe whill whin.
So now we wait on the LA-TX game.
While we are waiting, we can ponder JaKKKson’s line since his “breakout” series against the WS ended on Sept 4: 15 for 85 with 37 Ks, for a sub-Mendoza BA (around .180 and an OBP of around .275). It’s a testament to the rest of the team’s clutchiness that we have done so well considering out leadoff man has been so pathetically bad.
Napoli just took 2 pitches right down the middle of the plate for balls and then hits a home run two pitches after that. Lame.
http://www.brooksbaseball.net/pfxVB/cache/location.php-pitchSel=477229&game=gid_2011_09_28_texmlb_anamlb_1&batterX=67&innings=yyyyyyyyy&sp_type=1&s_type=3.gif
Angels SUCK! National League small ball where Macer Izturus is their big bat…
The Angels a side, this is one of the most intriguing regular season nights of baseball, ever. Rays tied it in the BO of the 9th, 2 out. Go Rays! Go Os
I don’t blame the Angels…..Tigers should’ve won one more game…….like one of those in Cleveland when Indians swept us at the end of April……..
We are off to NY. Actually I would rather see Scherzer and Porcello pitch at home than away, so this may not be so bad.
TB tied the Yankees and BOS-BAL is in a rain delay, so who the Rangers play is still up in the air.
Wow! This was the greatest night of regular season baseball I have ever seen. The BoSox blown save was followed, within minuets, by Evan Longoria’s walkoff winner to complete a most improbable historic PO collapse.
I believe Chris meant “minutes”, but a brisk minuet would also pass the 3 minutes that interposed between the Orioles’ and Rays’ wins.
Post of the day..