86-73, 1st place, magic # is 1.
The Tigers won their 6th game in 7 tries in dramatic fashion last night to move 13 games over .500 for the first time all year, and 3 games ahead of the White Sox with three to play. Sweet October is here.
I’d like to point out that while Valverde has now thrown 4 consecutive scoreless and hitless innings, allowing only 1 walk, two of his outs yesterday were scorchers that took great plays by AJax to call them outs. And he’s only struck out 2 in those 4 innings, which isn’t an acceptable K/9 ratio for a closer. Benoit is coming off of his worst outing of the year, so we do have a bit of bullpen chaos, though Leyland likely doesn’t recognize it; which is probably best at this point in time.
But let’s be honest, the playoffs are a mere formality. While losing 3 to the Royals is not out of the question (2006 anyone?), the White Sox would have to concurrently win their last 3 to force a one-game playoff. Winning one will be a chore for the pale hose. Sox and Indians start an hour before us. Remember what we discussed last week about the Tigers’ playoff performance and Leyland’s contract.
The AL Playoff Scenarios are wide-open, as the Rangers, Orioles and Yankees scramble for pole position, and the A’s hang on to the final WC spot. As stephen reminded us yesterday, some funky MLB scheduling means that the lower seeds will open at home this year for 2 games, with the final 3 games on the road. So if the Tigers do indeed find themselves in the postseason, they’ll open with Verlander and Fister/Scherzer at Comerica on Saturday and Sunday. As of now, the Tigers could find themselves opening against any of the Rangers, Orioles, Yankees and Athletics.
Max Scherzer threw yesterday and said his shoulder was fine, though unless the Tigers find themselves in a win or go home situation on Wednesday, I expect his next start to be game 2 in Detroit.
Cy Chen against Ricky P tonight. Considering how well Sanchez has thrown as of late, I imagine that this could be Porcello’s last start for a while.
A few notes:
– ESPN is going to cut in for each of Miggy’s ABs on Wednesday. Cabrera holds a slim lead over Mauer for the batting race (.325 to .323) is tied with Hamilton for the HR lead (43) and has a comfortable lead in RBIs (136 to Hamilton’s 125).
– JV’s 2-0, 1.20 ERA last week earned him co-player of the week honors.
Today’s Player of the Pre-Game – Big Prince Fielder. Fielder has 3 HRs, 7 RBIs and 5 runs over his last 10 games. A hot Fielder means more pitches for Miggy.
Tonight’s Playoff Clinching? Lineup:
1. Jackson, CF
2. Infante, 2B
3. Cabrera, 3B
4. Fielder, 1B
5. Young, DH (remember when he used to play in the OF? Hilarious.)
6. Peralta, SS
7. Dirks, LF
8. Garcia, RF
9. Laird, C
What better way for Little Ricky P to turn his outings around than getting a win for the Tigers and a Central Division Championship? What other motivation does he need?
A Tiger fan since 1950 here, and familiar with the years in the wilderness when the boys were not very competitive. No matter what happens over the next few day/weeks, it has been an entertaining year, and I have hopes that Jim will return next year. He is a good old fashioned baseball man. It’s good to have his kind around.
WSox 0, Indians 0 after 4. Cy Santiago vs Cy Kluber.
Jhonny P! Let’s beat Chen!
Lamont?
I think that was all Dirks as the replay showed him running without a glance to the 3b Coach. However the arms of Gordon and Francouer shant be tested! However maybe the Tigers are learning how to beat Chen by hitting basehits?
Time for a pitching change?
Little Ricky successfully makes it past his nemisis of the fickled, fateful, funky, fifth inning. (Thank you Omar!)
Leyland should take him out now and let him finish his regular season Tiger career on a positive not.
That was good.
Miguel 3C Cabrera. Pretty soon it will be mathematically impossible for Mauer to catch him in batting average!
More good!
Mauer goes 1 for 5 tonight and is at 0.322 to Cabrera’s 0.327.
Toronto tied it, the game is still going.
Twins lose, no more AB for Mauer tonight.
A quick back of the envelope calcuation….if Cabrera goes 0-8 in the last two games and Mauer goes 8-8, Cabrera bats 0.325 and Mauer 0.324.
I looked it up in the tables. With that scenario Mauer finishes at .332 (182 for 548) and Cabrera .323 (201 for 623). But Cabs has one more AB as I write.
Thanks for the math check Vince as I was keying off 178 hits for Mauer. Meanwhile we can’t forget Mr. Trout.
He’s 3 for 3 tonight, now hitting .324.
A double and walk…I guess Alburquerque decided to audition for the closer job. He needs some work on the uncontested steal though.
Eek…this could get ugly…
Props to Leyland for allowing Benoit to pitch through his slump in an important game.
Next up, The Potato.
At last!
Only Babe Cabrera should be MVP
Raburn, Kelly, Santiago and Boesch to start tomorrow. Fister pitches gem, but Tigers lose 1-0.
He could even pitch a no-hitter in that scenario and lose 1-0, right?
Well, what a surprise this season ended up being.
Little Ricky get’s his 10th win! Sweet!
Out of town and just heard the excellent news. GO TIGERS!
Another year of Leyland!
Let’s hope!!
Kill me now.
Am going to stay up late tomorrow and watch the A’s/Texas, if the A’s win we could have one of the best game 162s ever on Wednesday (afternoon, unfortunately).
Just read the Tigers used an alcohol free sparkling beverage to celebrate in deference to Miggy, our TC candidate. Nice gesture, as someone sober for 19 years, I can relate! And now, the second season!!!!!
DET likely will open the ALDS @ home in the new 2 -3 format…against ??? probably the Yankees, but that could change.
Congrats to DET!
It is only for this year.The second wild card was added too late
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/miguel-cabrera-sits-out-raucous-tigers-celebration–even-with-division-title-in-hand-and-triple-crown-near.html
good piece by Jeff Passan on Cabrera, JL & Tigers… interesting how today Passan is saying Cabrera is a ‘lock for MVP’, when yesterday his column stated that Trout ‘should win’ it. Individual honors are nice, but delivering a World Championship to Mr Illich, DET players/coaches and fans would be astronomically better than a MVP (Cabrera) or another Cy (for Verlander)…and if they play anywhere near what they’re capable of, it could happen.
I am old school, and can see no reason to deny Miggy the MVP esp. if he wins the Triple Crown. Someone asked me the other day what WAR was, I replied that it was the opposite of peace, and something our country has been at for too long. I cannot see how a stat can be derived from two intangible factors, these are humans, not machines we are talking about.