Detroit Tigers: 91-64, 1st Place (6.0 ahead of Cleveland). Magic Number: 2
Well, time certainly does fly, flies like Prince Fielder scoring from first on a double, and comes barreling home to this my last regular season post. Time to get myself in playoff shape.
With a magic number down to 2, it is possible for the Tigers to celebrate the division title in front of the home fans. The Tigers need to beat Chicago today, and pull for the Astros to beat Cleveland (the games are simultaneous). I imagine there will be some scoreboard peaking.
The home fans were certainly treated to an exciting comeback win last night. I confess I had stopped paying attention when the White Sox started adding runs in the top of the 9th, but woke up when Torii tripled to lead off the bottom of the inning (there is something about triples that get your attention, more sustained excitement and crowd noise than the quicker home run blast).
9th inning summary:
- Torii Hunter triples
- Cabrera singles, Hunter scores
- Fielder singles, Cabrera to second
- Martinez doubles, Cabrera scores
- Andy Dirks, pinch-hit three-run home run
- Omar Infante walks
- Ramon Santiago sac bunt, Infante to 2nd
- Alex Avila walks
- Austin Jackson walks
- Torii Hunter sac fly, Infante scores
- Cabrera walks
- Fielder grounds out
That’s a whole game’s worth of action there. The last Tigers team to make up a deficit that large in the 9th inning: the 1947 team which featured George Kell.
*****
OK, enough celebrating, here is the part of the blog where we get anxious. Miguel Cabrera had to leave the game early yesterday, and is now Day-To-Day with groin soreness. The Tigers are certainly capable of winning without Miguel Cabrera in the lineup, but…well, you want a healthy Miguel Cabrera in the lineup, and that might not be possible.
*****
Jose Iglesias still is hampered by his bruised hand, and can’t field grounders. He may miss the next series also.
*****
If you have been wondering where Bruce Rondon has been, he has had some elbow soreness. He is scheduled to come back Tuesday, and is throwing a session in the bullpen today.
*****
Today’s Player of the Pre-game: Don Kelly. The Donkey makes everyone forget Miguel Cabrera with a key hit. OK, well not really (the Cabrera part I mean; I am calling the hit).
Today’s Home Closing Lineup:
- Jackson, CF
- Dirks, RF
- Fielder, 1B
- Martinez, DH
- Kelly, 3B
- Avila, C
- Infante, 2B
- Santiago, SS
- Castellanos, LF
The Prince steps up!
4-run 9th inning comeback should be no problem.
Hmmm…..Avila is 3-3 and Pena pinch hits a double!
JL genius at work, Too bad I’ve gone over to the other side. 51%.
Detroit is now 5 games ahead of Cleveland. If you were to take out the head-to-head games, Cleveland is 6 games ahead of Detroit:
Cle 82-55 .599
Det 76-61 .554
Detroit’s eventual division title will be completely a product of Detroit’s ability to beat Cleveland, nothing more and nothing less.
Yes, but if you take out the Angels and A’s, they’re tied:
Det 73-51 .589
Cle 73-51 .589
Also, if you arbitrarily void all of Cleveland’s wins, Detroit has a comfortable lead:
Det 91-65 .583
Cle 0-70 .000
A loss seemed almost inevitable after the incredible comeback. Panic is in order if they don’t get right back with a win over the Twins. Don’t want the Tigers to end up a footnote in the Indians storybook.
Inevitable or not, it was a serious drag on my Game Post League ambitions.
Relax. You’re tied for first place, and there’s a good chance the Tigers’ spring training approach to the finale is going to cost me 2 of 3 in Miami.
You still have a shot at the wild card, Kevin.