Detroit Tigers

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 3:13 pm

Kansas City Kid wrote:The Twins and the White Sox are both headed for the postseason and Detroit will get left out!

Easy to say that now with the lead as small as it is. How's that NL cellar treating ya, by the way? Nobody knows how to lose like the Cubs...

Finally a little luck on the side of the Tigers last night. They obliterate the Orioles to get Bonderman his first win since July. Plus, what are the odds that on a night where Santana and Garland start for the Twins and Sox respectively and they both end up on the losing end. Granted, Santana got an ND and Garland had a decent start in his loss...I'll take these types of days going down the stretch. The Tigers flat out need to win on days the Twins and Sox lose. The longer this lead holds out, they should be able to sneak into the playoffs and hopefully do something in October. I think if they can survive the Sox series next week, they'll get in. (survive = holding onto either of the two playoffs spots when the series is over)

War playoffs going on sale Tuesday.

Qbert · Post by **Qbert** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 5:00 am

KARMA Sholzie

Mud Hens WIN the Govenors Cup!!!!!!

Back to Back CHAMPS!!!!

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 2:04 pm

Qbert wrote:KARMA Sholzie

Mud Hens WIN the Govenors Cup!!!!!!

Back to Back CHAMPS!!!!

Props to the 'Hens...

Ironically, they beat the Twins affiliate...the Rochester Red Wings.

5 games clear of Chicago...that's probably the more important number right now than the margin with the Twins.

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 1:06 am

Tigers in solid shape going into the monster three game set in Chicago starting Monday. The Sox get swept in Oakland...the A's certainly needed those games to help put distance between them and the Angels. The Tigers are just one clear of Minnesota but most importantly up 5 on Chicago. Given the amount of ground the Sox need to make up to catch either the Twins or the Tigers...these are games they must have. There is also that potentially gigantic series to end the season with 3 games at the Metrodome. The Sox for the most part control their own destiny. The Twins can put the final dagger in the Red Sox with their three game set. If Boston can somehow sweep them...they'd be 5 back in the wild card and they could have an outside shot at the postseason. On the other hand, the both Sox clubs could be put out their misery with series losses.

Remaining schedules for the AL Central contenders...
Detroit
at Chicago (3 games)
at Baltimore (1 game)
at Kansas City (3 games)
vs. Toronto (3 games)
vs. Kansas City (3 games)

Minnesota (GB: 1)
at Boston (3 games)
at Baltimore (3 games)
vs. Kansas City (4 games)
vs. Chicago (3 games)

Chicago (GB: 5)
vs. Detroit (3 games)
vs. Seattle (4 games)
at Cleveland (3 games)
at Minnesota (3 games)

Probables for the Sox series...
Monday: Rogers (vs. CHI 2-1, 1.00) vs. Buehrle (vs. DET 0-1, 5.56)
Tuesday: Verlander (vs. CHI 1-3, 6.97) vs. Garcia (vs. DET 3-0, 5.18)
Wednesday: Bonderman (vs. CHI 1-1, 3.17) vs. Garland (vs. DET 3-1, 4.51)

Based on the matchups, I like the Tigers in at least one of the games...Monday would be the one for them to win with how well Rogers has thrown lately and against the Sox this season. Garland and Garcia have good success against the Tigers this year...I'd call those bonus wins if they could steal either of them away. Winning one game means they won't gain more than a game on them in the standings.

Kansas City Kid · Post by **Kansas City Kid** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 1:52 am

Detroit goes 3-10 the rest of the way and there are bitter tears in Murder City.......

And yes, it sucks to be a CUB fan right about now! At least the ROYALS moved ahead of Tampa Bay and are not the worst in the AL (as of today!).......'sup T-REX??? :D

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 8:02 pm

All the Tigers need to win one game against the Sox and then go 6-4 in their final 10. That would force the Sox to have to go 10-0 just to finish in a tie record-wise or 9-1 if the Tigers just go .500 in those last 10. I'm not familiar with the tiebreaker...the Tigers have the better division record but obviously the Sox have already won the season series with the Tigers. To expect the Tigers to win at least 5 of their final 10 games against Baltimore, Toronto, Kansas City isn't asking too much. Even if they go 4-6...hopefully not...the Sox would still have to go 8-2 to tie the Tigers. I'm sure they'd like to win the series and put the Sox 6 games back with 10 to go and have their magic number down to 4. As long as they don't get swept, they'll be in a position of power in the last week and a half. I think it's just a matter of time before the Twins pass them and go onto take the division but the Tigers are in a good position to make the postseason as long as they take care of business against Chicago starting tonight.

Kansas City Kid · Post by **Kansas City Kid** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 8:38 pm

You better just hope they take care of business against that A-Ball squad AKA the Royals. In fact, the KC minor league system has some pretty decent players trying to make a case for next season and will be very loose out there, unlike the Tigers whose asses will be so tight you won't be able to drive a needle up there with a tractor!

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 3:14 am

One step closer to the playoffs...8-2 win in the opener. Rogers throws another six solid innings. He threw a few too many balls but got 12 ground outs including 3 double plays. The Thome home run was too little too late and the Inge shot in the ninth was just icing on the cake. Again, I don't want to worry too much about the Twins...if they pass the Tigers, it doesn't keep them from the postseason. 12 games to go for the Tigers and Sox and Chicago has 6 games to make up. Do that math...the Tigers can go 6-6 and the Sox would have win out just to tie. This was a crucial win and the mountain for the Sox to climb just got taller. Very business-like performance...they haven't put a game like this together in quite a while.

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 2:58 pm

Shoalzie wrote:War playoffs going on sale Tuesday.

Got two tickets for Game 5 of the ALDS...I wouldn't pay for playoff tickets unless they were in a deciding game. Also, there's a possibility they might not be hosting Game 5 if they fall to the wild card or if the win the division with third best record out of them, the A's and the Yankees. They refund the money if the game is never played so it's not like I'd be paying for nothing.

Kansas City Kid · Post by **Kansas City Kid** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 9:18 pm

I lived in Northville and had just graduated from Western Michigan in the summer of '87 and went to all of the Blue Jays - Tigers games down the stretch when Toronto choked away that five game lead with a week left culminating in Fernandez' error on the final Saturday of the season as the Tigers won the division. My pop was buddy's with the owner of Galligan's downtown and he got us ducats to see the Twins win the pennant that postseason in Detroit on a weekday afternoon game with grey skies and 34 degree temps. They had to take the Twins' wives out of their seats after Brunansky hit a HR that put the Twins way up and Tiger fan got unruly. Stadium personnel turned the lights out as the Twins celebrated the pennant in the darkness of late afternoon! That was after I had seen the Tigers sweep the Royals out of the '84 playoffs my sophomore year but at least was in KC when they beat Saint Louis in '85! Best baseball games I ever saw that year!!!!!

WolverineSteve · Post by **WolverineSteve** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 11:56 pm

Kansas City Kid wrote:I lived in Northville and had just graduated from Western Michigan in the summer of '87 and went to all of the Blue Jays - Tigers games down the stretch when Toronto choked away that five game lead with a week left culminating in Fernandez' error on the final Saturday of the season as the Tigers won the division. My pop was buddy's with the owner of Galligan's downtown and he got us ducats to see the Twins win the pennant that postseason in Detroit on a weekday afternoon game with grey skies and 34 degree temps. They had to take the Twins' wives out of their seats after Brunansky hit a HR that put the Twins way up and Tiger fan got unruly. Stadium personnel turned the lights out as the Twins celebrated the pennant in the darkness of late afternoon! That was after I had seen the Tigers sweep the Royals out of the '84 playoffs my sophomore year but at least was in KC when they beat Saint Louis in '85! Best baseball games I ever saw that year!!!!!

If memory serves... Fernandez wasn't around the last couple games. He broke his arm when someone (Gibby?) took him out at second during a DP. I was at the finale when Tanana pitched a gem shutting out the Jays and Herndon provided the only run with a tater. Those were the days. Unfortunately we spent too much getting to the post season and ran into an upstart Twins squad. Here's hoping we meet the Twins in the ALCS.

WolverineSteve · Post by **WolverineSteve** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 6:33 pm

Tonights game is a virtual playoff game. It'll be interesting to see how Bonderman reacts. If he can get a W in tonights game the Tigers will almost certainly win the Wild Card at the very least.

If Schilling can get it done against the Twins tonight, the Division hopes will increase dramatically. A day game with the O's tommorrow and a handful of games with the Royals sandwiched around a three-gamer with the Jays...if they can't hold off Chicago and/or Minni with that closing week they dont deserve the post-season.

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 10:55 pm

I would like to see a win tonight to at least hold off the Twins another night. I'm with you...gotta hope Schill helps out the Tigers tonight. Santana goes tomorrow against Beckett...that's pretty much a sure W for the Twins. The Tigers pretty much need to do themselves a favor and put more distance between them and the Sox by getting the rubber game tonight. Garland has been a Tiger-killer though so Bonderman needs to step up and steal a win. He seems to end up facing the best starters on every team the Tigers have played of late. Johnson, Santana, Garland...and he'll likely face Halladay in the opener against the Jays. Somebody out of this rotation needs to return to some consistent form since Rogers has kept this team from sinking further. This team hasn't played well when they've had to play desperate. They played their best ball in the middle of the season when it was just a matter of taking one game at a time and playing loose and having fun. They've got to regain that mentality but at the same time understand the importance of the final 11 games.

Racer X · Post by **Racer X** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 2:37 am

The W.Sox are teh suck. Makes my night to come home and find the Tigers on TV. That does not happen much here in the Portland/Vancouver area what with the Mariners and all.

That was a nice stolen base there at the top of the 8th by Guillen. Bad stick and all.

Now if Zumaya can hold 'em off...........

Racer X · Post by **Racer X** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 2:39 am

Ordonez is KILLING them.

WolverineSteve · Post by **WolverineSteve** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 3:19 am

Good win...all but seal a playoff spot.

Now we need to continue our mastery of the Royals and win the division.

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 12:16 pm

Great series for Mags and a well-earned 2-out-3. Garcia ate 'em up on Tuesday but they bookended two great games. Gotta be careful for this trap game today in Baltimore before traveling to KC. With Santana throwing tonight, the Tigers need this one today to hold off the Twins another day.

WolverineSteve · Post by **WolverineSteve** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 3:02 pm

Look for Nate's usaual lack of run support. Poor guy. He and Bonderman deserve much better records.

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 12:16 pm

Another day of both the Twins and Sox losing...this time, the Tigers handle their business. By no means do I see the A's as an easy opponent but I'd much rather face them than the Yankees right away...so winning the division will be huge. The Twins still have a game at hand and that last series against the Sox won't nearly have the same meaning since Chicago could be eliminated as early as today. It'll be interesting to see if the Tigers still hold a game lead or the division is tied on that final Sunday...will the Twins start Santana? If the Tigers or the Twins have the Central sewn up by then, I'd bet they rest him for Game 1 in their ALDS series. The Tigers get a small break coming up against Toronto...they won't have to face Halladay.

Right now, I have no idea how the Tigers should set up the rotation for a 5-game or 7-game series. I honestly think they can go with a 4-man rotation for either situation. In a 4-man rotation in a 5-game series...you're Game 1 starter also would start Game 5. If I was to setup the 4-man rotation for the ALDS...regardless of opponent or having home field advantage...I'd go with Rogers as the Game 1 and 5 starter, Verlander in Game 2, Bonderman in Game 3 and Robertson in Game 4.

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 12:37 pm

Some very good news...Polanco is being activated from the DL and will play tonight.

September 22, 2006 - Associated Press
2B Placido Polanco will be activated from the DL and play on Saturday. Manager Jim Leyland said Polanco would play Saturday but not Sunday and will be available for the stretch run. Polanco has been on the DL since mid-August with a separated left shoulder.

BlindRef · Post by **BlindRef** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 7:19 pm

9 runs in the top of the second.

THat should make it official for the Tigs.

First playoff appearence since 1987.

Bless you boys.

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 12:17 am

KC Kid...how do you like your crow prepared? :wink:

Great celebration...props to FSN for showing that. The team should hopefully loosen up now that the pressure of just getting in is over with. It won't be easy to hold off the Twins for the next week but with their remaining schedule, it's possible. That extra game the Twins play on Monday will be gigantic. Lose that one and the Tigers go up 2 with 6 games left. The Tigers can go 4-2 and force the Twins to run the table just to force a tie. If they do win Monday and make it one game, it changes the complexion of things quite a bit. Bottom line is that they are now in the playoffs for the first time in 19 years and this will really be my first time experiencing a Tigers' playoff run since I was just a wee chap in '84 and '87...too young to remember either year.

Probables to close out the season...
vs. Toronto
Tuesday: Bonderman vs. Towers
Wednesday: Robertson vs. Lilly
Thursday: TBD vs. Burnett

vs. Kansas City
Friday: Rogers vs. Hernandez
Saturday: Verlander vs. De La Rosa
Sunday: Bonderman vs. Perez

Twins' probables...
vs. Kansas City
Monday: Bonser vs. De La Rosa
Tuesday: Santana vs. Perez
Wednesday: Silva vs. Hudson
Thursday: Baker vs. Redman

vs. Chicago
Friday: Garza vs. Buehrle
Saturday: Bonser vs. Garcia
Sunday: Santana vs. Garland

I almost wonder how things would be different had the Twins played the Sox to start the week with the Sox not quite elimated from the wild card. Possibly by this next week, that series has a different tone if the Twins clinch a playoff spot and Chicago has nothing to play for other than pride.

Terry in Crapchester · Mon Sep 25, 2006 12:23 pm

Props to the Tigers for holding it together and clinching. Of course, you had the benefit of a favorable schedule down the stretch (6 games vs. KC in the final 1 1/2 weeks).

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 1:17 pm

Terry in Crapchester wrote:Props to the Tigers for holding it together and clinching. Of course, you had the benefit of a favorable schedule down the stretch (6 games vs. KC in the final 1 1/2 weeks).

The Twins have four games with those same Royals starting tonight...I don't want to hear the schedule argument if they can't take care of their own business. The bottom line is that the Tigers have to beat the teams that are put in front of them...they don't make the schedule and the division format is set up so you play X number of games against each divisional opponent and it happens that they meet up with the Royals to end the season. Somebody has to play them...

Kansas City Kid · Post by **Kansas City Kid** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 6:11 pm

Enjoy the first round exit and waiting another 19 years for another sniff. It could be worse. You could be a CUBS fan (or Royals!).

WolverineSteve · Post by **WolverineSteve** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 6:23 pm

^ No matter what happens in the post season, this year has been special. It should give hope to the KC's and TB's of the world. The turn around has been amazing. With the way the front-office stock piled young arms, the Tigers will be a factor for years to come.

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 6:26 pm

RoyalFan at least has the mid 80s to be proud of. CubFan is the only true suffering fan since their drought is pushing a century. Both of the Soxes got their titles...don't think the Cubs will any time soon though. IndianFan has a complaint as well...hasn't it been since the 40s for them? RoyalFan has it bad right now but they haven't lost 119 games. Futility loves company but thankfully I don't have to deal with another season like that this year. I'm going to enjoy every moment of this because it could possibly not happen again for another 20 years.

MgoBlue-LightSpecial · Mon Sep 25, 2006 11:39 pm

Terry in Crapchester wrote:Props to the Tigers for holding it together and clinching. Of course, you had the benefit of a favorable schedule down the stretch (6 games vs. KC in the final 1 1/2 weeks).

Please. It's a 162 game season, and they had to win a HELLUVALOTTA games against good teams, great teams, mediocre teams, and basement teams all season long, just to even get to the playoffs. Plus, their lead over Chitown was basically cemented prior to the Royals series. So had they faced more formidable foes, and lost the Central to Minny, the wildcard would have almost assuredly been theirs anyway.

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 12:49 pm

Twins win their extra game and eliminate the Sox. It simply comes down to 6 games each and a one game lead for the Tigers to decide the division. I'm not aware of the tie-breaker format but I thought I heard the Tigers would win the division in the event it ends in a tie. The Tigers won the season series 11-8 over the Twins and the Tigers will finish the year with the better record in the division regardless of how things finish. I would assume either of those records would determine the tiebreaker. If this is the case, the Tigers in essense have a 2 game lead since the Twins can't win the Central if they are tied. The Tigers would probably want to win it outright anyways plus they are tied with the Yankees for the best record in the AL right now. Home field throughout the playoffs would be huge...especially for the Twins with them finishing with the best home record in baseball and with Santana being unbeatable in the Metrodome. The Tigers can probably win the division with 4 wins in their final 6. The Yankees finish the year with 6 games at home...3 games vs. Baltimore and 3 games vs. Toronto. Oakland is 4 games behind the Yankees and Tigers so they will most likely go into the playoffs with the 4th best record in the AL but still a formidable side.

There is no clear cut favorite in the AL given each team has a potentially fatal weakness. The Yankees have an older and injury-proned team, a thin rotation beyond their top 3 and they always are under the microscope being in New York and throw in the A-Rod drama to boot...however, they have by far the best lineup in the AL. Detroit is inexperienced, they are more of a pitching by committee with no #1 guy and their lineup is prone to being too free swinging. Minnesota is very thin in the rotation after Santana...that honestly isn't a huge weakness and the Twins may have the fewest holes right now and they become a tougher team if they capture home field. Oakland hasn't gotten out of the ALDS in a long time, Street has struggled closing games and their lineup the weakest of the four remaining teams...however, Thomas is making a late push for MVP. I'd rank the AL teams as follows: 1. Minnesota, 2. New York, 3. Detroit, 4. Oakland

Degenerate · Post by **Degenerate** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 8:07 pm

Rack the Tigers. After this garbage year, TribeFan will be happy enough seeing the White Sox eliminated.

WolverineSteve · Post by **WolverineSteve** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 8:18 pm

Tigers Celebration....

http://youtube.com/watch?v=17gmWd2lJb4& ... er&search=

in 5 parts.

Rack the Todd Jones interview.

Great to see Kaline and Horton in the clubhouse. I love Jim Leyland.

Illitch needs a new rug.

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 2:10 pm

Two more games...and with the Twins-Sox game being early today, the Tigers will know whether or not winning tonight means clinching the division tonight or they need to hold off the Twins for another day. Garland vs. Garza and Miner vs. Burgos are the matchups for today...Burgos is making his first start of his MLB career after being primarily a reliever. The Tigers were a Brandon Inge dive into the crowd away from having their magic number down to one last night. After he was unable to grab that foul ball off the bat of Maier, he drove in the tying run a few pitches later. Maier and Mauer victimize the Tigers the last two nights...if the Nelson finishes that game on Thursday and Jones is able to retire Maier, the division would've been clinched already. The Sox came dangerously close from blowing a 4-1 lead in the 9th last night...it just shows that nothing is a sure thing until the last out is retired. All the Tigers need to do is hold serve and the Central is theirs...they have the head-to-head series victory for the tiebreaker. The Yankees clinched homefield with the Tigers and Twins losses. The A's are locked in as the #3 division winner. If it comes down to tomorrow...Bonderman vs. Perez and Vazquez vs. Baker...both early games. Bonderman starting Sunday tells me he probably won't throw any earlier than Game 3 of the ALDS next week. I'd bet that Rogers and Verlander will go in Games 1 and 2 and then Robertson and Bonderman will throw in Games 3 and 4.

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 5:48 pm

Sox up 5-0 in the 6th and State losing at the half...this day has all the makings.

MgoBlue-LightSpecial · Sat Sep 30, 2006 5:52 pm

Why do you hate Sparty?

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 6:21 pm

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:Why do you hate Sparty?

I don't hate anything...I just don't like State. You live in Michigan and you pick a side from the beginning and I chose the school in Ann Arbor. I don't go out of my way and root for State to lose every game but when you're 4 TD favorite against an awful team for homecoming...I have to giggle a little.

Sox up 6-0 in the 8th...

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 6:58 pm

One win away from the AL Central title...

Hard to believe the Sox could beat the best home team in baseball that is battling for a division title when they sit Thome, Crede, Konerko and Dye...luck is on the side of the Tigers. Take care of business tonight, boys!

WolverineSteve · Post by **WolverineSteve** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 9:56 pm

Go out and end it tonight. Give Ledezma a spot start tommorrow and set up the rotation for next week.

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 10:36 pm

WolverineSteve wrote:Go out and end it tonight. Give Ledezma a spot start tommorrow and set up the rotation for next week.

He threw last night...I say throw Miller, Durbin or Tata...maybe all three. I'd use guys that won't be on the roster for ALDS.

Here's who would be on my 25-man roster for the divisional round (knowing that Maroth isn't going to be named to the roster):
Catchers (2): Rodriguez-R, Wilson-R
Infielders (6): Casey-L, Guillen-S, Infante-R, Inge-R, Perez-S, Polanco-R
Outfielders (5): Gomez-L, Granderson-L, Monroe-R, Ordonez-R, Thames-R
Designated Hitters (1): Stairs-L
Starting Pitchers (4): Bonderman-R, Robertson-L, Rogers-L, Verlander-R
Relief Pitchers (7): Grilli-R, Jones-R, Ledezma-L, Miner-R, Rodney-R, Walker-L, Zumaya-R

Rotation
Game 1: Rogers
Game 2: Verlander
Game 3: Bonderman
Game 4: Robertson
Game 5: Rogers

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 1:03 am

I guess we'll have to wait until tomorrow...7-0 Royals in the first. Do these guys want this division title or not?

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 10:16 pm

Congratulations to the Twins on winning the AL Central crown. They were the better team during the last few months of the season. Risky move by Leyland to throw Rogers in relief today...Verlander will have to start Tuesday for sure. Hopefully he can go on Wednesday. Very tough to end the year with sweep at home against the worst team in the division. Bring on the Yankees...gulp.