2012 and the 40 Game Mark

Here again we sit at the 40 game mark.

Verlander tips hat after
finishing almost no-hittter against
Pittsburgh on May 18

This time the year is 2012, and the Tiger's roster has all of baseball expecting the Detroiters to be the AL Central Champs – and to at least advance well into the playoffs.

So all of Tigers Nation has been on pins and needles waiting for this lineup of hitters that can actually switch from left to right handed hitter every batter – we have all been waiting for this lineup to explode.

The opening series looked promising – as just such explosions went off against Boston – Cabrera and Fielder showing what an amazing powerhouse combo they could be.

Justin Verlander came out of the off season with the same kind of control and domination he showed last year.

"Great, so how are the boys doing then?" Might ask the recently recovered survivor stranded on a dessert island.

Well, right now the Tigers are …. Drum roll please … wait – let me double check baseball-refernce.com quick to make sure …

from baseball-reference.com (C) 2012

Third place? Four games back of Cleveland?

A game under .500?

The whole of Tigers Nation is wondering what used car salesmen sold this fan base on the hype of this team.

And this year, I have listened, read, and participated in far too many conversations revolving around firing the pitching coach, the hitting coach and the manager.

Fans are pissed off.

Just to rub a bit more salt in the wound, the Tiger's released long time fan favorite / superhero Brandon Inge as he was hitting below .200 and was not doing very well fielding at second base – only to see Inge picked up by AL West rival Oakland and have a career week and be in the running for MLB player of the week – a week that included games against a west coast traveling Tiger's squad.

But now Inge is on the DL – in Oakland – and all are left to wonder if that was but one last gasp of dying career before what appears to be inevitable – but so often postponed by the will power of Inge.

Yes, I agree, that was a paragraph too many about Brandon Inge.

Justin Verlander's pitching has been stellar – but a hitting slump disallowed Verlander to win giving up only two or three runs – and a failing bullpen has pulled the wins out from under Justin's feet. He sits right now at 5 – 1, but that record should be oh so much better.

Two nights ago, Verlander carried a bid for a no-hitter into the ninth – effortlessly blasting 100 mph fastballs and nasty breaking other stuff past a formidable Pittsburgh Pirates lineup – only to have it broken up by a "get-a-barrel-of-the-bat" stab at a low curve resulting in a bloop single hit up the middle by Josh Harrison with only two more outs until perfection.

And the fans reaction after that game?

Leyland should be fired for playing Jhonny Peralta at short stop because Peralta did not dive for the ball.

Check out this teams batting average at the 40 game mark:

Strong hitting from Jackson Dirks, Cabrera, and Fielder show a strong front four players at the top of the line up. But Dirks has been batting in the two-hole only recently – Boesch held that spot in the order for the first thirty games.

The numbers look good, and once in a while the front of this lineup does explode. But overall this Tiger's gunpowder seems to be wet – and finding dry patches to spark appears to randon at best.

Aside from Verlander – there hasn't really been anything stellar to point to. Jose Valverde who went perfect in 2011 in save situations – has been nowhere near perfect in 2012 – losing his first save opportunity for Verlander in game one of 2012 – the celebrated home opening day in Detroit.

Fisters been hurt. Porcello and Smyly (a rookie with great promise up from Toledo) have held their frustrating own at .500 – and the rest – basically throwing batting practice with umpires on the field.

And that's how we sit at 4 games back in the AL Cenral – one game under .500 after the first 40 games of the 2012 season.

Does it look like things will turn around? Well Verlander's almost no-no the other night certainly gave promise – but there is little real signs that anything else will change.

Basically – this team is playing well below potential now. The whole team. And that has led to fans screaming for Manager Jim Leyland's head. That and some questionable decisions. It's hard to read the papers and sports news sites – or listen to the radio.

Tiger fans are livid.

I think things will find their level – and the Tigers will get hot for twice the streak they are slumping. I do think they will pull out of this and nobody need be fired – although I think it's time to send Ryan Raburn someplace like Toledo.

But I do think the Tigers will survive this period.

But I appear to be in the minority. We don't need a scapegoat.

We just need these guys to follow Verlander's and Cabrera's and Fielders example – and start delivering what they owe this team, and these fans.

Not Good Enough - Not Yet

AP Photo: Cabrera and Verlander

It’s September 10^th and the boys of the Old English D are 20 games over .500.

The Tigers are 9.5 games up on the dastardly bastardly White Sox, 10 up on the Indians, and 23 games up on the Twins – the team that in past years (2006 and 2009) made the Tigers look foolish by sliding by on the last pitch of those seasons to swipe the AL Central Division Title.

The magic number this morning is 10. There are 18 games left to play. The Tigers have won their last 7.

I think now we can all take a deep breath and realize the Tigers will get to the post season.

Those last seven games have been against Chicago, Cleveland, and Minnesota. They have been beating up on weak pitching. Justin Verlander’s Cy Young bid has been secondary talk to the debate over whether a pitcher can be the AL MVP.

The additions since the All Star to the Tiger’s roster have been key. Wilson Betimit at third, Delmon Young and Doug Fister have each contributed significantly to help stretch the lead by adding power at the plate and solid pitching into a weak rotation.

But in the words of Yogi Berra – it ain’t over ‘till it’s over.

Yeah, I know. That’s not a great attitude. But I still have that horrific taste of 2009’s game 163 in my mouth – the last game ever played in the dome from hell in Minnesota – next to the Twin Cities airport – the one that brought my last feelings of Tiger’s jubilation crashing to the ground like the meteor that slammed into the Earth millions of years ago and ended the reign of the dinosaurs.

But it doesn’t smell like that this year. 2011 smells much sweeter, more so than 2006 when the Tiger’s lucked out by having the AL wildcard slot to fall back into after being swept by Kansas City in the final three games to watch Minnesota tip-toe past them to back into the AL Central Division title.

It smells a lot better this year. The air is sweetened by power appearing up and down the line up scoring 73 runs in their last 8 games – averaging a hair more than nine runs a game, and outscoring their opponents by an average of more than six runs a game.

Yes, it’s true this streak has taken place against AL Central rivals – the Tigers haven’t played outside their division since their last game in Tampa Bay August 25^th, but that’s what they needed to do to pull away from Chicago and Cleveland – beat the snot out of them.

And they have.

So now the talk turns instead to looking forward to the post season, and where will they finish in the bigger picture of the four post season contenders. The wildcard will be in the East, that’s a lock, so you know both the Yankees and the Red Sox will be in but the Yankees are not a lock with only a 2.5 game lead, and many conceding the Red Sox are actually the better team of the two. In the West, Texas and Los Angeles are also battling with the Rangers up by 2.5 – but the loser of this race can only sit and watch.

If the playoffs were to start today, the Tigers who are a single loss better than Texas – would be playing wildcard entry Boston in the ALDS – not the best match up for the Tigers. But the Tigers would have the opportunity to throw Verlander at them twice and Fister once in a short five game series – so they do have a fighting chance.

The post season is the big unknown. To me it’s a really big black hole where anything could happen once the Tigers get there. Notice I said when?

Listening to the sports radio this morning, the eminent Pat Caputo hosting his Saturday morning show – one caller in particular spoke vehemently that Tiger fans should not be satisfied unless they win the World Series. The good sport side of my brain - the dominant side I’m afraid – thinks that’s the wrong attitude. But deep in my heart – and in that tiny suppressed side of my psyche – agrees that this year just getting to the playoffs is not good enough.

Not after 2006 when the Tigers folded in the World Series against a much inferior Cardinals team, folding and freezing up offensively – and defensively with pitcher fielding errors in damned near every game – choking like they did against Kansas City in the final three games of the regular season .

No, the playoffs are not good enough.

This newly expanded explosive offense needs to be fully loaded and ready to go off like crazed madmen satisfied with nothing less than World Series rings at the end of October. No standing at the plate with men in scoring position watching strike three go by.

No Brandon Inge on this post season roster. As you can tell by my last post some two months ago now, I thought we put that enigma to rest. Instead we need to see a lineup of hot Cabrera’s, Martinez’s, Young’s, Avila’s and even Santiago’s and Guillen’s hit line shots with power all over and out of the park. We need Verlander’s and Fister’s and Scherzer’s nailing the corners with 95-100 mph stuff and wicked-ass breaking stuff leaving Bo-Sox batters standing at the plate whimpering like little girls not invited to the Halloween dance at the local elementary school.

Is that too much to ask?

Baseball – it has been said – is a game of losing. You lose more than you win. If you get on base just once in three times at bat, your succeeding even though you failing two thirds of the time.

We’ve seen the Tigers lose before. They used to be pretty damn good at it.

Should these Detroiter boys of summer not continue deep into fall and win this whole thing, Tiger fans will feel heartbreak. Tiger fans will see 2011 as another missed opportunity. Tiger fans will find it even harder to get emotionally steady to go through it all over again in 2012.

Mr. Illitch isn’t getting any younger. His recent spending will attest to it.

Mr. Leyland isn’t getting any more cleverer. His recent decision making will attest to it.

Mr. Dombrowski won’t get any more insightful, his recent off season acquisitions will attest to it.

2011 has to be the year. Anything less won’t be enough.

The cards are all on that table. And the Tiger’s Leyland holds a pretty decent hand. But baseball, like poker, has eight strong contenders sitting at the same table, betting and bluffing and pulling out straights and royal flushes and full hoses and royal straights. This is the big boy’s table.

The way I see it, the rest of this season depends as much on Leyland’s ability to play his cards right, lining up his starting rotation and picking the right hot hitter in the two hole in the lineup, and managing his bullpen.

I can tell you for sure that Leyland will be second guessed by Tiger fans at every move he makes.

I can’t wait.

But I’m not wearing my heart on my sleeve this year. It hurts too much.

Brandon Inge - The End Of An Enigma

Well, this is likely the end of the Brandon Inge era in Detroit.


Inge has accepted an assignment to Toledo … to take one final shot at continuing his professional career in the bigs. An assignment he is unlikely to return to Detroit from.

I am an Inge fan.

I would have rather he retired.

I would have rather on the return from the All Star break, that Brandon just step up to the microphone and said:

“Thanks guys, it’s been great. Baseball has been very very good to me. I will miss the game and the fans and wearing the Old English D, but it’s time I move on. I have purchased a ranch and my family and I will now enjoys a comfortable life raising llamas and camels we will donate to underdeveloped nations”

A couple of tears, a couple of hugs from teammates and managers and executives … a wave … and … goodbye.

That would have been classier. And it probably would have been added to the list recent Tiger emotional moments.

And he would have gained the a little bit of that respect back from those fans that are gladly holding the door open now for Inge to walk out.

But that opportunity is gone, and Brandon will likely fade away – out of sight and out of mind of Tiger fans. Back to riding team buses and carrying his own bags in hopes of creeping his average back up to .240 and that a call may one day come saying “The team needs you Brandon, you’re the only guy that can help us now …”

Of course, by accepting the Toledo assignment, Brandon still has a chance to return to Detroit. Should Inge go to Toledo and suddenly hit .310 off of Triple A pitching. And Wilson Betemit gets hurt. And Kelly gets hit by lightning.

And the Tigers are by then past the July 31 trade deadline.

But Inge is now hitting .177.

It’s almost impossible to hit .177. A check swing single now and then should at least get you to .180.

And he does average twenty or so errors a season. Inge was not a golden glover by any means. But he did come through with some of the best highlight reel plays of the last ten years. Diving catches behind third – throwing on his knees – before they were broken – to first – to nab a speedy runner just before their foot came down on the base.

Great stuff – the kind of plays we watch baseball to see.

I can’t think of another player who inspired such fan loyalty with such unimpressive numbers – the kind of loyalty that had fans voting him the player of the game when he didn’t really do anything but maybe bare hand a bunt down the third baseline and toss out the runner.

Love him or hate him, Inge is an enigma in Detroit. I looked it up:

e•nig•ma  [uh-nig-muh]


1. a puzzling or inexplicable occurrence or situation


2. a person of puzzling or contradictory character

There was a picture of Brandon next to the definition. Okay, I made that up – but there should be.

Brandon is like the kid down the street that you hope does well, and because the fans liked him so much and seemed to identify with him so much – a really good play by Inge was interpreted to be an amazing play that human beings can’t make. Add to that – a batter hitting .240 who steps up in the ninth inning once or twice and hits a game winning homer or drives in a game winning run.

But he didn’t get those kinds of hits very often. But Inge fans might tell you he did it all the time. Inge might tell you so as well.

Then there was Brandon’s appearance in the 2009 All Star Home Run Derby – after being voted in by fans like me typing crazy codes into a computer screen for several days in a row – often neglecting family and personal hygiene in the process – only to cringe to hear Inge was going to participate in the homer bashing contest meant for names like Pujols and Cabrera and the likes – then to shrink into utter embarrassment for Inge as he barely hits a softly tossed pitch out of the infield.

Remember that? I know you do. That action right there redefined Inge to me.

The guy does have an ego … as well as an undeniable case of the “delusions of grandeur”.

And you know – Brandon was never the same after that. And then the knee surgeries that he never quite recovered from

But ya still liked the guy.

Anytime I went to Comerica Park, I always saw Inge signing autographs along the field line – or after a game through the security bars on the other side of the street as the other Tiger players hopped in their Maseratis or Lamborghinis and pulled out of the player’s parking lot – leaving the day’s game behind them.

And then there was his involvement in the community – visiting sick kids in hospitals – a truly heart wrenching activity to be sure – and lending his face, name, and presence to various charitable foundations and organizations in the area.

Of course fans love him.

They rooted harder for Inge than any other Tiger in the last twenty years.

And I for one do not want to take that part of Brandon Inge’s legacy away.

It’s one thing to be the greatest third baseman of all time like Brooks Robinson, An achievement that Inge never came close to.

But it’s another to be ranked up there with the most loved players possibly in Tigers history – with names like Kaline , Horton, Fidrych, Trammel and Gibson – a goal Inge reached in some inexplicable manner seemingly with ease.

And in the long run – which is more important – even in the game of baseball?

And by indicators shown by Inge – that love was mutual.

What's On Second?

Jim Leyland explains infield
changes to 1st baseman
Miguel Cabrera

Okay, I know. The old Abbot and Costello bit right?

Well given the fact I have worked with guys named Hu and Watt – that bit has made for hours of stupid rehashed jokes when figuring project work assignments.

But now I’m serious.

Who’s on first? Why Miguel Cabrera – no issue there – hitting nicely over .300 and playing a solid one bag. No problems.

But what’s on second? That’s the question.

This season started with Will Rhymes, who could barely hit the ball past the grass line of the infield – despite some really nice defensive plays.

But the Tigers need offense.

So Scott Sizemore – hitting .400 or so in Toledo comes back up and Will goes back down. Sizemore starts hot but fizzles to the two hundred range. A month later and Sizemore is traded to Oakland for a nice reliever. Oakland sent Sizemore back down to Triple A.

And we all miss Placido Polanco. He’s on second.

In Philadelphia.

So what’s on second?

Well, Jim Leyland came out and told us it was going to be Ryan Raburn. Raburn is to be our everyday second baseman.

Raburn? Left fielder 4A player Ryan Raburn? The star of many outfield highlight reel bloopers like the fly ball that bounces off him and over the fence for a home run Ryan Raburn?

What?

Okay, so What’s on second. But not all the time – because also playing second is Ramon “I’ve been trying to be an everyday player with this team for five years now” Santiago. And that just ain’t happening because Santiago apparently isn’t good enough to play every day.

I never really understood the concept of a Major League ball player who can field and hit being considered not to be good enough to play every day? Did he sleep with the wrong guy’s wife?

Well, if he plays everyday his numbers go down.

Okay – play him every other day. Then Raburn won’t be your everyday second baseman. Right?

Well, there’s also Danny Worth – who’s also listed on the official roster as an infielder like Santiago. Play him too? Raburn is after all listed on that same roster as an outfielder.

Maybe he plays a deep second base. Chatting with Boesch and Jackson in right and center between pitches?

I dunno.

Third base.

Well that’s Brandon Inge, has been for a decade now – great defense – no bat. He’s floating around the .200 mark right now.

What? Inge has mononucleosis? Really? He must have caught it when diving into the stands for a foul ball.

Well then who play’s third?

I don’t know.

No questions about the Tigers’ shortstop though – Jhonny Peralta is hitting great – although some may critique his range. I love the guy myself.

Our starting pitching is pretty solid right now. Sure the fourth and fifth spot guys might show up and might not – but so far pretty good. And we finally seem to have our bull pen tightened up, And Alex Avila has proved me so wrong about being our everyday catcher I feel I need to send him flowers for what I wrote here about him at the start of the season. Now he’s on the All Star ballot – and he deserves to be there.

And I really like that Andy Dirks kid – I think he is going to grow into our everyday left fielder – every day with Casper Wells and Don Kelly – oh yeah – and Ryan Raburn.

No Raburn’s on second.

Right.

No that’s Brennan Boesch.

Okay, okay I get it.

There has to be a deal brewing. There has to be something happening out in the trade waters that GM Dave Dombrowski is scheming up – perhaps building a deal to acquire Jose Reyes from the Mets?

Wouldn’t that be sweet? The Mets are struggling to keep the team afloat and Reyes is hitting .285 ish. And he plays a great second base.

Could be?

I don’t know.

What I do know is that until all this nonsense get’s straightened out – the Tigers will likely be no better than a .500 team. And that Cinderella mistake by the lake Cleveland no longer looks like a fluke – this first half of the season looks like the Tigers in 2006 and 2009 – blowing the AL Central away before the All Star break – a month away now.

Can Cleveland keep this pace up?

Are the dastardly bastardly Chicago White Sox starting to put it together to make a run after the Tigers? Will the Tigers – currently in second – four and a half behind the Indians and three games up on Chicago as June starts – will they even be in the race come mid July?

What a strange season.

It’s like a bad Vaudeville skit, for sure.

At the 40 Game Mark

Sparky Anderson passed away in November of last year. The boys of the Old English D are sporting crests on their sleeves to commemorate his passing.

One of the Sparky traditions that continues on is his concept that after 40 games you should have a good idea of what type of team you have.

Now’s a great time to do so – if you’re the Director of Marketing for the Tigers.

The boys are hot. The hottest team in baseball – enjoying a 7 game winning streak. They have won 10 of their last 11.

Justin Verlander pitched a no hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays – then followed it up by pitching his next game against the Kansas City Royals with no hits into the sixth inning.

The whole starting rotation has actually been great through all forty games to date - Max Scherzer leading the way with only having no losses to his credit. And now Phil Coke is also starting to get into the rythm of the new role of starting pitcher.
Victor Martinez is hot – and taking advantage of opposing pitchers fear to pitch to Miguel Cabrera.

Austin Jackson has rebounded and is backing his strong defense up with great hitting in these last 15 games.

Alex Avilla – a player I berated heartlessly at the beginning of this season as one of the worst decisions made to allow him catch every day despite poor hitting in the preseason and opening games of 2011 has proven me to be … well … dead smack wrong and clueless.

I say that proudly by the way.

But the first 25 games of this season – save one series with Chicago – stunk.

There was the kerfuffle deciding who would play second base – Tiger veteran Carlos Guillen injured (and still recovering) and Scott Sizmore not yet ready to come back up – second base was plattooned by Will Rhymes and Ramone Santiago.

Not a long term solution.

I remember when Will Rhymes was sent back down to Toledo to bring Scott Sizemore up. Pat Caputo – Sports writer and columnist for the Detroit area’s Oakland Press, and host of the blog Open Book, wrote a post titled “Change at second base could just be the start for slumping Tigers”.

The Book on Sports was right – that was indeed the when the turning of the tide began. After that the Tigers took on and won series against the Yankees, Twins, Blue Jays, and AL Central second place Royals.

But we still have 122 games left to play – almost two thirds of the season.

And we do have to expect this hot streak will slow after a bit – although I hope it’s not too soon.

But at this point of the season, with the bats hitting and the pitching strong, I think indeed the Tigers are the best team in the Central division.

I think Cleveland has already started to slow – and perhaps as early as next weekend our beloved Detroit baseballers will indeed be in first place.

And will remain there until the All Star break.

Sound familiar? We’ve danced to this song several times before in recent seasons.

It’s not the first 80 games you have to worry about. It’s the second eighty.

And if Jim Leyland and Dave Dombrowski want to keep their jobs – there can be no second half rapid decline of lethargic play and continual losing streaks busted up by the odd win here and there.

So I can’t tell you with any confidence today just what this means to the Tigers final standings in the opening days of October.

We all have our hopes and we all have our opinions.

What do you think?

Will the Tigers lead the pack until the All Star Break – then sputter in the second half?

Will there be a trade of significance? Will we get a left or right fielder? Will Brandon Inge be replaced – his average is below his career level – which is not a lofty bar to shoot for.

What do you think?

Leave a comment below and let’s talk this season out.

The Tigers Threaten But Don't Score

I am so sick of hearing Dan Dickerson say “and the Tiger’s threaten, but don’t score”.

Yesterday I threw a beer bottle at the radio.

Sorry Dan, I wasn’t aiming at you.

Luckily tonight I was out of beer.

This is the theme of the 2011 Detroit Tigers – who after 29 games now sit with 12 wins and 17 losses. 8 games back of Cleveland.

Yeah, Cleveland. What the hell’s going on in Cleveland?

And Kansas City? They sit 4½ games up on the Detroit baseballers.

The Tigers can get men on base. But at the end of most innings, those same base runners trot into the dugout from the base they were standing on to get their gloves.

As a fan, this is maddening.

But even more maddening are the errors that are plaguing this defensive squad.

Short hop grounders through Inge’s legs, and bad throws to first. Pitchers tossing the ball into the outfield or foul territory trying to pick off runners. Balls that bounce off the outfielders or over their heads – one bouncing off Ryan into the stands for a dinger. Passed pitches on Avila – pitches he should be catching – bouncing back to the wall as opposing base runners trot home from third.

On the topic of Avila, his bat has been incredibly hot hitting in the .340s. But I do not see the same quality defense that the announcers and sports talk radio seem to say. He looks to me to be hard to pitch to.

Our starting rotation, for the most part, has had quality starts, but the bullpen – supposedly hoped to be the strength of this club in the spring, has seen both Benoit and Valverde fail in Grande style.

This line up has some power – sporadic and dispersed throughout – with not enough hitters batting over .240 to string together a big inning.

You can count the number of big inning this season on one hand. And you can’t use your thumb.

In fact, the way this squad plays defense, you wonder if these boys have thumbs to put in these gloves.

But this news just in. Will Rhymes, the Cinderella second baseman who hasn’t hit over .200 has just been sent down to Toledo, and Scott Sizemore is coming back up to challenge once again for the two-bagger spot.

Will that help? I don’t really consider Scott Sizemore to be a sparkplug.

But Miguel Cabrera plays on. Solid defense and powerful consistent offense.

Cabrera has picked this team up and is carrying them all on his shoulders. But for the most part, the rest of this squad is just dead weight. Aside from Peralta and Avila, and Ramón Santiago (when they let him play) – this squad is just dragging every positive thing done by the starting rotation and Miggy down like an anchor in deep still seas.

So close. So far away.

These current wearers of the old English D aren’t bums. But it’s hard to defend the brand of baseball that they have played in these first 29 games.

But some - if not more than some – of this blame lies on the shoulders of Manager Jim Leyland – who insists all his ball players are professionals. Perhaps. But professionals earn their pay checks. This squad – save a few – are really just enjoying playing in the big league parks with big buildings in the back drop.

Some of Leyland’s decisions are hard to defend – leaving struggling pitchers in – pulling strong releiver’s too early – sending runners at the wrong times – and trying to play small ball to move runners into scoring position with the players not executing.

Good grief.

I love my Tigers. And I haven’t missed following a game somehow yet this season. And this is just frustrating. Exhausting. Humbling. And humiliating.

Because night after night it’s just the same old story.

The Tiger’s just threaten, but they just don’t score.

Jeter Dreaming

I would like to take a moment to dream.



Derek Jeter turns two as
Carlos Guillen slides into second.
Photo Credit : Detroit News


To fantasize about the impossible coming to be real.

Imagine Tiger fans, if the Tigers actually signed a 3 year deal with Derek Jeter.

How would that change the face of the Tigers?

The Tigers did not option Jhonny Peralta for 2011. Shortstop is an open position.

And it’s likely that the Tigers will say goodbye to Maglio Ordonez in right field that will free up some 9 million dollars in payroll.

And we said goodbye to another former Yankee Johnny Damon.

But Jeter is likely worth some 25 million a year.

And he wil be 37 years old in 2011.

And he is coming off a less than stellar year in 2010 – by Derek Jeter standards.

A career .314 hitter who slumped to .274 last year has a face known to baseball around the world.

And the Tigers already have proven future hall of famer Miguel Cabrera playing first base.

What would this mean?

It would mean a strong left side of the infield with Brandon Inge and Derek Jeter on the left side.

It would mean a solid base hitter in the 2 or 3 slot of the lineup before Cabrera.

It would probably average at least one more run per game.

It would mean a solid clubhouse presence – a man you know will have a future in baseball past his playing days – managing or in a front office position.

It would mean a larger impact to the Tigers’ recruiting efforts than even Ivan (Pudge) Rodriguez had when he joined in 2004, drawing names like Polanco, Ordonez, and Guillen, the past core of a competitive Tigers roster.

The impact would be significant.

But is it worth $60 – $75 million over three years?

Yes.

The upside is so much greater than the down side.

Derek Jeter does have some Michigan roots.

He went to Central High School in Kalamazoo. He is in their hall of fame.

Now I am not clueless here.

I realize that prying Jeter out of the clasp of the Yankees organization is a pipe dream. Why would he want to leave his Manhatten apartment in the Trump Towers to come to Detroit?

How could the Tigers possibly pull this off?

I don’t think they can.

But maybe, just maybe.

We can dream can’t we?

What do the Tigers really need for 2011? Besides a shortstop?

A left and right fielder to surround Austin Jackson.

A catcher. We need a dependable receiver who can frame the pitch and throw out a stealing base runner. Who can hit hotter than .220.

And we need a second baseman. A guy who is ready now. Although if Scott Sizemore’s ankle heals over spring – maybe he is the guy of the future? But who wouldn’t want to come to Detroit to play second beside Jeter?

Imagine Jeter at shortstop.

That’s a game-changer. An impact player.

Imagine how other players would look differently at Detroit with a Jeter – Cabrera combination – on defense and at the plate.

To me, this is a litmus test for Dave Dombrowski, the Tigers General Manager – to see if he sees what I see in the potential gain. And even more so to Mr. Illitch – to see what he is willing to put this Tigers team over the edge of competiveness.

I know some of you think I am nuts for this idea. This pipe dream. And all of you who will comment to say “this will never happen” – you’re most likely dead right.

But let’s see if the Tigers pursue Derek Jeter.

To me – this would say more than if they actually got him.

We’ll find out tonight after midnight.

The Men In Black Must Get The Call Right

A couple of weeks ago, the American League Central looked like a race between two horses. The Twins were three ahead of the Tigers, and the White Sox were four behind.

But lo and behold – it's now a three horse race.

And now we sit in the final days of June – the final weeks before the All Star Game – with the Twins up by a game and a half, and the White Sox and Tigers now tied for second.

Every game of the one hundred and sixty two to be played in a season is equally important. The Tigers and Twins proved that point and punctuated it with a big old game 163 to determine the AL Central winner. A change in any win or loss in the prior one hindered and sixty two played by either team would have nullified the need for that 163^rd game.

No longer do Tiger fans – nor Twins fans I presume – feel comfortable in stating "It's a long season and it's early yet…", because every win and loss is added up into the same totals column on the stats sheet.

But the outcome of a game is not entirely within the control of the players on the field. The men in black are showing us more and more this season that the final out of a game is equally decided by their judgments – right or wrong – accurate or blindly self righteous.

The blindly self righteous umpiring needs to be changed. These men in black – the blind bums as baseball fans have known them now for over a century – they need to get it right!

Just last night – a shining example again played itself out for Tiger fans.

The Tigers were playing the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field and were down four to one in the top of the ninth. Miguel Cabrera ripped a scorching solo dinger to make it four to two. Brenan Boesch struck out. And so did Guillen – the Tigers down to their last out. Brandon Inge fouled off some six or more strikes to finally earn a walk.

It was Inge's best at bat of the season.

Then the wheels fell off the otherwise impeccable Atlanta bullpen. The next three batters were walked – and the score now stood at four to three. And Johnny Damon came to the plate. With the count full, the wily veteran held off on a pitch well outside the plate. The tying run should have walked into home with Ramón Santiago due to come to the plate next for a chance to take the lead with a base hit.

The third strike called on Johnny Damon by umpire Gary Cederstrom.

But that outside pitch was called a strike. Damon argued with the umpire as they walked off the field together – asking in the end that the umpire to please look at the replay when he got in the club house.

And for the second time this 2010 season, the umpire agreed he had missed a call – stating to a pool reporter after the game – "it didn't look good".

And then everyone went home.

The Braves Announcers said "well, a win is a win I guess".

So true. It's been that way as long as umpires have been known as blind bums.

The Tigers cheated out of one of those one hundred and sixty two very important chances to win the game.

The Twins having beaten the Mets that day with outstanding pitching – and the White Sox winning as well, the Tigers fell from a half game back to a game and a half back of the Twins and into a tie with the once distant White Sox.

And again the idea of using the available technologies of the day to ensure umpire accuracy is discussed. And this is a discussion I personally don't like to hear.

I am a person who makes their living by designing and constructing technical solutions. And my feeling has always been that technology is best applied to enhance the work of human beings – not make up for a person's inadequacies.

To do so means it no longer matters if people make mistakes – the technology will correct them. The person no longer to be held accountable – the technology will right the wrong.

Oh, sure there are places for such thinking – like in the air traffic control tower where mistakes cost people their lives – or in operating rooms where a slip can also cost the life of a patient.

But for crying out loud this is baseball.

Why have umpires at all if technology like instant replay and pitch tracking can result in a one hundred percent accuracy rate? Why pay a guy to dress in black and stand behind the plate if his calls don't matter.

Imagine the inevitable outcome of such a direction. A routine pop fly to center field – caught easily by the fielder – and the sound of an automated female voice ringing out over the loudspeaker "The batter is out". Next – a single up the gap – the runner turns first and slides into second as the throw from the left fielder reaches the second baseman and the tag is applied ….. seconds pass … the automated female voice over the loudspeaker states unemotionally … "the runner is safe".

No umpire behind second swinging his arms apart to make the call visible at the second it happens … merely a soft female voice … like the one who asks you one the phone … "press one for billing inquiries" …. Making the calls on the field.

Do you want that?

Or all eyes moving to the big scoreboard video screen to see if the pitch was inside or outside the strike zone – defined by a square – the ball a mere dot?

That's not baseball.

A lot of talk has been made of late about the 'human element'.

What I have just described to you is the result - should the human element of the umpire be removed from baseball.

Mindless automated unemotional responses to questions that have fans players and coaches waiting breathlessly for the response.

Do we want that?

Personally, I don't want that.

I want that umpire behind the plate making the call on balls on strikes with the option to ask the umpire at first or third if the batter went too far. I want that man in black standing behind second base making a call with either a fist pump or a swing of the arms to call safe or out.

What I want is umpire accountability.

What I want is umpire reversibility.

But maybe there is a place where the two positions can meet in the middle.

A compromise. A real solution.

You see, in my opinion, the problem is that the Umpire has it embedded into his head that once he has made a call – he can reverse it. He can't change his mind. He can't say – "oops, I really screwed that up … the runner was out!" or "I spoke to fast … the pitch was a ball".

If we think so highly of an umpire – like Jim Joyce – who's bad call cost Armando Galarraga a perfect game on June 2^nd – by calling the runner safe when he was indeed clearly out – as they admit their mistake with contrite sincerity – then why can't that umpire change his mind so he can right the wrong when it counts – during the game?

That's the old fashioned line of thinking that needs to change – an umpire can admit he was wrong – that he spoke to quickly – that he had doubt – and then let the umpire see the instant replay - have a look – and make the right call.

Not a female automated voice – or graphic displays on a scoreboard screen. Show the replay on the scoreboard so it's clear to everyone – which they do not do now – and the umpire then forced to change his mind if he is wrong.

It takes a big man to admit he is wrong.

It takes a bigger man to admit he is wrong in front of 43,000 screaming fans – but if he makes it right – then all is forgiven.

And an umpire in the Major Leagues – in The Bigs – in The Show – should that big a man.

And remember – it works both ways – in half of these instances the umpire will be proven right. And when those times come – the umpire should be able to say to those 43,000 screaming fans

"See, I told you so – now shut the hell up and let me call this game!"

Spring Training Season Ticket Sales Snow Jobs

originally published on February 25, 2010

I took a couple minutes at lunch today to read my personal email.

There in my inbox was another email from the Tigers enticing me to purchase season tickets. There were some really affordable deals for small packages of fifteen games in not so bad locations.

I am not a rich man. My money is wrapped up in my little girls needs, the roof over our head, the wheels we drive to get us from point A to point B, and the food that goes on our table.

Not much left over for Tiger season tickets.

But I like to dream.

Just for fun I took a look to see what it would cost to sit in my favorite Tiger Den seats – the ones with two chairs and a table – like sitting on your own private patio watching the game from behind home plate. We like to get Tiger Den seats once a year as a special treat when the Yankees or Red Sox come in. Last year we were there for the final game of the season against the rotten White Sox – the game after the Miggy ordeal, and the day before the single game playoff in Minnesota.

I choked on my quasidia when I saw the eight thousand dollar price tag for a full season.

I couldn't get eight thousand dollars for my Jeep on a trade in.

The next email in my inbox was a list of the latest Tiger news coming out of Lakeland Florida.

"Zumaya Looking Great – Throwing Hard" read one headline.

"Cabrera Wowed By Healthy Bonderman" read another.

"Leyland Says Turner Could Be Special" read the third.

"Rayburn and Kelly Could Be Tigers Next Supermen" read the last one in the list.

I spewed the pop in my mouth all over my monitor on the last one.

It's spring training rhetoric rising up from Lakeland like the warm air of Florida rising up across the states between to the arctic temperatures of Comerica Park.

Hot air in deed.

Season tickets have to be sold. Eight grand for two seats in the Tiger Den for a season I would imagine is a hard sell.

But it gets a lot easier if Zumaya – the rock star of bullpens can resume his voo-doo-child anthem old form – lighting up radar gun numbers over 100 mph..

And easier still if Bonderman – who almost all Tiger fans have written off – can return to the form he had in 2006 when he still held the title of Ace over Verlander.

And my goodness, let me get out my checkbook right now if young rookie Turner is being seen as a new Porcello or Verlander too.

But then – the Tigers Marketing team had to take it a hair too far – proclaiming Rayburn and Kelly to have the potential to be rising supermen.

Supermen?

If Rayburn and Kelly can rise to be supermen – then what in the world would you classify Cabrera and Verlander as?

"Why Super-duper men of course" – would respond the Tigers marketing team.

This is a hard time of year for the normal working stiffs like me. It's Spring Training time in Lakeland, and it's been a long winter that our current snow flurries gives no hint of ending.

I for one am dying for the return of Tigers baseball.

And any news I can get of how spring training is going is like gold.

I am was in the minority earlier this off season in thinking the Tigers have a good shot at contending if not taking the AL Central this year. Signing Johnny Damon has made a lot of others jump on board my little bandwagon.

It's the AL Central. Hell, Cleveland has a shot.

Okay, not really.

I firmly believe Ordonez will not be in the same fog he was for the first three quarters of last season.

I firmly believe that Cabrera will take his game to the next level this year, having already developed into a skilled and proficient first baseman (which I didn't think possible a year ago), he will up his slugging average and will become a clutch player that he wasn't last season.

I am anxious and optimistic to see Austin Jackson assume centerfield – now that I am over my bitterness for losing Granderson to those rotten Yankees. And Johnny Damon in left field is an upgrade from Carlos Guillen – although I feel like a heel for saying so.

They have been waiting for Sizemore to come up from the minors to assume second base for over a year now – although I know he will completely fill the empty cleats that Polanco left behind.

And I am confident that Verlander and Porcello will step right back into the groove they left off in last year.

Watch this to be Porcello's breakout year. The dreaded "sophomore slump" will not infect Porcello this year.

Okay, I said it.

Adding a quality closer in Valverde is one of the most positive moves I have seen this year. Although I admit I was puzzled – hell I was frustrated to be honest – as to why that deal was made after failing to sign Polanco and trading Granderson.

I think we have tons of positive news to look forward to this season – coming out of Lakeland and carrying over into the first months of Spring and Summer.

And I think Season Ticket sales are going to do well, growing as the year goes on.

But telling me Rayburn and Kelly are rising superstars?

They both have decent bats – but they both are prone to fielding errors.

I'm glad we have both available for those situations when we can call upon them.

But don't try to snow me a week into Lakeland workouts declaring these two as potential "supermen".
I have enough snow already.

Johnny Damon … Uh … Welcome to Detroit

originally published on February 20, 2010

Johnny Damon signed a deal this afternoon with the Detroit Tigers.

Eight million dollars for one year – with no second year option – and pending a physical that he is to take tomorrow.

As you might surmise from my first post here, I was not exactly jumping up and down – urging Dave Dombrowski to make this deal.

I was against it.

As I stated before – we already have senior players with big names who have just passed their apex in the major league baseball career curve.

And we just got rid of a couple not long ago.

Remember Pudge and Sheff?

But now we have him.

We have a left fielder with a .282 bat. No arm but he can hit from the left side of the plate. He can lead off.

Apparently we also got a guy who is good in a dugout and great in a locker room for keeping his team on target.

Let's remember – Johnny will be getting a World Series ring shortly.

But that's about it.

Brandon Inge and Adam Everett will have to spend extra practice time determining who will run halfway out to left field to take Johnny's throw to the cut-off man.

So what happens now to Carlos Guillen? He was promised to be an everyday player this year. How can that happen now?

Does Guillen DH?

Does Guillen go elsewhere now?

It's not so bad really for Guillen, he wanted to play left field about as much as Inge wanted to catch in 2008.

And that year the Tigers landed in the basement of the AL Central. So any change is good for Carlos Guillen – and the Tigers.

I'd be putting Carlos at second base.

So now that we have Damon, we have a guy with a good chance for getting men on base – for Mags, Miggy and Carlos if he finds a spot or settles for DH.

I'm not so sure that this is the final setting of the Tigers roster.

Brandon Inge is still recovering from double knee surgery. And there's no guarantee that Mud Hen call-up

Scott Sizemore is supposedly not ready to play yet

The boys are now in Lakeland. Or they are on their way.

Johnny Damon sounds like he'll be heading down shortly – after passing his physical – and a locker has been waiting for him for a week or so.

So there is no more reason to root against the Tigers signing Johnny Damon.

They did it. Albeit only for a year. Albeit it for no second year option.

He will be a lame duck left fielder. Is there such a thing?

No doubt if he proves us all wrong – a second and likely third year deal would be offered on a silver platter.

That's the Illitch style.

So there's no upside for rooting against Johnny. He'll be wearing the English D. After the Boston B and the New York NY.

What's the harm in Johnny Damon succeeding in Detroit.

So I'm not rooting against him. No way.

Welcome to Detroit Johnny. And wear the old English D with pride. That's all we ask.

Tigers Offseason – What The Hell’s Going On?

originally published on headstuffing on February 12, 2010This has been a very confusing off season to say the least.
And it started that day in late September 2009 when once beloved Maglio Ordonez achieved enough at bats to trigger the option on a huge contract bonus of thirty three million of Tiger owner Mike Ilitch's hard earned dollars for the 2010 season.After a lackluster three quarters of the 2009 season.

And even though Mags finished 2009 with a flourish, the Tigers finished 2009 with a flop.I still shiver when I think of those last two games of the regular season. So I won't relive them for you. You remember them too.

Or that single game playoff against the Minnesota Twinkies in the dome from hell.Have they torn that damn thing down yet?

And then the dominos – the repercussions of Mags contract option – started the dominos toppling.We bid farewell to Placido Polanco as the stalwart and steadfast rock of the infield and master of the clutch hit was refused arbitration and allowed to move on to Philadelphia.

And if that weren't unthinkable enough – Curtis Granderson – beloved star center fielder and all-around-good-guy destined to be the face of the franchise – is traded to the Yankees.A kick in the groin to Tiger fans.

"The money just wasn't there to keep those guys", we are told.Two new young minor leaguers are received for Granderson – Austin Jackson – a centerfielder that the Sporting News projected to be the rookie of the year in 2010, and Max Scherzer – a reasonable pitcher at best.

Scott Sizemore was decided to be brought up from AAA Toledo – only to break a bone in his ankle in an Arizona fall league game. He is still slated as I know it to be Placido's second base placebo replacement."Okay", we all thought, "This Mags contract option is costing us our big names and most beloved players … but we can carry on – there's no money and the team is moving into a younger state of mind."

That's when they signed Jose Valverde – a quality closer (to fill the vacancy of rollercoaster Tiger closer Fernando Rodney – who was also not offered arbitration) from Houston – for fourteen million dollars.I thought Ilitch was pinching pennies this year?

I thought that's why we lost Granderson … and Polanco?What the ….

Now, as I write this, the rumor mill is spewing the sour news that the Tigers are on the verge of signing Johnny "Curtis Granderson took my job" Damon to a two year fourteen million dollar contract also.What is it with two years and fourteen million dollars contracts?

This leaves us to question why then did we lose Granderson and Polanco?It couldn't have been the money?

It must have been a determination to go in a different direction. Not necessarily a young direction. Just in a direction without Granderson and Polanco?Yet still we have Carlos Guillen in left? He doesn't want to play left field any more than Inge wanted to catch?

And we still have Brandon Inge – easily tied with Granderson and ace Justin Verlander as the most favourite Tigers.And we still have Mags – without his head of curls – that once lopped off – reduced him to a mere shadow of his former power-hitting self – and the root of what we all thought the problem was.

We kept the weakest links on the roster – and we got rid of our stability leaders?Oh, I know – only the good players have trade value. But we got nothing for Placido, and we got unproven hopes in Austin Jackson for Curtis?

It just doesn't make sense. Not from the outside. Not from where I sit.But the good news is that the Tigers are still in the American League Central Division. The weakest division in all of Major League Baseball.

So the Tigers still have a shot.An outsider shot … but a shot.

No matter my confusion, or disappointment, or frustration in trying to understand the void in rationale of this offseason, I will still root for those who wear the old English D. I will still listen to and watch every pitch on the radio or TV. I will still pump my fist when we win a close one, or utter profanities should we fail to pull one out in the bottom of the ninth with two men on and no outs.Just like last year … when we led the AL Central from May 10^th to the single game playoff in that disgusting dome.

We still have a shot.And remember … we weren't supposed to be any good at all in 2006.

And for certain … the Tigers aren't supposed to be any good in 2010.So we got a pretty good shot.

Albeit an outside one.

The Detroit Tigers – Start of the Payoffs or End of the Season?

I'm sitting in the parking lot of our local community center.

My little girls are inside taking their weekly gymnastics class. They close the door on these sessions, so the parents can either sit in the lobby and wait, or go off to do their weekend chores while the kids are occupied.

I chose to sit in the jeep and listen to the radio.

And write. There's just not enough time to write anymore.

The talk on the sports radio station is spread across all the current happenings.

The University of Michigan is playing Michigan State University right now. A big deal across the river as both Big Ten conference teams are bitter rivals.

The Lions are playing tomorrow against the Chicago Bears. And some think the Lions have a chance to actually win.

But the big talk today is about the Tigers. My beloved Detroit Tigers are one game up in the AL Central over the Minnesota Twins. The Tigers are playing the Chicago White Sox. The Twins are playing the Kansas City Royals. And the American League Central pennant race is coming down to the wire, with tomorrow being the end of the regular season.

My lovely wife Darlene and I will be at that game tomorrow. We thought the game would be a mere formality – meaning nothing with the division already won by the Tigers. But it looks like it will be the make or break game of the season.

I know it's silly to care so much about a baseball team.

But I do.

Four weeks the Tigers had a seven game lead. But they failed miserably down this final stretch – most notably losing so many to the Twins both in the horrid Metropolitan Dome in Minneapolis – and in their own yard at Comerica Park.

I predicted in the first week of August that this scenario was not only possible – but likely. And now that prediction seems pathetically prophetic. You could see this scenario coming like a slow train on the prairies coming up to the depot. The land is so flat you can see the train coming the night befoe.

And flat is a great way to describe these Detroit Tigers.

These Tigers are playing almost as though they are scared to win. The pitching has been mediocre when it needs to be stellar. The hitting needs to be explosive but instead it's more of a fizzled out fuse. And the decisions made by Tiger's Manager Jim Leyland have been questionable to say the least.

While they have a one game lead with two to play, you can tell the fans have already determined the Twins will win this thing.

Of course I hope that's not true.

Darlene and I have not yet been to a game yet this year. Tomorrow is the game we chose, and we splurged on premium seats. The Tigers have held first place since May 10^th. To watch it slip away on this last game of the year, sitting in the expensive chairs, and having to drive home afterwards is unacceptable.

Today the Twins face Kansas City's ace Zack Greinke. This is the Royal's best opportunity to help the Tigers stave off the on-coming-like-a-freight-train Twins.

That's encouraging.

So who are the Tigers starting tonight against the White Sox?

A rookie named Figaro. Yes, like the operatic aria.

A rookie who has only pitched two games in the big leagues. They were both good outings, but hey – this game means something.

So this 2009 season seems to be closing down like a tragedy packed opera – staring who else but Figaro to sing what could be the final act.

I only hope the fat lady doesn't sing.

Detroit Tigers – There’s A Big Storm Brewing

originally published on headstuffing on August 4, 2009

Hold on to your hats Tiger fans!

Or at least turn them inside out and wear them as rally caps.

There's a big storm brewing! It's already on the radar screen.

Last night the Tigers took the first game of a six game home stand with the Baltimore Orioles and Minnesota

Twins by coming from five runs back and tying the game in the fifth – then winning the game with a two out two strike blast by Clete Thomas into the bushes in center field.

It was a bomb.

As well, Tiger's ace Justin Verlander did not let a five run first inning phase him. He pitched lights out ball the next seven innings getting better with each pitch he threw. It was that beautiful Verlander poise and presence coming through yet again.

But this time the Tigers offense woke up.

Leading the way was superstar Miguel Cabrera – who while he has big numbers and hitting .334 – had been very quite in clutch situations with men in scoring position – knocked in three RBIs with a big clutch double and the game tying homerun.

To recap - the Tigers came back and caught the Orioles in the fifth. And won it with a walk off homer in the ninth.

That was an exciting game – and many things Tiger fans have been waiting to see finally appeared.

But it was a home game. In Comerica Park. The Tigers usually win at home.

I'm not trying to put a damper on last night's elation. Please hear me out. I'm just trying to be objective.

The Tigers have a chance in the next few weeks to widen the gap between them and the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins. They might expand their lead by as many as four games ahead of their Central Division rivals.

But, like I said already, there is a big storm brewing!

As I look at the Tigers long range weather forecast, I can see a tropical storm brewing over the American Midwest. And it looks like it could build into a category five hurricane. The conditions look like they could be just right for this monstrous storm to hit the Tigers right where they are weak – weak as a West New Orleans levy of sandbags – when the Tigers play away games.

The Tigers will need a lot more sandbags to weather this storm. Let me explain:

The Tigers record at home at Comerica Park is 32 wins and sixteen losses.

The Tigers record when they are away from Comerica Park is 23 wins and 33 losses.

The Tigers stink on the road.

But luckily so do most of the other teams in the American League.

So what is this storm brewing that has me so worried?

It's a ten game road trip – starting on the 18^th of September and ending on the 27^th of September. During that trip, the Tigers will play three games in Minnesota (a park where they have little luck), four games in Cleveland (who just took two out of three from Detroit in Cleveland last weekend), and then the final three against the Chicago White Sox at what should be called New Cominsky Park.

The Tigers record on the road stinks.

It is possible that the Tigers could lose six to eight of those games. Such a result would possibly be enough to sink the Tigers 2009 chances. Drowned by the lack of offense they are known for on the road this season.

As I look at the remaining schedule of the Tigers, White Sox and Twins in 2009 - if current trends continue - I see the Tigers being even with Chicago by the time the first pitch of that September 25^th weekend series begins. Games in that horrible dome in Minneapolis and Cleveland's Progressive field will erode at least two games of what I expect to be a three game lead.

Two of the three sandbags will be blown off the Tigers soft away game levy, leaving a single sandbag or two to ride out the three game hurricane of games at Chicago.

Chicago is the windy city.

And some would try to say that Detroit is No-Mo-Town now. This would be the worst possible outcome if the Tigers lose eight out of ten on that road trip.

Now there are some elements that entered into the radar that may slightly change this American League Central weather patterns development over the last week.

The Tigers have picked up some pitching to make their rotation even stronger, acquiring Jarrod Washburn from Seattle in return for Lucas French and a Minor League rising star Mauricio Robles.

Washburn was having an above average year with Seattle – with an 8 win 6 loss record – throwing 79 strikeouts and 33 walks in 133 innings. How will he do as a Tiger? Tonight will be his first outing clad in the old English D. And his first start will be in Comerica – after the elation of a great win last night. So fingers are crossed that Washburn starts off strong as a Tiger.

But as well, Chicago has strengthened their pitching, picking up Jake Peavy from San Diego. Peavy is considered to around the same barometer readings with the Tigers Verlander, Anderson, and now Washburn. The white Sox already have perfect game pitcher Mark Burhle in their rotation.

Do the Tigers Verlander and Jackson combined outweigh the dominance of Mark Burhle? Are Washburn and Peavy simply going to cancel each other out? It will be very interesting and exciting to see.

But there is good news for us Tiger fans in all of this. After what promises to be the most exciting road trip of the season during that last half of September, the Tigers return home – to trusty and faithful Comerica Park.

The Tigers safe harbor from the storm.

And who is coming to play those final six games of the 2009 season in the Tigers safe harbor? Who else.

The Minnesota Twins and Chicago White Sox.

This is going to be one wild storm during the last four weeks of the American League Central Pennant race my friends. And if I were you, I would get tickets to all six of the final home stand games.

Because if the Tigers can ride out the hurricane brewing for the end of September, that first week in October will be the most amazing games played yet at Comerica park.

Can the Tigers ride that fast approaching storm? Will they have stashed away enough wins to survive the expected offensive power outage they seem to experience during road trips?

But I think - like 2006 - we need as big a lead built right now to survive that final onslaught.

In 2006 we had the luxury of being in the Wildcard division. We sat in August and September and helplessly watched the water rise high enough to erode the Tigers once ten game lead.

Is the 2009 version of the Tigers stronger than the 2006 version? It's certainly different. But this year I think the Tigers pitching is actually better than in 2006.

We got the pitching to slow down the storm - but we need these bats of this potentially explosive offense to get better on the road.

2009 has the potential to be one of the most exciting finishes of Tiger baseball history.

Hang onto your hats Tiger fans, because there is a big storm heading our way.