So You Say the Season's Over???

After the past few days, everyone I know recently has come up to me and said "What's happened with your Tigers?". Um, they lost three games in row, like they've done numerous times in August, hence we are in this situation of non-playoffs. Me, I've been taking the Kübler-Ross approach to things (finally something to show for all those psych classes in college)

Step 1: Denial
- When Joel Zumaya and Kenny Rogers come back the bullpen will be fine
- Maybe Cameron Maybin can replace Craig Monroe
- Jeremy Bonderman just needs to pitch through his struggles
- There's no way the Yankees and the Indians can keep winning

Step 2: Anger
- Sure C.C. Sabathia's good now, but it's going to be hard for him to pitch when he loses a foot to diabetes
- I would like to punch Jhnonhy Peralta in his eye socket.
- I hope one of "Grady's Ladies" gives him the clap.
- If the ball is hit to the right of you STAY AT SECOND!!!!!
- THROW THE BALL ALREADY BETANCOURT!!!!
- What the hell is Zach Miner doing out there another inning?
- Casey Blake is a gigantic piece of poop.

Step 3: Bargaining
- If the Tigers win this game, I swear I'll start looking at those reception halls like I told my fiancee I'd do weeks ago.
- Come on at least win one game...
- If Cleveland goes 1-10 in their last 11 games...there's still a chance

Step 4: Depression
- How in the hell did this happen?
- Seriously...Cleveland?!? First the Pistons now this.
- Guh, this suuuuuucks.

Step 5: Acceptance
- Oh well at least we had meaningful baseball in September
- I wonder if Jair Jurrjens will make the rotation next year?
- Who will the Tigers sign in the offseason?

So yeah, it was a letdown after last year awesome ride. But we still got a lot of excitement this season, and hopefully for years to come. So I'm going to sit back and enjoy the last couple of games I have tickets to and think of the good times, and root for the Angels to beat the Yankees, Indians and Red Sox.

Game 149 Recap

Tigers 4 Twins 3

Win their win tonight, the Tigers guaranteed themselves another season above .500. As little as three years ago I'd be happy with that...and part of me still is. But after last years playoff run I want more. Thanks to the Red Sox there is still a chance.
As for tonight's game a was just happy going in that The Tigers would at least stay even with the Yankees. The sound of Johan Santana going up against Yorman Barzardo didn't sit too well with me. I'm not sure why, Detroit (counting tonight) has been responsible for 3 of Johan 12 losses. Only Cleveland has racked up more wins on Johan. The Tigers did by attacking early. The big hit coming off the bat of Pudge, clearing the loaded bases with a double. The Twins chipped away, but unlike most of the games earlier this year, the bullpen held the lead. A healthy Joel Zumaya makes all the difference. Now the Tigers are 2.5 back of the Yankees with 13 games to go.

Tiger Hero:
Joel Zumaya. Pudge put them ahead, but Joel slammed the door. Joel got Joe Mauer to ground into a double play to end the 7th, and sitting down the 4-5-6 hitters in order in the 8th, and got the win

Tiger Zero:
Gary Sheffield. Shef, along with Marcus Thames, were the only Tigers not to reach base. I expect that from Marcus, but not Shef.

Tigers Record:
W - L
82 - 67
2.5 GB New York for the Wild Card

Game 148 Recap

Tigers 4 Twins 2

The Tigers finally are staring to string together good games, but with Cleveland winning yet again, it might be too little to late for the Central. The Tigers hope for the playoffs looks to be with the Wild Card, and If the Red Sox hold on come back to beat the Yankees, overcoming 2.5 games in the last two weeks is a possibility. As for tonight's game Nate Robertson pitched his best game since...well the last time he pitched at the Metrodome. And any time you get a Pudge walk, let alone a base loaded walk by Pudge, you know things are going the Tigers way. Then again as I am typing this the Red Sox have just blown a 7-2 lead in the 8th...ugh.

Tiger Hero:
Timo Perez. Timo just keeps hitting, going 3 fo r4 tonight and driving in 3.

Tiger Zero:
Sean Casey. 2 K's and stranded 4 runners tonight.

Tigers Record:
W - L
81 - 67

Game 147 recap

Tigers 5 Rangers 1

It seems like Tigers games in three sizes down the stretch. The first two kinds are either a hard fought win or a huge letdown. Then there's the Justin Verlander start. In the four games since getting torched by Cleveland, Verlander has allowed only 3 runs and struck out 26 in 28.2 innings. Tonight he won his 17th game and match his win total from last year's Rookie of the Year campaign. Gary Sheffield also seemed to finally look like the hitter who was killing pitchers in May and June. He hit his first home run since August 10th (and only his 3rd since July 20th) to put the Tigers in front. Thanks to the pitching of Verlander and the bullpen (Jonesy 1-2-3 striking out the side!) that's all the tigers needed. Now this is the part of the post where I say it that the Tigers need to keep winning and then they go out and lay an egg in the next game. I guess I'll have to wait until Friday to see if they prove me wrong.

Tiger Hero:
Justin Verlander. A complete opposite of his performances in last August. If the tigers make the playoffs JV, will be a big reason why.

Tiger Zero:
Pudge. After tearing it up all homestand, he ends if with a dud. An ofer with 2 whiffs tonight.

Tigers Record:
W - L
80 - 67
2nd Place AL Central (5.5 GB Cleveland)
2nd Place Wild Card (4 GB New York)

Game 141 Recap

Finally back and rested enough tot write something after recovering from car ride back from Atlanta and a softball doubleheader. As for Atlanta, it was a pretty cool city. As luck would have it, I did get to catch a Braves game. We went on Sunday, got the $6 upper deck tickets, settled in and I look at the pitching match-up for the day....Tom Glavine vs. John Smoltz. So my first live national League game is between two future hall of famers. Pretty cool even if I was watching it from the 400 level.

Somewhere down there is a Future Hall of Famer

Tigers 6 Mariners 1

Tonight the Tigers looked like a contender. It also helps that they had a guy on the mound who has been their best pitcher all year facing a team that has lost 11 of its last 12. But hey I'll take three in a row any way you can get it. Some more good news is that the Tigers are starting to get some hits from the bottom of the order thanks to no other than Timo (TIMO!!!) Perez. Perez notched two more hits and is making it hard for the Tigers to keep him off the post-season (fingers crossed) roster. The aforementioned Justin Verlander didn't have amazing stuff tonight, but showed he has the makings of being a great pitcher, by knowing what was working and sticking with it (pay attention Mr. Zumaya). His breaking pitcher weren't crisp so instead of trying to make them work, and walking people. He just threw strikes and let the fielders do all the work. The result, only one run on nine hits, and no walks. Oh yeah, after his home run tonight Curtis Granderson is a stolen base away from being the 3rd person this century to steal 20 bases, and hit 20 double triples and home runs. I still can't believe this is only his second full season. Hopefully he can get that historic 20 swipe tomorrow night...when I'll be there in the stands naturally. As I write this the Yankees lead the Royals, and the Indians trail the Angels. So hopefully this win can close the gap in one of the races.