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Oh baby! It's just about time for the Big Dance! Our
Detroit Tigers will play in their first World Series
since 1984! The Gum-Time Tigers carved up the Yankees
and went through Oakland like a buzz-saw to win the
American League pennant. People were rejoicing all
over Detroit, all over the state, and all over the
country. Next? It will be a Central affair for the
second year in a row, as the Cardinals have just
defeated the Mets in a stellar NLCS. Sorry,
east-coast and west-coast markets. The heartland
occupies center-stage once again.
There are two coincidences surrounding this match-up.
First is that one of these managers, Jim Leyland or
Tony Larussa, will join Sparky Anderson as the only
managers to win World Series Championships as managers
in each league. Second, each of these teams entered
the post-season slumping in a bad way. The Tigers had
just lost their last five games to lose the AL Central
by one to the Twins. The Cardinals (4-10) nearly blew
an 8 game lead on the Astros (11-3) in two weeks, but
held on and clinched their division title on the last
day of the season (but it was a Houston loss that
finalized the deal). Neither team has had home-field
advantage yet, and it hasn't mattered one bit.
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World Series Schedule...
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Game One: Saturday, October 21 @ Detroit
Starters: DET - Justin Verlander, STL - Anthony Reyes
Game Two: Sunday, October 22 @ Detroit
Starters: DET - Kenny Rogers, STL - Jeff Weaver
Game Three: Tuesday, October 24 @ St. Louis
Starters: DET - Nate Robertson, STL - Chris Carpenter
Game Four: Wednesday, October 25 @ St. Louis
Starters: DET - Jeremy Bonderman, STL - Jeff Supan
Game Five: Thursday, October 26 @ St. Louis
Starters: TBA
Game Six: Saturday, October 28 @ Detroit
Starters: TBA
Game Seven: Sunday, October 29 @ Detroit
Starters: TBA
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Series Preview...
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The Tigers don't get to the World Series very often,
but the Cardinals are often there waiting when they
do. Three of the last seven Series the Tigers have
played in, including 2006, have been against St.
Louis. Only the Cubs have faced the Tigers more (4
times, and it should have been 5 if they hadn't blown
a 2-0 NLCS lead in 1984).
Editor's Pop-Quiz: Can you name the other three teams
the Tigers have played in the World Series? Hint:
They weren't the Diamondbacks, Rockies, or Marlins.
I was asked a lot about who I would rather the Tigers
play and I have to say that it was a tough choice.
New York certainly has the better hitting line-up, but
as has been demonstrated repeatedly this post-season,
good pitching wins in the end. St. Louis is looking
much stronger in that department with pitchers like
Chris Carpenter (2005 Cy Young winner) and Jeff
Suppan. The bullpen is suspect, and the Cards have
been getting the job done at closer with rookie Adam
Wainwright.
The outfield is pretty decent from a hitting
stand-point, though not much better than the outfield
of Oakland. Preston Wilson, Jim Edmonds, and Juuuuuan
Encarnacion will have to keep up in the spacious
outfield of Comerica Park. We'll see if those guys
can cover all of that ground in Games One and Two.
Scott Rolen is a fantastic third-basemen and swings a
big stick. The scrappy David Eckstein leads off in
the line-up and handles the shortstop duties.
Ex-Indian Ronnie Belliard (who looks like a mini-Manny
Ramirez to me) patrols second base, and Yadier Molina
of the "Amazing Catching Molina Brothers" calls the
shots behind the plate. Let's see, am I forgetting
anybody? Oh yeah, there's that Pujols guy at first.
Brad Lidge told me that he's pretty good. He sent me
this link...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mudmk4AzKCY
I think the Tigers are in good shape in this series.
They have the better starting line-up and a superior
pitching staff. Of course, I'm assuming the Tigers
pitch the same as they have been in the playoffs so
far. The Tigers continue to punish mediocre pitching,
and there's no reason to expect that to change against
the Cards' three and four pitchers (who will likely
pitch in Detroit).
One X-factor will be the three games in the middle of
the series, where the Tigers will be playing NL-style
ball. It appears that Leyland will continue to carry
the three reserve infielders, which may prove useful
in these games, though only Infante makes for a viable
pinch-hitter. The health of Sean Casey is important
as, if he is unable to go early in the series, Leyland
will have to decide whether he wants Casey on the WS
roster or make a move such as going with Chris
Shelton. If Casey were only to miss a game or two,
then I suspect we'll see Guillen at first and ??? at
SS. Zumaya should be all good for this series, and
the Tigers' pen should again be a huge asset. The
Tigers come into this series as the favorite, a role
that has not been kind to teams this October.
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ESPN "Expert" Picks...
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I can't help but chuckle at this. The only three
teams that were not picked to win the Series by one
member of ESPN's expert panel were the Padres, the
Cardinals, and the Tigers. All of those people picked
the Tigers to lose to the Yankees and only one had the
Cardinals beating San Diego. After the Divisional
Series was over, five of the "experts" picked the
outcome of the LCS. Their record? 2 for 10. Nobody
had the Cardinals winning and only two of the five
picked the Tigers.
Just now, everyone on Baseball Tonight except Karl
Ravech took the Tigers. But maybe that's not so
bad... Ravech had the Blue Jays as his WS pick at the
start of the season.
To be fair, though, this is a very improbable World
Series. The Tigs and Cards have had great runs in the
playoffs, and now they get to slug it out for all the
marbles.
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Weaver and Juuuuuuuuuan...
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Two former Tigers return to their old stomping grounds
as members of the Cardinals. Jeff Weaver, the
one-time Tiger ace, very well could get the start in
Game One on Saturday night. Juuuuuuuuuuuuan, as the
old Tiger Stadium announcer affectionately referred to
him, plays regularly in right field.
I hope that these guys get treated well by the fans.
I would much rather have the fans give them nice
ovations than showers of boos. This isn't Johnny
Damon making his return to Fenway. These two guys
gave some pretty good years to the Tigers when the
team wasn't very good, and I enjoyed watching the both
of them. Plus it would make the city look classy if
they treated the old Tigers with respect. If you were
fortunate enough to land tickets to Game One, be sure
to put your best foot forward for Tiger fans
everywhere (not Tigers Nation, because that phrase
sucks).
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Thanks, Michael Young...
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Way back in July, the National League was looking to
sew up its first All-Star Game victory since 1996.
But with two outs and two men on, Micahel Young, of
the Texas Rangers, laced a triple to the right-center
field gap, putting the AL on top 3-2. Mariano Rivera
closed the game to give home-field advantage to the
American League Champion. That team turned out to be
our Detroit Tigers, and so the 2006 World Series will
begin at Comerica Park. So far the Tigers have done
just fine opening on the road, but starting this
series in Detroit will be a welcome change.
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Tu Eres Fired...
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From the world of political correctness comes the
firing of "Psycho" Steve Lyons.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs2006/news/
story?id=2625500
I didn't hear these remarks live, so I can't really
comment on how insensative they were, but it all
sounds pretty ridiculous. What did they hire Lyons
for in the first place... his expert analysis? If
you're going to put a funny-man in the booth he should
have a little bit of leeway, and it doesn't appear
that Lyons overstepped his bounds. This world sure
pisses me off sometimes...
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Game Linescores...
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Game One
October 10: Detroit 5 - Oakland 1
Starters: DET: Robertson 5IP - OAK: Zito 3.2IP
DET 002 300 000 5 11 1
OAK 000 000 010 1 8 1
W: Robertson (1-1)
L: Zito (1-1)
Three Stars of the Game...
3. Jay Payton: 2 for 4, 2 2B, RBI.
2. Nate Robertson: 5IP, 6H, 3BB, 4K, 0ER.
1. Brandon Inge: 3 for 3, HR, 3B, BB, 2R, 2RBI.
Game Two
October 11: Detroit 8 - Oakland 5
Starters: DET: Verlander 5.1IP - OAK: Loaiza 6IP
DET 010 402 001 8 11 0
OAK 102 001 100 5 11 1
W: Verlander (1-0)
L: Loaiza (0-1)
S: Jones (2)
Three Stars of the Game...
Honorable Mention: Tigers Pen: fanned six straight
hitters (Grilli 1, Rodney 3, Jones 2).
3. Craig Monroe: 2 for 3, 2B, SAC FLY, 2R, 2RBI
2. Alexis Gomez: 2 for 4, HR, R, 4RBI.
1. Milton Bradley: 4 for 5, 2HR, 2R, 4RBI.
Game Three
October 13: Oakland 0 - Detroit 3
Starters: OAK: Harden: 5.2IP - DET: Rogers 7.1IP
OAK 000 000 000 0 2 0
DET 200 010 00X 3 6 0
W: Rogers (2-0)
L: Harden (0-1)
S: Jones (3)
Three Stars of the Game...
3. Placido Polanco: 2 for 4, 2B, RBI.
2. Craig Monroe: 2 for 3, HR, 2R, RBI, BB.
1. Kenny Rogers: 7.1IP, 2H, 2BB, 6K, 0ER.
Game Four
October 14: Oakland 3 - Detroit 6
Starters: OAK: Haren 5IP - DET: Bonderman 6.2IP
OAK 200 100 000 3 8 1
DET 000 021 003 6 11 0
W: Ledezma (1-0)
L: Street (0-1)
Three Stars of the Game...
Honorable Mention: Wil Ledezma, for his big out that
ended the top of the 8th.
3. Placido Polanco: 3 for 5, R.
2. Craig Monroe: 2 for 4, 2B, R, RBI.
1. Magglio Ordonez: 2 for 4, 2HR, 2R, 4RBI,
ALCS-winning 3-run walk-off HR in the 9th.
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Readers Write In...
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Sara Jo "DiMaggio" Pietraszewski
O'Toole,
Although I ddn't catch the final game of the series
against the Yankees, I did catch the ESPN highlights
and I was not only thrilled for you (small reward
after years of toil with the Weekly etc.), but so darn
happy to see the Yankees beat so handily and by the
Tigers no less! Fabulous.
With much rejoicing for all of you midwest friends,
SJP
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Johnny "Lawrence" Strawser Jr.
Once again, I would like to commend you for the
accurate and in-depth knowlege of this great baseball
franchise in Tigers Weekly. I used to think that
there were few true Tigers fans who would watch them
passionately even if they lost 119 times. But I think
you, as well as some of the other Tigers Weekly
subscribers can attest to is personal gratification
that we have stuck through this for years and years
and years and we're finally on top. As I watched the
final game against the hated Yankees I could not
help but feel an overwhelming emotion that all the
time, effort, and love I showed for my Tigers over my
lifetime has paid off. They might not win one game
against Oakland, but this team defied all of the
media, the fans, and their fellow MLB players by
making the playoffs and beating the Yankees in 4
when most thought they would lose in 3. And for that
effort, I will forever remember the fall of 2006.
In closing, I would also like to add how amazing and
lovable this team is. After failing to clinch the
division by not even beating the lowly Royals in
a series this team felt as if they betrayed their
loyal fanbase. Then after dominating the mighty
Yankees, this team did what no other in my memory
had done. They partied with their fans. They went
out and showed their appreciation for this city and
the people who follow them. Even though I wasn't at
the game, I felt as though I was partying with them
and enjoying their sucess. I would like to think that
all the loyal Tiger fans out there who love this team
even though they lose 119 of 162 games feel the same
as me. Here is to the run for the Tigers are on right
now and that they stay on it for another few weeks!!!
Johnny "Good Thing My Last Name Isn't Damon" Strawser
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Ch"Aase" Claus attends a game II...
The great Sam Cooke once bemoaned:
"Another Saturday night, and I ain't got nobody
I got some money 'cause I just got paid
Oh, how I wish I had someone to talk to
I'm in an awful way."
Never have I felt less able to relate to these words
than LAST Saturday night. I didn't have much money,
after Ticketmaster robbed me blind, but I did have
more than 43,000 people to talk to, and I was in the
best, best, best way possible.
After swinging six tickets to the Friday night Kenny
Rogers masterpiece, I was only able to grab two
tickets to Saturday, so only 13 hours after arriving
home from Detroit the night before, Mike Claus and I
were headed back into the "D" for game four of the
ALDS. Arriving with significantly less traffic
congestion than the previous night, Mike and I found a
great spot at a free parking meter, courtesy of Jamie
Rykse's outstanding scouting reports and parking tips.
We headed to Cheli's Chili Bar, but decided that it
was too crowded, too hot, and the beer too expensive
and inaccessible, so we went back to the previous
night's hangout: the State Bar & Grill. Though
college football was on, neither of us cared too
deeply (him even less than me), being nervous about
the upcoming game.
The crowd was as spirited and festive as the Friday
night crowd, perhaps even moreso after the Tigers got
an early 3-0 lead and we could feel Leyland's foot
settling in on Steinbrenner's windpipe. The crowd
behind the plate wasn't nearly as fun as the 3-4-5
from the previous night, but it was still a chaotic
and exuberant atmosphere.
As in my last submission, 90% of the readership here
caught the game on TV, and the other 10% are
non-Tigers fans who aren't interested, anyway, so
I'll forego an attempt to recap the action. Highlights
included my "calling" of Craig Monroe's early 2-run
homer, as well as the absolute masterpiece of a
pitching performance by the much-maligned Jeremy
Bonderman. Bondo was a guy who hadn't really shown up
all season, and, for out-of-town fans, has been the
most popular subject of post-season trade rumors
(meaning that he seems the most expendible and most
underachieving of our current "good" pitchers).
The real story, though, was the postgame celebration.
The Tigers did it up right, and even the national
media took notice that our beloved Boys
did a great job involving the fans and staging one of
the most gratifying team/fan celebrations of all time.
Mike & I were sitting a little too high to
take in individual action like Leyland's kiss or the
Roaster pouring champagne on the cop, but it was still
a joy to take in the victory lap, the spraying of
fans, and the general bliss of a crowd full of
lifelong fans who have had to wait so long for a
moment like this.
Almost better than the in-stadium celebration was the
dancin' in the streets of Detroit. The crowd was
crazy - chanting, yelling, ribbing Yankees fans,
honking, etc. I tended to just wander around
screaming nothing in particular at the top of my
lungs. Mike Claus was more clever - hollering
soundbytes that mixed the pregame commentary from the
national "experts" with the apocalyptic messages of a
doomsday preacher. The following is an approximation
of Mike's message...
(YELLING AS LOUDLY AS POSSIBLE): "They've got the
greatest lineup in the history of the game! We don't
stand a chance! Jeter! A-Rod! Giambi! How can we
ever stop them?! They're better than the '27 Yankees!
We're screwed! We're screwed!!!!"
Discovering Woodward Avenue at a bumper-to-bumper
standstill and being in rare, rare form, Mike and I
tried to get back into the State, but it was too
full for fire codes. We wandered over to Hockeytown,
but it was even more full and the line out the door
was even longer. We decided to go dump some of our
stuff in the car, and come back. Returning and
discovering that the guys (YankeeFans) we were
standing by in line hadn't moved, I suggested that
Cheli's had the biggest capacity, so back we went.
Finding a nice railing on top of the stadium with a
trough of icy beers and a TV tuned to the Mets/Dodgers
game, we stood on the roof, listening to the DJ and
taking in the scene for hours.
It is far too early to tell what will happen to the
Yankees, but the situation does remind me slightly of
the Pistons/Lakers NBA title matchup a few years back,
in that the ridiculously overhyped, me-first
Lakers/Yankees lineups of sure-fire Hall of Famers
managed to lose to a TEAM. Time will tell if 2006
will lead to the "blowing up" of the Yankees the way
that the Pistons loss did to the Lakers, but with
rumors of Joe Torre getting fired and the free agency
years of overpriced, underperforming stupid-stars
like Giambi, Matsui, Williams, Sheffield, etc, it very
well may. In the words of a sign made by some cute
girls in the 3-4-5 on Friday night: "Welcome
to the 'D,' Suckas!"
Editor's Note: Said girls were mentioned in the last
edition of the weekly. After discussion with upper
management it has been determined that said girls were
not cute, nor did they seem hot, nor have I ever met
more un-cute girls. That is all...
All in all, it was the most memorable experience of my
life as a sports fan. The celebration in Detroit was
great - no fires or arrests or anything - just hugging
strangers, high-fiving everyone in sight, a few adult
beverages, and a whole lot of fun. Though time will
tell how much the night will stick with me, I have to
currently rank it far-and-away #1. (#1 -
Game Four of 2006 ALDS / #2 - Last Game at Old Tiger
Stadium / #3 - Game Three of ALDS / #4 - working on
the field for CBS at Ole Miss / Alabama / #5 -
first-row, field-level seats for ND/Navy). I realized
that the potential of a Tigers World Series would make
me so much happier than any other
possibility in sports, including championships for my
teams in any of the other sports. I would gladly
trade the entire Lions franchise for just one Tigers
World Series, though the way things are rolling, maybe
I won't have to. As I finish these lines, my beloved
Bengals have just closed out Game One of the ALCS,
using their #3 or #4 starter against Barry Zito, so
maybe the prize is closer than I think. I sure hope
so.
Bless you Boys!
Chas
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Andy "Kin Korn" Karnitz
Top of the 7th Inning, Game 2 of the ALCS as I type.
I think the Baseball Gods are tryin' to tell us
somethin'. This game was scheduled to be seen live
only in Michigan and northern California, maybe a few
small pockets elsewhere around the country. The
majority of the U.S. was to get Game 1 of the NLCS.
The latter was rained out.
I just hope people are watchin'. This Tigs squad is
special. Very special.
Andy
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Stephen "Gags" Gagola
GO TIGERS!!!
Well, I did what you told me to do and rooted for the
Tigers. Here they were able to pull it off and swept
the A's in the American League Championship Series.
After many years, the Tigers have now reached the
World Series.
So I assume that you want me to continue rooting for
the Tigers.
ps I did not root for Ohio State this past weekend.
-Steve
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Dan "Berol" Kemp
Matt!
The suspense is killing me! This NLCS just seems to
be taking forever, partly because the Tigers took care
of business so quickly in the ALCS. Two games in Shea
might pose more challenging than what the media
portrays it to be, but I like our chances tonight
since Carpenter is pitching for us.
A St. Louis/Detroit matchup would be a good series.
The teams faced each other in 1968. Neither team has
won a World Series in over 20 years. Weaver vs.
Detroit and Polanco vs. St. Louis would be match ups
of players versus former teams. Each would be
interesting.
If there was ever a team in the AL that I root for, it
would probably be D-town. Mostly because of the
amazing enthusiasm displayed by everybody in this
newsletter. They've been a great team to follow all
year long. But if St. Louis wins one more game, I
can't root with you anymore.
No matter the outcome, I hope WS 06 is actually decent
this year. The last two years have been landslides.
Here's to hoping for a good one.
Dan
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Toolie's Trashtalk...
Saturday was a fantastic day in my life. The Tigers
advancing to the World Series was merely the
undercard. Earlier in the day I asked my girlfriend
of nearly four years, the lovely Miss Lia Bottinelli,
to marry me... and she said yes (whew)! She is truly
a keeper as she stuck by me as I stuck by the Tigers
(even through the rough campaign of 2003). It wasn't
always easy for her, so I'm glad that she tought I was
worth it. She has earned her stripes (she is a solid
Tigers fan) and I am a lucky man to have her.
Wow, how about Magglio Ordonez in Game Four? Two home
runs over the original fence propelled the Tigers to
the 4-0 sweep of the A's. It had to feel great for
Ordonez, who was branded as a terrible investment for
the Tigers. We've given Dombrowski a lot of leeway in
the deals that he's made, and they really came
together to give us a winner in 2006. If you look at
the roster, all but Brandon Inge were acquired by
Dombrowski, who arrived in Detroit after the 2001
season. Here's the timeline...
2001 - Dombrowski joins the Tigers.
2002 - Fires Randy Smith. Claims Craig Monroe off
waivers, drafts Curtis Granderson and Joel Zumaya.
Trades for Jeremy Bonderman.
2003 - Trades for Nate Robertson.
2004 - Signs Pudge Rodriguez (and Fernando Vina,
blechhhh). Trades for Carlos Guillen. Drafts Justin
Verlander.
2005 - Signs Magglio Ordonez. Trades for Placido
Polanco.
2006 - Signs Kenny Rogers and Todd Jones. Trades for
Sean Casey.
Also let's not forget some other nice grabs. He
selected Chris Shelton in the Rule Five Draft, along
with Wil Ledezma (and one-year-wonder Matt Roney). He
acquired Zach Miner and Roman Colon for Kyle
Farnsworth, who was going free-agent at the end of the
2005 season anyway. Finally, the Polanco deal was
crucial because Ugueth Urbina ended up going to prison
in Venezuela the following off-season. In the words
of Derek Muller.... "WAR Dombrowski!!!"
Alexis Gomez? It just looks like it's the Tigers'
year. Todd Jones had a great quote where he commented
that if Jim Leyland pencilied Jones in 4th in the
lineup that he'd expect to get some hits. That sums
it up just about perfectly.
OK folks, that's all I've got. Do yourself a favor
and enjoy the World Series!!! I know I will. Though
I didn't get tickets, I will be sure to watch all that
I can and go crazy in the process. I hope to catch a
couple of games with the bandwagonners at the local
watering holes, and if the Series goes to 7 games I
may just spend that Sunday night in downtown Detroit.
I can only imagine the intensity of such a party.
What a season! It's been so much fun to watch. If
we're lucky we'll have this year to add to the list of
World Series titles. Win or lose, this team has given
us a lot to cheer about.
Go get 'em Tigers!!!
I'm out.
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Tigers Weekly is in no way affiliated with the Detroit
Tigers or Major League Baseball.
If you know anyone that would like a subscription to TW,
send an email to editor@tigersweekly.com and give their
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Play Ball!
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