Tigers Weekly 2006 Season

Week 21: 9/13/06 - 9/19/06

Less than two weeks to go in the season and the AL
Central race is a true toss-up.  The Tigers lead the
Twins by a half game but are in a virtual tie given
that both teams have 61 losses.  Minnesota had their
last day off on Monday and Detroit's last one will be
on this coming Monday.  Until then we will have to
deal with the pesky half-game... then it's a fight to
the finish.  A 3-3 week is actually the best the
Tigers have done in quite some time.  But don't panic
folks.  Though the Tigers may not win the division
they are a lock for the playoffs.  I'll elaborate
below...

New Subscribers...

Mary Jean "the Hollander" Harris
Sam "Hot Lips" Harris

Note:  Internet issues prevented me from finishing
this last night.  Tonight's game is on one of the ESPN
networks.  I thought I saw, on TV, that it would be on
ESPN News.  The ESPN website says the game will be on
ESPN (the main channel).  Happy viewing (Bonderman vs.
Garland).

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Week of 9/13 - 9/19

Record:  3-3 L-WWLWL

Magic Numbers:  As I stated above, the Tigers are
looking really good for the playoffs.  On Monday I
made a comment to a friend that if the Tigs won just
one game against the Sox that they'd be in great
shape.  Why?  Say the Tigers lose on Wednesday.  That
would put the Sox 4 games back of Detroit with ten
games remaining for both teams.  Even if Detroit went
5-5 (they have 7 games against Baltimore and KC) the
Sox would have to go 9-1 just to pull even.  I have
faith in the Tigers to go at least 5-5 (they still
hammer bad pitching), which leaves the Sox in rough
shape.  

Divisional Magic Number: 12

Playoff Magic Number: 7

Remaining Games (11) for the Tigers...

September 20      @ Chicago White Sox
Septmeber 21      @ Baltimore (make-up game)
September 22-24   @ Kansas City
September 25        no game scheduled...
Setpember 26-28     Toronto
Sept. 29 - Oct. 1   Kansas City

Left for MIN: @BOS(2), @BAL(3), KC(4), CWS(3)
Left for CWS: DET(1), SEA(4), @CLE(3), @MIN(3)

AL Central Standings...

DET  90 61 -
MIN  89 61 0.5
CWS  85 66 5
CLE  70 80 19.5
KCR  58 93 32

Tigers Division...

NYM  92 58 -
NYY  92 59 0.5
DET  90 61 2.5
MIN  89 61 3
OAK  87 63 5

Note:  Not only is the AL Central race a burner, but
the battles for home-field in the AL playoffs are
tight.  It appears the Yankees will be home for the
first round, but Detroit, Minnesota, and Oakland all
have a shot to have home-field in the other divisional
series.  The Tigers and Twins also each have
legitimate shots to finish with the best record in the
league.  

AL Wild Card (NYY, DET, OAK leading divisions)

MIN -   (trail Detroit by a half game)
CWS 4.5

NL Wild Card (NYM, STL, SDP leading divisions)

LAD -   (trail San Diego by a half game)
PHI 1
SFG 4.5
CIN 5
FLA 5

Tigers News and Notes:  The Tigers made a waiver claim
this week, picking up Matt Stairs from the Rangers. 
While he will not be available for the playoff roster,
Stairs provides a decent left-handed bat for the
remainder of the season.  So far Stairs is 1 for 12
with a run and an RBI.  His stats this season are
nothing special... hence the waivers.  Colby Lewis was
designated for assignment (they had to make room for
Stairs on the 40 man roster).  I'm guessing this will
be a short stay in Detroit for Mr. Stairs.  The Tigers
also added pitcher Chad Durbin and catcher Mike Rabelo
from Toledo as part of September call-ups.  Placido
Polanco put a scare into people by saying that he was
done for the year, but he then retracted the
statement.  Word is he COULD play in KC this weekend,
but he's unsure.  I would be surprised to see him back
this weekend.  

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Tiger of the Week...
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Sean Casey's five-game hitting streak helped inject a little offense into the Tigers this week. Before running into Tiger-killer Freddy Garcia, Casey was 8 for 17 with a pair of walks, a game-tying homer in the 8th on Sunday, four runs and six RBIs. After slumping badly for two weeks Casey is showing signs that he will be a contributor over at first base; something the Tigers have been looking for since the beginning of May.

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Feats...
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Some interesting things happened this week that should
be brought to light...

1.  Alfonso Soriano stole his 40th base, making him
the fourth member of the 40/40 club.  He joins Jose
Canseco, Barry Bonds, and Alex Rodriguez in the
exclusive club.  Expect Soriano to get mucho dinero
next year.  

2.  Magglio Ordonez needs just three RBIs to reach
100.  He would be the first Tiger to accomplish the
mark since Bobby Higginson and Dean Palmer each plated
102 in 2000.  Carlos Guillen should have topped the
century mark in 2004, but he lost the end of his
season to an injury and finished with 97 (and 97 runs
as well).  

3.  If Carlos Guillen hits another homer before the
end of the year it will be the first year since 1997
since five Tigers have topped 20 homers.  Already past
20 this season are Magglio, Inge, Thames, and Monroe. 
Can you name those five Tigers who hit 20+ homers in
1997?  Hint:  Luis Gonzalez was no longer on the team,
and anyone who claims to get all five is lying.  

Answer: 
http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/DET/1997.shtml

4.  The Los Angeles Dodgers did something unbelievable
on Monday.  Trailing the Padres by four runs in the
ninth, the Dodgers homered in FOUR consecutive at-bats
to tie the game.  Then the Padres scored a run in the
10th to deflate the Dodgers' balloon.  But Nomar
Garciaparra hit a two-run walk-off in the bottom of
the tenth!  What a performance, especially with the
playoff implications.  And fittingly Dodgers lead-off
hitter Rafael Furcal opened Tuesday's game against
Pittsburgh with a home-run.

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No Tickets...
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What does me getting pulled over and the American
League Divisional Series have in common?  I didn't get
a ticket in either case.  The fuzz stopped me on
Wednesday for speeding but I got off with a warning. 
Whew.  On Tuesday at 10AM the Tigers' website put
tickets up for sale.  Phone orders were also accepted,
but they were not selling tickets at the box office. 
I attempted to land tickets to games one or two, but
was shut out.  Drat!  After a half-hour of futility I
was able to get a single ticket to a possible home
fifth game.  I decided I'd have more fun watching the
game with friends.  There is one chance, though, that
I'll get to see a game.  Gilby put in for two
standing-room tickets for the fifth game and offered
me the other ticket.  The chance is slim, but my hat's
in the ring.  Thanks to Gilby.  

If you're interested in trying to Ebay tickets from
these profiteering pricks who don't deserve them (I'm
not angry) you can click the link below.  One fool
even has the venue listed as "Coamerica Park!" 
Grrrrrrr.

http://tickets.search.ebay.com/detroit-tigers_Tickets
_W0QQfkrZ1QQfromZR8QQsacatZ1305

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Tigers Weekly Fall Classic...
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There will be a baseball game this Saturday at 11AM in
Holt.  The Weekly team, which so far is composed of
all MSU Math Department All-Stars, will take on Team
Agate in a last hurrah of baseball season.  Weather is
threatening rain, so the game may be cancelled
last-minute.  If you would like to play (especially if
you can pitch) let me know.  The Weekly team currently
has eight players, but I'm sure we'll be able to field
a team.  Anyone who needs directions can contact me. 
It will, as always, be a blast!

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Poll Question...
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Who is the favorite to win the American League?  The
NL favorite is pretty clearly the Mets, though that
doesn't guarantee a thing.  

What three pitchers would you start in the ALDS?  I
asked this before, but lately a couple of pitchers
haven't been very consistent, and another has really
stepped up his game.  I'm interested in where people's
confidence lies.
  
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Game Linescores...
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September 13:  Texas 11 - Detroit 3
Starters:  TEX: Millwood 7IP - DET: Verlander 4.1IP
TEX  011 231 030  11 15 1
DET  000 300 000   3  7 1
W: Millwood  (15-10)
L: Verlander (16-8)

September 14:  no game scheduled...

September 15:  Baltimore 2 - Detroit 17
Starters:  BAL: Penn 3.2IP - DET: Bonderman 6IP
BAL  000 011 000   2  9 2
DET  100 806 11X  17 19 0
W: Bonderman (12-8)
L: Penn      (0-3)

September 16:  Baltimore 0 - Detroit 2
Starters:  BAL: Benson 8IP - DET: Robertson 8IP
BAL  000 000 000  0 6 0
DET  001 000 10X  2 7 0
W: Robertson (13-12)
L: Benson    (10-11)
S: Jones     (36)

September 17:  Baltimore 12 - Detroit 8   F/10
Starters:  BAL: Cabrera 4.2IP - DET: Ledezma 3.2IP
BAL  011 310 110 4  12 18 0
DET  100 500 020 0   8  7 2
W: Ray    (3-4)
L: Grilli (2-3)

September 18:  Detroit 8 - Chicago White Sox 2
Starters:  DET: Rogers 6IP - CWS: Buehrle 6.2IP
DET  200 101 004  8 13 0
CWS  000 000 011  2  7 1
W: Rogers  (16-6)
L: Buehrle (12-12)

September 19:  Detroit 0 - Chicago White Sox 7
Starters:  DET: Verlander 4.2IP - CWS: Garcia 8IP
DET  000 000 000  0  2 0
CWS  000 420 10X  7 10 0
W: Garcia    (15-9)
L: Verlander (16-9)

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Readers Write In...
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Dan "Guag" Guagenti

O'Toole -
Be ready to learn these words:  "The Curse of the
Neifi."
Btw, can I fwd the remainer of this seasons' fantasy
stats to next year for the title defense, or was the
drubbing sound enough that I won't be invited back?
- Guag

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Toolie's Trashtalk...

Dammit, Guagenti.  There are only a few people that I
didn't want to win the league, and you were one of
them.  Nice team, you truly dominated.  Next season
would there be any interest in a Tigers Weekly Fantasy
Baseball League?  

If you've watched any games in the last week then
there's a good chance that you saw the Jeff Daniels
video, "Tiger Fan Blues Revisited" on the pre-game
show.  It's a pretty funny song-and-dance bit by
Daniels and his acoustic guitar.  You can download the
song for a dollar at his website,
http://www.jeffdaniels.com .  Here's an excerpt...

"I get that old lovin' feeling..
every time I see Jim Leyland."  

It's better than I'm making it sound.   

The Tigers are extremely hit or miss lately.  They
have been playing a lot of laugher games.  The scores
this week:  3-11, 17-2, 2-0, 8-12, 8-2, 0-7.  Only one
of those games is what I'd call a decent baseball
game.  Even then, the bats were pretty silent.  The
12-8 loss was a close game, but a little annoying to
watch.  Justin Verlander's two starts (the bookends of
this week) were both terrible.  The other poor outing
can be attributed to Wil Ledezma, who has been
inadequate in September (7.71 ERA in three starts). 
That spot in the rotation should only arise twice
more; once against the Royals and the other time
against Toronto.  

Still, the Tigers are in pretty good shape for the
playoffs.  They just have to avoid a complete disaster
(knocking on wood right now).  Really, I think it all
has to do with the disappearance of the "Chances of me
working are... remote" commercial.  Seems like the
losing ways began around the time that commercial
stopped airing.  And another word on commercials: Joel
Zumaya shouldn't give up his day job.  

Barry Bonds is back to hitting home runs and it seems
that if he's healthy he may break Hank Aaron's record
next season.  He has 732 now, 23 short of Aaron's 755.
This season Bonds has hammered 24.  The question is
whether he can hold up.  From what we know of Bonds
I'll bet he's stubborn enough to break the record, and
he certainly wants it.  It would be a big
middle-finger, however, to the game... taking the
record away from an honorable player with no steroid
allegations.  

Apparently a Baltimore radio personality is scheduling
a walk-out during Thiursday's game with the Tigers. 
The move is supposed to show the fans' displeasure
with Orioles owner Peter Angelos.  The game is not to
be televised (unbelievable) so most of us will have to
check Sportscenter to see if it happens.  

http://www.wnst.net/OriolesPetition/protest.htm

It sure seems like the Twins can't lose these days. 
They have a nice schedule the rest of the way,
especially since they get the Sox at home, where the
Twinkies are almost untouchable.  If the Tigers lose
the division to the Twins I won't be surprised.  We'll
just beat the Yanks and meet them in the ALCS.

Sorry again, for the late issue.  I will aim to be
more punctual next week.  

Finally let me say that I hate White Sox fans.  While
getting thumped on Monday they resorted to chants of
"Detroit Sucks."  At least they could have come up
with something hilarious like that guy last year in
Detroit who kept yelling "De-troit Ain't Shit" in the
style of "De-troi Basketballllll."  But I guess I
shouldn't expect too much from South Siders.  

Go get 'em Tigers!

I'm out.





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Play Ball!

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