Detroit Tigers +157 These Tigers, as I've said before on these boards, have persistently marched to the beat of their own drum. When people shouted their praises, cited them as serious contenders, they proceeded to tank. And vice versa. They have thrived in situations riddled with doubters.
Example 1:
After getting swept by the Twins in the Metrodome, the Tigers sat at a paltry 17-16 record, tied with the Twins and Royals for first place in the division. On deck was a West Coast trip, where the franchise has traditionally faired very poorly. On this West Coast trip, the Tigers went ape-shit, winning all six games by a combined margin of 32 runs. They swept both the A’s and the Rangers .
Example 2:
The Tigers entered their biggest series-to-date against the Boston Red Sox (29-22) sitting pretty atop the AL Central with a 28-21 record. The Tigers were a sparkling 15-7 at home and had high expectations for this series. The Red Sox thoroughly dominated the Tigers, sweeping them in the process and destroying any hopes of this team being a serious contender. Unfazed, the Tigers responded by winning 6 of their next 9 games, against the Angels and the White Sox. These games included a 5-series set in Chicago.
Example 3:
The Tigers lost the last two games of their series in Pittsburgh and had lost the first two against the Cardinals, a first place team that had beaten them in the 2006 World Series. Again, doubts about the Tigers ability to play with good teams were surfacing. The Tigers stood at a paltry 34-31 entering the final game of their series in St. Louis. Slick Rick Porcello took the mound of the final game and tossed a gem, leading the Tigers to a huge victory. From here, the Tigers ripped off another 6 straight wins to pad their first place record.
Example 4:
The Tigers first series after the All-Star break was in New York against the Yankees. After losing the first game of the series by 2 runs in a Yankees come-from-behind win, the Tigers’ two aces, Verlander and Jackson, took the mound in games 2 and 3. The Tigers lost both games in by a run in heartbreaking fashion, as their offense could not muster any run-support. From here the Tigers hosted a quality Mariners club. Who took the hill again? That’s right, our friend, cool rookie, Rick Porcello. The rook, bolstered by quality run support, led the Tigers to the win.
Example 5:
The Tigers ended August with a meek 69-61 record. They were 5-5 in their last 10, and the Twins were only 3.5 GB and charging. Clearly, their season was at an important crossroad. After taking care of business against the Indians at home, the Tigers travelled on the road to Tampa Bay. Despite their sweep of the Tribe, serious questions about the Tigers viability as a playoff contender remained, as they were a horrific 27-39 on the road. And now, they were heading to Tampa Bay, where the Rays were fighting for their Wild Card lives and sported a 43-23 home record. As they have done time and time again this season, the Tigers responded, sweeping the Rays in a momentous fashion that led to the Rays death-spiral.
Example 5b:
After the Rays series, the Tigers feeling high and mighty, they proceeded to lose their next 5 games, getting swept in Kansas City and losing the first two in Toronto. Rick Porcello took the hill in the final game of that set, and proved to be the Tigers stopper, proving to be a serious stopper, tossing 6 innings of 4-hit, 2 run baseball.
Example 6:
After losing the first two in the Metrodome, and their lead shrunk to 2 games, heading into the final game of their mega-important series against the Twins, the Tigers held off the Twins with their fourth starter Nate Robertson out there, who had been horrific in the Metrodome throughout his career.
As you can see, in every critical inflection point this season, the Tigers have responded with momentous victories. Rick Porcello was instrumental in many of these. In fact, throughout the season, he has proved to be the stopper to separate losing streaks of three, four, and five. What makes his abilities even more impressive is that he’s been on a strict 90-pitch pitch-count all season.
These Twins have put together an incredible September to force this playoff, making me reluctant to call this a true "choke job." The Tigers have gone 9-11 in their last 20, and the Twins 16-4. Looking more closely, the Tigers accounted for three of the Twins' four losses. As such, [B]the Twins are 13-1 against non-Tiger opponents.[/B] This is how you blow a 7-game lead with 26 to go. In many ways, though, I think these Twins might be emotionally spent.
They've played through the loss of their best player (Morneau), the emotions of closing out the Metrodome, and now the emotions of a 1-game playoff. The Tigers, meanwhile, have faced their own, self-created adversity (i.e. the Miguel Cabrera situation, blowing a 7-game lead).
I think the Tigers have quite a few big-game players. Polanco, Guillen, and Magglio (recently). I also love the fact that Cabrera is going to get an opportunity to atone for his horrific September and his off-the-field failings all in one game.
I'll gladly take the better pitcher in the match-up (and Porcello has been scary good down the stretch, even better than Verlander) at plus money.
