OT - Tigers Clinch Division
Tigers just closed out the game against the As and clinched the first division title in 24 years and only the second playoff berth in that span. Congrats to the team, organization and the fans. Feels great!!!
Proud to say I grew up during one of worst stretches in franchise history - possibly THE worst - in the 90s and early 2000s, and this feels fantastic. Well deserved and let's hope they can make a run at the World Series.
September 17th, 2011 at 12:55 AM ^
'GERSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!
What a team. Very excited for a run through the postseason.
September 17th, 2011 at 1:14 AM ^
Great news! But the last thing we need is Miguel Cabrera next to a tub filled with bottles of champagne. Let's not fall off the wagon tonight Miguel...
September 17th, 2011 at 1:15 AM ^
i dont care how much he drinks as long as 1) he doesnt drive and 2) he stays sober during the playoffs.
September 17th, 2011 at 1:24 AM ^
He is not part of the post game festivities. People that say it's ok for him to drink are wrong, I'm sorry he shouldn't be drinking anything I don't care the circumstance.
September 17th, 2011 at 12:56 AM ^
This team has that look. It should be a fun ride.
September 17th, 2011 at 1:28 AM ^
They've got the look AND some solid historical precedents related to that 12-game win streak. Tigers in the post season makes fall even better!.
September 17th, 2011 at 12:56 AM ^
GO TIGERS!!! THIS IS AWESOME!
September 17th, 2011 at 12:58 AM ^
I thought about it when we were up 3-1 didn't want to jynx it way to be Tigers.....Sippin on some Red Pop!
September 17th, 2011 at 1:04 AM ^
Faygo remembers
September 17th, 2011 at 1:00 AM ^
The playoffs can't get here quick enough.
September 17th, 2011 at 1:01 AM ^
No, we need to get a couple guys some rest before the playoffs. Particularly Avila. He's taken an absolute pounding this season.
September 17th, 2011 at 1:07 AM ^
the moment... of course it's good to get some rest.... you killjoy.
September 17th, 2011 at 1:34 AM ^
Can't rest too much if we want to win the AL.
September 17th, 2011 at 1:52 AM ^
some have forgotten what happened, when the Tigers had all that "rest" in 2006.
September 17th, 2011 at 1:02 AM ^
All the ESPN BBT guys were saying the Tigers should be favorite to make it to World Series in A.L.. They certainly have Big Mo on their side at the perfect time. I'm crossing my fingers for best AL record and home field advantage throughout the AL playoffs. I think they're 3 behind the Yanks. Hell of a year. I went to spring training (I lived in FL at the time) and it felt like they'd have a good year, but they've exceeded my expectations. GREAT trade deadline pick-ups FINALLY! What a difference that made for their 2nd half.
September 17th, 2011 at 1:02 AM ^
I don't get baseball. They celebrate like they won the World Series. You made the playoffs... Lets crack champagne?
September 17th, 2011 at 1:09 AM ^
They do it after every round of the playoffs too. I think part of it has to do with it being such a long season.
Part of it might go back to the days when only one team from each league made it to the playoffs (when there was only the WS, no LDS, let alone LCS) so it was a HUGE deal to make the postseason after a 100+ game season.
September 17th, 2011 at 1:27 AM ^
This post looks oddly familiar.
September 17th, 2011 at 9:02 AM ^
you don't get baseball
September 17th, 2011 at 9:59 AM ^
When you are on a team that had a decade like the Tigers did in the 90's, you crack champagne when you reach a milestone like this. Especially when said team had a better tradition prior to that.
September 17th, 2011 at 1:03 AM ^
I'm amazed that they're not running this on a 7-second delay. In 1968 Dick McAuliffe screamed out on live TV "I LOVE THESE FUCKING GUYS!!!". I'm waiting for that moment tonight.
September 17th, 2011 at 1:06 AM ^
Inge has a snorkel on right now! As much shit as he's taken this year, he's still my favorite Tiger.
September 17th, 2011 at 1:10 AM ^
First Division title in my life, congrats Tigers!
September 17th, 2011 at 1:12 AM ^
So happy... what a great week...
September 17th, 2011 at 1:14 AM ^
We're all behind our baseball team! Go Get 'em, Tigers!!!!!
September 17th, 2011 at 5:19 AM ^
September 17th, 2011 at 1:19 AM ^
Is wasted and barely speaking English. This is fantastic.
September 17th, 2011 at 1:34 AM ^
A friend of mine texted and said he thought he heard Valverde accidentally call Verlander "Bin Laden." Did anyone else catch this or is my friend as drunk as Jose appears to be?
September 17th, 2011 at 2:17 AM ^
It's the drunken hispanic accent/ normal accent where the V's sound like B's. Come on man, tell your buddy to get with it.
September 17th, 2011 at 1:26 AM ^
Now let's win the World Series for Ernie and Sparky !!!!!!!!!
September 17th, 2011 at 1:34 AM ^
Just Ernie.
September 17th, 2011 at 2:19 AM ^
Ernie AND Sparky...LIKE HE SAID.
September 17th, 2011 at 12:00 PM ^
Bill James knows a little more about baseball than you do. He's got a nice body of work on what a truly awful manager Sparky was. Read it and educate yourself.
September 18th, 2011 at 11:53 AM ^
So we should discount the fact the he's in the Hall of Fame as a manager?
September 17th, 2011 at 1:27 AM ^
Lets Go Tigers!
September 17th, 2011 at 1:32 AM ^
I'm not gonna lie, the room got dusty during that Leyland interview when he thanked the fans.
September 17th, 2011 at 1:41 AM ^
The sight of Jim Leyland crying while talking about Detroit is honestly one of the most beautiful moments I've witnessed as a sports fan.
September 17th, 2011 at 1:41 AM ^
Yea this needs to make its way to the youtubes soon
September 17th, 2011 at 1:37 AM ^
This is great watching them tear apart the clubhouse. I would like to see someone accidentally club Drew Sharp over the head with a bottle though, but we all know that would just be a waste of quality Bubbly. Very happy for Jimmy Leyland as well, he couldn't hold it together when talking about the D.
September 17th, 2011 at 1:44 AM ^
Was he there? I'd be surprised. It was established earlier this season that Drew Sharp is a couch columnist when he wrote a piece on Verlander's no-hitter in Toronto that he was exposed as not having watched until the sixth inning (it was also revealed that he didn't even bother to research what he missed before mailing his article in).
September 17th, 2011 at 1:41 AM ^
when Leyland did his speech thanking the fans, I broke down. I've waited 17 seasons to see this team win a division. So many losses that we have endured. And yet, Leyland wins a title, but is thinking of us. That is amazing. I love that old man. I rip on him because I care, but damnit if this isn't amazing. Best postgame show EVER!!! I have to wake up to go to Ann Arbor in the morning, but I also don't wanna sleep! LOVE YOU, TIGERS!!!!!!!!!
September 17th, 2011 at 1:48 AM ^
I like this team's chances and I've loved watching them during this streak they have been on the last few weeks, but I'm sorry ... I think sports tears should be reserved for bigger accomplishments than winning a five-club division in which the next best team is currently 73-75.
Hopefully we all have reason to get the waterworks going in October. Late October.
September 17th, 2011 at 1:51 AM ^
They just won the fucking division for crying out loud. I swear, if they won the World Series in 5 games you'd throw a little bitch fit because they didn't sweep.
September 17th, 2011 at 1:54 AM ^
Dude. He said he was CRYING over a DIVISION title. Sorry. There are standards.
September 17th, 2011 at 2:11 AM ^
over what Leyland said. Also, I've waited my entire f'ing life to see a division title too. So I don't give 2 shits what your standard is. So go slither off and not enjoy yourself while I enjoy this beer and MY TEAMS accomplishment. Jerk.
September 17th, 2011 at 10:30 AM ^
A division title is a huge deal in baseball. Unlike the NHL and NBA (where half the teams make the playoffs) and the NFL (over a third) only 25% of MLB teams make the postseason. And in the AL - you have to win the division (unless you're the Yankees or Red Sox). It's a big deal, especially after a 162 game season. Not to mention your franchise hasn't won a division title since there were only two divisions per league and only one playoff appearance in 24 years. Only the Royals, Brewers, and Nationals know that kind of futility.
It's a BIG deal. On to the playoffs! Go Tigers!!!!!
September 17th, 2011 at 12:04 PM ^
The 24 years without, four division titles since '69 thing is a tremendous embarrassment. I am a diehard Tigers fan living in a pretty bad baseball town. People here freak out about the Lions' struggles and just tune out when the Tigers are bad. There's no demand that they succeed as there is in baseball cities on the East Coast.
September 17th, 2011 at 12:37 PM ^
September 17th, 2011 at 12:41 PM ^