OT - Tigers Clinch Division

Submitted by bacon1431 on

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.

Spishak

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.

bacon1431

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.

ckersh74

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.

BRCE

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?

bleedzblue

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.

BRCE

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).

 

MichFan1997

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!!!!!!!!!

BRCE

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.

 

bacon1431

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!!!!!

BRCE

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.

BigBlue02

September 17th, 2011 at 12:37 PM ^

I'm going to go out on a limb and say you are the shittiest diehard tigers fan around as you have done nothing but tell the tigers not to be happy about a division title. I don't think you really understand what it means to win a division in baseball

BigBlue02

September 17th, 2011 at 12:41 PM ^

The reason the next team in the division has a losing record is because the tigers dominated the division and rattled off 12 straight wins to basically clinch it. But you're right, not that great of an acomplishment.

Get some fucking perspective.