OT: Tigers headed to the World Series!
I know there was already an open thread about the game, but I thought that this deserved a seperate post. Looks as though they will be facing the Cardinals again in a rematch of the 2006 Series.
Tigers will most likely be favorites, similar to 06', but who do you think wins this year?
I have Tigers in 6, with JV winning 2 games and being WS MVP! Go Tigs!
October 19th, 2012 at 7:49 AM ^
I just want a championship. I don't care how they get it.
October 19th, 2012 at 7:52 AM ^
October 19th, 2012 at 7:53 AM ^
God I hope it's the Tigers. As someone who actually remembers both the 1968 series with the Cardinals and the 84 series with the Padres I can tell you it's an amazing experience.
In 68 I was in fourth grade and I can vividly recall our teacher bringing in a transistor radio so we could listen to the game in class (day baseball - no TV in school). We were all shocked that Denny McLain got out pitched as handidly by Bob Gibson as he did (picture Verlander X 5 for dominance that year) and nobody could believe Lolich won three times on insanely short rest. Our third pitcher that year was Earl Wilson who was known more for hitting home runs than his pitching skills for whatever that's worth and our fourth, Joe Sparma was so wild he actually pitched a no hitter and LOST because of the number of walks he issued.
Anyways the town went nuts after game 7 and Micky Lolich earned the right to sell donuts to us till the day he died. GO TIGERS!!!!!!!!!!
ps: My one and only piece of significant memoribila is a baseball signed by every player and coach of the 68 team. My late father was a dentist and one of his patients was Jim Price (back up catcher that year) and he gave my dad the ball as a present and my dad gave it to me.
October 19th, 2012 at 8:44 AM ^
when I was 9, so you and I must be about the same age. I remember it was chilly and raining most of the day. McClain was up against their ace, Bob Gibson and it wasn't even a game. The Tigers got bombed 10-1. Lou Brock was a one-man wrecking crew for the Cards, hitting a leadoff home run, and then a triple and double later in the game. It was so bad, Gibson even hit a home run (although he was known to be an excellent hitter for a pitcher). Still, the Tigers came back in the series as everyone knows by winning the last 3 games.
I'm really hoping we get revenge for 2006 (assuming the Cardinals win against the Giants). Go Tigers!
October 19th, 2012 at 7:56 AM ^
The Cardinals hitters will chase a lot of pitches, which is bad against this rotation. They will be a little rusty from the time off but this staff has just been so dominant. The Cardinals are good, but they are not the team that beat us in 06. I liked how Leyland was talking about having a plan for their time off unlike last time. It just feels like they learned from the last time and are ready to win.
October 19th, 2012 at 8:02 AM ^
Yeah I was there; Lucked into a ticket Thursday morning thanks to the rainout.
The aftermath was more emotional (for me), than I anticipated. Very satisfying game. Very satisfying to hear Dave Dombrowski call his manager, "the best manager in baseball"
This will be Tigers fourth WS matchup with the Cardinals. The Tigers won in '68, the Cards in '34 and '06. Tigers need to even this bad boy up at 2-2. With a determined, in his prime, JV starting at least two games for the Tigers, I like their chances.
Tiger fans are so fortunate to cheer for a team with the unquestioned best hitter in the game, and the unquestioned best pitcher in the game
October 19th, 2012 at 8:03 AM ^
October 19th, 2012 at 8:15 AM ^
...if Verlander only got a chance to pitch one game.
October 19th, 2012 at 8:40 AM ^
Probably not if it's in a losing effort
October 19th, 2012 at 8:43 AM ^
I just don't think they know how to lose a series right now. Plus they have an American League lineup and home field advantage.
October 19th, 2012 at 11:32 AM ^
...of the Cardinals hitters is definitely scary, especially with the Tigers bullpen. And since the bullpen has already blown leads in both the ALDS and the ALCS, you'd almost have to expect it to happen again in the World Series at least once or twice too.
Still, I think Detroit's starting pitching keeps rolling and the Tigers' star power overwhelms and it just ends up being too much for the Cardinals to repeat. I'd like to see a party in Detroit, so I'll say it, Tigers in wrap in game 5, Monday night, October 29, 2012.
October 19th, 2012 at 8:46 AM ^
TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS TIGS
October 19th, 2012 at 8:50 AM ^
I would say that, looking at various permutations of the possible rotations, it would be very hard for the pitching matchups not to favor Detroit in most instances. The postseason batting average against the Cardinals top three starters, for example, is 0.264, whereas the Tigers have held hitters to a 0.179 average. Offensively, the Tigers and Cardinals would probably be evenly matched, depending on the stat you're looking at (the Cardinals arguably have a more balanced lineup from a production standpoint, looking at regular season numbers), but the postseason typically seems be decided with dominant pitching and clutch at-bats, and the Tigers definitely manage here.
I see the Cardinals as putting up more of a fight than the Yankees definitely, and perhaps winning one or two, but as someone mentioned, these are not the 2006 teams. If they can keep this sort of momentum and own free-swining lineups for the most part, then I would predict Tigers in five, maybe six.
October 19th, 2012 at 9:00 AM ^
The cardinals lineup is very dangerous. And while their starters may not be as good, the bullpen is excellent. Plus you can never underestimate guys like carpenter and wainwright with all their playoff experience.
October 19th, 2012 at 9:02 AM ^
As a cardinals can, that's exactly how I want it to be.
October 19th, 2012 at 9:04 AM ^
October 19th, 2012 at 11:21 AM ^
"Perhaps winning one or two?" Don't make the same mistake that USA Today idiot did in 2006 when he predicted "Tigers in 3," so dismissive was he of the Cardinals' chances. Have you seen the sheer guts and willpower of this Cardinals team the past two postseasons? They simply refuse to quit. Check out game 6 of the Series last year, or the 5-run comeback against the Nationals in the deciding game of this year's NLDS and tell me if they aren't at *least* the equal of the Tigers in the "clutch-at-bats" category. (And I will stipulate that this discussion is a bit premature, as the Cardinals still need to close out the Giants. Take nothing for granted.)
As my fellow Cards fan bklein09 mentions here, both teams are probably better than 2006. Yes, the 2012 Cardinals don't have an in-his-prime Pujols, Jim Edmonds, or Scott Rolen in the middle of its lineup, or Mr. Gritty McGrit Dave Eckstein -- and LaRussa and Dave Duncan are no longer in the dugout. On the other hand, this year's lineup is much deeper 1-8, even w/Furcal out; the 2006 outfit had guys like So Taguchi, Juan Encarnacion, and an over-the-hill Preston Wilson taking significant at-bats. This year's team has as solid a middle-of-the order as anyone, with Beltran-Holliday-Craig-Molina (a much better hitter than '06 Molina)-Freese, and supersub Matt Carpenter providing solid pop as he showed in game 3. Obviously a big factor in the (potential) Series will be Beltran's health, and whether he can at least DH in the games in Detroit.
This Cardinals team also has a deeper 'pen and a better, deeper rotation than '06 -- I really don't know how that 2006 team did it. Carpenter was at his peak, of course, but he only pitched one game in the WS. Their nominal #2 starter, Mark Mulder, was injured, so Jeff Suppan -- JEFF SUPPAN! -- was their #2 in the playoffs. Jeff Weaver, not very good at all in 2006, was a desperation trade-deadline pickup and the #3 starter in the Series (and amazingly, pitched two solid games, including the game 5 clincher). And a highly touted rookie starter who ended up never amounting to much, Anthony Reyes, pitched the game of his life to win Game 1. Dave Duncan was a magician.
This year, they have Carpenter back from injury/surgery to replace the injured Jaime Garcia/Jake Westbrook; Wainwright; Kyle Lohse, who's been quietly excellent all year (16-3, 2.86 ERA, 1.090 WHIP, 134 ERA+), and Lance Lynn, a first-year starter who won 18 games this year.
That said, the Tigers' rotation should rightly make them the favorites. But don't assume it will be a walkover.
Anyway, if my Redbirds have to lose (again, *assuming* they close out SF), I'm glad it would be to the Tigers, as I'd like to see them win a Series again. Just hope it's a good Series -- last year's 7-game epic will be hard to top!
October 19th, 2012 at 11:45 AM ^
October 19th, 2012 at 8:51 AM ^
It's only fitting the Tigers win it all this year. We have the first Triple Crown winner since 1967. We also have the ALs #1 and #2 pitchers as far as strikeouts, which I'm assuming is a first in a long time.
October 19th, 2012 at 9:08 AM ^
I don't know if i'd call up the last triple crown reference here. His team lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in 7 games.
October 19th, 2012 at 9:16 AM ^
How about the second to last? 1966 Triple Crown winner Frank Robinson of the Baltimore Orioles?
The 1966 Orioles swept the LA Dodgers 4 straight, getting great starting pitching, and allowing the Dodgers only 2 total runs in the series.
October 19th, 2012 at 9:31 AM ^
Yea, that sounds better
October 19th, 2012 at 9:49 AM ^
Much better analogy (especially with the pitching aspect included)
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October 19th, 2012 at 8:55 AM ^
But I'm pulling for the Tigers this year, even though I normally root against them in the regular season as I'm a ChiSox fan. But the reason that I'm pulling for the Tigers this year is not for me, it's for my grandfather. He's 100, and a lifelong Tigers fan, and this is probably his last chance to see Detroit win a title, so for that reason alone I'm pulling for the Tigers to win.
October 19th, 2012 at 8:56 AM ^
/s
October 19th, 2012 at 9:11 AM ^
Hot off the press......
The Brewers added right-handed reliever Jesus Sanchez to the 40-man roster on Wednesday and removed a pair of pending free agents, moves that reduced the size of the roster to 37.
Veteran pitcher Livan Hernandez and catcher Yorvit Torrealba refused outright assignments to Triple-A Nashville and elected free agency. They would have hit the open market, anyway, after the World Series.
Sanchez, 25, a converted catcher, would have been a six-year Minor League free agent had the Brewers not added him to the roster.
The Venezuelan-born Sanchez had a 1.62 ERA in 52 relief appearances between Double-A Huntsville and Triple-A Nashville in 2012. He logged 11 saves at Huntsville before his promotion and, overall, surrendered only two home runs in 71 2/3 innings.
The Brewers signed Sanchez in Jan. 2011, after he was released by the Phillies. That team converted him from catcher to pitcher beginning in 2009, and in 132 Minor League mound appearances, Sanchez has a 3.34 ERA.
The Brewers will clear two more roster spots when pitchers Shaun Marcum and Francisco Rodriguez reach free agency after the World Series, but those spots will be claimed when pitcher Chris Narveson and first baseman Mat Gamel are reinstated from the 60-day disabled list.
One other player on the 60-day DL, shortstop Alex Gonzalez, would be a free agent if the Brewers decline his 2013 option.
Adam McCalvy is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Brew Beat, and follow him on Twitter at @AdamMcCalvy. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
October 19th, 2012 at 9:11 AM ^
October 19th, 2012 at 10:06 AM ^
You completely forgot the Yankees were CHEATED BY THE OBVIOUSLY BIASED UMPIRES in game two thereby robbing them of the series. Had the UMPIRES WHO OBVIOUSLY CHEATED called the play correctly the Yankees would've clearly broken out of their hitting slump, scored several runs and rallied to win. Fueled by the emotion of that now epic comeback victory the Yankees, had they NOT BEEN CHEATED BY THE UMPIRES would've obviously won both games three and four and would be looking at the closeout game tonight.
I think the rules need to be changed retroactively thereby granting them a win in game two as well as wins in games three and four. It's only fair.
October 19th, 2012 at 10:28 AM ^
Don't need to change the rules. Just need to change the "Verlander strike zone."
October 19th, 2012 at 11:12 AM ^
...I actually don't mind all the Yankees talk because it's focused on how collossally awful they are.
And as long as the Tigers win, I don't really care how much press they get.
October 19th, 2012 at 9:11 AM ^
October 19th, 2012 at 10:02 AM ^
On paper the Tigers are the favorites, but the Giants and Cards were underdogs the last two years and won anyway; these things aren't won on paper. What we do know is that JV and the rest of the staff are at the top of their games, and of they don't spit the bit Detroit has a chance to win everything it plays.
Leland doesn't even need to schedule JV on short rest, though he might anyway.
October 19th, 2012 at 11:18 AM ^
...was just part of the problem in 2006. The other factor was that the team was roundly feted for a week with everybody seeming convinced that the National League wouldn't be able to stop them. At the time, I think the long playoff drought allowed all of the 2006 premature celebrating to go to their heads.
This 2012 team clearly has more playoff experience and should be able to do a better job of keeping focus on the finishing line.
October 19th, 2012 at 10:29 AM ^
I wish I wasn't so caught up in the Tigers win last night and that I would have read the comments on the Dawson post. If the comments are locked, I'm guessing it got pretty brutal.
October 19th, 2012 at 11:31 AM ^
Don't be surprised if the Tigers make a trip down to Lakeland to see some live pitching this time around instead of walking over to Ford Field for PR purposes.
October 19th, 2012 at 11:48 AM ^
Tigers are going scrimmage. Here is article about it.
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20121019/SPORTS0104/210190400/1129/r…