Predictions on Tigers - White Sox Series, & Central Division Finish

Submitted by StephenRKass on

I don't know if this qualifies as a "snowflake" post. If so, I'm fine with Bisbino sending the post over to oblivion in the moderator action board. Nonetheless, I'm curious what Tiger's fans are predicting for the 4 game series with the Sox beginning today, and also what they predict for the Central Division. As a Sox' fan, I watched them wither away to the Tigers last year. I pretty much expected the same thing this year, but have been pleasantly surprised by how well the White Sox have done.

Here's what I like about the Sox.

  • Young pitching. Sales came out of seemingly nowhere, Quintana has been good, and Reed isn't a bad closer.
  • Comeback years. With Dunn and Rios hitting so much better than last year, it has made a huge difference in the lineup.
  • Defense. The Sox have been a very good fielding team this year.
  • Management. The biggest difference has been Ventura instead of Guillen.

However, I have no confidence in the Sox finishing out the season well. The Tigers have had the White Sox number this year. The only thing helping is that the Sox don't play any more games in Detroit, and they have a two game lead.

Tonight is critical. If the Sox can win with Quintana to get a 3 game lead, and either Peavy or Sales can win, I like the Sox' chances. What do you predict for the Tigers?

I'll predict that they win tonight, split the series, and the Sox end the season one game up over the Tigers.

MAS

September 10th, 2012 at 5:07 PM ^

Based on recent history, I fully expect a Tigers sweep or Tigers to take 3 of 4 this week.  That being said, I still think the White Sox will win the division.

 

Both teams are wildly inconsistent.  If they catch lightning in a bottle, they could cause some damange come playoff time.  More likely than not, either / both team(s) are one and done.

mgowill

September 10th, 2012 at 5:27 PM ^

As a White Sox fan I agree with this post 100%.

I am dreading another painful series with Detroit where we get swept.  The remaining schedule based on a good guess to how they have played the teams (my predictions for the series in parentheses)

  • Tigers (1-3)
  • Twins (2-1)
  • Royals (1-2)
  • Angels (2-1)
  • Cleveland (3-0)
  • Tampa Bay (2-2)
  • Cleveland (1-2)

Total 12-11 with a 87-75 record.

The Tigers have the following (once again my predictions based on recent history)

  • White Sox (3-1)
  • Cleveland (1-2)
  • Oakland (1-2)
  • Minnesota (2-1)
  • Kansas City (3-1)
  • Minnesota (1-2)
  • Kansas City (2-1)

Total 13-10 with a 86-66 record.  Okay, it won't happen that way but it made the one game theory work...

Chica_GoBlue

September 10th, 2012 at 5:33 PM ^

I think it could go fairly similar to your predictions with +/- a few games. With that being said, it's a possibility that there could be another 1 game playoff to determine the Central. While it didn't work out great for my Tigers the last time it happened in 2009... that was one of the best baseball games I have ever watched.

 

I think it will be an agonizing September to see who falters more.

93Grad

September 10th, 2012 at 5:14 PM ^

and then get swept by everyone else.  The sox lose all but 2 in their remaining games meaning the 2 teams are tied at the end of the season and have to play a 1 game tie breaker.  A coin flip determines who has home field advantage and, ultimately, who wins the division. 

WMUgoblue

September 10th, 2012 at 5:38 PM ^

I'd like to say I have confidence in the Tigers but they are so inconsistent and Leyland's lineups this past weekend were beyond insane.



The Tigers have pitched incredibly well for about a month and have basically nothing to show for it.



I'll hope for the best, but both of these teams are incredibly flawed and if Dunn doesn't play then that hurts the Sox pretty badly.



Wonder if the there will actually be a sellout at the Cell once over the next 4 days? Can someone tell me why the Sox don't get near the fan support they deserve, the Cubs are dreadful....

Lionsfan

September 10th, 2012 at 5:20 PM ^

I bet the Tigers sweep the Sox, then lose to the Indians and A's (either swept of 1-3), beat the Twinkies (2-3), then split the Royals. And we don't make the playoffs

profitgoblue

September 10th, 2012 at 5:30 PM ^

I'll leave it since its sparked a good discussion about baseball and the playoffs.  But I think it does technically fall within the guise of the Snowflake Rule and will not be offended if my friendly ruling gets overturned upon further review.

AZBlue

September 10th, 2012 at 5:35 PM ^

As long as we are doing this -- Is anyone as happy as I am that for the first time in like 3 years the media has almost no reason to talk about a certain "QB" who lost his only bowl game vs. M?

I am as giddy as a schoolgirl (not really)

 

 No dislike for TT, just for the constant forcefeed diet of him.

mGrowOld

September 10th, 2012 at 5:35 PM ^

I am predicting the Tigers sweep the the Sox 1-0, 13 - 12 and then 5 -4.  And then, forgetting that games against teams not in first place count equally as much as teams that are in first place,  we lose to the vaunted Cleveland Indians 10-1, 4-0 and then 6-5.

By the way...I live in Cleveland and the headline in the Plain Dealer sports section last week was something like "why can't we play these guys every game?"  The powerful tribe had lost 29 of 35 games going into the Tigers series (6-29 for those keeping score at home) before somehow managing to take 2 out of 3 from the Tigers.

Talk about playing down to the opposition.

Yinka Double Dare

September 10th, 2012 at 5:44 PM ^

A few weeks ago I thought for sure it would take at least 90 to win the division, but now it would take a heck of a run by either team just to get to 90.

For those complaining about Leyland's lineups, Ventura basically doesn't move anyone from their established spots at this point so when, say, Youkilis and Dunn both are out, you end up with your 2 and 3 hitters being Jose Lopez or Ray Olmedo and Dewayne Wise. 

TyrannousLex

September 10th, 2012 at 5:50 PM ^

Leaving the Tigers still 2 back where they will hang around but never make up ground.

Whatever "it" is, the Tigers don't have it this year; all the pieces are in place but apparently not the ability to put them all together to form a pretty picture.

If the Sox manage 3/4, that's pretty much the end for the Kitties. But i guess the way the season's gone Detroit might just sweep and take a two game lead that they'll try to blow next week.

sambora114

September 10th, 2012 at 6:41 PM ^

Both teams have been quite inconsistent

I think unless the White Sox sweep it will be a race until the end of season

Let's go Tigers but not very optimistic--we haven't scored runs for Porcello since July 

French West Indian

September 10th, 2012 at 6:42 PM ^

Probably Detroit goes on a 20 game win streak and wraps up the division with ten games to spare.  They have a big party with fancy champagnes and cocaines and then with the inevitable hangover they drop the last three games of the regular season (as they set up their rotation for the playoffs) and then promptly get swept in the first round as rain delays fuck up excellent starts by all of their pitchers.

Yeah, that's obviously what's going to happen.  Probably not even worth watching except of the booze and drugs.

Buck Killer

September 10th, 2012 at 6:51 PM ^

Wow, that should put us out of a sweep. The incompetence and lack of any rational decisions by Jim is killing me. Hey, a player is hot, so lets pull him. Jim: I googled that Rayburn hits .225 when batting second at Chicago, which is double his normal average. Are you kidding me!