After just losing to the Chisox, the Tigers find themselves 3 games out of first place in the AL Central Division with about 20 games to go. They play the Chisox 3 mores times in this series, and their playoff hopes might well hinge on what they do in the next couple days. In they can win 2 out of those remaining 3 games, to stay 2 games back of the Chisox, they're still very much in the hunt. If they win all 3, they'll be tied with Chicago and it's a crapshoot. Yet, it they get swept in the windy city to fall 6 games behind, with under 20 to go in the season --- the fat lady will start warming up.
As of this writing, the Tigers' chances to get into the playoffs as a "wild-card" team are dismal at best. Look at the East. The Yankees and Orioles are neck and neck for the division lead with Tampa Bay nipping at their heels. Somebody has to win it, and the other two become wild-card hopefuls. All three are a few games ahead of the Tigers. Out in the west, assuming the Texas Rangers win that division, the Oakland A's and LA Angels are also a few games ahead of the Tigers. That makes 4 potential wild-card contenders that are well ahead of the Tigers with only 2 spots available and the remaining games dwindling down. That would not present a good scenario for the Tigers' faithful.
Sure, anything can happen and sometimes does. Theoretically, a 10 game lead can be blown with only 10 to go -- but the I wouldn't bet much on it. The odds are long, to say the least.
It certainly appears the Tigers' most likely route to qualify for the post-season is by winning the Central Division. In that regard, the final couple weeks of the regular season schedule work in their favor. Maybe.
The Tigers play their last 13 games against either Kansas City or Minnesota. Both those teams have been hopelessly out of contention for months, and it could be that they'll just "play out the string" while looking forward to the off-season. But one never knows. Not long ago, the Tigers went to KC and got swept. Still, without much to play for, it's doubtful the Royals and Twins will play super-hard. Advantage Tigers, if there is such a thing in professional baseball.
On the other hand, during those same 13 games, the Chisox have 3 against the Angels out in LA (the resurgent Angels broomed the Tigers in a series out there just a few days ago), and 4 at home against Tampa Bay. If things hold to form, and all 3 of those teams are still in a dogfight for the playoffs, those games will be highly contested indeed.
However, just for argument's sake, let's look at what might happen if the Tigers don't make the playoffs. In the preseason, most pundits predicted the Tigers to win their division quite handily. Some of the locals went so far as to predict a romp. Certainly in that regard the Tigers have under-achieved, but all that would be quickly forgotten if the Tigers made the playoffs where, again, anything can happen. Remember the St. Louis Cardinals barely sneaking in last year and how it all turned out in the end. But if the Tigers don't find their way to the dance -- what then?
Manager Jim Leyland is in the last year of his contract, and there's been no word, at least publicly, about him getting offered an extension. After all the expectations going in, might the Tigers' failure to make the playoffs spell his demise as manager? That would be owner Mike Ilitch's call. Maybe the pizza man is in wait and see mode. It's almost impossible to fault Ilitch as an owner. During his tenure, and no doubt with a lot of his considerable influence, the quite impressive Comerica Park came to exist. Yes, some nostalgic old-timers still begrudge the demolition of the old Tiger Stadium, but c'mon, that place was about ready to fall down anyway. It was time.
Even player-wise, he hasn't been hesitant to open the vault to get the "pieces" necessary for a possible championship run. See Prince Fielder's well over $200 million contract. Ilitch did the same thing with the Red Wings and has a few Stanley Cup banners flying in the rafters of Joe Louis Arena to show for it. He'll do whatever he can as an owner to put his team in the best position to win a championship.
But Ilitch has never tasted that particular champagne with the Tigers. He's also 83 years old. Even in the world of Supreme Court justices, let alone pro sports franchise owners -- that's starting to get up there a bit in age. Despite his best intentions, patience has it's limitations -- in more ways than one. If the Tigers fail to even make the playoffs, might Ilitch broom Leyland? Entirely possible. That raises the question of who he would get as a new manager. Hard to say. It wouldn't necessarily need to be a guy already long in the tooth with managerial experience. How about an ex-player? Robin Ventura seems to be doing quite well on the south side of Chicago right about now as a rookie manager after having replaced the volatile Ozzie Guillen.
Might Ilitch even, gasp, blow up the team in a salary purging fire sale? Scoff if you wish, but yours truly would then refer you to the Boston Red Sox, always amongst the biggest spenders on players, and a perennial contender. They recently just did exactly the same thing. It can happen.
Yep, all things considered, the Tigers would be well-advised to win a couple more games against the Chisox in the current series. No sense opening up a baseball Pandora's box to see what crawls out if it can be avoided.
Either way, all this talk has got me thinking about ordering a pizza for some reason. It's been a while. But how to pick? Hungry Howie's, Papa John's, Jett's, Papa Romano's? Geez, so many choices, all in the neighborhood, and all excellent. But it seems like I might be missing one.....
Maybe I'll remember it if the Tigers go on to great things this year. Despite all his success in most every other business venture, Mike Ilitch is still missing one with his Detroit Tigers, as well.
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