According to most, especially Motown baseball fans, things seem to be progressing quite well for the Detroit Tigers this year. After all, through Aug. 2, the Tigers maintained a semi-comfortable 4 1/2 game lead over the KC Royals in the American League central division, with the Cleveland Indians a couple games further behind.
The Tigers have a lot going for them. They, their local media, and even many "experts" claim their starting pitching rotation is the best in baseball. It could well be, especially with the recent addition of former Cy Younger David Price through a three-way trade. Throw in reigning Cy Young winner Max Scherzer, who remains dominant. Rick Porcello is near the top of both leagues in wins. Anabel Sanchez quietly keeps getting the job done -- most of the time. Ironically, Justin Verlander, another former Cy Younger and the Fastball Flakes man himself, seems to be the weakest link. Who would have believed that a couple years ago? But tis true.
And the Tigers certainly have their fair share of offensive firepower. Besides all-around hitting machine Miguel Cabrera, designated hitter Victor Martinez continues to pound the ball. Recent acquisition J. D. Martinez seems to have came out of nowhere with a potent bat, and the Tigers plucked All-Star second baseman Ian Kinsler away from the Texas Rangers. Between aging veterans (see Torii Hunter) and a few young kids, the rest of their line-up seems to come through with a key hit more times than not. Yep, the Tigers can definitely score runs.
Alas, they remain woefully slow on the basepathes, and their bullpen is a little shakier than Barney Fife would have been if Al Capone had showed up in Mayberry -- but you can't have everything.
Nevertheless, most certainly expect the Tigers to cruise into the post-season. After all, besides being loaded with talent, they play in arguably the weakest division in all of baseball. If they DON'T win the AL central, they would have to be considered colossal under-achievers. But a 4 1/2 game lead with 50-some to go is certainly no "lock". A prolonged slump here (which the Tigers went through earlier this season), a hot streak there by somebody else, and who knows which victims the dreaded injury bug might infect? It's barely August, with two more months of the regular season left. The Tigers could win their division by 15 games, or not win it at all. Stranger things have happened -- lots of them -- in major league baseball over the years.
But for all that has been expected of the Tigers this year, especially having up-graded their roster so much -- let's look at a snapshot of right now.
The Tigers are indeed fortunate to be playing in the AL Central. If they were in the West, they would be in third place, far behind both the Oakland A's and LA Angels. In the East, they would trail the Baltimore Orioles and be nip and tuck with the Toronto Blue Jays for second place.
In other words, in either case, instead of having a "comfortable" lead, the Tigers would be fighting for their playoff lives just to qualify as a wildcard. And then there's that one game knock-out thing amongst the wildcards once the playoffs start -- if they even qualified in the first place -- no given.
So here's the real deal. The Tigers supposedly have the best starting pitching staff, a regular murderer's row of hitters, and play in the woefully weak AL Central division.
They better win it, because if they don't and somehow don't even qualify for the playoffs -- entirely possible -- as Ricky used to say to Lucie, rookie manager Brad Ausmus will have a whole lotta 'splainin to do. Somewhere Jim Leyland will shake his head and fire up another Marlboro, and poor Brad will get a few more gray hairs in a hurry.
Maybe Ausmus should take a cue from the late Desi Arnaz just in case. Learn how to beat the bongos and sing BABALU at the top of his lungs when being interviewed by the media.
If things don't work out, having a Plan B is usually a good idea.
Couldn't hurt -- and how much fun would that be?
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