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Are the Tigers Four-Month Wonders?
City Royals are, and how it is likely the Tigers will pound them like a drum this weekend. I also understand the fickle nature of playoff baseball. That the Tigers may, indeed, go deep into the playoffs. Actually, I have a feeling they will do well in the postseason. It is just sometimes, when I really examine their team, I do not know why. I sit on the fence between thinking the Tigers are overachievers who just happened to get hot for four months, and giving them their due as a talented club with a bright future. They have not played well since July. I knew all about the 1984 Tigers and why they were so good. I knew exactly why the 1987 Tigers won 98 games. This team? Even after 159 games, I have no idea how good it is. The Tigers sterling record suggests one thing. The shabby way they often play another.
Random Thoughts
- I love hockey and cannot wait for the NHL season to open next week. I have a feeling this is the season Henrik Zetterberg establishes himself as the Red Wings next great player.
- I respect Notre Dame and its tradition, but whenever the Fighting Irish have a degree of success, it gets on my nerves. Charlie Weis seems like a nice guy and an excellent coach, but enough already. The Notre Dame head football coach is always overexposed. And lets face it, Notre Dame did not win that football game last Saturday as much as Michigan State lost it.
- It is difficult to feel sorry for someone who squandered more than $300 million. Or for somebody as messed up as Mike Tyson. But I do anyway. I mean he is going on tour to fight four-round exhibition bouts because he is broke. That is pathetic. What is next for the guy? Professional wrestling? Roller derby? "Dancing with the Stars?"
posted by Pat Caputo at
2:03 AM
12 Comments:
Hey Book,
Well, I said it before, and I'll say it again, tigs are a regular season team, not a playoff team.
I do think they will win the AL Central, we are tied going into 3 with KC while Min has 3 with CWS. We should win this thing. But playoffs are another story. We have good regular season pitching just like we have good regular season hitting. In the playoffs you dont need a strong 1-5 in the rotation, you need a dominant 1,2. Everyone of our pitchers has dominated a game here or there, but none of them are dominant pitchers. I love robertson and think with his bulldog attitude he could will a win and should be the game one starter, but dominant, not even close. Rogers, throwing 88mph is not dominant. Lets go to the power guys. Bonderman, has incredible stuff, but i really want to hear someone convince me that an era over 4 is dominant. Verlander, too many implosions, too young, to be dominant. For a perfect example, of regular season vs playoffs, look at the hou/stl race, it is essentially playoff ball for these teams. compare the starters and who has the momentum right now, nuff said.
Batting - homeruns win in the regular season agianst nonplayoff pitching, but a team that Ks too much and doesn't walk enough will be in huge trouble against the better pitching in the playoffs. everyone wants to see us play oak in the first round. Why?!?! Our lineup against Harden/haren/Blanton. Thats ugly, I'd rather take our chances against NYY's lineup and outslug against Wang/Unit/Moose.
All that being said, i'm loving playoff baseball, hopefully i'm wrong about the tigs chances
Book,
Its Friday and no Lions comments? Come on, at least give me something!
Nick P,
When you think about it, the Tigers really haven't beaten anybody other than the White Sox and the Royals late in the season. And it seems like everybody else is doing in the same thing. I don't know if that is a bad sign for their playoff chances or not. You would think it would be, but like I said in the blog entry, playoff baseball is so fickle. They could come of out of the gate hot.
Caputo
Nick P,
You know, that is a bit strange. I didn't write a column this week about the Lions or post much on the blog about them. Seems like the Tigers are at the forefront now. And, honestly, I don't know how compelling the Lions game with the Rams is. The Martz returning aspect is interesting, I suppose. It's just the Lions have not only lost, but have looked disinterested while doing so. Maybe we've become disinterested in them, too. Corey Bradford getting cut suddenly says a lot. Seemed like they thought he was pretty good. It's another example of poor player evaluation.
Caputo
Book,
agree 100%, i'll watch the lions, but as far as emotional involvement, total apathy.
As long as it's football, MSU is very compelling, and I actually find myself rooting for UofM slightly, screw the lions
Nick P,
Even an MSU fan has to respect that Michigan team. Seems like it has a chance to be something special. Thing is, can you imagine how big the MSU-UM game would have been if the Spartans hadn't imploded vs. Notre Dame?
Caputo
Daver,
I don't see the Tigers being swept by Kansas City. I also see a pitching matchup that should favor the Tigers tonight in Minnesota. I respect the Tigers for what they have done to this point. Yeah, the hitting attack is a little suspect. But I predicted they would win just 82 games this season - and thought maybe I was overestimating them. It is an odd dynamic. On one hand, you see how poorly the Tigers have played the last six weeks. On the other, you just want to appreciate what they have accomplished.
Caputo
I Rule,
If nobody knew how valuable Polanco was to the Tigers before he was injured, they do now. That stretch where they didn't have him and Guillen was particularly difficult. What a solid double-play combo.I might move Polanco to leadoff and hit Pudge second. It might make Pudge stay inside himself more and hit to right field. That, seems to me, to be when he is at his best. Granderson has done well at leadoff for awhile. Middle relief is very important in the postseason. So is bullpen depth. Your point about Zumaya and Rodney is particularly valid.
Caputo
Mr. C. Watched the 8th & 9th from Minn. last night. Got the gas pipe out when Kc had 3 o/b n/w/o and did not score. Could not watch anymore. Dam that Minn football now baseball. Your comments Wednesday "do anything any more" How do you think Canada felt when they seen the Russian coming. At least The US has dominated almost all sports except soccer for many years. The basketball loss was surprising. Golf - Their A game come and goes just like the duffers. But at that level a couple strokes a game and you lose. Some luck involved, a player sinks a 50 ft putt. He could putt 50 more from that spot and he may miss 50. Tigers- I always had the feeling that they were not good enough to win it all, NYY are scary but so was St. Louis! What does Las Vegas say? Tyson - "It seems to me ive heard that song before" Vinny
Vinny,
The Yankees are favored, the Mets second and the Tigers third. Don't quote me on this, but I believe their odds 9-2. Personally, I don't think they are that good. I kind of view them as a longshot.
Caputo
Pat,
First of all, thank you for the kind comments about a true Detroit Tiger, who was blessed with many fond memories of them. Can you even imagine being a actual fan of Charlie Gehringer, Hank Grenberg, Mickey Cockrane, Hal Newhouser, George Kell... and then, witness the next eras beginning with Kaline? Okay... UNCLE, I give; sometimes, you just can't win.
A Menagerie of Thoughts-
Maybe we might have a prayer, if the Oakland Press and the rest of the Detroit media would adopt a former rival, the Browns, as our football team, and force the Lions to relocate; giving us the opportunity for a brand new franchise, like the Michigan Roadkill Raccoons! Just grab a coonskin footstool and relax! I think the Browns will reach the Superbowl decades before the Lions at this pace! Yes, the Bobby Layne curse lives!!! Why did they ever trade him to Pittsburgh anyway???
How many people realize that the Lindell A.C. is all but a memory now? It was even a great place for lunch!
Hats off to you, Book, for the inspiring post-game last night. As Price would say, "WOW"!!! Indeed, no sugar coating! Thanks, I needed that, to shake that one off! That was a HUGE loss, as the Yankees now have been bequeathed home field advantage for the ALCS, and I agree with you about the concept of momentum; what could have been is slipping away by over-managing. I saw this being played out weeks ago... the continuation of games without pitching changes, turning any hope into despair. As I've said before, the Tigers aren't where they are without Leyland, but you nailed... a great manager can have BAD GAMES! Personally, if I had a vote, Manager of the Year would go Gardenhire, and then Leyland. You can't give a pass on the past 48 games, whether the Tigers back-in or not!
Today's game is really academic now; Miner is still a good choice to start, but I want to see Maroth next, and then some Miller. If Bonderman can't win Sunday, the Tigers just don't deserve the Central, and it would be hard winning the Divisonal playoff, whether it be against the A's or the Yankees. If he doesn't have it early, give him the hook, and try Verlander next. Wouldn't it be interesting if Maroth pitched this weekend and dominated? I thought that the announcement regarding his playoff status should have been held back until Sunday night. What was the purpose in that, when it left some of the Tigers demoralized? That made no sense! One way or another, the Tigers MUST win the last two over a Royals team gaining confidence, while they have NOTHING to lose.
Unfortunately, I agree with you regarding Ramon Santiago... sadly, Perez will get the nod. Manager of the Year??? Yeah, if the vote was taken 50 games before the season ends! It's possible, that this season could end on a very sour note.
Garold,
LOL on the Lions. It is an odd situation I am addressing in my Sunday column in the print edition of The Oakland Press about how there is little fans can do about the situation because of William Clay Ford. I did get on the Tigers a litte bit last night on the postgame show. That wasn't a very good performance against what is basically a Triple-A team. The Tigers had breakdowns all along the chain. A 5-0 lead at home in an important game like that against that club - there are no excuses for losing that one. The Tigers are very lucky the White Sox held on in Minnesota or things would seem much worse right now.
Caputo
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