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A World Series Prediction
I understand that for Tiger fans this constitutes dangerous thinking, but after watching the National League Championship Series, I do not see the Cardinals beating the Tigers. The Tigers pitching staff is so much better than the one the Mets threw at the Cardinals. And the Cardinals still struggled to score runs. Albert Pujols is a great player, but the Cardinals do not have much surrounding him. He can easily be pitched around. Chris Carpenter and Jeff Suppan are gritty veteran pitchers, but the Tigers should do well against them. Jeff Weaver is a bit of a wild card in the deck, but familiarity should help the Tigers in this instance. If any club knows Weaver is not that good, it is the Tigers. Uncertainty is part of the nature of baseball. The Cardinals are capable of winning this series, but chances are better the Tigers will. I say it happens in six games.
posted by Pat Caputo at
3:35 AM
4 Comments:
Pat,
This World Series is one for true baseball fans - St.Louis vs. Detroit, Chapter III. I had hoped for this match up, although I thought it would be with the Mets.
There will be a few interesting subplots; Pujols vs. Zumaya, how Juan Encarnacion will perform in Detroit, how Placido Polanco will perform in St. Louis, and maybe even a pipedream scenario... Dream Weaver vs. Bonderman for the clincher. Oh, I want that one!
Honestly, unless the Tigers were to go back into meltdown mode, I don't see the Cardinals having a chance of beating the Tigers. Yes, it would be bedlam in this town, should the Tigers take 6 games to win this, but I don't know; they seem to have an aversion for losing a game after falling short in their comeback against the Yankees in Game 1. After getting Game 5 tickets for the ALCS, only to have them sweep the A's, I'm not waiting for Game 6 this time. My gut instinct says Tigers in 5 though.
I think the bigger mystery is going to be who will emerge as the Series MVP. Polanco was an excellent choice for the ALCS, and I'm still in your corner for Guiilen as Tiger of the Year. With a new hero each week, each game; it's hard to predict. Will it be C Mo, Pudge, or Maggs? Maybe Rogers or Jones? I'm going with Curtis Granderson for this one. Who knows? If he's even on the active roster, what a time for the magic to infiltrate Neifi? In that case, I think you'd have to just give it to Leyland. *LOL*
Thanks to "Russell" for confrming my impression on playoff series roster changes. So far, there isn't any news on a roster change. I agree with "i rule", that there isn't any need to insert another left-hand pitcher for the Cardinals, and that Santiago is one player who needs to be a keeper, if Chris Shelton is made active. He is simply the Tigers best middle infielder. Obviously, I don't think we need Perez as a pinch-runner, when you also have Infante and Gomez as choices too. It's true that Shelton didn't do anything in September to earn a spot, but it is more likely for him to get lucky in a pinch-hitting situation, and put one in the seats, as it is for Neifi to do so. I like the idea of Rogers pitching Game 2, and Verlander in Game 1. Yes, let's start this thing out with the flamethrower! I also like staying with the road warrior for Game 3; Robertson is our toughest mentally. A possible Game 6 with Rogers pitching at home would just be the icing!
It's great that Trammell and Sparky will be a part of the World Series festivities, along with Kaline and Horton. Boy, I'd sure like to see "The Mick" included too! Has anyone ever had 3 Series victories since him? Everytime I see Robertson out there in that #29, I wonder why that number wasn't ever retired, but he's worthy of wearing it.
I like the new format with the Oakland Press online, Book. That feature about the batboy brothers was nice, and brought back memories of my cousin, Russell Dingle, who was the Tigers batboy in the 50's.
Well, we are here now... GO TIGERS; finish the business at hand! We ALL expect nothing less now.
Mr. C. -- I wonder if anyone bet on the Tigers to be in the W.S. It's kind difficult for me to believe. I did not think they could beat Bob Gibson in 68 and didn't think they could beat the Yankees this year. That is why i never question Leyland's moves. He sure knows the game, and how to handle players. I sit at home watching this guy walk out to one of his pitchers who is in a bit of trouble missing the plate and the next thing i see is strikes. If the Tigers win it all Mr. Leyland deserves much credit. I respect this guy, he says when you have good players i look good. (or something like that) If the Tigers win it all it will be the pitching that does it. Without A.K. something you have been talking about for a long time! Vinny.
Patrick, The Book on Sports,
Gut check time.... just because there has been no reasonable response on why Neifi Perez has been on the playoff roster. It seems to me, that you haven't really analyzed why Chris Shelton is not a better 25th man. It is obvious when you address those who call in and question the decision. It is always all about the negatives of Chris Shelton, and never about the positives of Neifi Perez. Why do I bring this forward on the eve of the World Series? Chalk it off to the week off of baseball in Detroit, and a Tiger fan friend of mine, Bobby of Monroe, who went to the games in Oakland, in addition to the games at The Copa, has called in after every game with his impressions, and is acussing me of being anti-Leyland. In defense of myself, I've always said that whatever Jim Leyland decides, it just turns out to be golden! I've even joked that if Leyland choses to rip a roster spot from Shelton, in favor of Perez, then there must be something more to the story that go beyond the stats.
You are a stat man... so you say; tell me statiscally, why Shelton is snubbed over Neifi Perez! I've laid it all out factually, if you've ever had the time to click on one of my links, in a comment response to your blogs. When you send a guy down, who rebounds with a .289 month, after ONE poor month, gets public promises of being the first baseman of the future, by both the manager and team president, at the time, while speculation is thrown out that this demotion might ruin him, but he might be recalled before September... he finally returns after September - long after Neifi Perez had done NOTHING, and is treated as the red-headed step child; with AB stolen by a .156 hitting Perez, while Infane was hitting .400 for August. Bottomline... Chris Shelton was lied to. I think that might complicate raising your performance higher than other players on your team, when you're already there.
Through this all, I'm convinced that he might be too fragile to be a Detroit Tiger, but that doesn't resolve what contributed to his demise, or why he was singled out. I'll debate anyone on the chances others were granted, while he was shoved aside. Thank God that someone remembered what happened to Rick Ankiel, or we might have another top MLB prospect ruined. Or rather, thank God that the Cardinals beat the Mets, or else, we probably would have been traveleing down that road with Andrew Miller, with him launcing baseballs into the backstop cluelessly. Maybe someone just told Leyland NO!
I would just like to know what's really going on here! Why is the media so free to tear down Chris Shelton, who started the spark early in the season, while defending a desparation move in Perez, that has produced NOTHING, and then placed on the playoff roster? Don't even try to defend it; the stats are against any thing that can surface! Saying nothing about Perez' inclusion on the active roster, is purely politics; and in my mind, a sheer disgrace! Statiscally speaking, Neifi Perez as the 25th roster slot over Chris Shelton, simply cannot be justified! I've posted my scenarios of why this is true, but bottomline; Shelton has contributed to more wins than Neifi, and so has Dmitri Young, for that matter. My friend, Bobby, even went as far as saying that Young didn't deserve a ring, while calling me a traitor to the Tiger manager! All I'm talking about is the facts. Many other
Tigers were given much more slack than Chris Shelton; he had one bad month before his demotion, but STILL had a better season overall, than many of the other regulars, like Inge, Monroe, Thames, Casey, and Granderson. What is the real story here? How can such a feeble hitting, 25th player pinch-hitting option, who has no hope of getting lucky... left-handed or right-handed; possibly be a better "walk-off homer possibity" than Shelton??? Do you really think Neifi Perez could possibly pull it off more than Chris Shelton???
This Leyland adoration thing is getting crazy, and just because someone's been to a couple of playoff games, doesn't mandate them to support every decison! My friend, Bobby, even said YES to the previous question! I was so blabbergasted than I couldn't even ask him if Mike Maroth deserved to be on the roster, in the place of someone who hasn't pitched in the playoffs at all, or one who has been lit up, but attends all the media promotions.
I have to ask you, Book.... is Neifi, as the last man on the bench, a better choice for a walkoff homer in the 15th inning of the 7th game than Chris Shelton? Yes, this is only the 25th man we're talking about, but what if it meant something?
It scares the hell out me, Book! Do you think I might have been to one too many Lions' games? Why am I feeling this loyalty thing so strong? I swear... I've only watched less than 10 minutes on T.V., maybe around 15 minutes on the radio, and yet to consider going downtown to grab any tickets for the Millen clowns. I'M CLEAN! I'm happy about the Tigers, and don't wonder about whether they are going to be the Champions this year. I figured that out back in July. I still don't understand Shelton taking a backseat to Neifi, and while I won't get over it, I still love my Tigers. Maybe Neifi will cure me, by winning the MVP, huh? I just wanna hear you say it! *LOL*
Book,
All the Shelton/Perez talk is irrevelent now, since Leyland released his roster. It's too late to haggle over and ruin the mood.
I hope all Tiger fans are wishing Neifi the best! (maybe introduce him right after Trammell is brought out to wave to the crowd)
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