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Schedule Before All Star Break Points To Tigers Moving Into First
Panic in Detroit? Why.
After the last 10 games, the Tigers and Twins remained in the exact same spot - 1 1-2 games separating the second-place Tigers from the Twins in the American League Central standings.
The Tigers are coming home, where they are 25-11 on the season at Comerica Park. They are facing Seattle, which is 13-26 on the road, and Baltimore, which is 8-29 on the road.
It would not surprise me if, by the time the Twins come to town next weekend for a huge three-game series just before the All Star break, if the Tigers are atop the A.L. Central.
The Twins are at home against Tampa Bay this weekend, then have a trip to Toronto, before coming to Detroit.
The third-place White Sox are at Texas this weekend, and host the Angels next week.
After the last 10 games, the Tigers and Twins remained in the exact same spot - 1 1-2 games separating the second-place Tigers from the Twins in the American League Central standings.
The Tigers are coming home, where they are 25-11 on the season at Comerica Park. They are facing Seattle, which is 13-26 on the road, and Baltimore, which is 8-29 on the road.
It would not surprise me if, by the time the Twins come to town next weekend for a huge three-game series just before the All Star break, if the Tigers are atop the A.L. Central.
The Twins are at home against Tampa Bay this weekend, then have a trip to Toronto, before coming to Detroit.
The third-place White Sox are at Texas this weekend, and host the Angels next week.
posted by Pat Caputo at
12:36 PM
12 Comments:
Couldn't agree with you more. Schedule (opponents) timing along with the playing 'health' of the Tigers is really important.
I still say that the schedule from July 19th thru Aug 19th is going to be the season definer.
If we can get out of that 31 game stretch at say 14-17 or 13-18, we are set up for the fall run.
But it could be a disaster if we are pretenders because of poor performance or injuries.
Maybe not panic. But the Tigers' performance head-to-head with the Twinkies remains pretty dispiriting.
The bullpen has blown up, lefthanders and righthanders both. That's a huge question mark, obviously.
But I agree with the thrust of your post, this is a time to make hay.
Pat,
How about Bonderman and Galaraga to Seattle for Cliff Lee? Would Seattle want more?
Anonymous,
The Tigers have an inordinate amount of home games in July and August - but the flipside comes after that.
Caputo
Larry Baker,
Certainly it is on the road. We'll see how they do at Comerica Park this coming weekend.
Caputo
Anonymous,
I do think, in addition to Zumaya being out, Ni's struggles and demotion could be costly. He had been solid situational lefty.
Caputo
Anonymous,
No way, Bonderman is eligible for free agency and Galarraga doesn't really excite baseball people as anything else other than fourth or fifth starter. Mariners want a catching prospect and the Twins have the perfect one in Ramos.
Caputo
I like Jim Price's line on this topic - "it's not so much who ya play but when ya play them".
And we should be catching Mini at just the right time. Tired - a little doubt - and just wanting the break to get here. Tigers should be pumped to play - in front of a loud excited home crowd - looking for revenge.
But we will see how it turns out.
The thing about this years squad driving me bonkers (like last year) is that they can take a poor team and beat the snot out of them - then get smoked by that same team the next day with lethargic play.
That's baseball.
Huh? During that July 19-Aug 19 stretch, the Tigers are home 16 games vs. 14 games on the road.
And the road games are Tampa Bay(4) Boston (3), White Sox (3) and Yankees (4).
That stretch is going to be interesting ... skipper had better have them playing well.
Fred Brill,
Thing is, Fred, even the worst teams win once in awhile. So getting two out of three in a series is pretty good. I have a feeling this team might be built for the stretch run a little better.
Caputo
Anonymous,
Couldn't agree more. That stretch will have much to say whether the Tigers win the division or not.
Caputo
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