Jose Veras, Drew Smyly, Al Alburquerque, Joaquin Benoit...Max Scherzer had thrown 108 pitches, the borderline for being done. But this is the playoffs. I don't think it is an unfair second guess to wonder if manager Jim Leyland would have better served to leave Max Scherzer in this game. I think pretty much everybody in this town suspected the Tigers have been living on borrowed time with their bullpen and that their "lights out" performance Saturday night was misleading.
- The votes are in before postseason play begins, but anybody who put Scherzer at the top of their AL Cy Young ballot must feel their vote has been verified based in how well he has performed in the postseason. He did look like the best starting pitcher in the AL tonight. Scherzer's brilliant 2013 season wasn't just the product of great run support. Clearly.
- If Miguel Cabrera's power bat returns the rest of this postseason, and the signs are clearly there it is, the Tigers are really going to be tough from this point forward.
- Sometimes the Tigers' defense is suspect, and certainly the starting lineup tonight was lacking range on the left side of the field, but they have been playing pretty well defensively lately. Then again. the Tigers' defense hasn't been tested very much because Detroit's pitchers are striking out so many hitters.
- Great effort by Torii Hunter. Gotta love it.
- Give credit where credit is due. It's not like David Ortiz has not done things like this before. He is a truly great clutch hitter.