Thinking (and linking) over lunch
♦ I'd been re-reading Buzz Bissinger's Three Nights in August, hoping I might glean some insight into Tony La Russa's managerial approach in a pending match-up with the Tigers and his old friend, Jim Leyland. But after last night's 4-2 loss to the Mets, I'm wondering whether I should bother trying to finish the book before Saturday. I don't suppose Willie Randolph has a book on the shelf I can flip through?
♦ I'm kind of hoping the Mets win the NLCS and come to Detroit on Saturday. It's not (necessarily) about beating the other New York team for the championship. Or fearing a Cardinals team with arguably the best hitter and starting pitcher in baseball.
I just like the Tigers chances in the World Series against a team that is starting Oliver Perez (who the Pittsburgh Pirates decided was no good for them) in a do-or-die Game 7 tonight.
(Previously, the Mets had strongly considered giving Darren Oliver - now a middle reliever - the starting nod. As a Tigers fan, can you imagine Detroit starting Jason Grilli for a Game 7? I'm sorry; I didn't mean to scare you. But think about the situation the Mets find themselves in after spending much of the season fighting the Tigers for the best record in baseball.)
♦ Was the rainout before the original Game 2 (10-04-06) of the ALDS vs. the Yankees the turning point in the Tigers' post-season? Mike Bauman of MLB.com thinks so. The perception that the Yankees received preferential treatment (or worse, were deceitful) during the rainout ticked the Tigers off, giving them an edge that they may have taken all the way to the World Series.
♦ Complete Sports thinks Michigan is currently the best team in the country, and will eventually play Auburn for the national championship.
I'm certainly not going to argue, but am beginning to wonder if a potentially great Michigan football team has ever received less attention from the local sports community. (I'm speaking more of the metro Detroit area. Not Ann Arbor. People definitely care here.)
That's not a bad thing. It's just an indication of how Tigers-crazy it is around here. Fans will be pleasantly surprised, once the Tigers smoke clears (hopefully from celebratory fireworks), to see just how good a team the Maize-and-Blue have right now.
♦ I'm kind of hoping the Mets win the NLCS and come to Detroit on Saturday. It's not (necessarily) about beating the other New York team for the championship. Or fearing a Cardinals team with arguably the best hitter and starting pitcher in baseball.I just like the Tigers chances in the World Series against a team that is starting Oliver Perez (who the Pittsburgh Pirates decided was no good for them) in a do-or-die Game 7 tonight.
(Previously, the Mets had strongly considered giving Darren Oliver - now a middle reliever - the starting nod. As a Tigers fan, can you imagine Detroit starting Jason Grilli for a Game 7? I'm sorry; I didn't mean to scare you. But think about the situation the Mets find themselves in after spending much of the season fighting the Tigers for the best record in baseball.)
♦ Was the rainout before the original Game 2 (10-04-06) of the ALDS vs. the Yankees the turning point in the Tigers' post-season? Mike Bauman of MLB.com thinks so. The perception that the Yankees received preferential treatment (or worse, were deceitful) during the rainout ticked the Tigers off, giving them an edge that they may have taken all the way to the World Series.
♦ Complete Sports thinks Michigan is currently the best team in the country, and will eventually play Auburn for the national championship.
I'm certainly not going to argue, but am beginning to wonder if a potentially great Michigan football team has ever received less attention from the local sports community. (I'm speaking more of the metro Detroit area. Not Ann Arbor. People definitely care here.)
That's not a bad thing. It's just an indication of how Tigers-crazy it is around here. Fans will be pleasantly surprised, once the Tigers smoke clears (hopefully from celebratory fireworks), to see just how good a team the Maize-and-Blue have right now.
Labels: 2006 Detroit Tigers
posted by Ian C. @ 1:00 PM
sweatymen[at]gmail[dot]com
2 Comments:
At October 19, 2006 12:47 PM,
Big Al said…
Honestly, neither NL team is exactly putting the fear of God into me.
I agree that the absolute shambles that is the Mets pitching staff gives the Tigers a huge advantage. In their favor, they do have a very solid offensive lineup. But with that pitching, against the Tigers the Mets will have to score a TON of runs to have a chance.
As for the Cards and Pujols, the Mets are doing a bang up job of not allowing him to put on the hurt. When you have either a rapidly aging and dinged up Jim Edmonds or the never-was that is Juan Encarcion hitting behind him, it's awfully easy to pitch around Pujols. The Cards pitching is better than the Mets, but I'd have little faith in a rotation that is depeding upon big things from Jeff Weaver.
The Tigers sure are looking a team sitting in the catbird's seat...
At October 20, 2006 1:41 AM,
twins15 said…
Yeah, I REALLY like Michigan this year, especially with a healthy Manningham. Good, veteran QB, solid RB in Hart, good receivers, and a great defense.
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