Will the Tigers hang on?

[Pringle]

Last night, the White Sox and Twins both won while Detroit was idle. One and a half over Minnesota, three over the White Sox with 19 to go.

I say that Detroit is the team outside looking in when the smoke clears.

And yes, I know we have a baseball thread, but that seems to be the official New York City and Boston baseball thread. Thought I'd start this for some of us in flyover country.

 

[Rosie]

Will the Tigers hang on?

No.

And that's all I'll say right now, can't risk jinxing anything!!! [/Twins looser fangirl]

 

[spnited]

Go check the baseball thread, Pringle. It is MUCH MORE about the Al Central than New York or Boston but you have to be a "flyover country" jackass anyway.
Meanwhile on said baseball thread, I predicted long ago that the Tiges would collapse and be the third team in the Al Central, and Leyland would be chain smoking while watching the AL playoffs from his couch.

 

[Pringle]

Go check the baseball thread, Pringle. It is MUCH MORE about the Al Central than New York or Boston but you have to be a "flyover country" jackass anyway.
Meanwhile on said baseball thread, I predicted long ago that the Tiges would collapse and be the third team in the Al Central, and Leyland would be chain smoking while watching the AL playoffs from his couch.

Well I still thought this deserved its own thread. My East Coast envy nonwithstanding.

 

[Rosie]

PSSSSSSSST! Spnited!

You missed a chance to have a newbie get you a beer!

 

[Montezuma's Revenge]

Wow, that's a little harsh, ancient one.

I say the Tigers hang on, that the Twins will be like one of those basketball teams that falls behind by 20, makes a furious comeback to get close to the lead and can't quite get over the hump.

 

[jagtrader]

This is about the time last year when everyone had the Indians winning it all and the White Sox missing the playoffs.

The Tigers have a really easy schedule to end the season, including 10 games against the Orioles and Royals. They have the edge.

 

[spnited]

PSSSSSSSST! Spnited!

You missed a chance to have a newbie get you a beer!

Can't you just ground him, Mom?

 

[Rosie]

I will in a little bit. Right now, I have to quit wasting time like a looser fangirl procrastinating and get my column finished and filed before deadline or my editor might want to ground me!

 

[zeke12]

Detroit's ace right now is Verlander, who, as good as he has been, is a rookie.

Twins are lights out with Santana on the mound.

White Sox have the best lineup, but have been spotty in other places that were locks last year, the bullpen in particular.

Tigers and White Sox still have to play each other, which is huge for the Twins. Twins and White Sox then close with three against each other, which is huge for Detroit. Detroit and the Twins are done playing each other which hurts Chicagos chances. If they aren't out by then, they're in.

I have said all along, however, that I think the Tigers will win the division and the Twins the wild card. I just never thought Detroit would let it get this close.

Oh, and Liriano comes back tomorrow night.

 

[kingcreole]

My final prediction:

1. Minnesota
2. Detroit
3. Bad Guys

Detroit has a rather favorable schedule, but six games are against the giant-killers from Kansas City. However, a favorable homestand starts for the Tigers this week against Texas and Baltimore. Detroit must win four of those because then they go to the Bad Guys park for a three-game set that could decide the season. Then it's at Baltimore for one, at KC for three, and home to Toronto and KC for three each.

The biggest thing for Detroit is to remain within a game of first or the wild card headed to the final weekend. Minnesota hosts the Bad Guys and Detroit is home to Kansas City.

On a side note: The Bad Guys don't play Kansas City any more. That may be the reason they get back into the playoffs - by not playing the Giant Killers any more.

 

[steveu]

Tigers win the pennant, Twins win the wild card. It's a lot like last year's situation, when the Sox were 15 games up at one point but had to hold off Cleveland in the final weekend.

 

[zeke12]

Also, despite wild card teams success in the past, I think this year is the year you really want to win the division.

Should be the difference between playing the Yankees in New York or Oakland at home.

Though if Liriano is back and healthy, I really like Minnesota's chances against anyone in a five-game series.

 

[heyabbott]

Twins, Tigers and WhiteSox in that order.

can't wait for Ozzie's list of people who consipred to keep him out of the post season

 

[Oz]

My final prediction:

1. Minnesota
2. Detroit
3. Bad Guys

That's what I want to see happen. Whether it does, I'm not so sure with how the Tigers have played recently. They have done it with pitching and defense most of the season, but both have gone into a relapse. Every night on SC, I see plays where they bobble singles or throw wide -- it's not how they built that large lead to start with.

Bottom line, so long as the White Sox do not make the postseason, I'm happy. Very very happy.

 

[kingcreole]

My final prediction:

1. Minnesota
2. Detroit
3. Bad Guys

That's what I want to see happen. Whether it does, I'm not so sure with how the Tigers have played recently. They have done it with pitching and defense most of the season, but both have gone into a relapse. Every night on SC, I see plays where they bobble singles or throw wide -- it's not how they built that large lead to start with.

Bottom line, so long as the White Sox do not make the postseason, I'm happy. Very very happy.

Put THAT on the board Oz! Oh wait, you did.

 

[Lyman_Bostock]

Agree with all the orders of finish, and agree that the White Sox not making the playoffs would be a wonderful, early Christmas present.

 

[slappy4428]

Agree with all the orders of finish, and agree that the White Sox not making the playoffs would be a wonderful, early Christmas present for Jay Mariotti.

 

[zeke12]

Chicago needs a win tonight or they'll fall another game behind both Detroit and Minnesota, who won.

 

[Chi City 81]

I'd just like the record to show that when the Tigers acquired Neifi Perez on Aug. 20 they were 79-45 and 5 1/2 games up on the Twins. They've gone 8-13 since and have lost four games in the standings. Enjoy the hell out of Neifi, Detroit.