Maroth not on playoff roster

So much for any loyalty to one of the good guys. I think Maroth would come and say if he didn't think he could contribute and would hurt the team. I would take a left hander with his experience over Miller or a righty like Miner. Miller might be a superstar in the future, but now? Maybe I just remember Mike one hitting the Yankees two years ago and that we will need pitchers not just throwers in the next few weeks. Oh well...just bumbs me out..plus it seems like it could be bad karma....But Leyand has shown he knows what's best.....GO TIGERS!!!!!

I'm going to disagree. We need flamethrowers. This is the playoffs, that's what breeds success. It's too bad for Maroth, but I'm sure he wasn't surprised by it.

He clearly hasn't recovered from the injury enough to be effective and the playoffs are too important for sentimentality. "I don't feel great," Maroth said in a Freep column today. "You can tell the elbow is not at full strength." He's only pitched three times since the comeback and none made me think he'll be of much help in October.

He's a part of the team either way, he'll lift them up and hopefully be a part of something big next year.

I should add I wouldn't take Miller anyway at this point with his struggle to find the strike zone.

This pretty much means Miller wil be going. Maroth is preferred but if he comes up lame then what?

We can hope that Miller will only be needed for a few situational batters. And we can hope he rises to the occasion and that he finds the strike zone.

Thanks Jason and there is no way in Utah that Shelton does not make the playoff roster.

Very weird lineup today. Polanco leading off, Monroe 2nd.

Marcus is DHing and Shelton is at 1B and batting 9th

Rube--I think Grilli is certain to be on the roster. Miller is not going to supplant him.
Leyland said he will take 11

The obious 4 starter

The obvious 3 relievers

and then

Miner

Walker

Ledezma

Grilli

The only way Miller goes is if he absolutely dominates the rest of the way. Miner gets the nod over Grilli hands down.

Walker is a shoo-in.

Ledezma is likely to go but if Leyland gets a burr in his saddle and wants to take Miller he could take him over Ledezma. But I doubt it.

The position players between Perez, Clevlen, Gomez, Perez, Santiago, Shelton.

Shelton, Gomez and Santiago are my pick but Leylands will be Shelton, Gomez and Perez.

Well--all our lobbying for Thames and Shelton is not looking so prudent right now!
Ouch!

I just got in and missed evertying after the Rios hit in the first.

My comment on that:

Those 3 runs don't score on a Molina HR if anybody other than Ordonez is in right field on Rios' hit.

He made no effort on that ball whatsoever. If he plays like that in the playoffs he should be yanked. Maybe the back spasm has moved to his heart.

Looks like Robertson had a rough outing--Miner looks good and maybe this is the day we see Shelton getting mobbed by his teammates in the 9th!

Let's go guys.

Shelton could not possibly look worse.

He cannot pull the trigger on a first pitch, and at-bat after at-bat, the pitcher grooves him one down main street, and he stands there, down 0-1.

For the first time, I am starting to think this kid has no chance.

This umpire, Tim Welky, has a HUGE strike zone. Too bad Nate didn't have his stuff to take advantage.

All those hard hit balls in the 7th, and nothing. Not our night.

I'm looking at KC over Minn, 6-1 in the seventh. Hope we can get that magic number down to three.

I hate to say things like this, but Welky is absolutely killing us tonight. I thought playoff teams got the calls? You know it's bad when Big Red is barking. Worst ball and strike work I've seen all year.

Isn't it strange how the Tigers and Twins match wins and losses, and now even have the same score?

Neither the Twins nor the Tigers were going to win out...........this is as good as any game to lose.

The Guillen at-bat was pretty funky............not like Carlos. First and third tonight earlier, and didn't score. Coming back to haunt us, as it has all season.

I hope that doesn't continue to haunt us in the post season. The Tigers are terrible at plating runners on third with less than two out.

Monroe looked positively relieved to get his 90th rbi. He'd been mired on 89 for what seemed like a long time. Maybe he'll start relaxing again.

Polanco looks like the real deal again. The true MVP of this team, can there be any doubt?

Is Stairs the left handed Thames?? They are interchangable. All, or nothing at all.

Both teams losing is the same, as far as the division goes, as both teams winning. Magic number is three with four to play. If Detroit went 2-2, Minnesota would have to win tomorrow and sweep Chicago.

I'd like to see the Twins take out the Yankees. I'd like to see that even if we couldn't get past Oakland. The Pirhanas against the All-Star team.........

Well at least this game was entertaining. Unce again fine writing Rube. Thanks for the kind words. I'm a little sore and tired right now, adding new wood to my pile, and not feeling very poetic.
Extremely disappointed that Maroth was left off the roster. Sometimes this game can be humbling, sometimes it can be painfully unfair. Mike deserves better. I hope the Tigers at the very least keep him in their future plans.

Good to see some new guys checking in on the blog site.

Jim I agree with you. Maroth must have felt he could help. Scratch, Shelton did look pretty bad tonight. He can't pull the trigger on those fastballs down the middle. He looks like he's over thinking everything instead of just seeing and hitting. Keep it simple Chris. But to say that he has no chance is pretty harsh Scratch. I still maintain he needs more at bats. Though I doubt he'll get many more. Remember, Lilly wasn't too shabby tonight.

It's a game of inches, could have been a different story if Infante's and Casey's hard hits find holes. Wasn't meant to be tonight. But KC comes through!

With Maroth off the roster I would stick with the same guys that I picked before, minus Maroth. Miner, Grilli, Ledezma, only because they have been with the team and earned their spots. But don't be too surprised to see Miller on, and one of those three off, in which case Ledezma becomes expendable. Lefty for lefty.

I'm ticked because I can't get Mike Maroth's interview. Ugh!

I'll be very disappointed if Perez is picked over Santiago or Clevlen. Again, if JL picks Perez it would prove that he prefers to have veteran players on his bench, sacrificing speed and talent. IMHO that's a mistake. Well at least to this point he hasn't made the decision yet, or has he?

Rich, I have to agree with you, Polanco rarely ever disappoints. He IS amazing. Hey why not a second baseman being the MVP? Right now he's got my vote.

Some good signs last night anyway. Very disappointing results for our boys Infante, Shelton and Thames who struck out collectively 6 out of 7 at bats and hit into a DP in the other. Now I wonder what leyland will do with this information. Does he try to get Thames going by sticking with him? I think Shelton may have cooked his own goose. Infante is too versatile and will not see a lot of playing time anyway unless there is an injury.
Thames is the important player here IMO. If he is simply not hitting then you have a problem with the DH spot. Against a righty you could go with Gomez in right and then DH Ordonez.

Against a lefty I think you could use Infante but that runs the risk of losing a substitute in the field. If Shelton were hitting then it would help out but we really need one of these big RHB power guys getting there bat on the ball.

I say throw Thames back in there today against Burnett and see if he can snap out of it. He is a very important ingredient for post season success.

A couple of more comments on the playoff roster.

I think Santiago makes far more sense than Perez. He is a slick late inning defensive replacement if necessary. If Shelton can't play first (due to his hitting or otherwise) one could put Guillen there and Santiago at short and not suffer defensively.

Perez does not have the range or the glove or the speed of Ramon Santiago. And let's not forget that Santiago, in adddition to being a long-time Tiger, is not inexeperienced by any stretch of the imagination.

I think Leyland will go with Perez and I think that will be a mistake.

He most surely will take Gomez and not Clevlen. And I agree with that.

I would take Miner over Miller.

I would take Miller over Grilli.

But I would reluectantly take Ledezma over Miller.

Shelton, unless he continues looking like it is impossible for him not to strike out, will be taken.

I just read an article at the Detroit News site. It looks like Santiago will not be on the roster.

It also indicates that Leyland is debating whether he takes Miller or Miner. This sounds to me like Grilli is going. Ledezma too.

I can't see Grilli being taken over Miner. Miner has some intensity, he actually has a strikeout pitch and can get batters to pound the ball into the dirt. Better BB/K ratio than Grilli, more innings pitched, and can start a game if needs be.

Grilli does not exude confidence on the mound, walks too many hitters, and gets hit pretty hard from what I have seen. It seems perfectly clear to me that Miner is preferred over Grilli.

Let's bear in mind that this is only for the first round, and Leyland may be playing matchups. It's looking more and more like Oakland.

Jason Grilli, IMO, is a lock.

Now, do we have the feeling that Maroth thought he was ready to pitch and Leyland just didn't use him? Use him enough?

Hi Rich. Do you prefer Grilli over Miner?

If it's my choice, I'm taking them both. I don't bring three lefties against Oakland. Yankees, maybe, but not Oakland. I don't know if that answers your question, but I don't have to make a preference. :-)

Thanks, I think. Just curious as to how others here rate Grilli vs. Miner.

It's all pretty hypothetical anyway as Leyland is the man with pencil.

Stairs and Perez playing today. I have absolutely no comment on that.

Dan, It may have something to do with the Grilli factor. His dad was a Tiger, right? According to your above entry, you have the 4 pitchers in question rated: #1 Miner,#2 Ledezma, #3 Miller, and #4 Grilli, right?
Yeah Rich, I second that Maroth question. The silence surrounding this issue is killing me. I'm a huge Robertson fan, but his inconsistancy lately is a real concern. He will give you his best... But I have to wonder what might have been if Maroth (in JL's eyes at least)was healthy and ready to go. His being left off the post season roster has put a huge damper on my joyful state of euphoria. Could he still be inserted in the next round should they get there? And Do you suppose JL is still even watching his progress and has him in the back of his mind?

The not knowing is killing me.

I'm disappointed that Santiago is not going. That means Perez I suppose. I agree a mistake, Dan. Shelton has not helped his cause at all. Do you agree he needs to just go up there "seeing the ball, hitting the ball? When he goes 0-2 it's over.

Yes. Though I would only take Miller over Grilli if Miller were to be able to show that he is so dominating tht he is approaching being unhittable.
That's not going to happen so I guess Grilli is logical.

But certainaly Miner and Ledezma before grilli IMO

Holy cow--Casey and Rogers making errors and Pudge a bad throw?

I think these guys may have some cramps in their arms from hoisting the Dom Perignon.

Marty--I think Shelton will be picking splinters out of his hind end now. I don't think Leyland is going to have much sympathy or patience with him.

Afternoon fellas, I see everybody is up and running early. Its a beautiful day, lets play two.

Missed the top of the first with 2 errors, what happened???

I agree Dan. Today's game has L written all over it don't ya think? Go Royals!

Inge gave Casey a throw down the line toward home. He reached, got his glove on it but glanced away. Not a great throw but I felt Casey should have handled it.

Pudge tried to pick Rios off 2nd--and had him but the trhow was into the runner-no error.

Rogers fields a bunt toward 3rd tries to nip the runner and throws the ball into the dirt and into the runner. Ball skips past Inge. Error Rogers

This line-up is a little strange no? I think it would work better for Bush League Softball than the chase for the Division Title. Casey 3 and Stairs 4??? Is that a joke? The Nefarious one (who looks lost out there in the field). Is Wockenfuss or Deer in the house? Lets tap the keg boys.

Marty--it doesn't feel good.

It has capitulation written all over it. Durbin in the bullpen?

The only reason I can see Leyland playing Stairs is the excuse that they want to win the game and he feels this is the way to do it---if that's the case then why do you throw Durbin?

This is a tough Blue Jays squad--let's hope the Tigs dig deep and find a way to beat Burnett and claw their way back into the game.

Did y'all hear Rod last night in full sanctimonious mode discussing Leyland and Maroth. When Maroth went done Leyland was asked if they were going to make a deal and he said, "Why go outside the organization when you have you have good players right here". The irony of the comment was lost on Rod but when they made the Neifi deal Santiago's fate was sealed. He was sent done Aug. 23 just before the rosters were set. Because Tony was on the DL we can have one more infielder and that presumably is Shelton.

And yes Chris looked terrible last night -- that curve was a strike, Big Red had no case -- but it was only 2 at-bats and one pitcher. Do you really think Shelton is banished forever? With Ordonez and Thames and Infante and Polanco out today it would sure be nice to have some pop in the lineup today.

Hello Tigers! Sox fan here, feelin blue but wanted to send my best to Detroit and hope you win it all. Screw the Twins and kick it guys.. you deserve it. Isn't it a blast to have a year like you did. Like we did in 05?? Winning is sweet as **** and so are the tears when they hoist the trophy over their heads. Keep going and work your ***** off.. it's sooo worth it in the end!

Belliard?

Sox guy--keep pullin for us, we like to hear that this club is being recognized outside the Motor City.

And in return I hope Chicago get to the world series next year!

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Cubs that is.

Well I am gonna stick around for Casey and Stairs then go do something worthwhile like mowing the lawn.

A couple of short comments:

During Shelton's AB last night, he had two pitches called strikes against him. One inside and one outside. One can be a strike, they can't both be. I'm sure that was his beef. It's the entire AB, not just one pitch. A plate umpire can take the bat right out of yours hands without even seeming to do so.

On that error to Casey today, Inge threw what I used to call a "backup ball" and I hated those. They just keep sailing further and further to your left, you keep stretching out and by the time you realize you need to come off the bag, it's too late. It's especially bad if your infielder suddenly uncorks one of those when he hasn't before. Such was the case today with Inge. And it makes you as the firstbaseman look foolish.

Atta boy Casey! I knew he was going to take him deep -- no movement on the 2 seamer. Tell me we see thames now.

Atta boy Casey! I knew he was going to take him deep -- no movement on the 2 seamer. Tell me we see thames now.

Scratched back a bit. Rodney did well--I was hoping he wouldn't hit anybody. he is an adventure isn't he?

At least they did not give up today.

Unfortunately we were A.J.'d and B.J.'d today.

Thames is pressing. Not a very good at bat but then after yesterday you wouldn't reasonably expect too much.

I heard Rod say something about Casey getting another clutch hit. I disagree with tht. Casey has had a few of these kinds of hits but it always seems when they are a few runs behind and not in a game breaking situation.

Good on him-we need him hitting because he is Jim Leyland's everday first baseman.

I hope Leyland saw more in Santiago today than he did in Perez.

We need 3 straight against KC

Rodney looked terrific I thought but I think he usually does. The pitch after the one at Rio's head was a sweet change down and in; as wild as he sometimes is it's hard to tell what is strategy and whats not but it worked.

If we were 5 games up then I could understand Leyland today but as we are supposed to be fighting for the division title I find it inexcusable. Pulling whats left of the starters in the 5th inning??? After they defy you and don't give up and make it a one run game you leave Maroth out there in the eigth? Even if you let him start the inning you have to pull him after the 400 ft. double and not let him give up a single as well (a single which would have been a groundout if you have Polanco or Infante or Santiago OR Hooper OR EVEN Rodriguez out there instead of Perez -- Caseys first 2 steps are faster than Nefarious'). Leyland gave up and that is not forgiveable. I'm sorry but I am really in a foul mood. That extra rum in the 8th just killed us after Leyland had been trying to kill us all day.

I saw the first inning, but missed most of the rest of the game. Give them credit for clawing their way back into it. With that lineup I held no hope for 6 runs. Yeah Dan, Santiago looked good from what I saw in the last inning. Wonder what kind of power Perez would have if he actually swung the bat. He just kind of lays it out there and still is able to loft the ball to mid left field.
That first inning was the killer. Took Rogers right out of his usual high concentration type of game. I thought the official was a little hard on Casey. Could have just as easily been Inge's error. I say we rewrite the rule book and give each player .5 errors on a play like that. Kind of like assists in hockey, Inge assisted Casey in making his error. Hey Sox fan, are the Sox gonna bring their A game against Minnesota? Just wondering, 'cause the Tigers failed to bring theirs today.

Marty, I love that! "Error by number 21, Casey, assist, number 15, Inge. One minute left in the period."

I guess we're counting on 2 of 3 from KC, while Chicago gets 1 of 3 from Minnesota. What a way to finish. Can we beat anyone other than KC? And I'm not counting on that so much now. I mean, how often can you beat one team up? They can pay us back for the entire season by just one well timed victory. Yikes, I've seen too much sports in my lifetime.

This leads to my next observation, and it's a sad one. Regardless of how the season ends, I think we're lucky to win one playoff game, regardless of opponent. This team just isn't playing good ball. They scrap, yeah, but they're not pitching, not hitting, and not fielding, and the manager seems slightly clueless at too many times.

You don't know how much I hate to say these things. I'm just not one to hold out for miracles, 1980 USA hockey team aside.

Hey Rich, After a game like today's you wonder if they can win ONE playoff game. But don't get too pessimistic yet. There still remains what we should refer to as the "Placido Factor". Could be my imagination but it seems when he's in the lineup everyone's game is elevated, both offensively and defensively. Maybe I failed to read the disclaimer on my box of Cheerios this morning, but I,m holding out hope that when he's finally starting every game, just maybe the Tigers will start gellin' like Magellan.
One thing's for certain though, there are no proven Lolichs, McClains, Kalines, or Hortons on this team. At least not yet. Those guys would have had the "All Star Yankees" for breakfast. Has any pitcher ever won 3 World Series games since Lolich did it in 1968? He was da man! We have to hope that at least one pitcher gets a hot hand, and then maybe even goes on 3 days rest. Is that ever done anymore? Am I dreaming?

Curt Schilling went on three days rest throughout the 2001 World Series, and everyone acted like he was walking on water. Back in our day (just saying that proves we're old), Lolich went on two. Koufax did it too, in 1965.

I'm drawing a line between pessimism and realism. A team needs to come into the postseason on a roll, and I mean more than beating the blue out of the Royals. Now that we're at the end, we can look back and say this hasn't been a good team since......the trade deadline.

But we just watch and hope, and therein lies the fun, anyway. When the Tigers sprint onto the field for game one of the playoffs, it will be quite a memorable moment.

It's not going to be easy. Rich is being brutally honest about the team performance of late.

There are some problems that can only be overcome if the whole team is playing sound baseball.

We do not have a hitter in the lineup that scares the bejesus out of anyone. If "every" hitter is hitting then Polanco, Monroe, Ordonez Guillen are formidable.

There are a lot of decent hittter left, Granderson, Casey, Pudge, Thames, Inge but they are going to give you as many double plays and strikeouts as hits.

The pitching is not overpowering. During these playoffs I don't think Verlander is going to be anywhere near the pitcher he will someday be.

I think Bonderman will surprise people in the playoffs. I think Rogers will be effective and I think Robertson will be good.

Will we win a game--for sure we will, a series? I think it is very possible.

Will this hapapen if we are playing ball like we have been the last month and a half---no.

Sure wish Granderson could find himself. He is a night and day kind of player. Unfortunately if he is off it does affect the game more than if he were hidden lower in the lineup. Sometimes baseball is 80% mental and 0% pshycological (there's a Yogi-ism!). There has been a few times lately when Curtis has started off the game with some flourish and it has seemed to pick up the rest of the lineup immediately.

I think Leyland's lineups are likely to be:

Granderson

Polanco

Casey

Ordonez

Guillen

Monroe

Rodriguez

Gomez

Inge

and

Polanco

Monroe

Thames

Ordonez

Guillen

Rodriguez

Casey

Inge

Granderson

Unless Shelton and Thames start hitting I don't think Thames will start against RHP and I don't think Shelton will start much if at all.

Interesting Dan. I have to think that Infante figures in more than Gomez though. But then again he won't be getting any IF starts unless some injury occurs. If JL wants his best defense in, Ordonez should DH. We would all agree on that. I'm assuming Ordonez DH's in your RHP lineup. Shelton may not so much as sniff the the plate in any AL playoff game, unless an absolute nasty lefty pitches. He may get a chance to pinch hit for Gomez if a lefty comes into a game. But I have the feeling as you do that we may not see Casey pinch hit for again. Either way, I much prefer your second lineup and, with Gomez in, just insert him 9th.

The lineup..........doesn't matter. Makes for discussion and nothing else. This team is 19-28 and I see no way they'll hit any of the pitching they'll see. Now they might outscore KC 47-3 this weekend and that won't matter as far as the postseason is concerned. You think Leyland would be DHing Matt Stairs if he thought these guys could do any hitting? He's planning on small balling his way through. Does anyone here think this team can be successful that way?

I've been optimistic most of the way, maybe moreso than most, but now that we've played nearly all the games, I see what I see.

And man, we'd better get this division, because losing in the first round to the Yankees is.......Rube, give me some of your prose here.

Marty--that's not MY lineup. No way. that's what I expect to see from Leyland
The LHP version and the RHP version.

You want discussion...I'll give you a playoff/shakeup lineup:

Guillen

Polanco

Ordonez

Monroe

Casey

Rodriguez

Thames

Granderson

Inge

Super Sub: Infante

And that's pretty much it. LHP or RHP. I'd like to see Shelton in there but it ain't gonna work. Shelton has been minimalized psychologically by his "production reduction" and exacerbated by his demotion to to Toledo. In a nutshell he was insulted and expected to take it because he is such a nice guy.

As much his fault as management IMO.

Leyland is not only trying to balance his players and their personal idiosyncracies but also to cover for David Dombrowski's decisions.

I think it is going to be a major uphill battle for the club. I think that (as much as I have criticized Leyland and disagree with some of his decisions) he is the Man of the Year as far as the Tigers go. His delicate balancing of the players and his general manager have been nothing short of remarkable. His stoicism and determination are admirable. He is trying to carry the team beyond their capabilites and at the same time diverting credit for any success.

I think he is the 10th man and if this team wins it all (and I think they can) he should be given much credit.

That being said, he does need to keep a short leash on Verlander, Rodney, Grilli(I cringe as I say that as I don't hink he should be on the roster) and Ordonez in RF.

I think after the Twins showed they are a pretty determined bunch tonight we should not obsess about a division championship as it seems almost Zen-like that the Twins are going to prevail.

What matters is getting this team of gifted players to pull together once more and stoke each others' fire like they did earier in the season.

Leyland can puch them in the right direction but the guys are going to have to execute.

That means Pudge, Monroe, Guillen, Polanco, Inge and Ordonez mostly. If these guys can play well we will win it all.

Hey Dan, I guess I understood it as being your forecast of JL's lineup. So when I said I liked your second lineup much better I meant it in that way. Your own lineup is better yet. The reason is simple. Granderson cannot lead off and the only 2 guys capable of leading off are Guillen or Polanco. They are the only two capable of consistantly setting the tone by giving you a tough at bat. Ordonez and Monroe are good choices for 3 and 4. But the way this team has disappointed most of the second half in the hitting department, I honestly think that, after the first two guys, you could just throw all the other 7 names in a hat and pick the rest of the lineup with not much difference in results. In this respect I totally agree with Rich. The lineup order doesn't much matter(after Guillen and Polanco)at least. More importantly is WHO is playing. As I've mentioned before, this is a vanilla lineup. Full of free swingers, good power, poor contact(high strikeout ratio) and fair average at best. It's what you get day after day. Realistically, how innovative can you be with a lineup like that?
Watched the entire Minnesota-KC game last night. Joe Mauer heroics in the 9th inning with 2 outs, 2 strikes and behind 1-0 he parks one in the bleachers. You could almost see it coming after KC loaded the bases with no outs in their half of the 9th... We now need 3 victories, and KC should be pretty "burned out" today. That was a tough loss for them to swallow.

Am I the only guy in metro Detroit that would rather see the Yankees than the A's? I think the A's pitching is capable of giving us more trouble than the Yankees staff.

Ergie, my take is this. I don't think our boys are good enough right now to beat either team. Personally, I'd much more enjoy seeing the Twins/Yankees (Pirhanas vs All Stars) and Tigers/A's. Better first round matchups. I'd think that even if I was neutral. As a Tiger fan, I can't stand the thought of being blown out by the Yankees, because I detest what Steinbrenner has done over there. I'd rather go down to Oakland. If we were to get by Oakland then get taken out by New York, so be it. At least we got there and proved once and for we belonged there.

I think we belong here alright. But that is not good enough and the guys have to have enough belief to be able to take it to the next level. I ams really glad we are not hearing Leyland say what I am saying as there is no way that being in the playoffs is enough of an accomplishment and you don't wan't to provide your players with an excuse that you have already achieved.

I didn't realize the absilute critical moments of the Twins game Marty. Wow--talk about dramatic. Wouldn't be great to see the Twins in town now instead of KC?

I need to go on record now of being grateful for the Tiger baseball I have witnessed this year and the fact that they have been able to reel me in (when I have dtested basebal for many years now) is all the more impressive to me.

The reason I say this is I know I will be b!tching and complaining before all this is over. Will I ever fondly remeber this year as much as '68.---NO.

That was a magical year and the best World Series I have ever seen---please allow for some bias, but after the riots in '67 and the situation with Kaline's career and the huge expectations placed upon him by the Tiger faithful, it was a very special time.

Who can ever forget the brilliance of Mickey Lolich and the "stupidty" of playing a center fielder at shortstop?

And Jim Northrup's triple past a panic-struck Gold Gloved Lou Brock? And Kaline's single in the 7th inning of the 5th game to bring the Tigers back from certain WS defeat? And Big Bill Freehan (who struggled monumentally in the series)catching the pop fly to end the game and then catching Micky Lolich to start the celebration?

I still think we are gonna see Chris Shelton giving us a moment to remember. Keep the faith boys.

I'm trying to keep my emotions out of what I see, purely from a sports observer's point of view, as a sure outcome.

My "technical analysis," for want of a better term, tells me the Tigers have made Randy Johnson look ten years younger twice this season, have never hit Mussina, and didn't look good against Wang. Plus there's the Mariano Rivera factor. He didn't appear in either Tiger wins this year. And I won't even mention the Yankee batting order.

On the emotional end, I know a boatload, to quote Mario Impemba, of Yankee fans who are frothing at the mouth to prove we don't belong there. I'd rather not have to deal with these clowns.

Furthering the emotional viewpoint, I remember the '68 Series like it was yesterday. I stood up in my parents living room the entire game, first time I'd ever done that. I do that often now, but perhaps more from a bad back. Anyway, Northrup hit that drive over Curt Flood and the camera swung to the black and white images of Cash and Horton wheeling around third. I started screaming, inexplicably, "Round 'em up! Round 'em up!" You know, I spent the next thirty years in various thirdbase coaching boxes, waving runners home and yelling "Round 'em up!" :-) I had to attend class that night, English 111, and of course did my piece on the Tigers. I thought I'd look like an idiot, but half the class turned in essays on the same subject.

Don't get me wrong, I'm going to enjoy the heck out of these playoff games. I just don't want to lose sight of the reality here.

rlp, I know what you mean. I agree that Steinbrenner is detestable -- he'd make the players dress like Dame Edna if they'd win doing so.

Sure, the Tigers have been playing below their station lately, but I'd hate to lose the series to the A's by a 2-run net deficit having held them to 9 runs in 4 games. Sure, the Yankees would shellac us once or twice, but the other games (hopefully 3) would be a lot of fun.

I also detest the Twins for their fake, grotesque stadium and what it did to ruin 1987. Baseball does not belong on plastic. They'd only be a .500 team if they had to play all their games on grass and so don't really deserve any kind playoff berth. Further, it was that freak 6-run inning that seemed to kick-off the Tiger's late season swoon nearly ruining 2006 too. Down with the Metrodump.