Winter Meetings

I was speaking with my dad, from whom I inherited my passion for the Detroit Tigers, and we were both somewhat disturbed by Dave Dombrowski's comment that the Tigers were "finished" after the negligible moves at this year's Winter Meetings. They added two players, both middle relievers, and did not address the gaping holes at second and third base and the starting rotation.

Granted, this was a team that came two games short of going to the World Series, but they have lost some key players: Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen, while both ailing, provided some timely hits, and Brad Penny, while eminently hittable down the stretch, means that the Tigers have no automatic candidate for the fifth starter.

The Tigers signed Octavio Dotel, who now holds the record for most-traveled player in MLB history, as Detroit is his 13th team. If you Google him in "images," you get a rainbow of different-colored uniforms. Even at 38, he's not a bad signing, especially considered the Rangers exposed the Tigers' weakness in middle relief. Dotel figures to be the seventh-inning guy, before giving way to Joaquin Benoit and Jose Valverde.

Then the Tigers swapped middle relievers with Washington, sending them Ryan Perry and receiving in return Collin Balester, who is a year older but had an E.R.A. of 1 run better than Perry. It wasn't exactly a blockbuster trade; both had negative WAR figures. Perry was a first-round draft pick for the Tigers who never turned into the closer they hoped.

Earlier this off season the Tigers reacquired Gerald Laird, the good-defense no-hit catcher who they had a few years ago. Laird is great at throwing out baserunners, but was an automatic out at the plate. It's a great pickup, though, as since Victor Martinez is done catching, Laird can spot Alex Avila, who was out of gas after catching 133 games in 2011.

So, question marks remain. Apparently second base will be a platoon between Ramon Santiago and Ryan Raburn, which isn't bad, though sketchy on defense. Third will be another platoon between Brandon Inge, who is a good defensive player but cannot hit right-handed pitching, and Don Kelly, a utility player who had some key hits in the post-season (as did Inge). But neither position will provide much pop in the order. I had wondered whether the Phillies may find Placido Polanco expendable, but probably not now after they did not sign Aramis Ramirez (the Brewers did), or perhaps David Wright would be traded by the Mets, who are going through something of a fire sale. The rumor mill churned that a Delmon Young for Martin Prado trade with the Braves was in the offing, but nothing has come of it.

As for a fifth starter, that will probably be determined in spring training, with phenom Jacob Turner getting a shot, along with Duane Below and Andrew Oliver. Or, they'll pick someone up off the scrap heap.

Though I find this inactivity unsettling, I do give Dombrowski the benefit of the doubt, as he has shown some uncanny moves in his tenure with Detroit.

Brother, Can You Spare a Goal? Quinnipiac 1, Princeton 0

Rachel Weber

As long as I've been watching Princeton hockey, which is over ten years now, they've had a problem scoring goals. At times it has seemed like a curse, or a comic film in which some wizard has cast a spell, making them incapable of scoring, but enabling them to come very close; ringing pucks off the post, or making superwomen out of the opposing goalies.

That was the story last night as Quinnipiac, one of the better teams in the ECAC, came in to Baker Rink and skunked the Tigers 1-0. As per the script, the Tigers played well, out shooting the Bobcats 26-22 and getting several more terrific scoring chances--they hit the post twice this time! But a second period goal by Melissa Perry held up, and the Tigers went down to defeat.

This is a shame, because it puts undue pressure on Rachel Weber, the Tigers goalie. She has to play perfectly in order for the Tigers to win against top teams. It was hard to tell whose fault it was for the one goal--Weber looked to have been screened--but even a great goalie allows one in now and then. Weber hasn't been as good as she was last year--I'll give her the benefit of the doubt and chalk up the higher goals-per-game percentage to a shaky D, which has been both injury-riddled and stocked with rookies--but putting this all on her shoulders is unfair.

I really don't know what the problem has been. This has transcended squads, and only has coach Jeff Kampersal as the common factor. It didn't help that one of the key Tiger scorers, Olivia Mucha, was out with injury. But what, exactly, are the Tigers doing wrong? Is it there fundamental approach that's incorrect? The goalies in the league are good, but when they play Princeton they turn into superstars.

The whole thing is aggravating.

AL MVP: Justin Verlander

Way back in August, in one of my first posts on this blog, I wrote about the chances of Justin Verlander winning the MVP award. It was a somewhat fanciful notion then, as it wasn't yet clear he had the Cy Young Award sewn up. But he indeed pick up the MVP hardware yesterday, in a fractured vote.

What has created such a stir is the notion that somehow starting pitchers can't be MVPs. They have their own award, they only pitch in one-fifth of the games, yada yada yada. The last to do it was Roger Clemens, 25 years ago. But Verlander had three things going for him: he had awesome numbers, he was on a playoff team, and there was no other consensus every-day player that deserved the award.

In fact, six different players received first-place votes. If the writers were skeptical about Verlander's credentials, they didn't show it en masse. He got 13 of 28 first-place votes, not a majority, but except for being left off of one ballot and on another finishing eighth, he did no worse that a sixth-place vote. Jose Bautista, finishing third, actually had the second-most first-place votes, with five.

This seems to me to be completely reasonable. Yes, if there's an awesome every-day player, he trumps a starting pitcher, but there just wasn't one this year. Perhaps Jacoby Ellsbury, who finished second, was hurt by the Red Sox collapse, as ballots were turned in the day after the season ended, and the Boston carcass was still fresh. Or perhaps the writers realized that Verlander was amazingly "valuable" to his team.

As noted in an article below, Verlander becomes the fourth Tiger to win both the Cy Young and MVP in the same season. I should also point out that all of the Tiger MVPs have been pitchers, save for the two Hank Greenberg won, in 1935 and 1940. Of course, before the invention of the current award, Ty Cobb won a Chalmers Award in 1911, which was the first such award voted on by baseball writers.

That's Hockey: Colgate 6, Princeton 4

Charissa Stadynk

As I mentioned in my last post, Princeton tends to play to the level of their competition. That was true again on Saturday, as after a night in which they hung in with Cornell, the second-ranked team in the country, they played a woeful two periods against Colgate, which, statistically speaking, is mediocre at best. No disrespect to Colgate, but they caught the Tigers napping.

But not in the first period. If the Tigers had tired legs after chasing Cornell all over the ice on Friday night, they didn't show it in the first period. Princeton led after the first stanza, 3-0. Two goals were scored surrounding a Colgate penalty, as the Tigers netted one on the delayed call (by Denna Laing) then added the extra-attacker goal (by Danielle DiCesare). For the Tigers' struggling power play, it was an embarrassment of riches. Princeton added a third goal in the period on a lovely feed from Julie Johnson to Charissa Stadnyk, who maneuvered her way through the slot and tucked one just inside the post.

Princeton sat back and expected the rout to continue, but perhaps a troubling sign was that the Tigers got those three goals on only eight shots. Colgate clearly made some adjustments, their goaltender, Kimberly Sass, bore down, and the Tigers only got one more goal the rest of the way. Meanwhile, Colgate chipped away, tying the game on three unanswered goals. Two were on power plays, which is normally a Tiger strength, and the rest were on defensive breakdowns or bad goaltending by Rachel Weber. Johnson, a forward-turned-defenseman due to injuries, was badly outclassed by Jocelyn Simpson, just minutes after Sally Butler had put the Tigers ahead 4-3 on another power play goal.

It looked like overtime until Colgate's Katie Case scored with less than three minutes to go. The Red Raiders added an empty net goal to finish the humiliation.

I did take away more admiration for Stadnyk, who started her career as a defensive forward, was then moved back to the blue line, and this year is co-captain. She scores very rarely, so to see her make moves like Bobby Orr on her goal in this game was revelatory. She also showed determination when she took a puck off the boot, necessitating her trying to crawl toward the bench. She went to the lockerroom, but was back the next period, showing no signs of wear.

I was talking to a Princeton player's parent, who had come a long way to see this weekend's games. He was disappointed but philosophical. "That's hockey," he said.

The Level of Competition: Cornell 3, Princeton 1

Danielle DiCesare

In the 11 years I've been attending Princeton women's hockey, there has only been one coach: Jeff Kampersal. On the whole, I think he does a great job--since realignment of the ECAC in 2001-02 he has taken the Tigers to the playoffs every year, and never with a seeding lower than fifth. He has taken a lot of heat on the USCHO forum for his inability to win playoff games, but considering that Princeton is primarily a basketball school, not a hotbed of hockey, I think on balance he is steady and a winning presence.

There are certain characteristics I've noticed of the teams he's coached over the years that are not great, though. For one, his offenses have never been sterling. At times this team goes through long stretches unable to score. I'm not an expert enough on the game to understand why. Is it that scorers are hard to find and recruit? That his offensive schemes are pedestrian? Don't know. The Tigers had one of their scoring drought road trips last week, scoring only one goal over two games in losses to St. Lawrence and Clarkson.

The other bugaboo about Kampersal's teams are their tendency to play to the level of the competition. They hardly ever get blown out; against great teams they can really show off their good side. But against mediocre teams they can look listless--they rarely blow other teams out, the game against Yale an exception.

Cornell, which is unquestionably the best team in the ECAC, came into Baker Rink last night. A friend asked me what chance I gave Princeton, and I said slim, though with a great game by goaltender Rachel Weber anything was possible. They got the great from Weber, and played their hearts out, but ultimately they didn't have enough and fell, 3-1.

The Big Red dominated the game, controlling the puck most of the time and out shooting the Tigers 39 to 18. Interestingly, Weber made several outstanding saves, but the two goals she allowed (the third was an empty-netter) were on soft goals. The first, in the second period, glanced off her right pad. The Tigers fought back, though, getting a goal by Danielle DiCesare, later in the period.

Shortly afterward the Tigers were whistled for a penalty. I said at the time that if they could kill off this penalty it would be a great momentum booster. But, with five seconds left in the advantage, Cornell slipped one past Weber. I didn't get a good look at what happened, and I don't think Weber did, either. She appeared to be screened on the goal, and the puck went untouched and hit the back of the net.

The Tigers, despite the Big Red's buzzsaw attack, had plenty of chances. I counted at least four breakaway with odd-man rushes, but none of them converted into goals. At times I wonder if Kampersal has his charges ready for such instances, because on these breakaways the Tigers sometimes act like the dog that catches the car: now what?

Still, they did themselves proud against a team that has a chance to win a national championship.

Verlander Wins Cy Young Unanimously

As expected, Tiger pitcher Justin Verlander unanimously won the A.L. Cy Young Award today, getting all 28 first-place votes. Angels hurler Jered Weaver was second; Tigers' reliever Jose Valverde was fifth. Since the inception of the Cy Young Award in 1956, all pitchers who have won the "triple crown" (wins, strikeouts, E.R.A.) have won the award.

What will be more interesting is how Verlander fares in the MVP voting next week. No starting pitcher has won the award since Roger Clemens did in 1986, and there seems to be a reluctance by some writers to bestow the award on a pitcher, since they have their own award with the Cy Young. It's kind of like not voting for an animated film for the Best Picture Oscar for the same reason.

But pitcher are eligible for the award, so a knee-jerk response is unprofessional. I don't say that Verlander is a slam dunk for it, but he's certainly a worthy candidate. Many say that a starting pitcher shouldn't get it because they play only every fifth day--a regular will play in excess of 150 games, while a starting pitcher, less than 40. Fine. But I heard a different attitude about this. A regular, say an outfielder like Curtis Granderson, who figures to be one of Verlander's top competitors, may play every day, but he gets maybe five at bats a game, and fields maybe ten to fifteen balls all game. A starting pitcher, on the hand, is heavily involved in every pitch while he is on the field. Something to think about.

I think Verlander has a good chance to win. Granderson is a possibility, but a trio of Red Sox probably lose out after their collapse--Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia, and Adrian Gonzalez all suffer the prejudice against nonplayoff teams.

The last Tiger pitcher to win the Cy Young was Willie Hernandez, in 1984. He also won the MVP. Before that, it was Denny McLain, in 1968. He also won the MVP, after winning 31 games (the last to win over 30 games in a season). He was, in fact, the first American League pitcher to win both awards in the same season. The only starting pitcher to win back-to-back A.L. MVP awards? Hal Newhouser, of the Tigers, in 1944-45.

With God on Our Side: Princeton 7, Yale 1

Ali Pankowski

When I covered college hockey for a few years it was always a lot easier to get a 500-word article out of a game with a lot of scoring (there was once a 0-0 tie against Colgate I had to write about--try coming up with 500 words on a game with no scoring!). So yesterday's goal outburst against Yale would fill an entire article just with a recitation of scoring.

Five different players had at least three points in the dismantling of the Bulldogs, but this was slow to develop. For a while it looked just like the Brown game, with Princeton overwhelming the opposition without cashing in; after one period the score was only 1-0, on a goal by Denna Laing. But in the second the Tigers tallied three more goals, and added three more in the third.

The scoring so far this season is being dominated by the line of sophomores, (I suggested calling them the "Jinx Line," a play on the saying "sophomore jinx," but this was not met with enthusiasm) Laing, Sally Butler, and Olivia Mucha. They had half of the points in the Yale game, and for the season have 25 of the team's 44 points. Laing added a second goal and an assist, Butler and Mucha had a goal and two assists each. Senior co-captain Paula Romanchuk, who once upon a time was the Tigers' biggest scorer, got things going with her first goal of the season plus two assists, and Alex Kinney, who was all around the net against Brown, got on the board, sliding one in from the corner.

Also with three points was freshman Ali Pankowski, who had two assists and her first career goal, a blast from outside the face-off circle that went just inside the post. So far Pankowski is the most impressive rookie--she has a heavy shot from the point, which should make her a natural for power play opportunities, and she plays a solid D. Before the game I had the chance to chat briefly with her aunt, who is an honest-to-goodness nun. I imagine it isn't often you see a nun at a hockey game. The Sister was at both games this weekend, and the Tigers had wins in both contests. I hope she comes to more games, because having a nun on your side can't hurt.

When Is a Rout a Squeaker? Princeton 1, Brown 0

Olivia Mucha

The Princeton Tigers had a three-point weekend last weekend, beating Union 2-1 and tying RPI 1-1. They are back home this weekend against fellow Ivies Brown and Yale, and the game against Brown had an extra interest because it was the first return of former long-time assistant coach Amy Bourbeau in her new position as Bear head coach.

The game was probably the most one-sided 1-0 game I've ever seen. Princeton won the game by that tight score, but otherwise overwhelmed the Bears. They out shot them 39-9, but only one goal, a power play shot by Olivia Mucha, snuck through. Thus, in a game that Princeton was handling with relative ease, there remained the possibility that a fluke goal could lead to heartbreak.

The final minute of the game provided that opportunity. With the Brown goalie pulled, and Brown already up an attacker, Denna Laing was whistled for slashing. For 45 seconds Brown was skating up 6-4, but Princeton and their goalie, Rachel Weber, was up to the task, and hung on for the victory.

Princeton should have won this game by about 5-0. Several shots came close. Sally Butler clanged one of the post in the second period, and poor Alex Kinney had several opportunities (including missing an empty net in the final seconds). Part of this was due to a solid presence of Brown goaltender Aubree Moore, but Princeton has got to learn to take better shots--too many of them were straight into the goalie. Butler, I find, has a better knack of hitting the corners, and in addition to her post shot she just missed a top-shelf goal in the first period. Division I goalies can stop point-blank shots if they are right in their bread basket. Good scorers learn how to find a goalie's weakness, which Princeton must do to be competitive.

Adios, Mags

Tiger GM Dave Dombrowski announced that it was unlikely that Detroit would resign free agents Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Gullen. This is not a surprise, as both were hampered by injuries this year and had severe reductions in production. But, especially in the case of Ordonez, it calls for a reflection on Tiger glory of the past.

As best as I can figure, the departure of these two means that only Justin Verlander and Brandon Inge remain from the 2006 pennant-winning team (Joel Zumaya is still on the roster, but his return from injury is doubtful). Both were key elements of that team, with Guillen having the highest batting average that year, and Ordonez providing the power. Ordonez, following the signing of Ivan Rodriguez, gave the Tigers legitimacy in their attempt to resurrect from the debacle of the 119-loss season in 2003. He had been a perennial power hitter for the White Sox, but a knee injury scared teams away. The Tigers took a chance, and it paid off hugely.

Ordonez would win the first batting title for a Tiger since 1963 in 2007, and finished second in the MVP balloting. He also hit what is arguably the biggest home run in the team's history, the walk-off shot in game 4 of the 2006 ALCS, which won the pennant over the Oakland As.

Guillen, who ended up playing several positions, never could shake the injury bug. He only hit three homers and drove in 13 runs this year (though I saw one of his home runs, off Jered Weaver). Whenever he came back, though, he always seemed to be able to hit. I think a team with a need could make good use of him.

Ordonez's last game with the Tigers will end up being game 1 of this year's ALCS. He had talked about retirement after breaking his ankle in 2010, and it was that same break that resurfaced and caused him to sit for the rest of the post-season. It isn't impossible to imagine him retiring. I looked at his career numbers, and while he's short of Hall of Fame numbers, he had a great career, with 294 home runs and about 2200 hits.

It's amazing how fast a team can turn over while still remaining competitive. Ordonez and Guillen will be missed, but the time comes to move on. Brennan Boesch will replace Ordonez full time in rightfield, while a search is on for a second baseman. Though they will be gone, the memories will linger, though.

Rust Never Sleeps: Niagara 3, Princeton 1

Denna Laing

As long as I've been watching Princeton play hockey, there's always been a problem with them staying consistent for two games in a weekend series. I don't know if it's a conditioning thing or more emotional, but it struck again yesterday. As good as the Tigers looked against Northeastern, they were lousy against the Niagara Purple Eagles, falling 3-1.

A lot of credit should be given to Niagara, but after the first period I thought that Princeton was the better team. The only goal of that frame belonged to Denna Laing, who tipped in a nifty pass by Ali Pankowski. The Tigers controlled the action and kept the puck in the offensive zone much of the time.

But, starting in the second period, the Tigers seemed to be out of gas. Though they would outshoot the Purple Eagles 28-19 on the day, and 12-2 in the third period, they just didn't click. Niagara controlled the action, bottling the puck in their offensive zone. Whenever Princeton could break free it was momentary.

The Tigers also need work on the power play. Whenever a Niagara skater would head to the box my friend and I groaned a bit, wondering if it was possible to decline a penalty, as one does in football. The Tigers were pathetic, not being able to get set in the standard four-corner positioning. Instead it was a series of dump-in passes, and the inevitable clearing pass by Niagara. In contrast, when Niagara was up the extra attacker, their positioning was perfect, their passes crisp.

Niagara ended up scoring three unanswered goals (involved in all the goals, as well as a few penalties was Kaleigh Chippy, which allowed for punny statements like "That was a Chippy penalty). The entire Princeton team was to blame, as the defense looked shaky, the offense was ineffective, and Rachel Weber in goal was not sharp. Perhaps the rust that could be expected in game one merely was dormant until game two.

Off to a Great Start: Princeton 5, Northeastern 3

Sally Butler

The Ivy League teams, which have more restrictive rules on the numbers of games played than other conferences, always get started later in the year. Princeton's opener was against Northeastern, and the Huskies from Boston already had four games under the belt, all wins. The Tigers were also hobbled, with two of their D out of action, including stalwart Gabie Figueroa. Last week Gabie was on her bike and had a collision with a golf cart, getting a bad concussion on knocking five teeth out. Not a great way to start the season.

Thus the Tigers' blueline contingent was relying on two freshmen, Brianne Mahoney, and a converted forward, Julie Johnson. While at times rickety, they held on, and the super work done by the Sally Butler-Olivia Mucha-Denna Laing line bull rushed the Northeastern squad and earned a 5-3 victory.

Last year this trio of freshmen were key in the Tigers' offense, supplanting Paula Romanchuk and Danielle DiCesare as the go-to scorers. If last night's game is any indication, they will be a force to reckoned with by any of the Tigers' opponents. Princeton had only 12 shots on goal, but five of them found the back of the net, and Butler, in particular, displayed some uncanny moves.

The Tigers got off to the early lead when Butler and Mucha rang up first-period goals. Both were of the top-shelf variety, over Huskie goalie's Florence Schelling's left shoulder. Butler's just skimmed the underside of the crossbar and knocked Schelling's water bottle to the ice. I've always thought goalies had more trouble with high shots, but many players aim low. It was good to see both kids aim high.

Northeastern had the only goal of the second period, but the third period saw a lot of action. Princeton netminder Rachel Weber looked to be in mid-season form, making some harried saves, but some defensive breakdowns made things interesting. Princeton had gone out to a 4-1 lead, with another goal by Butler that was textbook, coming off a perfect long pass from Laing (who had three assists on the night) and another goal by Mucha. But Northeastern got two quick goals to make it 4-3.

With time running out, Heather Landry committed a penalty that was not wise, so the Huskies now had an extra attacker, and after pulling the goalie were two up. But the Tigers clawed the puck away and Laing fed it to Kelly Cooke, who had the easiest goal she'll ever have.

To beat a good team like Northeastern with the rust still on shows a lot of promise. The team look well-coached; passes were crisp, everybody hustled. Let's hope they can keep it up this afternoon versus Niagara.

Women's Hockey Season Preview

Cara Morey

Tomorrow night the puck drops for the opening of the 2011-2012 Princeton women's ice hockey season, when the Huskies of Northeastern University pay a visit to Hobie Baker Rink. With a sport like this, that doesn't get a lot of coverage even on the Internet, it's difficult to know what to expect. The traditional powerhouses from the midwest, like Wisconsin and Minnesota, figure to be there again, while the toughest schools in the east are once again expected to be Cornell and Boston University.

Princeton, even since I have been watching them, has been a workman-like team that hovers slightly above the .500 mark. They have never finished below fifth place in the 12-team ECAC, occasionally flirting with a higher ranking. They have won one Ivy League title in that time. But given that it's a basketball school with certain recruiting difficulties (no scholarships, stringent academic requirements, and a long way from traditional hockey hotbeds) the team performs better than expected. Coach Jeff Kampersal, who has 15 seasons at the helm, always manages to put a competitive team on ice.

Princeton has graduated three seniors, two of them making a big impact. Sasha Sherry and Laura Martindale were mainstays at the blue line, with Sherry providing an occasional offensive spark with her booming slapshot. Also lost to graduation is Caroline Park. Since I don't follow prep hockey, it's difficult to know how newcomers will fit in, but the Tigers have added two defensemen: Brianne Mahoney and Ali Pankowski. Returning D are sophomores Rose Alleva and Gabie Figueroa, junior Krystyna Bellisario, who is oft-injured, and senior co-captain Charissa Stadnyk. The loss of Sherry and Martindale leaves a scoring vacuum on the blueline, as Alleva and Figueroa were not scoring threats. Perhaps one of the freshman will be effective on the power play.

As far as forwards are concerned, the Tigers return all their top scorers. Senior co-captain Paula Romanchuk and Danielle DeCesare are usually the top threats, although DeCesare saw a big decline in points. Some of the slack was picked up by now sophomores Olivia Mucha and Sally Butler, and last year's Rookie of the Year Denna Laing. Kelly Cooke, a speedy skater, hasn't been the scorer I anticipated she would be as a rookie, while Julie Johnson, Heather Landry and Alex Kinney are steady but unspectacular performers. Anne-Marie Elvin, who has missed most of her career with injuries, and served as the team manager last year, is back on the roster this year, so hopefully she will get playing time. Only one freshman is added to the forwards, Brianna Leary.

Lee-J Mirasolo

Goaltending has always been a strength for the Tigers. Last year's MVP was Rachel Weber, who went on a historic hot streak, setting an ECAC record for most consecutive scoreless minutes. She had a 1.77 goals against average, and at times was uncanny in stopping shots. She would seem to the main goalie this year, as Cassie Seguin, who missed a lot of time due to injury last year, transferred to the University of Ottawa. I don't know whether it's because of lack of playing time or just homesickness. New recruit Ashley Holt is Weber's backup, and walk-on Katie Jones, who doesn't figure to get any playing time, is the third goalie.

Perhaps the biggest change in the Tigers this year is one that is difficult to the layman to comprehend. Two new coaches will be on the Tiger bench this year. Amy Bourbeau is off to be the head coach at Brown, while Jessica Link has also parted ways. Replacing them are Cara Morey and Lee-J Mirasolo. The way I understood it, Bourbeau coached the offense, but I don't know how the new coaching configuration will work.

In any event, I'll be at the game tomorrow night. Go Tigers!

Carousel on the Bases

The night began so promisingly. Two solo home runs, by Miguel Cabrera and Jhonny Peralta, put the Tigers up 2-0. Max Scherzer, who had a couple of good to great post-season outings, got the first out of the third inning, a dandy play by Brandon Inge. That was the end of the good news. By the time the inning was over, four Tigers pitchers would take the mound, and the Rangers would score nine runs. Any hope of taking this series to game seven were dashed.

Last night's game had only one good thing about it--the outcome was so sure that I could watch without tension. And I did watch to the end, giving the Tigers a chance of coming back, however negligible it was, and in a show of respect for their season. I won't go into the gory details of how the Rangers set forth a carousel on the bases. Suffice it to say that Scherzer didn't have good control, and then Jim Leyland's nightmare came true--the Rangers were running loose in the dregs of the Tigers' bullpen. By the time Brad Penny served up batting practice late, it was a party in Arlington, and the Rangers had 15 runs.

The Tigers did mount a modest comeback. Austin Jackson finally had a big hit, albeit one that came when the Tigers were seven runs down, when he rapped a two-run homer to right. Cabrera then added another bomb, and the Tigers had five runs. Ordinarily in this series, five runs would put a team in contention to win, but that home run put the Tigers ten runs back.

So now the long off-season begins. The Tigers had a great season, winning their division by a rout. They did their city proud, and it was great seeing the gruff but sentimental Leyland tear up in his post-season interview, expressing pride and his team and giving credit to his opponent. Next year looks promising, as the best three pitchers are signed, and there's a lot of young talent. But there are some pieces that need fixing, and some players will be no doubt be gone (we can start with Penny).

Over the course of the winter I'll keep tabs on what off-season moves the Tigers make, and will turn my attention to the Princeton women's ice hockey team, whose season starts on Friday.

That's the Way the Ball Bounces

It was all on Justin Verlander's shoulders. Jim Leyland, before the game, announced that his two key relievers, Joaquin Benoit and Jose Valverde, would be unavailable for game 5 of the ALCS. He was giving the ball to his ace and asking him to go as long as he could. Verlander ended up going seven plus innings, hurling more pitches than he ever had in his career. He wasn't as sharp as usual, allowing four runs, but it was a gutty and heroic effort.

Fortuntely, though, the Tigers had their hitting shoes on, at least for one glorious inning when four straight batters hit for the cycle (the first time that's happened in post-season history). Two plays in the inning, both around the third-base bag, determined the outcome of the game. A Tiger fan could be disconsolate, seeing how the Tigers could easily have swept this series with a break or two. They got the breaks in this game.

Verlander surrendered a run in the first, as is his pattern. He settled down, though, and the Tigers tied it up on Alex Avila's opposite-field home run, his first of the post-season. They went ahead on Delmon Young's dinger, showing his chest muscles seem just fine. The Rangers tied it, though, and then came the eventful sixth. A pair of hits and a walk loaded the bases for the Rangers in the top half of the inning. The speedy Ian Kinsler, tough to double up, rapped a hard grounder down the third-base line. Brandon Inge scooped up the ball, stepped on third, and fired to first, getting Kinsler by plenty. Verlander was out of the inning, and pumped his fist.

In the bottom of the inning, Ryan Raburn singled, and then Miguel Cabrera hit a hopper down the third-base line. Adrian Beltre was ready to field it and turn two when the ball struck the bag, sending it high over Beltre's head. Cabrera had a double and Raburn scored. Victor Martinez, who had no triples all year, slapped a ball into the right-field corner that just eluded Nelson Cruz and made it all the way to third, Cabrera scoring. Young then slammed his second home-run of the game, and the Tigers were up 6-2.

Beltre had to feel snake-bit after the game was over. Not only did Cabrera's ball bounce over his head, but in the fifth inning, with two on, he sent a screamer down the right field line that veered just foul. He then flied out to deep center, which would be a home run in many ball parks. The breaks were bouncing the Tigers way in this game.

The Tigers would need those runs, as Verlander allowed yet another home run to Cruz, this one clanging off the left-field foul pole. Phil Coke, the last man standing in the Tigers' bullpen, was called in to get a rare save. He made the ninth inning interesting, allowing two runs before finally retiring the side. Coke, seemingly fueled by a year's worth of adrenaline, was animated after the win.

The series goes back to Texas now. The Detroiters still have an uphill climb, as they must win two straight on the road. Old-timers will remember, though, that the Tigers did the very same thing in the 1968 World Series, coming back from a 3-1 deficit by taking the last two in St. Louis.

Slip Slidin' Away

Nelson Cruz's long home run in the top of the 11th, which put the seal on their victory, wasn't the critical play he made in the game. That came in the bottom of the eights, when he caught Delmon Young's fly ball and the gunned the ball to the plate to nail, by ten feet, a charging Miguel Cabrera to end the inning and snuff out the Tigers' last scoring chance.

Third-base coach Gene Lamont isn't to be faulted for sending Cabrera, who is not exactly speedy, and even though Cruz has one of the best arms in baseball. Cabrera was on because Rangers' manager Ron Washington gave him a free pass with no one on base, a testament to Cabrera, but the Tigers had had so few scoring chances that Lamont certainly figured that the ball may go wide or that Cabrera, a bullish 270 pounds, could knock it out of catcher Mike Napoli's hands. Napoli held on, though, and the Tigers are one game away from their season ending.

It's a shame, because they got such a great start from Rick Porcello. He baffled Ranger hitters for four innings, and the Tigers had a 2-0 lead thanks to Cabrera's booming double off the wall. I felt good until Porcello ran out of magic in the fifth, allowing three runs and surrendering the lead. With the Rangers bullpen set up and rested, it didn't look good.

But then Brandon Inge came up in the seventh. Inge is the only player left from the 119-loss season in 2003, and had a nightmarish season, spending time in the minors after being an all-star two years ago. He had only three home runs all season, and hit .179. With an 0-2 count, he pounced on Alex Ogando's pitch and put it in the leftfield seats, tying the game. Certainly this was his biggest hit as a Tiger.

But the Tigers couldn't score in the eighth, and into extra innings it went. Joaquin Benoit, who has thrown a lot of innings, got through his two frames, and it was time for Jose Valverde, perfect in save situations but mysteriously ineffective in non-saving situations. He got through his first inning of work in eight pitches, but in the 11th he was greeted by a Josh Hamilton double. Then came Cruz's long home run, and the Tigers face the end of their season.

At least they go with their ace, Justin Verlander, who may have to be given a new nickname, the "Rainmaker." Twice this year he's had starts interrupted by rain, and there's rain in the forecast today (last night there was a 2:13 rain delay with Verlander safely in the dugout). It's one game at a time now, and we start with Verlander.

Stopping the Bleeding

The site of Victor Martinez rounding the bases after his fourth-inning home run looking as if he were gut-shot seems to symbolize the Tigers' post-season: a war of attrition. Martinez tied the game, which the Tigers would go on to win, but at the same time strained an oblique muscle (it isn't until recent years I even knew human beings had oblique muscles). Martinez didn't have to leave the game, but as the Tigers are forced to stretch their bench and make an uphill climb against the Rangers, it was a gutty win.

The credit goes mostly to Doug Fister, who after allowing a first-inning run, settled down and pitched seven scoreless innings. He was helped by some luck here and there, but mostly it was dazzling stuff. The Tigers also got some help from the previously quiet Austin Jackson, who had three hits, matching his entire total from the previous seven post-season games.

The Tigers got help from the home crowd and the long ball. Miguel Cabrera, the potent force in their lineup, hadn't had an RBI since game 2 of the ALDS, but he had two tonight, one of them on a long home run. That run was the first off a Rangers' reliever this post-season.

The Tigers are reminding me of the 1988 Dodgers, who had a great pitcher (Orel Hershiser) and somehow patched together a lineup. Does anyone remember Mickey Hatcher. The odds are still long against them, but it's not unprecedented.

The win tonight ensures that Justin Verlander will pitch again, as he's set for game 5. Rick Porcello will start this afternoon.

Cruz Missiles

The result wasn't to my liking, but wow that was a great game the Tigers and Rangers played yesterday afternoon. An 11-inning affair, it tested the managers and full rosters of both teams, and was a reminder of why this is the greatest game.

The Tigers, after losing game 1, sent Max Scherzer to the mound. He got hit early, and the Rangers took a 2-0 lead after one inning. The Rangers' starter, Derek Holland, wasn't sharp, though. He wriggled out of trouble in the first and second, but then Ryan Raburn took him deep for a three-run blast in the third to put the Tigers ahead.

Raburn's blow was ironic, given that the Tigers had to go to him because of the loss of Magglio Ordonez due of a broken ankle. The Tigers suddenly had a shortage of outfielders, as Delmon Young was previously shelved for an oblique strain. Young was able to go, though, but Raburn took Ordonez's place. The Tigers lineup was, on the surface, a weak-hitting one. But they've gotten key hits from unlikely sources all year.

Holland was yanked, which started the incredible work of the Ranger's bullpen. Scott Feldman started it, throwing over four scoreless innings. Meanwhile Scherzer had settled down, and the game quickly moved to the sixth. Tiger manager Jim Leyland could be seen talking to Scherzer in the dugout. Presumably he told him he would have one more batter, a right-hander, Nelson Cruz. After that, the Tigers could face the Rangers left-handed hitters with Phil Coke. Then, Joaquin Benoit in the seventh and eighth, Jose Valverde in the ninth, and back to Detroit even in the series.

But there's that saying about the best laid plans of mice and men. Cruz socked Scherzer's pitch off the left-field foul pole, tying the game and forcing Leyland to start from scratch. Coke did get the next two, and Benoit got through his innings, but Valverde would have to come in a non-save situation, unless the Tigers could score in the top of the frame.

Rangers reliever Alex Ogando was on the mound. He quickly got the first two hitters, but Ramon Santiago singled softly. Lefty Michael Gonzalez came in to face Don Kelly, who has been indispensable this post-season. He lined a double down the rightfield line. I'm not sure why Santiago was not able to score (Fox did not show a replay of his jump or whether he had any chance had he dashed toward home).

In came Neftali Perez to face Victor Martinez, who had the highest batting average of anyone in the majors with runners in scoring position. Perez was able to get Martinez to pop into shallow center. Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus made an over-the-shoulder catch, but a replay revealed he actually juggled the ball against his chest. Andrus laughed with relief, Tiger fans fumed.

Valverde, perfect in save situations, but eminently hittable in non-save situations, was greeted in the bottom of the ninth by a double off the wall by Adrian Beltre. A walk and a hit batsmen loaded the bases with no outs. Ranger fans smelled victory. With the outfield and infield in, David Murphy flied to Raburn in left, but Beltre (not lifted for a pinch-runner) didn't challenge. That was huge, as Mitch Moreland grounded into a 3-2-3 double play, and somehow the Tigers survived.

Valverd and Perez each pitched another inning without incident. But in the bottom of the 11th, Leyland was forced to go with Ryan Perry, who promptly loaded the bases with three consecutive singles (the last fell between Austin Jackson and Andy Dirks and should have been caught). It didn't matter, though, because Cruz, who is on a clear path to MVP of this series, crushed Perry's offering for a walk-off grand slam. Amazingly, it was the first walk-off grand slam in post-season history.

The Tigers limp home now. The biggest difference between the two teams, thus far, is the greater depth of the Rangers bullpen. Feldman came up huge, and where Mike Adams mowed through the Tigers lineup after Perez was lifted, Perry couldn't get an out. Leyland may be second-guessed for leaving Scherzer in to Cruz in the sixth, and one wonders whether Martinez's toe injury has limited his effectiveness at the plate--he's left a lot of runners on base in this post-season.

It will also be interesting to see if Perez and Valverde will be affected by throwing two innings. The two teams resume the series tonight.

Squeezed

It's wise for partisan baseball fans to never use umpires as an excuse for a loss. Umpires make mistakes, but they usually even themselves out for both teams. I'm sure Justin Verlander and the Tigers don't feel that way after their loss in game 1 of the ALCS to the Texas Rangers.

The Tigers had their ace on the mound. He hadn't lost a game since before the All-Star game. But he just didn't have crisp control this night, unable to consistently get his curveball over. He also wasn't getting the calls on outside pitches that he normally gets, becoming visibly annoyed with home plate umpire Tim Welke. The Rangers got some key hits off him, and the Tigers were down 3-0.

However, those three runs would be all the Tigers would get, and if you told me before the game that they would only give up three I would sign up for it. The key to this game was the quiet Tigers bats against the Rangers bullpen. They had chances to get to Rangers starter C.J. Wilson, but squandered chances. The inability of Victor Martinez to drive home a run with the bases loaded in the fifth inning was key.

If the Tigers are to have a chance in this series, and it's clear that they have an uphill battle ahead of them, they have to get some bats going. Austin Jackson did have a double this night, but he's almost reliably a strikeout victim. Alex Avila isn't hitting, either. The loss of Delmon Young could be critical. I like Ryan Raburn as a replacement, but at times, after defensive replacements come in, the Tigers lineup is pretty weak. And how hopeless did Wilson Betamit look against Neftali Perez? He didn't come within a foot of any of those pitches.

There's a lot of pressure on Max Scherzer tonight to get the series even. I'm pessimistic, because if the Tigers can't win Verlander's starts, they've got to get a lot of help from the other members of the rotation.

Terry Francona, providing color for the Fox broadcast, mentioned that an umpire should be "hunting strikes." Philosophically I think he's right, that an umpire giving a pitcher the corners and black makes the game better, moving it along. The base on balls is one of the least exciting plays in the game. But I'm sure the umpire's philosophy is to call them as they see them, and to hell with the pace of the game. We've heard a lot this post-season about a pitcher being "squeezed," which means the umpire is not giving them close pitches. Joe Girardi brought it up in C.C. Sabathia's start in game 3 of the ALDS. There's no clear answer to this problem, or even if it is a problem. Pitchers, like hitters, just have to adjust to an umpire's strike zone, at least until those computerized boxes on the screen become the way pitches are called officially.

Yankee Killers

All along I was wondering if this series would replicate the 2006 ALDS, when the Tigers upset the mighty Yankees. And it did, sort of. Game 1 was a Yankee romp, game 2 was a close Tiger victory, game 3 was a victory by the Tigers' ace (back then it was Kenny Rogers, this time Justin Verlander). Game 4 looked ripe to keep it going, as a suspect Yankee starter was on the mound, A.J. Burnett. Back in '06 it was the almost immediately forgettable Jared Wright, who got knocked around and the Tigers won in four. However, the pattern was upset and Burnett wriggled out of trouble in the first inning (thanks to a catch by Curtis Granderson) and the Yankees went on to win. Game 5 was new territory.

So I didn't expect a Tiger victory. In fact, I was mentally preparing myself for a Yankee victory. There were plenty of times it came close. Twice the Yankees left the bases loaded, and Derek Jeter's long fly ball in the eighth almost added to his lengthy legacy. But somehow, some way, the Tigers walked that tightrope and eked out a 3-2 victory, sending the Yankees into deep freeze for the winter, and earning the Tigers a spot against the Texas Rangers in the ALCS.

Most of the damage the Tigers did was early. So early, in fact, that I missed both solo home runs in the first inning (I thought the game start was at 8:30, not 8 o'clock). Don Kelly, who was one of the unlikely heroes in this series, golfed one into the rightfield stands, and Delmon Young followed with a shot to left off the Yankee starter Ivan Nova, who was gone after two innings due to tightness in his forearm. The Yankees then sent out a parade of relievers, including C.C. Sabathia, who allowed a run on an Austin Jackson double and a Victor Martinez single (after walking Miguel Cabrera). This would prove to be the winning run.

Meanwhile, Doug Fister, a midseason trade acquisition (Dave Dombrowski certainly deserves Executive of the Year for this pickup, along with the signing of Martinez and the trade for Young in August) was effective in keeping the Yankees from scoring. He got out of a fourth-inning jam when Jorge Posada's single did not score Alex Rodriguez, who rounded third base by quite a bit but was held up by the coach. Fister then got Russell Martin and Brett Gardner to pop out.

Robinson Cano homered in the fifth, and Max Scherzer came in to pitch the sixth and seventh. He got in trouble in the seventh, and was relieved by Joaquin Benoit. A couple of infield singles and a walk loaded the bases. But Benoit got Rodriguez to strike out. He walked Mark Texeira to force in a run, but then fanned Nick Swisher, and the last Yankee threat was extinguished.

Tigers' closer Jose Valverde, who had led a perilous existence in games 2 and 3, had a quiet ninth, ending it with a K of Rodriguez. I switched over to the sports radio station, and sure enough, he's going to be the whipping boy of Yankees fans. I'll be sure to tune in later today to hear more. But certainly Joe Girardi has got to shoulder some of the blame for insisting on batting him in the clean-up spot. The post-mortem should be vivid and vicious.

So now the Tigers face the Rangers, who have a dangerous lineup and home-field advantage. I think we've got a good shot, though I imagine the Rangers will be slight favorites. Justin Verlander is set to be the game 1 starter, an advantage over C.J. Lewis. It should be fun. Although I will be rooting hard for the Tigers, losing to the Rangers will be far less brutal than losing to the hated Yankees.

About fifty years ago, the Tigers had a pitcher named Frank Lary who always seemed to beat the Yankees, and he was dubbed the "Yankee Killer." It seems that this year's entire squad has earned that moniker.

A Game of Inches

Baseball fans of a certain age will remember a plaintive cry that came from Giants fans--"If only McCovey had hit the ball a foot higher!" It stemmed from the 1962 World Series, when McCovey, batting against the Yankees with two runners in scoring position and the Giants down a run, lined out to Bobby Richardson at second base, ending the series. In reality, McCovey probably had to hit the ball three feet higher, but the distance lessened over time.

I bring that up because the Tigers had a similar instance in last night's game 4 of the ALDS. It seems absurd to say that one play changed everything in a game that ended 10-1, but I think it did. The Yankees had sent the much maligned A.J. Burnett to the mound, needing to use him because of the disruption of the rain delay. Everyone, it seemed, anticipated Burnett getting knocked around. Though he didn't allow a hit, the Tigers loaded the bases in the first inning. A Yankee reliever was warming up in the bullpen. Don Kelly stepped to the plate and lined a ball over centerfielder Curtis Granderson's head. It looked like a bases-clearing triple. Except that Granderson, who initially moved in, doubled back and snagged the ball full extended over his head.

I was crushed. What could have been a 3-0 inning turned into nothing. Burnett, given new life, settled down, and only allowed a Victor Martinez home run. He left in the sixth. In the bottom of the sixth, with the Yankees ahead 4-1, Granderson again saved the Yankees with a full laid-out catch of a Jhonny Peralta line drive. I turned the game off, figuring the Tigers would not score against the Yankees bullpen. I was right.

The Yankees, though, poured it on against the beleaguered Tigers' middle relief. The series will now go back to New York on Thursday, with Doug Fister against Ivan Nova. Nothing is certain, but it seems bleak for the Tigers. They can win on the road, but they've got to get the bats working. Austin Jackson and Alex Avila have not been hitting, and even the big guns Miguel Cabrera and Martinez could be contributing more.

Tonight I get a reprieve. I could use it.

Verlander Guts It Out

It wasn't vintage Verlander, but as James Cromwell said to Babe the pig, "That'll do." Verlander gutted out an eight-inning outing, striking out 11, and the Tigers scratched and clawed for runs from unlikely sources, and then added a clutch home run from a mid-season cast-off to take a 2-1 lead in the ALDS. A win tonight and they'll send the Yankees to the golf courses and go on to the ALCS.

Justin Verlander steps to the mound every game with no-hitter potential. That was ended immediately, though, when Derek Jeter lined a single up the middle. Curtis Granderson, familiar with the cavernous left-centerfield of Comerica Park, tripled to the gap and then scored himself to give the Yankees an early 2-0 lead.

Verlander's biggest enemy is usually himself; he has trouble controlling his adrenaline. This ends up costing him runs in the first inning. I don't have the stats in front of me, but I'm positive his E.R.A. in the first inning his higher than in any other inning. True to form, he settled down, getting into an unhittable groove. In one inning he threw ten pitches, nine of them strikes, fanning the side.

His counterpart, the Yankee's mountainous C.C. Sabathia, seemed more bothered by the truncated game on Friday night. He seemed out of rhythm, and ended up walking six. Joe Girardi, the Yankees skipper, claimed that home-plate umpire Jerry Davis was not giving Sabathia the corners. This appeared to have some truth in it. An ESPN report earlier in the day showed that Sabathia had a much better record than Verlander when Davis was behind the plate. Maybe this was brought to Davis' attention and he overcompensated.

In any event, Sabathia was gone in the sixth. He was pecked to death by the Tigers' lighter hitters. Brandon Inge, who was such an offensive liability that he spend much of the summer in the minors, wrapped two hits off Sabathia, included a double that got things started. Ramon Santiago, in the lineup for defense and bunting ability, couldn't lay down a bunt with Inge on second. He ended up singling him home. He would add a double later. Don Kelly, a defensive replacement, pushed a perfect bunt past Sabathia, and scored on Jhonny Peralta's double off the left field wall. The Tigers were up 4-2.

This all seemed gift-wrapped for Verlander. He got two outs in the seventh and two strikes on Jorge Posada. The crowd was chanting "MVP!" Verlander, perhaps too charged up, lost Posada on a walk. He then plunked Russell Martin in the ribs with a 100-mile-an-hour fastball. Then, in an at-bat that could have been a pivotal one in the series, he worked Brett Gardner to a 3-2 count. Gardner hit the next pitch into the gap in left-center, clearing the bases. The score was tied. Verlander bore down and struck out Jeter.

But the Tigers haven't rolled over and died on anybody this season. The next inning Delmon Young stepped up. Announcer Jon Smoltz (a very good color man, by the way) said that Yankee reliever Rafael Soriano should beware the first pitch. Smoltz proved a Cassandra when Young put the pitch into the first row in right, giving the Tigers back the lead. Young, as mentioned before, was picked up in a trade with Minnesota in August. This was after the trade deadline, which means that Young had to pass waivers.

Verlander returned in the eighth and got his groove back. Jose Valverde, with the gut of a recreational bowler, came in to close out the ninth. As he did Sunday, he made it much more interesting than Detroit partisans would like. He walked two, but fanned Jeter (after nearly putting one in his ear). The Tigers had won, the Yankees are on the brink.

It will be interesting to see if Girardi changes his lineup. Alex Rodriguez and Mark Texeira have one hit between them. It would make sense to move Gardner to second and then move everyone else down one, even moving Rodriguez lower. It is to be remembered that five years ago, when these two teams me in the ALDS, Joe Torre moved Rodriquez to the eighth spot. It didn't help.

Walking a Tightrope Between the Raindrops

Cabrera and Valverde celebrate the end of the game.

The advantage of rooting for a team that is not in the post-season is that you get to spend your lovely October days and nights care-free, going to movies, spending time with friends, reading a book, or going on long walks. Your interest in the baseball playoffs is mild but engaged. You may root against a team based on how much you hate the governor of that state, or the color of the uniforms.

When your team is in the playoffs, especially when it's a team that has playoff appearances that roughly correspond with lunar eclipses, it can be rough going. You're happy they're there, but watching the games is an ordeal. I've spent the last two days shouting at the TV, putting hexes on opposing players, and tryiing to determine the best position to sit so the Tigers get lucky. Then, yesterday, I had to watch an almost-meltdown by their perfect closer.

The rain postponement screwed up Jim Leyland's pitching plan. He had hoped to start Max Scherzer at home, where a spacious ballpark keeps most of his mistakes in play. But he was the next pitcher in line, and Leyland took his chances. Scherzer ended up twirling six plus innings of shutout, two-hit ball, certainly a pleasant surprise. Meanwhile, Magglio Ordonez, who owned his fellow countrymen, the Yankees starter Freddie Garcia, rapped three hits, while Miguel Cabrera snaked a two-run home to right in the first inning and added an RBI single later. The Tigers had a 4-0 lead heading into the eighth.

Joaquin Benoit, the set-up man who had a horrible start to the season but ended almost perfectly, wriggled out of Scherzer's jam in the seventh. The rain gods got even with the Yankees, as a brief shower poured down on Derek Jeter as he attempted to bat with men on base. Jeter was clearly agitated, wiping the bill of his helmet dry after each pitch. He ended up grounding out.

Benoit came back in the eighth and promptly served up a home run to Curtis Granderson. Okay, no reason to worry. It was 4-1. If Benoit could get through this inning, it would be turned over to the unflappable "Papa Grande," Jose Valverde, who had converted 49 of 49 save opportunities this year. When leading after the eighth inning, the Tigers went 83-0 this season.

In the top of the ninth, Don Kelly, brought in as a defensive replacement, got a key, two-out RBI single to get the run back. It was now 5-1, with Valverde ready.

Valverde had not allowed a home run all season, facing more than 90 batters. So what happens? On his first pitch, he serves up a meatball to Nick Swisher, who deposited it in the seats. Jorge Posada then tripled to center. It was time to bite nails. The rain started again. Russell Martin walked, I shouted, and the tying run was now at the plate. Andruw Jones got good wood on the ball, but Kelly made a fine running catch in right. Posada tagged and scored. Derek Jeter struck out. There was one out to go.

Granderson was up. It was pouring, and he skied a pop-up behind the plate. The Tiger catcher, Alex Avila, seemed to have trouble with it, looking up into the rain. He stepped on the Yankees' on-deck circle, covered with plastic, and slipped. Brandon Inge, who should have called him off to make the easier catch, helplessly watched the ball bounce on the ground.

Oh, boy. Baseball historians might remember the sad tale of Mickey Owen, who in the 1941 World Series was the catcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers. With two outs in the ninth, the Yankee Tommy Heinrich up and two strikes, Heinrich swung and missed, but the ball got away from Owen, Heinrich taking first base. The Yankees rallied for four runs and won the game. Had Owen caught the ball, the Dodgers would have won the game.

Dreading the pop-up mistake becoming baseball lore, it got worse when Granderson walked. The winning run was now at the plate in the person of Robinson Cano, the Yankee's hottest hitter. With the Yanks crowd energized, Valverde bore down on got him on a grounder to second. The Tigers had evened the series.

Game 3 is tonight, with the match-up of aces, Verlander against Sabathia, ready to resume. The Tigers don't want this series to go back to New York. Neither do I.

Wrong Turn at Albuquerque

Game 1 of the ALDS series was an unpleasant affair for Tigers' fans. It was probably so for Yankees fans, at least until Robinson Cano's sixth-inning grand slam landed in the upper deck. As advised by the old sports news anchor Warner Wolf, I turned my set off there.

Cano's blast opened up a game that had been a strange and uncomfortable contest that had begun more than 24 hours earlier. Justin Verlander and C.C. Sabathia were in opposition, a match up that generated a lot of interest. Sabathia looked strong, except for allowing an opposite-field home run to Delmon Young. Verlander looked nervous, allowing a few walks. A run scored when Derek Jeter took first on a wild pitch following a strike-out, and two hesitations by Tiger infielders allowed Jeter to score.

Then it started to rain. One can try to assign blame for this to nondivine individuals, but there's really nothing else baseball officials could have done. Apparently the forecast was askew, showing that no matter how advanced the technology, weathermen don't know anything. I was annoyed that the umpires allowed the Tigers to bat in the top of the second during a downpour. It was clear that it affected play, and ended up being a wasted inning. I suppose Yankee fans could argue that Sabathia was slipping out there, but he did strike out two in the inning.

The game was then called, or rather postponed. Instead of being a nongame, as it would be in the regular season, it was to be picked up where it left off the next night. Of course, the pitchers couldn't come back on such short notice, so the game 2 starters came in in relief. Both of them, Doug Fister for the Tigers, and Ivan Nova of the Yankees, had great years.

Fister showed nerves, allowing runners to second and third with no outs. He even balked. But he wriggled out of it, and then settled down and looked great, retiring 10 in a row at one point. Nova was also sharp, but started allowing the Tigers to get hits in the fifth. With two on and one out, Jhonny Peralta singled to center. Alex Avila, the runner on second, hesitated to see if Curtis Granderson would catch it. That was a fatal error, as Avila was gunned down by Jeter's relay. This was indicative of the type of night the Tigers had.

The Yankees had gone ahead on Cano's double, which bounced off the top of the wall. Then came his grand salami in the sixth. He would add a double in the eighth for another RBI. This guy is a great hitter, and the Tigers will need to deal with him more effectively. Frankly, I'd rather face Alex Rodriguez, and pitch carefully to Cano.

According to post-game reports, Fister only made a few bad pitches. One of them was a hanging curveball to Brett Gardner, who rapped a two-run single with two outs, which eventually led to Cano's home run. Then, Al Albuquerque, who came in in relief of Fister, threw a slider that didn't slide to Cano. Albuquerque hadn't allowed a home run all year. Oy.

It was clear that the Yankees, due to their immense post-season experience, were more polished. The Tigers looked flustered. That will have to change or it will be a short series. Today's pitcher, Max Scherzer, had 15 wins, but was up and down, and much better at home. The rain, though, screws up that plan. Freddy Garcia, throwing for the Bronx Bombers, should be hittable, though. I'm expecting a slug-fest.

I can take some consolation in that five years ago, the Tigers also got battered in game 1, and then reeled off seven straight post-season victories. There was even a rain out. Here's hoping history repeats itself.

The Yanks Are Comin'

While watching the exciting play of the last night of the regular season Wednesday night, I was keeping a sharp look on the ESPN crawl for two scores. The Tigers hosted the Indians and the Rangers were in Anaheim. If the Tigers won and the Rangers lost, the Tigers would get the number two seed and host the wild-card winner, either the Red Sox or the Rays. The Tigers, after falling behind 3-0, did the job, coming back to win 5-4. But the Rangers beat the Angels, 3-1, and thus the Tigers yield home-field advantage and must play the number one seed, the Yankees.

This is, as Yogi Berra said, deja vu all over again. Five years ago the Tigers, after clinching a playoff spot, went on a skid, getting swept by the last-place Royals and did not win the division, instead earning a wild card, which meant they had to play the Yankees. I, and everyone else who knows anything about baseball, thought they were doomed. They lost game 1 handily. But they squeaked by in game 2, and then routed the Yanks at home in games 3 and 4, and then swept the A's to go to the World Series. It was a stunning upset.

Can lightning strike twice? There are some differences. This year's Tiger team, on paper, is much better than the 2006 team. They have the best pitcher in the league this year, Justin Verlander. Doug Fister is no slouch in game 2, going 8-1 with a 1.79 ERA for the Tigers after a mid-season trade. The Yankees have vulnerability issues in their rotation. They'll throw C.C. Sabathia tonight against Verlander (a match up of Hall of Fame-track hurlers), and rookie Ivan Nova went 16-4.

But Freddie Garcia, rescued off the scrap heap, starts game 3 for the Yankees. They will then go to workhorse Sabathia again, if necessary, while Tiger skipper Jim Leyland has said Verlander will not go on short rest, no matter what the circumstance. It is crucial that the Tigers win tonight, not only strategically, but psychologically. If the Yankees get to the Tigers' best pitcher, it may all over quickly.

Both teams can hit. The Yankees have perennial batsmen like Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano and Mark Texeira, with Alex Rodriguez, who had an injury-riddled and off year, still a threat. Former Tiger Curtis Granderson had a monster power year for the Yankees. But the Tigers match up just as well with the Yankees line-up, with batting-title winner Miguel Cabrera, clutch-hitter Victor Martinez, all-star catcher Alex Avila, and shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

I'm reluctant to make a prediction, other than that the winner of the game tonight will win the series. I'll be a basket case while watching, trying to find the position to sit in that brings the Tigers the most luck. Five years ago it was my right leg crossed over my left, while I bit on my right thumbnail. Will that still work?

Division Champs!

Sometime late last night Herm Willingham grounded a ball to Brandon Inge, who threw to first in time to end the game and clinch the Central Division for the Detroit Tigers. It was their first division title since realignment in 1994, and the first division title of any kind for them since 1987. Oh, I remember that game very well, when Frank Tanana threw a shutout against Toronto and won 1-0. This time I couldn't watch, but I've been replaying video highlights.

After their 12-game winning streak, the Tigers were suddenly on the lips of the sports talk shows, who stopped talking about football long enough to pay attention. Asked on "Around the Horn" if the Tigers were the team to beat in the A.L., some said yes, but others said no because of the lack of depth in the rotation. This is an ignorant statement. I think the Tigers have as much pitching depth as the Yankees or Rangers, and more than the Red Sox. The Tampa Bay Rays may have more depth, but are now on the outside looking in. I think this perception comes because Justin Verlander is head and shoulders above the other Tiger pitchers, but Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello are capable starters, and Doug Fister has been a phenomenal mid-season pick up, going 6-1 in his time in Detroit, and retiring 17 in a row last night in the clinching game.

I've also heard nothing but good news about how Detroit is going to spend their last two weeks of the season. Home-field advantage is in play. If the Tigers finish ahead of the A.L. West winner (either Texas or Anaheim) they will play the wild-card team, likely to be the Red Sox, and get home-field advantage. You never want to hope for a certain team, as it can come back to bite you, but I'd much rather play the Red Sox than the Yankees (although, in 2006, when the Tigers got the Yanks in the first round it turned out to be a good thing).

But just as feasible is the Tigers catching the Yankees for best record in the A.L. overall. They are only two games back, and the Yankees have to play the Rays and Red Sox, while the Tigers get the Orioles and Indians. If that happens they would still play the Red Sox, and get home-field throughout the playoffs.

Also of interest will be the post-season rotation. I would expect Brad Penny to be the odd man out--he's clearly been the least effective of the five starters. If the Tigers do get home field, I would start Max Scherzer in game two (Verlander in game one, of course) since he's much better at home than on the road. Then Fister for game three and Porcello for game four, if necessary.

The Devil Went Down to Detroit

Instead of a crossroads in rural Mississippi, it might have been in the dank basement of an abandoned, boarded up, over-grown house in Detroit. Jim Leyland, Dave Dombroski, or the head man, Mike Ilitch himself, may have met with an odd looking man who had cloven hooves, a tail, and carried a pitchfork. The exchange was simple--mortal souls for never losing another game.

This scenario was conjured up in my baseball-fevered brain after the Tigers won yet another game they had no business winning, to extend their winning streak to 12. With Cleveland's loss to Texas, the magic number is now two. It's their longest winning streak since 1934. But they're not only winning--it's the way they win.

Yesterday's game is a case in point. Brad Penny, who has been ineffective his last three starts, was again behind the eight ball quickly, helped mostly by his own fielding error. The Tigers were down 4-1 early. It looked like the streak was over, but of course something told me it wasn't.

Sure enough, in the top of the 9th, down 5-2, Ryan Raburn smacked a pinch-hit solo home run to make it 5-3. After a walk to Magglio Ordonez, the White Sox closer served up a gopher ball to another pinch-hitter, Alex Avila, to tie it. Two pinch-hit homers in the same inning! Surely Lucifer is bend this!

In the top of 10th, Carlos Guillen drove in the winning run with a bouncer up the middle. Guillen, hurt most of the year, also had a home run in the game. To show off his wizardry in the dugout, Leyland has used four different second basemen during this streak. No matter what lineup he uses, somehow the magic has endured. How long can the streak go? If they get to 15, they set a club record. They need to keep winning--the Tigers are only three games behind the Yankees for best record and thus home-field advantage through the playoffs.

Brandon Inge

I had the rare opportunity today to watch a Tigers' game from start to finish, and they rewarded me by winning in walk-off fashion, 3-2, over the Minnesota Twins. It was Detroit's eighth win in a row, and lowers their magic number to nine. The winning blow was struck by Brandon Inge, which is a bit of a heartwarming story.

Brandon Inge is the longest-tenured player on the team. He is the only link to the disastrous 119-loss season in 2003, and has been in a Tiger uniform since 2001. A fine defensive third-baseman, he has played almost every position on the field, including catcher. By all accounts he is the best athlete on the team (able to dunk a basketball) and has been a fan favorite for years.

The last few years Inge has seemingly become expendable. There was a lot of trade talk involving him and other clubs, and he was vocal about not wanting to leave. This year he was batting at an abysmal average, striking out prodigiously, and was sent down to Triple-A Toledo, certainly an embarrassing moment for a player who was an all-star just two years ago. While in Toledo, he hit well, especially against left-handers, so was brought back up and now platoons at third base.

Today he came in as a defensive replacement. The starter at third, Wilson Betemit, had homered earlier in the game. Max Scherzer held the Twins to two runs through seven innings, with Joe Mauer taking him deep. In the bottom of the ninth, with two out, Inge had two strikes on him when the Twins reliever grooved a fastball and Inge crushed it, everyone in the park knowing immediately the game was over.

For Tigers' fans, it was a feel-good moment. If Inge can be a reliable bat against left-handers it only strengthens their chances in the post-season, and gives the long-time Tiger another chance at a ring.

So Long, Tribe!

After dispatching the White Sox over the weekend with three soul-crushing games, the Tigers did the same to the Indians, their only other rival in the A.L. Central, sweeping a three-game series in Cleveland. Of course, they have not put these teams away mathematically, but aside from a series in Chicago next week and one at home against Cleveland to end the season, those teams will need a complete Tiger collapse to keep hope alive. We can now talk about magic numbers: it's 14 for the Tigers, nine games up with 19 to play.

Of course they have collapsed before; just two years ago they blew a seven-game lead in September. But they are firing on all cylinders now, winning six in a row and hitting the bejeesus out of the ball. On Monday, in a pitcher's duel, mid-season acquisition Doug Fister struck out 14 to win 4-2. The next night, the Tigers scored five runs in the first inning, all after two outs. The rally was started by an innocuous walk to Delmon Young--it just happened to be the first walk he had drawn as a Tiger since being traded for on August 10. The Tigers went on to win 10-1, and Rick Porcello had his problematic sinker working.

Yesterday may have been the back-breaker for the Tribe. They got to Justin Verlander, with Shelley Duncan hitting a pair of homers off the Tigers' ace. He left after six, trailing, his nine-game winning streak in jeopardy. But in the bottom of the inning, Victor Martinez greeted a relief pitcher on the first pitch with a grand slam, putting the Tigers ahead to stay. Verlander got his 22nd win, his tenth in a row, the first Tiger to do that since 1946.

Aside from the series against Chicago and Cleveland (and hopefully they will have clinched by the latter), the Tigers have a soft schedule. They play Minnesota, Kansas City, Oakland, and Baltimore, teams that are either last or second-to-last in their divisions. Of course they can't lose focus against lesser teams.

There's another thing to play for: Detroit now has the second-best record among division leaders in the A.L., slipping ahead of Texas by percentage points. It is a fait accompli that they will play either the Yankees or the Red Sox if they make the playoffs. However, if they have the second-best record in the league, they will play the wild card team. That doesn't help much, as both the Yanks and Sox would be favored. But it will earn the Tigers home field advantage, and they will need as much help as possible.

Exit White Sox

The Chicago White Sox limped out of Detroit, their season, for all intents and purposes, ended. They had moved within 5.5 games of the first-place Tigers, but had their backs broken by a debilitating sweep. Now all that stands between the Tigers and a division title is the Cleveland Indians.

Friday the Tigers won behind Justin Verlander's 21st victory, 8-1. Verlander has won more games in a season than any Tiger since Jack Morris in 1986, and sewn up the A.L. Cy Young Award.

Saturday's game, if the Tigers do go to the post-season, will be the game they look back to and say, "This was the game that did it." Brad Penny, who has been highly ineffective lately, was knocked around, and the Tigers were down 8-1. They chipped away, though, with a Delmon Young home run and two triples by a red-hot Austin Jackson.

Still, in the ninth inning, they were down two. Up came Ryan Raburn, who hit the biggest home run of his brief career, with a man on, to tie it up. Two batters later Miguel Cabrera hit a laser to the left-field stands to send everyone home.

The White Sox, after such a disheartening loss, had do dig deep down to save their season on Sunday night. Since the game was the ESPN Sunday Night game, I was able to watch the first few innings, when the Tigers got off to a 4-0 lead, with a couple of RBI singles by Victor Martinez. I was stunned to get up this morning and read that they ended winning 18-2! Cabrera hit another home run, a ball to the deepest part of center, and everyone got into the act. Clearly the White Sox did not dig very deep. They were throwing their best pitcher, Mark Buehrle.

Tonight a critical series with the Indians starts in Cleveland. If the Tigers can sweep, their path to the title is assured, but even winning two-out-of three will go a long way in wrapping things up. Verlander will pitch on Wednesday.

Only one bit of bad news to come out of the weekend: Brennan Boesch is out for the season with thumb surgery. He was a key left-handed bat, and means that Magglio Ordonez and Delmon Young will be in the lineup full time. Hopefully Ordonez has a few big hits left it his bat for the stretch drive.