This is a rematch of the game two weeks ago where Jeremy Bonderman faced the minimum through seven innings, only to give up six runs in the eighth on a couple of dribblers, an error, a slap hit and a balk. Santana didn't have his best stuff, but he battled, and the Tigers couldn't capitalize, and Minnesota went home winners, 6-3.
Why does every game seem so important? The Tigers are up by 9 in the standings (and by 9 over all of Major League Baseball), shouldn't they start to cruise in?
The answer, at this point, is no.
There are 50 games left, and 10 are against the Sox. They need to keep the pressure on. Every time the Tigers lose a tough game like the one last night, I can't help but think of 1993 and the 10+ losses in a row that knocked them out of the race. Ten in a row right now, and we're looking at maybe missing the playoffs altogether.
Now, I'm not saying that the Tigers are going to lose ten in a row. I, however, am saying that they could lose ten in a row. They play a lot of close games. They don't always get a lot of run support, and they are jumping head-first into the toughest part of their schedule. No stretch has been tougher than this month. Sure, they met Chicago, New York and Boston in the same month earlier, but they didn't meet Chicago twice in the same stretch, and they didn't have nine or ten of the games on the road.
As well as they've played all year, the Tigers should, and most likely will be fine. Baseball Prospectus has them at an almost 99% chance to make the playoffs playing the season from here until its end one million times. No team has been caught with a 10 game lead with 50 to play I don't think, and the Tigers would have to be caught by three teams, not just one to miss the playoffs.
But we're not talking about missing the playoffs. Just like at season start, the goal for many Tiger fans was .500 or better, the goal has changed. First it went to making the playoffs, then it went to winning the division. Soon, it should and will be to make it to and to win the World Series. The team is getting better, not worse, and it can and will show for the rest of this month. Most fans would take one of three in Chicago, Boston and New York. That would do two things. It would show everyone that the Tigers can beat those teams, and it would delay each team's chase. One of three gives up three games and only let's the chasing teams get one back.
But what about 2 of 3?
What about a sweep?
Those would show everyone that the Tigers can win any series against any team. It would show that they are likely actually the best team in the American League, and with their interleague record, the best team in all of baseball. If they can win tonight, and keep winning series (they haven't lost one since the break), they can show every writer and every team that they mean business.
A lot of people are coming around. People are saying this is no longer a fluke. This is a good team. The wheels are not going to come off. Well, this is the time to prove it. The White Sox survived a Cleveland charge last season. Detroit should not give anyone a chance. Play like a Mike Krzyzewski-coached basketball team: Dominate for four quarters. The season in 3/4 done. One quarter left to play.
Dominate. Show them you are better than the last time you played them. Win the first game of each series. Win the AL by 15 games. Give your players some extra rest.
And win the World Series.
