How the heck are the Tigers only one game up? What happened to the team that had the
ten game lead just over a month ago? Will this season end up being more disappointing than any other in recent history?
These are questions we have to ask ourselves, and answer the right way--the Tiger fan way...
If the Tigers do not make the playoffs, do not be disappointed. Be happy. They are going to win at least ninety games this season. No one saw that coming. How many of you said at the beginning of the season "I'll take a winning record." How many of you asked for just that from your team?
I did. I know my family did. I'll be you did too. Fact is that they did that. They won more than 81 games. They accomplished the goal we set for them and likely the goal that they set for themselves--to be competitive.
Unfortunately, they accomplished the winning season goal in August, and the competitive goal in late April or early May. And when goals are met, what are we supposed to do?
Set new goals.
Goals should be unreachable, or the brink of what you can reach. They should be set at a height that when they are reached, a feeling of accomplishment comes over the people that set them in the first place. What has happened to the Tigers this season is that they set a goal that experts only gave them a fifty percent chance of passing and they reached it with time to spare.
But was the goal too low?
No. Every team gets hot. Every team gets cold. Sure the Yankees haven't had a 11-23 stretch, but if the Tigers had started with the 11-23 and then played 40 games over .500 since (a la the Twins), no one would be worrying or upset. We would be proud of our team for not giving up.
If, at the beginning of the season I showed 1000 Tiger fans today's paper where the Tigers had a one-game lead in the division on September 15th, 999 would take it in a heartbeat. So take it. It's great. Even if they don't make it this year, it is still a very special baseball season. Don't be disappointed. Be proud.
Be proud because they didn't give up Maybin for Soriano or Sanchez for Zito or Monroe or Thames or Verlander or Zumaya or Rodney or Bonderman or Maroth. Be proud because they stuck to their guns and thought of the future. This team wasn't supposed to win it this year. They were supposed to get better and contend maybe next year or the year after and for five or six years to come after that. Be proud that they still can and still will.
Take how many more wins the Tigers get with pride and how many more losses they get with a grain of salt. They will win a lot more than they lose in the coming decade. It's all but guaranteed. Guessing that everyone sticks around, take a look at their lineup in two years...
Still catching is Pudge Rodriguez. He keeps himself in greater shape than anyone else on this team, and he is chasing Fisk's most games at catcher. This may be his last or next-to-last season, but he still hits .290 and he will get 75 RBI. He will also be playing more first base.
On first base will be Chris Shelton. He's 29 now and has been through the ups and downs. He will hit .295 with 28 home runs, knocking in 100
At second will still be Placido Polanco. He's only 33 and still the best number 2 hitter in the league.
At short will likely still be Carlos Guillen. Same story as Polanco with more pop in his bat. He will start hitting more home runs as the speed subsides. Think a late-career Lou Whitaker at short.
The third baseman will obviously be Brandon Inge. The gold glove third baseman who has cut down on his strikeouts. He'll hit about .280 with 35 home runs.
Left field -- Alexis Gomez. The pop he showed in his bat in Toledo was nothing. He will hit 30 home runs in the show in a couple of years.
Centerfield will be patrolled by Cameron Maybin. If this guy is all he's supposed to be and more, the Tigers should sign him for fifteen years right now. Even if he Gale Sayerses out after six, it might be worth it. I've never heard of such a lock for being big league talent. Let's just hope he can handle it.
Right field -- Curtis Granderson. The number three hitter by now. He will knock in 100 runs.
And that's if they don't trade for anyone. Wait until you her the rotation: Verlander, Bonderman, Maroth, Sanchez, Miller. If they can hold on to these guys and, barring injury, it is the best staff in the majors by far. Bonderman will be striking out 9 per 9 in a couple of years after he develops a change and a splitter. He'll still only be 25 as well.
What I'm saying is don't worry about this season. Sure it is great, and a series win right now will likely propel us to more series wins and possibly the most important series of them all, but they'll get there eventually, and better to be ready after this season of preparation. Whatever they get this year, I'm proud of them...
