No Pressure, It’s Just The Whole Season

Despite leading the Twins by as many as seven games in recent memory, and by three games with four to play, the Tigers will take the field this afternoon mired in a dead heat with the Twinkies for the AL Central crown. The Tigers need a win today and help to avoid a one game playoff against the Twins in Minneapolis. A Tigers loss coupled with a Twins win would knock Detroit from first place, and make them the first team in history to lead their division from May 10th on only to lose it on the final day of the season. But here we are, on the last day of the regular season, and the Twins now have the same magic number as the Tigers.

You might want to cross your fingers.

With their season on the line the Twins sent Nick Blackburn to the hill on three days rest yesterday, and the Twins won. Today the Twins will start Carl Pavano, also on short rest, while the Tigers answer with a fully rested Mr. Verlander.

One possibility yesterday afternoon was to start Verlander on short rest, ensuring that even if the Tigers lost, Rick Porcello could pitch today on full rest. It sounded like a reasonable idea to me. It sounded like the kind of thing a playoff contender would do with two critical games remaining. It seems Jim Leyland thought the idea in poor taste, as it was Alfredo Figaro and his 15.2 career big league innings that found himself charged with righting the ship. I’m not a major league manager, although I played one on TV once, but I have to ask aloud in this particular case – How did we get here Jim? Or to put it in clearer language, did you really think the Twins would lose? It seems that was the insurance policy the Tigers skipper was counting on, that Minnesota would fall to Zack Greinke and the Tigers would have to win one out of two to make the playoffs.

Even that excuse doesn’t hold water, as the Twins had won yesterday before the Tigers game started. Even if the plan wasn’t to start Verlander, it certainly could have become the plan prior to the first pitch.

Alfredo Figaro was listless, and unimpressive. He allowed three hits, two walks and two earned runs in 1.1 innings. My personal favorite moment was when he faced Brent Lillibridge with two men on and one out in the second inning. After working the count to 1-2, Figaro proceeded to walk Lillibridge, who is hitting .151 on the season with a grand total of one RBI. One. RBI. Scott Podsednik then grounded into what could have been an inning ending double play, but turned out to be a half booted play by sure handed Placido Polanco that allowed the eventual winning run to score.

The Tigers used six pitchers in total yesterday, and none made less sense than Fernando Rodney in the ninth inning. With the Tigers trailing 4-1 Manager Jim Leyland summoned his closer to pitch the final frame. Those of you who have been loyal readers going back to my old site have read my thoughts on this subject. Fernando has been abysmal in non-save situations this year, and furthermore, he threw 24 pitches last night. If he is needed this afternoon he’ll be dragging a tired arm and a deflated ego to the mound some 18 hours later.

But now we’re here, and the Tigers will most likely need two wins, one in the Metrodome, in order to win the division. Of course it is possible the Tigers win and the Twins lose this afternoon, making a Tuesday tie-breaker unnecessary. It’s also possible the ghost of Ty Cobb will show up at Comerica Park today and ask to play center field and hit leadoff. Let’s just say I’m not counting on that either.

Leyland made the decision regarding the starting pitching in the final two games, he’ll have to live with it. Had he started Verlander yesterday and Porcello today there are no guarantees things would be different. I get that. He wanted to save Justin, to have the luxury of scratching him from todays start if the Tigers somehow clinched yesterday. He wanted to have him fresh for the ALDS. Leyland didn’t want to put extra pressure on Rick Porcello. He didn’t want to push him out there in a must win on the final day of the regular season. What Jim wanted is irrelevant now, as that’s exactly what is likely to happen.

Verlander will go today, and Rick Porcello will go Tuesday if that game is required. So instead of Rookie Rick having to pitch the final game of the season at home, where he is 8-3 with a 3.87 ERA, he’ll now have to do it in the Metrodome, the loudest stadium in the league, where he is 0-2 with a 6.30 ERA.

If the Tigers find a way into the playoffs between today and Tuesday Justin Verlander will be unavailable for game 1 of the ALDS. He would be in line to pitch Friday in game two on regular rest. Had he started yesterday he could have perceivably gone Wednesday in game one on three days rest. This is according to ALDS schedule option A, which the Yankees would be fools not to select. Option B has game one Thursday and game two on Friday.

But we’re here. It is what it is. This Tigers team has bigger problems than a bungled rotation. The Tigers scored one run in yesterdays loss, in the eighth inning. Placido Polanco stroked an RBI single that ended a drought of 17 scoreless innings for the Tigers offense. The double by Adam Everett that started that rally is the only extra base hit the Tigers have had in the last three games.

Gerald Laird had perhaps his worst day as a pro, allowing six stolen bases while taking the collar with an 0-4 night at the plate.

Brandon Inge also went hitless in four trips, with two strike outs, bringing his season total to 169.

Miguel Cabrera struggled as well, when his team needed him most, also going 0-4, stranding runners in key situations.

This offense, should you dare call it that, has left the Tigers scratching and clawing for traction when this team should be 10 games ahead of the Twins. The hitters are to blame, of course, it’s their job to perform when called upon. It is. There is no debate on that subject. However…. Lloyd McClendon and Jim Leyland can not be excused for their part in this exercise in futility.

Brandon Inge is hitting .188 with 82 strike outs in 250 at-bats in the second half. I know he’s popular, I know he’s an exciting defender, he is also sinking this offense every time he steps to the plate lately. Yet he has played in all but two of the Tigers games this season.

Clete Thomas is hitting .241 overall in 2009. He has hit third in the lineup more than anywhere else, to the tune of 159 at-bats. In those 159 at-bats Clete is hitting .201 with 10 RBI’s. Find me a playoff team that features a three hole hitter like this and I’ll eat my hat.

Curtis Granderson is hitting .243 in the seasons second half and .220 in September/October.

Marcus Thames is hitting .233 since the all-star break with more K’s (38) than hits (31), yet he continues to find his name in the lineup in critical games.

I don’t know if it’s poor coaching, a lack of preparation, a lack of urgency or a lack of talent – but it is painfully obvious this offense and the folks who manage it are lacking something.

And to think the Tigers could still clinch the AL Central today with a win and a Twins loss. Baseball is a funny game.

We can debate and argue and piss and moan all we like. It may make us feel better, it may not. It certainly won’t affect how the Tigers will play this afternoon, and beyond if possible. This is an exercise in futility. Yet it is all we have. There is this, there is hope, there is crossing fingers and hoping for the best.

Anything beyond that will have to come from Justin Verlander and the Tigers.

But I suppose crossing your fingers can’t hurt.

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Tags: AL Central, Al Central tied, Alfredo Figaro, Brandon Inge struggling, Chicago White Sox, Clete Thomas as the three hitter, Cross your fingers, Detroit Tigers, Justin Verlander, Marcus Thames, Minnesota Twins, Rick Porcello, Tigers choke, Tigers Magic Number, Twins magic number