MLB Playoff Chatter: Can’t Tame These Tigers

September 9, 2009   ·   Blake VandeBunte   ·   Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees

I know I’m getting a bit ahead of myself, but it sure feels like the Tigers are returning to the postseason for the first time since 2006.  They currently hold a 6.5 game lead over the Twins with only 25 games to play.  Just a few random thoughts rolling around in my head this morning:

• According to ESPN.com, the Tigers currently have a 90.9% chance of making the postseason.
• The New York Yankees have a 99.9% chances of making it and so do the St. Louis Cardinals.
• If the playoffs were to start today, here’s who would make it: Yankees, Tigers, Angels, Red Sox, Phillies, Cardinals, Dodgers, Rockies.
• It’s becoming increasingly likely that the Tigers will face the Yankees in the first round.
• The Yankees have a 6.5 game lead in the American League and are almost a lock at clinching the best record in the AL.  The Yankees would face the team with the worst record in the postseason.  That’s almost certainly going to be the Tigers.  
• The only chance the Tigers have would be if the Rangers beat out the Red Sox to take the Wild Card and also finish with a worse record than the Tigers.  If that happens, the Tigers would play the Angels in the first round.
• The Tigers are 1-5 against the Yankees this season, with their only win coming back in April when Justin Verlander picked up his first win of the season.  Yeah, I was at that game, big deal.
• While the Tigers record is pretty lousy against the Bombers, they’ve lost two of those games by two runs and two games by only one run.  They could hang with the Yankees.
• Remember what happened when the Tigers were a HUGE underdog against the Yankees in 2006?  How did that work out for New York?
• The Tigers, like the Yankees, appear to have the luxury of resting up their best players.  If both teams are able to hold their current leads, it should setup some pretty impressive pitching match-ups.  Good times.

Anyway, the Tigers lost a bummer of a game last night in Kansas City.  The Tigers also struggled with Kansas City down the stretch in 2006.  Hopefully they can get things together, since they still play them five more times this month.

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