Sunday, August 14, 2005

I believe a thank you is in order

Tigers fans, I believe a thank you is in order to the Devil Rays. In case any of you have been watching, my Devil Rays just swept the Indians in three games over the weekend. The only time the Tribe were even close to winning was when they took an early 3-0 win on Friday. Due to this, the Tigers are now only six back of the Indians in the AL Central, and while their playoff chances are still slim to nil, six games is still a reachable goal with one and a half months to go in the season.

The Devil Rays and Indians square off at Tropicana Field in one week, in a four game series. By that time, the Tigers could do themselves a favor and go 4-2 this week vs. the Red Sox and their cross-border rivals in Toronto. With a pitching matchup tomorrow of Sean Douglass vs. Bronson Arroyo the Tigers should at least be competitive in a contest that could go eihter way. While Tuesday's matchup has yet to be announced, the Tigers should almost surely take one from the Sox on Wednesday, when David "Half-Drunk" Wells take the mound. Don't let that mid-4 ERA fool you, Wells is awful away from Fenway Park, and should get hit well, even in the expansive deadball zone that is Comerica Park.

The Indians might be heading into a slump after their weekend slip, and with a three game series coming vs the Rangers and their hot bats, the Tribe's slump could continue. This week, the Indians have Kenny Rogers going against them in a Tuesday start while they send C.C Sabathia to the mound. That game shoulkd break Texas' way. Sorry to say, but Wednesday and Thursday's pitching matchups look to break Cleveland's way, although both pitchers starting for the Indians are no sure thing.

The bottom line is, this week, I have a feeling, will be crucial to whatever is left of the Tigers playoff chances. If things break their way, and the Indians slump, they could get back into some sort of contention. But if the Tribe outduels them, you can raise the white flag. So try to hold down the fort before the Indians come down south!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Are you really this mathematically deficient? Who cares if the Tigers catch up to the Indians. They're four games back of Oakland for the Wild Card.

And what about the other six teams besides Cleveland who are ahead of Detroit? Are they all expected to slump as well.

The only thing we have to thank the Devil Rays for is being worse then the Tigers.