A new begining?

[Wil]

The Tigers have taken 2 of 3 from their rivals in Cleveland...could this be the start of the next season for the Tigers...is this where they turn the corner?

[Deejhanaze]

They have looked good, but I'm sick and tired of getting excited every time they win a few games. Like I have said a few times on the show, I'll get excited when they put together 2-3 weeks of solid baseball. They don't need to win every game for 3 weeks (although that would help) but they need to play good baseball for a consistent stretch which is something they have yet to do this season. I think we will learn a lot about this team after tomorrows game against the tribe and then a huge series next week when the Sox come to town.

[Wil]

I have yet to figure out why on earth the Tigers can go in and score 19 runs against the Twins and the very next day only score 2 runs. I will say that Michael Cuddyer had the quote of the day after the Sunday game, when asked how something like that could happen, and Cuddyer said, "we must have worn them out in the 19 runs that they scored yesterday.

If we can get the starting pitching going, and the hitters to be more consistant we would be doing better.

[Deejhanaze]

I hate to lose the faith but I think it is time to start looking to next year. With Bondo going down and the offense showing no signs of life...this season may be a bust. What they need to do is put together a good second half and make something to build on next year. This team has the talent to finish 10 games out this year and win the whole damn thing next year...they just need to start playing like a team.

[jonwings]

I, like everyone else, had such high hopes for this team. I keep thinking that eventually they will pull their heads out of their butts and start playing like they thought they would. Unfortunately, the team is not really giving me any reason to believe.

[jonwings]

well they did beat the White Sox today. Today was the first time I watched the Tigers play in a while. I can't stand the White Sox announcers though.

[Space Wolverine]

Well, I dont think all is lost. Even though I agree that they need to have a REALLY GOOD (if not GREAT) 2-3 week span, but sweeping the White Sox is a good way to start that streak. I mean this is a team that we were getting destroyed by regularly in the last few years even when we were playing well.

[Wil]

I have not yet given up all hope in this season. Rogers in his last 4 starts has only given up 4 runs. Not to bad for the "old man". The bats got going when they needed too, which thankfully was at the end...nice shot by Cabera.

I think, as Dustin and Eric do, that given a couple of good weeks playing .700 or better baseball could be that corner turner.

Go Tigers!

[jonwings]

Well sweeping the White Sox is a good start to get back into it. I hope they can string a bunch of win together to back into it, but I just get the feeling they can't. Here's hoping they prove me wrong.

Go Tigers.

[Wil]

Ok, so I am doing my very best to not get too far ahead of myself, but that makes back-to-back sweeps, wins in 8 of their last 10 games, and now heading out to San Fransisco to play one if the worst clubs in MLB. Only the Royals, Mariners, Nationals, and Rockies (my preseason wild card...I think) have a worse record this year. Oh and what does that mean, I guess we will have to wait and see...any thoughts on the games thus far?

I think that the starting pitching is getting back to where it needs to be, that are not there yet, but getting closer. The bats seem to be coming to life. If you look thoug, they are scoring just enouugh to win.

I was thinking about something...these last 6 wins are good to see, but as I see it, with the exception of the shut out that they posted agains the Dodgers, they are scoring just enough run to not lose games. We all expected them to be blowing out teams a bit more, or at least I did, than they are. I mean they had one game against the White Sox that was a 2-1 game. Again an instance of play to not lose, as oppesed to playing to win.

I am worried that if this keeps up, they will go back to the losing ways, and I don't want to see that since I have not yet given up hope. Now they are only 6 games out of the division lead and we are not to the All-Star break yet.

I think it was Dustin that made the comment about being with 5 or 6 and seeing signs of life that might make the season a turn around. I am not saying that they are headed back as my pick to win it all yet, but what I am saying is I really would like to see this trend continue. They have a favorable schedule with games at San Fran, at Sna Diego, and a couple home series against the Cardinals and the Rockies...which will finish up the interleague play. I think this could be where they get things going again, but as I said at teh begining of my novel, I don't want to get ahead of myself.

[Deejhanaze]

This week was great. This is the type of team we thought we had before the season.

With that said...it hasn't been a 3 week run yet so I'm not sold. Wil nailed it, if they are within 4 or 5 games by the all-star break then I will count them in it still. Goal one has to be .500 though. they are now only 5 games under .500 (only...like thats sweet of something).

This could be the jumping off point. The last 3 years they have absolutely owned the National League. Only Boston has been better in inter league play. I kinda wish the Tigers were in the NL (I also hate the DH..,I'm a traditionalist when it comes to baseball).

Gimme 2 more weeks of good, winning baseball and I'll get excited. (I'm actually way excited now but I wont let that show).

[kylers]

Jun 10, 2008 21:50:34 GMT -5 jonwings said:

I can't stand the White Sox announcers though.

When I hear those smug J-holes (I'm starting a new thing) I feel like following these simple steps:

1) Drive a pickaxe through my face.
There is no other step.

[kylers]

I like what I'm seeing, over the last four series. Now, here's three reasons we will beat (and probably sweep) the San Diego Padres, over the weekend:

1) San Diego's offense is worse than the Giants', if you can believe it.
2) PETCO will favor the Tigers.
3) We will miss Jake Peavy, which is a good thing, and not just because he is the ace on my fantasy team.

We continue against the NL. By the way, I extrapolated (triple-word score) what our record would be if we were in the NL, and there were no interleague play. We would finish 126-36, for a 90-games over .500, record-breaking, .778 winning percentage season. It would be ridiculous–nay, ridonkulous.

[kylers]

But, here is perhaps the best thing we have on our side: The full schedule. Has anyone looked at the rest of the schedule for the rest of the year? It is stacked in our favor. We don't have to face the BoSox anymore. We don't face the Yanks again. We've got one series against the Halos (LA Angels, for all those not in the know), and seven games (3 road, 4 home) against the To Be Determined Rays (TBD Rays, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, or just Tampa Bay Rays). Aside from that, listen to this, after the All-Star Break:

Team (Games total/home/road)
Baltimore (7/3/4)
Boston (0/0/0)
New York Yankees (0/0/0)
Tampa Bay (7/4/3)
Toronto (4/4/0)
Chicago Sox (9/3/6)
Cleveland (10/3/7)
Kansas City (12/6/6)
Minnesota (3/0/3)
Los Angeles (3/3/0)
Oakland (6/6/0)
Seattle (0/0/0)
Texas (6/0/6)
Total (67/32/35)

We've gotten all the bad teams (sans Tampa Bay) out of our way. Between the end of interleague play and the All-Star break, we'll have Minnesota (7/4/3), Cleveland (2/0/2), and Seattle (4/0/4). If we can take care of business against the AL Central, We're alright. 53 of 80 are against AL Central opponents.

[Wil]

We are looking at a AL Central heavy schedule between now and the All-Star break.

vs. St Louis, vs. Colorado, @ Minnesota, @ Seattle, vs. Cleveland, and vs. Minnesota.

This is a great chance to gain some ground on the top spot in the Central. Let's see if they can keep the momentum going in the last 3 weeks prior to the All-Star.

Go Tigers!!!