If tonight was any indication, a 7-2 win by Detroit, the Tigers are not the Orioles. They are not only talented, but they have a professional way about them.
From my discussion with Jim Leyland on Monday night in the dugout, and after another Q&A I had with Sean Casey this morning, the Tigers care deeply about winning.
“It is playing the game the right way,” said Casey. “And when you do that, winning usually follows. That all comes from Jim Leyland.”
Anyway, the Tigers starting staff was probably the best in baseball last year and even without Kenny Rogers, they are still very good.
Justin Verlander (tonight’s winner), Jeremy Bonderman and Nate Robertson are every bit as menacing as Schilling, Beckett and Dice-K. When you add in Mike Maroth (Wednesday night’s starter) and Chad Durbin (he’ll face Schilling in the finale on Thursday night), who are a combined 6-1, you have a very good staff.
Gary Sheffield has added a bit of the fear factor on offense with Magglio Ordonez (his third inning 3-run homer broke it open tonight).
Basically, I’m saying a split with the Tigers wouldn’t be a bad thing.
I’d be interested in your thoughts …
