MLB: Huge Showdown in the AL Central
Posted on | July 24, 2009 | No Comments
The Chicago White Sox and the Detroit Tigers are about the play a 4 game series that could very well decide which team wins the AL Central this year. I know, there is still a lot of baseball to be played, but these teams seem to be heading in different directions. The Tigers are going down and the White Sox are rising fast. If the trend continues this weekend then you can pretty much stick in a fork in the Tigers. But if Detroit can bounce back and win this series then they might just keep winning from there.
But before we get into the series, it needs to be mentioned that Mark Buerhle pitched a perfect game yesterday. A perfect game! That’s something that hasn’t happened for a few years and probably won’t happen for a few more. It’s yet more evidence that this team is absolutely firing on all cylinders.
And that’s why the Tigers need to be concerned. They just might get swept in their own park.
Yes, the Tigers are playing that poorly. And I know they have Verlander and then Jackson on the mound for the 1st 2 games. But that doesn’t matter. Verlander and Jackson were dominant against the Yankees and they still lost. That’s because the Tigers hitting has been historically abysmal.
Since the All Star Break the Tigers’ pitching has only averaged giving up 3 runs a game. And that includes 2 games where they gave up 5 runs or more. It also includes 4 games in which the Tigers pitching only gave up 2 runs. They lost each game 2-1! That’s horrible.
Can anyone believe that suddenly the Tigers will turn it around this weekend? I don’t think so. But they might. And they better if they hope to win more than 1 game. But it’s doubtful. How the Tigers haven’t fired their hitting coach and/or traded for a bat (Matt Holliday?) is just inexcusable. Maybe after they get swept this weekend they finally make a move. But it might be too late!
I like the White Sox to take 3 of 4 this weekend. Only a near perfect game from Verlander or Jackson will grab a win for the toothless Tigers.
Related posts:
- MLB: Big Showdown San Francisco
- MLB: The Central Divisions Are Going to be A Lot of Fun
- MLB: 2 Huge Match-Ups in the American League
- MLB: Two Huge Divisional Match-Ups
- MLB: Tight Race in AL Central
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