Tiger town
Detroit, which has always considered itself a baseball town, is now possessors of a team that will represent the American League in the World Series.
The Tigers earned every bit of this sweep over the A's. They outplayed Oakland in every facet of the game. They beat them the last two days without using flame-throwing reliever Joel Zumaya.
Now, Zumaya's precious young arm will have plenty of rest before the World Series, which starts here in Detroit in one week.
Jim Leyland is one of the great managerial stories in history. He had all those great teams in Pittsburgh, only to have NLCS heartbreak for three years in a row. He had that Huizenga team in Florida that won the World Series, but that was considered a Monopoly team by many fans. This is the best job Leyland has done yet.
He has changed the entire culture of a franchise by molding this young team into champions. I don't know of another manager in the game that could do what Leyland has done in this situation.
The way the Tigers manhandled the Yankees was amazing when you consider they went into the series as heavy underdogs. And they just took it to the A's these four games, seemingly outwilling them in this last game even after they trailed 3-0.
Just a great story for a city that has been desperate for a winning baseball team.
Congrats to the Tigers! It's been a long time coming?
I wonder why Jim Leyland uses Santiago instead of Infante? Santiago didn't even hit in Toledo this year. Anyone know why?
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Congrats to the Tigers. They really earned this one, no doubt about it.
To BigleyMC: Because Santiago has a better glove than Infante. At least, that was my take on the decision. But, still, it all worked out in the end, right?
Go Tigers! Good luck in the Fall Classic!
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YES GO TIGERS!WE ARE CELEBRATING TONIGHT!
_kaylee
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bigley--two reasons:
1)Santiago is a better SS
2)He is a switch hitter
Santiago may not have got a hit but he did hit the ball and is a threat to beat one out with his speed.
He is a great glove man (nicknamed "PacMan" by teammates). He was flawless at short and instrumental in turning some key double plays.
He gets rid of the ball quicker than Infante who is really suited more for 2B than SS.
Infante is a very valuable player who has some power and is a more than capable fielder wherever he plays, he just is not better than Santiago at short.
We will very likely see Guillen back at SS in the Series. We'll see Shelton and/or Casey at 1B.
I expect we will not see Perez activated but who knows?Leyland may deactivate Santiago. I wouldn't. He is as slick as they come at the 2nd most difficult position on the diamond.
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How about Polanco? MVP and an all around class act. Plays under the radar and is probably the best 2nd baseman out there. Congratulations Pollie. You're my Tiger
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