Tigers off to post-season, NL still up for grabs
By Punch N. Judy
BaseballBigMouth.com baseball news
Well, the nail-biting is over, the bandwagons in the barn, and the voice of the turtle is heard once again in our land . . . Ok, the turtle part was just a throw in, a way to somehow invoke a little Ernie Harwell into the magic that is the summer of 2006. While most people will lament how unlikely the Tigers playoff birth is in lieu of their recent foibles, I for one must say- along with my man the Heckler of course- I saw it coming.
If you sat down night after night and actually watched the games like us fellow Bigmouths, I think you’ll agree that for more than three quarters of this summer the boys in the Old English D were in fact the best team in baseball. Only the recent spate of injuries and the relentless pursuit of the Minnesota Twins have made the Central division the question mark that it is as we speak. But you heard it here first: Detroit will hold on to their slim lead and go on to face the Oakland A’s in round one of the MLB playoffs. Go Tigers!
NL Odds and Sods
I know the Mets are a cute little story over in the JV that is the National League, but a serious threat in the post-season? C’mon! Even with a decent lineup, solid defense and a sometimes dominant bullpen, this team can’t expect much with the starting rotation they plan on trotting out there for round one. In the opener, if he can get his shoe on over his Fred Flintstone-like big toe is Pedro Martinez. Even in the best of health this guy is nothing more than a six inning pitcher. In fact, if I had my way Pete would just do like Sandy Koufax and call it a career before mortality tramples him any further. Game two will see Tom Glavine hope and pray the plate umpire is in a generous mood with the outside corner. Game three will see El Duque attempt to turn the clock back for the umpteenth time in his great, albeit short major league career. As Lurch used to say Uhhhh! . . . Trevor Hoffman, one of the game’s true good guys recorded save number 479 to pass Lee Smith for the career saves record. Just one more sign of this fan’s advancing age; I still remember when Hoffman was acquired during the first of two Padre fire sales. At the time the Heckler and myself were of the opinion that San Diego should lose their franchise for dumping almost their entire roster, save for Tony Gwynn. So who did they give up for Mr. Hells Bells? Read on for the answer . . . The Phillies continue their push for the wildcard with an important game tonight against the never-say-die Astros . . . In what was perhaps Roger Clemens’ swan song, the Rocket threw five innings on Sunday Night Baseball and allowed one earned run on four hits, (three of them in the first) and struck out six. Starting on three days rest for just the twelfth time in his career, Clemens closes out 06’ with a gaudy 2.35 ERA . . . Punch’s pick for the NL pennant are in a fight for their lives all of a sudden. Following Derek Lowe’s shutout yesterday, the Dodgers remain a game and a half behind the Padres and a half game in back of the Phils. Think Houston doesn’t stand a chance? On this date in 1987 the Tigers stood three and half back of the Blue Jays. A week later Frank Tanana spun a 1-0 gem to clinch the East for the Detroiters. The answer to the Trevor Hoffman trade question? Gary Sheffield.
Tune in tomorrow and every day after for your up-to-date baseball news and notes (use the link in the top right column of this main page) as the only regular season that means anything comes to a close. Good night all.
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