The Tigers had a great win yesterday in Chicago, and as I’m typing this they are comfortably in front of the Indians tonight.  However, a week that saw them lose 5 games to divisonal rivals probably dropped the Tigers out of any sort of buyers mode they may have been contemplating. 

The team is 8 games behind the Twins, 7.5 behind the White Sox, and 3.5 games behind the Indians.  Even a sweep in Cleveland would leave them in 4th place by a half game.  Then again, every time it looks like it’s time to write off the Tigers, they manage to come back and play some inspired baseball.

Other stuff:
-With the emergence of Marcus Thames, and the submergence of Bobby Higginson, it is time for Higginson to become the 4th outfielder on this team.  While Higginson’s .356 on base average should still earn him starts against right handers, his .373 slugging percentage is unacceptable from a corner outfielder.  Higginson has made some outstanding defensive plays lately-that throw yesterday from the foul pole was incredible-but if the Tigers are truly playing to win then you should have to earn your spot in the lineup.

-Thankfully Tram has dropped Higginson from the number 2 spot in the lineup.  Instead, Carlos Guillen has hit 2nd behind Omar Infante.  Seeing Omar and Carlos at the top of the lineup I can’t help but think back to Sparky’s lineups in the 80’s with his second baseman and shortstop at the top of the order.

-Speaking of Omar Infante, Pat Caputo has an excellent article about the many personal hurdles Omar had to overcome.  In the last 2 years Infante has had to deal with the death of his father and older brother.  Oh yeah, and he’s only 22.

-ESPN.com has a stat called the Cy Young predictor.  The formula came from Rob Neyer and Bill James and their book The Neyer/James Guide to Pitchers.  As of tonight, Nate Robertson is 18th in the American League.  Now I know that Robertson won’t win the Cy Young, and to have your best pitcher be 18th typically wouldn’t be a big deal.  But the fact that a  Tiger pitcher at least made the top 20 is noteworthy.

-During the broadcast tonight, it was mentioned that Alex Sanchez is set to begin his rehab assignmnet in Toledo tomorrow night.

-The Tigers struggles in one run games have been well documented.  They are 5-16.  However, the three teams in front of them in the Central have been a combined 51-29. 

-And finally, DTW whipping boy Greg Norton has been outrighted to Toledo.