PREGAME: Justin Verlander will try to extend the Tigers win streak to 8. Now here’s the thing. The last time I went to a Tiger game where they were looking for their 8th straight they got beat handily by the Reds (amazingly that was only 8 days ago). And the last time I saw Verlander pitch in person he was shelled by the White Sox. I’m going to tonight’s game, so any bad mojo can be blamed on me.
The Tigers will face Paul Byrd who has seen his ERA improve in each of his last 5 starts. The last time the Tigers faced Paul Byrd it resulted in the famous Leyland tirade. They have since gone 27-8.
POSTGAME So it is a very delayed post-game synopsis, but you guys picked me up with the comments. It was a fantastic atmosphere in and around Comerica Park last night. Two hours before the game there were long waits at area restaurants and people were buzzing. Inside a nearly capacity crowd was hanging on most every pitch. The roar that went up in the crowd when Justin Verlander fanned Travis Hafner was incredible.
Justin Verlander continues to exceed expectations, and doesn’t seem phased by any team or hitter. His stuff is incredible, and he has command of it as well.
I’ve got to say, this whole Tiger winning thing is fun.
I wonder when the last time the Tigers won 8 in a row is. I did a quick check in Baseball Almanac, and I can’t find an instance where they’ve done it in the last 10 years (unless I missed something). If no one knows, I’ll do some digging.
I would think it is safe to say….they never had an 8 game winning streak in the last 10 years.
It seems like all these streaks and statistics…the last time the Tigers were x amount of games over 500 or won x games in a row, or being in first this late in the season…it all goes back to either the 1993 team, 1988 team, or 1984 team. Maybe thats a place to look.
Something interesting….
the 1984 Tigers played their 48th game on June 2nd of that year and lost to the Orioles. At that point they were 38-10. Which means the current Tigers are only 4 games off of the pace of the ’84 Tigers as of right now.
Oddly enough, I too attended Verlander’s loss and the whipping at the hands of the Reds. You can blame the bad luck on me if it makes you feel better.
What is Hannahan doing at DH?!!!
What does Thames have to do to get regular playing time? This obsession with needing a left handed bat is getting out of hand. Situationally I understand the need for balance, but why take the bat out of the hands of one your hottest hitters?
I fully expect this guy to knock in the game winning run, now that I’ve had my say.
I actually think the Tigers won 8 in a row in 1989–sometime in August of that miserable season. They won at least 7 in row. You can’t assume because a team has a series of losing seasons that they didn’t put together a streak at some point.
Of course in this case, the assumption is spot on…
The Tigers last one 8 in a row in 1984.
It was 7 games in a row in 1989…which we’ve matched on a couple of other ocassions.
Hey, did anyone notice the White Sox lost again today? Could the Tigs really take a 3.5 game lead? And hey Joey, I was kinda surprised to see Hanahan at DH also. 0 for 2 so far, but there’s a few more innings for him to knock in that run!
MOJO!!!!!!
I did some research on the White Sox great season last year. They won their 35th game on May 31 (Game 52). So we are 3 games ahead of their pace both last year and this year. The White Sox fans are very arrogant that they are the superior team. Their sweep of Detroit on the road earlier in the season fueled that to no end. It would be so great in September to be having a magic number needed to eliminate the White Sox from the Division crown.
Yeah… it looks like 1984 was the last 8 game win streak; they had a 9 game winning streak that year (to start off the season).
The Tigers were 38-11 after 49 games; so this year’s team is only 3 behind (to follow up on an earlier poster’s comment).
I can’t believe we’re even mentioning the current Tigers in the same context as the ’84 team.
One thing I remember about ’87 though… the Tigers started off crappy (something like 13-20 at one point) and then came on like gangbusters to post 99 wins. So, on the flip side, all this success could flip-flop and the Tigers could start losing and fall quite a bit… but:
a.) I’m going to enjoy this
b.) I doubt they’ll completely fall apart
c.) There’s an upside chance of this continuing
d.) I hope all 3 above are true!
I now have a song from my youth going through my mind (you might have to be close to the same age as me to follow it): We’re all behind our baseball team. Go Get ‘Em Tigers! World Series bound and pickin’ up steam. Go Get ‘Em Tigers! They’re will be joy in Tiger Town (can’t recall the next words…. a stanza and a half)….. We’re all behind our baseball. team. Go Get ’em Detroit Tigers, go get ’em Tigers!!!
Kevin wrote, “Something interesting….
the 1984 Tigers played their 48th game on June 2nd of that year and lost to the Orioles. At that point they were 38-10. Which means the current Tigers are only 4 games off of the pace of the ‘84 Tigers as of right now.”
Well, here is another comparison between 1984 and 2006 that is about as close as you can get. In terms of series wins instead of individual wins (to see how balanced their attack is). In 1984 at this point in the season the Detroit Tigers had lost just 3 series (Boston, Seattle, and Baltimore) and split 2 more (Kansas City, California). Fast forward to 2006. At this point Detroit has lost just 3 series (Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles, Minnesota) and split 3 more (Cleveland, Los Angeles, and Baltimore) and they clinched a series win over Cleveland tonight.
i read on ESPN that ozzie blew a gasket after they lost again, complaining about them being “losers” and a “2nd place team”
wasn’t last year his first year as manager? i thought i heard one of the biggest questions about him as a manager is how he’d handle losing, with his temper. People were worried he could lose a clubhouse quick during a bad stretch.
MOJO!!!!!!!
What is Hannahan doing at DH?!!!
What does Thames have to do to get regular playing time? This obsession with needing a left handed bat is getting out of hand. Situationally I understand the need for balance, but why take the bat out of the hands of one your hottest hitters?
Fully agree. Argh!
We need a mantra for this year. I’m old enough to remember the 1984 team had the Roar of 84. What could this year be?
I suggest the Fix of 06.
I’m thinking of two appropriate definitions for “Fix” after the miserable seasons Tiger Fans have endured lately. 1. The act of putting something in working order again. 2. Taking vegeance on or getting even.
My guy is slowly becoming Curtis G. Homegown! Can hit! Knows the cliches!
I hope his is suitable for kids:
White Sox Prix lose in ’06.
This is really something special and I’m thoroughly enjoying it…
But why on earth did Hannahan get the start over Thames? That just bugs me to no end. I feel like I’ve been complaining about this since last year, but Marcus has been hitting too well to sit on the bench while Hannahan tries to get his first major league hit.
Other than that, great game. Had me on the edge of my seat all night. Great crowd, and Verlander is a whole lot of fun to watch…heck, this whole team is fun to watch. Let’s bring out the broom tomorrow.
Oh, and how about that pickoff move to get Blake? Incredible!
hannahan is easily the best hitter on our team.
Yeah, but it’s not going to last. The next 14 games are going to be tough. If we win 8 of them, we’ll be in good shape. We’ve shown that we can obliterate the second and third tier teams, now is are chance to show we can go toe-to-toe with the first tier.
8/23/1988
The last time the Kittys were 21 over .500. They had actually lost 7-5 to the Twinkees to drop to 73-52. They has a 2 game lead over Boston in the ALEast. They would go 15-22 the rest of the way and fade badly.
The high water mark in 1988 was 23 over on 8/20 (73-50).
-Sam
Even better than the 3 1/2 game lead on the White Sox is the 7 game lead on the Yankees. Why is that impressive? That represents the last playoff spot.
OK maybe I am playing captain obvious here, but it would be very nice to take 3 out of 4 in the upcoming Yankees series for that very reason.
I so bummed I missed this game. VErlander is incredible, but is anyone worried about how many innings he’s already thrown? I know he’s not usually throwing tons of pitches (except against the As) but still…
I think his arm will be toast by August. Wouldn’t you like to see the Tigers grab Dontrelle Willis??
-Sam