Here it is –

1. Curtis Granderson (CF)
2. Craig Monroe (LF)
3. Placido Polanco (2B)
4. Magglio Ordonez (RF)
5. Pudge Rodriguez (C)
6. Carlos Guillen (1B)
7. Omar Infante (DH)
8. Brandon Inge (3B)
9. Ramon Santiago (SS)

Got it off of the Detroit Free Press.

My long underwear is on, and I’m off to the game.

It really wasn’t too cool changing the time one day before. Whether it works better for some fans or not, it certainly will be more inconvenient for a vast number of people. There have to be some people who have tickets , made plans on the 8:00 start, and who simply cannot make the 4 pm start–regardless of economic hardship (which sucks, too) So are we going to have Comeria 80% full for the first pitch? I certainly hope not. We need the fans to quiet the As from inning 1.

Anyway, just my two cents.

Don’t dismiss the Tigers in October
posted: Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Granted, the Tigers struggled to get here, compared to where they were on Aug. 1. And, granted, when the playoffs begin next week, the Yankees are huge favorites to win it all, presuming Mariano Rivera, Randy Johnson, Mike Mussina and Jason Giambi are healthy.
But remember last October, when even on this page the White Sox were considered long shots against Boston in the first round, much less World Series contenders. The White Sox limped for two months until they put away the Indians the last two weeks, then rode their starting pitching — which as a group reignited and dominated the Red Sox, Angels and Astros.

So the Tigers do not deserve to be ignored. They began the final week with the Twins on their back, but whether they win the division or not, whether they play Oakland or New York in the first round, on the morning of Sept. 26 they had the same record as the Yankees, 94-62. Their run differential (+158) was still better than New York’s (+155).

Granted, the Tigers haven’t been to the postseason since 1987, but with Pudge Rodriguez, Carlos Guillen, Magglio Ordonez, Placido Polanco and Sean Casey, their core consists of veterans managed by Jim Leyland, who know what it’s like to win and lose in October; when his Pirates lost their 1992 heartbreaker to the Braves, Leyland faced the media for as long as it took to allow his team to regain its collective composure.

Granted, the Tigers’ on-base percentage (.328) is the third worst in the American League and a warning that they could struggle against good pitching. But (1) they haven’t faced that pitching yet, (2) who knows how Curtis Granderson, Guillen and others will step up, and (3) if they play the Yankees in the first round, it is far, far better to face them in a five-game series.

If the Tigers can use this final week to get their starters rested, they can do some damage. Those starters are 74-44, 3.09 — best in the league. They have 87 quality starts, second to the Angels, and the defense behind that pitching has been near the top in efficiency and the ability to turn ground balls into outs all season. If Todd Jones, Joel Zumaya, Jamie Walker, Fernando Rodney, et al are hot, the bullpen should be fine and has been in the top four in the league.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, we all know the knocks on Kenny Rogers and don’t want to think about him starting Game 1 in Yankee Stadium, but he is 17-6, 3.63 and has 207 career wins. If Justin Verlander, whose season-inning high was 130 going into 2006, has enough in the tank, he can be magical. Plus, he’s also won 17 games.

If you want the sleeper of the Tigers’ staff, it is Jeremy Bonderman. He had his moments during the season, and at times threw too many sliders, but he still is a power pitcher embarking on a power pitcher’s month and is as tough as they come.

“We have to play the way we’ve played all season and not worry about expectations or history or what people think,” Leyland says. “We’ve done things no one expected. We’ve brought excitement back to Detroit; we’re sold out every night. It’s been great, and it can continue.”

Every one of the playoff teams, including the Angels and Astros as we speak, are flawed. The Yankees are the best team, but if either Johnson or Mussina is hurt, and the bullpen wears down, even they are beatable.

We have seen what has happened to the Cardinals with all their injuries. The Padres and Dodgers have spent the entire season denying adversity, and so have the Athletics.

So the Tigers have limped into October. But their accomplishments over the bulk of the season and the ceiling of their starters are worthy of respect when they return to the playoffs for the first time since the Reagan Administration.

Much better than sitting in front of my TV and wasting my entire evening alone.

To be a tiger Fan in DC is tough – no one around here understands why I’ve been glued to the TV for the last two weeks.

It would be nice if WXYT gave Kell a chance to be in the booth Saturday. I doubt he’d say “It’s another beee–yooo—tiful day for a ballgame” this weekend.

Is Larry Osterman still alive?