I am exactly the same as you, I get way into the games (ask my gf, she’s sick of it already) and refuse to admit “good game” right away when we lose.

I’m definitely not down on the Tigers, I saw the same encouraging things you did. I’m just trying to be careful not to get too giddy or ahead of myself.

You’re going to have to continue to follow games online, I’m sorry that’s just the way it is. We need some wins.

I hope you have that weird feeling tonight, too. Yes, I think last night’s game was pretty big. It made me feel a lot better about the Tigers, and I really hope it does the same for the team.

Good answer on all counts. I thought you might be a little down on the Tigers, applying a bit of a double standard, but it seems I may be the slightly giddy one. This is the 3rd game I’ve followed online (they’ve won all 3 – and now I’ve jinxed myself for sure), and I was on the edge of my seat like it was Game 4 of the 2006 ALCS. Just so glad they came through. And didn’t waste my time.

Yes, that’s the kind of fan I am. If the Tigers don’t win when I’m following the game, they’ve wasted my time. Much later, I may concede that it was a “good game.” Not right away.

I thought Tigers fans might enjoy the write up I did about last nights win over the Red Sox. Hope you check it out and if you like it – let me know! Fun to hear from fans of other teams too.

I too saw some positive things in this game, such as continuing to battle despite giving up some big leads, a handful of 2-out RBIs, and some good execution when presented with scoring opportunities. And I agree with you about trying to hit-and-run to make some things happen, even if the execution wasn’t always great. Hopefully these are signs that the team is starting to get it’s act together. I definitely agree that it’s a start and they made Papelbon and Sox pay for the opportunity to win the game. I just contend that it was luck, not the Sox, that presented them that opportunity.

They pushed across 2 runs in the 9th against one of the better closers in the game hitting exactly one ball out of the infield (and just barely, at that). Most often, the breaks don’t fall that way, but credit the Tigers for taking advantage by executing properly once the opportunity presented itself. Lugo’s error was really the only things Boston did “wrong” (i.e., had control over the outcome and didn’t execute). The perfectly placed check swing single and the broken bat single were good pitches where Papelbon was unlucky. Throw in some good execution when good fortune gave them the opportunity and you steal a win. Most nights Papelbon closes the door and you and I are lamenting a 6-game losing streak.

To your specific points, if the Red Sox had pulled off a 9th inning like that, I would have felt it was an “unfortunate” loss, just as it’s a fortunate win for the Tigers. Again, I can only think of one spot where Boston had a chance to control the outcome and didn’t execute (Lugo’s error). Everything else was weakly hit balls, none of which travelled more than 150 feet. Up by a run in the 9th, I’ll take my chances with weakly hit ground balls and soft liners.

The Tigers definitely looked alive for this game and the starting pitching and defense were passable, at least (although it looks to me like Guillen may have some range issues at third, also. Need to get Inge back in there every day). I agree it’s good that Leyland is showing some confidence in a struggling Sheffield (you and I are in the minority on that around this board, though…), and he’s doing some things to try and get the guys going. It’s still a long season.

You raise an interesting point regarding what the Red Sox players think, and I won’t pretend to know what’s inside their collective heads. But you may be absolutely right. My guess is they took some positive things out of this game as well and weren’t able to close it off at the end. I checked a couple of Red Sox game threads, and the feeling there seems to be A LOT of rage towards Lugo (think Grilli x50) and a feeling that the Sox should have won the game. Papelbon said, “We didn’t get many breaks,” and “When they get little breaks like that, they’re going to make you pay for it.” Not sure what this illustrates, but interesting nonetheless for purposes of our discussion.

Bottom line, if they had tagged Papelbon for some bullets all over Comerica that took incredible plays from the Sox to turn into outs, I would have felt it was a llittle unlucky to lose that game. Again, I base this on the 9th inning alone. But that didn’t happen, we got excuse-me check singles and a well-timed error, coupled with good execution when it mattered. These things tend to even out over time, and I will take any win I can get right now, but it’s hard to get too excited over blowing a couple big leads and then stealing one in the 9th.

But if the Tigers had lost, would you consider that to have been an “unfortunate” loss? Or one they deserved?

I find a lot of encouragement in the win:

They gave up a big lead against a very dangerous team, and they didn’t lay down and die.

Boston lived by the long ball. The Tigers, meanwhile, got 10 runs without a home run.

If that lucky 9th had been Boston’s, we wouldn’t be saying the Red Sox got lucky. We’d be saying we suck. Well, Boston sucked. And we made them pay. Good teams do that with regularity. This is a start.

The Tigers beat Papelbon with the bottom of the order due up. Jones was Jones, and I wasn’t even nervous. Well, maybe a little. I only get really scared when he walks the first batter.

Did it seem like the team was alive and playing to win all game? Sure “looked” that way to me.

Hey, no errors.

Maybe Pudge’s bunt was a given. I didn’t think so. We are the Tigers, we need not stoop to a sacrifice bunt in the 8th inning. That’s what I was afraid of. I really thought they were going to let Rodriguez swing away.

I liked the hit and run, despite the results. A team that wants to end a 5-game losing streak does that. A team that is more intent on winning than afraid to lose does that. And I like the fact Leyland isn’t waffling in his confidence in Sheffield. Right or wrong, don’t hedge your bets. No point to this trial period otherwise.

I don’t think the Red Sox consider themselves unlucky today. They should feel sick about how they lost. And we need to stomp on their throats while they’re feeling this way.

going to him for 4 outs in a crucial situation was fine by me.

Maybe – just maybe – if you expect Cruceta to be your 8th inning guy, you leave him in there to get those 4 outs until just this side of a meltdown. You need to see if he can get it done, because you’ll need him to later in bigger games than this one. Cruceta hasn’t been with the team that long.

He didn’t know where the fastball was going. Instead he was allowed in long enough to give up the lead

I only know what CBS.sportsline.com was telling me, but it seemed like he was throwing a lot of off-speed stuff that wasn’t working. He gave up the lead in the 7th, didn’t he? I think the stranger decison was to bring him back for the 8th, but maybe Leyland had extra innings and pitcher availability on his mind.

In short, I think Leyland’s approach includes a lot of psychology and looking beyond the game at hand. When it doesn’t work, it looks stupid strategically. Overall, it’s worked well enough for a .554 winning percentage with the Tigers. I didn’t set out to be a Leyland apologist, but the combination of trying to understand his moves and wanting them to succeed regardless of whether I agree or not is turning me into one.

Not that I don’t enjoy the criticism of Leyland here, especially when it’s colorful, well-informed, or both. As it usually is.

I hope things are starting to fall our way and we can turn this into something positive, but it’s hard to get too excited for what amounts to a very fortunate win.

It sure beats meekly standing on the base hoping for a clutch hit.

Sweet 9th inning by Jones, too. Just following the pitch by pitch online, it seemed like he had them in his pocket. The double was just part of the script.