« Kevin Jackson the Enabler -- Redux | Main | Now this is Great Police Work! »
Are the Tigers the New Yankees?
Are the Tigers the New Yankees?
Hello, Mt. Hope contingent of RedSox Nation. Halfway through the season, the All Star Break behind us, the dog days of summer ahead, it is time to once again assess the health of the Nation and the state of our team, our very special Boys of Summer.
Going into the break the Sox got swept in a 3 game series in Detroit, and it seems to me that Jim Leyland (arguably the best manager in baseball) and his Tigers made a statement, and that statement was: the Tigers are the new Yankees!
Jim Leyland, Manager, Detroit Tigers
Let’s look at these Tigers and see what kind of teeth they have. Detroit stands 52 – 34 atop the American League Central. The tigers sent 6 guys to the All Star Game.
At the halfway mark, the heart of the Tigers batting order features Magglio Ordonez, batting a league leading .367, with 13 homers, and 70 rbi’s: Carlos Guillen batting .325, with 14, homers and 67, rbi’s: and Gary Sheffield batting .303, with14, homers and 58, rbi’s: add in Placido Polanco batting .335, with an astounding 111 hits at the break with the rest of the order, and the Tigers carry an incredible Team Batting Average of .290 into the second half of the season.
The Tigers pitching staff is once again looking good after suffering through some serious injury time off in the first half. Only two of their pitchers, Verlander, 10 -3, and Bonderman, 9 -1, two possible 20 game winners, have pitched 100 innings. Kenny Rodgers is now back, and they have some youg’uns stepping up into their roles.
The Tigers may indeed be the New Yankees, and the Red Sox may well be meeting these toothy tigers in the post season.
Excuse me, now, while I go check out the state of RedSox Nation.
Stay tuned. I’ll be back shortly.
Posted at July 12, 2007 07:53 PM