GoWings1905

Wait, you mean there's been no reports of him conditioning hard or playing somewhere? This is certainly out of character.

This is tough to watch. The Tigers road offense continues to produce nearly nothing like most of the season. Against the Giants two weakest starters no less. Had to get to Bumgarner because the Tigers aren't going to win games decided by the bullpen especially when they come in and issue free passes galore like tonight. The Tigers are in big trouble. That's not panic or me giving up, but just an honest feeling from watching these first two games. The Giants beat the Tigers two best starters. Now the Tigers practically have to win the next three at home to have any shot. Not impossible, but doesn't look promising with Vogelsong and Cain pitching. Add to the fact every break seems to go the Giants way, which they capitalize very well on. They have been the better team in every aspect of the game so far. Feel awful for Fister. Third straight gem in the playoffs, toughens out getting drilled in the head and comes up with nothing again. This is a resilient team and they won't go down easy, but everything has to improve a lot at Comerica to make this a series. Where has Fielder been all playoffs and even Miggy to a lesser extent? Clearly this group isn't built to manufacture runs by stringing hits together so we need the big guns to put a few in the seats.

Come on -- who besides Leyland thought they could get Valverde right in five days? He can't be fixed. His stuff is garbage even in low leverage situations. Make up an injury and get Villarreal on the roster immediately. Valverde is beyond done.

This isn't going too well so far. JV is rattled and great at-bats from the top in Pagan, Scutaro and Sandoval. The Giants just know how to scrap for runs. Tigers look lost against Zito, which I was kinda worried about tonight. He's the type of pitcher the Tigers seemingly struggle with the most. They have no plate discipline at all. The Giants starting pitching is very underrated and on fire the past four games. It isn't the huge advantage for Detroit most of the media proclaimed like that dope McCarver.

Finally the start of the World Series tonight. Feels like forever since the Tigers last played. Really excited to hopefully see my first baseball championship. The rust concerns me a little, but only because 2006 happened. Different group of guys and Leyland has them prepared. Terrified of the oncoming trainwreck that will happen with Delmon in LF, but I definitely understand wanting his bat in there, especially against two lefties in Zito and Bumgarner. The Giants are a gritty group. I feel like the Tigers need to split at least in San Francisco and try to win the series at home where they play very well. Gotta take advantage of not seeing Vogelsong and Cain until the series shifts to Detroit. Key to the series for me is the Tigers bullpen, especially on the road. With the pitchers hitting in the NL, it means you may have to pull your starter earlier than normal. Not really ideal with the way the Tigers starters have been going and the uncertainty from the relievers. The Yankees had a lot of lefties, which is ideal for Coke. Can he get key outs against righties (I doubt it) or do we have to rely on maybe Benoit and Valverde? I would prefer to see more of Al-Al and Dotel late, but you know the other two are bound to happen sometime. My heart says the Tigers should win this series, but that's usually when they have the biggest letdown when expectations are higher. Everyone in the media is picking them too. I will go Tigers in six and JV as MVP.

How are those remotely comparable? Bettman has been commissioner for three lockouts, including the first entirely canceled season in professional sports. The NBA missed very little time relatively, MLB hasn't had a lockout in over 15 years and the NFL never lost a game last year. The NHL is staring at a second season being wiped out now. No, none of the commissioners are saints. However, one's track record of taking away the game is in a different league. All of the other sports have had negotiation struggles at times, but no one does a lockout like Gary.

Giants up big in Game 7. Looks like the Tigers are heading to San Francisco.

AL CHAMPS!!! Sweep the Yankees and heading back to the World Series. First team in history to defeat the evil empire three consecutive meetings in the playoffs. More fun: the Tigers have beaten the Yankees in seven consecutive playoff games and are 10-3 against them since 2006. So proud of the Tigers and the clincher today was maybe their best performance yet as the offense really clicked to complement that starting piching. I've said many bad words to describe Delmon Young, but he's nothing but clutch in the playoffs. Peralta could have easily been MVP too. Coke dominating out of the bullpen and unsung rookies like Garcia and Smyly making a major impact. Props to Leyland, Dombrowski and certainly Mr. Ilitch for putting this product on the field for all of us to enjoy. It wasn't always pretty this season, but once they got in, you could see the potential for something exciting to happen and it has. For me personally, seeing the Tigers go deep into the playoffs is really special. The Red Wings have always done it in my life and while you try not to, expectations and success can make you take it for granted. When your team stinks for so long, 2006 and now this year is pure joy. I'm elated and thrilled for the city of Detroit.

Sabathia gets rocked and the Tigers are up 6-0 in the 4th inning. 15 outs from the World Series! Keep dealing Max and this is going to be a fun night in Detroit. I want these innings to go quick now.

I don't think any of them are really natural goal-scorers. Franzen could probably get classified as that because all he does is score goals, unlike the other three. The Red Wings haven't had a legitimate sniper since Hossa. Of the four, I would take Z. His backhand is sick and he scored goals at a nice clip until his game evolved more as a center.

Justin. Verlander. One win from the World Series!

The sides haven't even begun discussing the main issues and there's going to be hockey in approximately two weeks? Best case scenario in my mind is Winter Classic. Even that I think is a long shot since there's been no progress whatsoever to date. How can anyone be optimistic about Bettman getting a deal done? His track record says completely otherwise.

Season is toast anyway. What's insane about wanting the source of another lockout gone?

Yeah, while I feel for Girardi's loss, that's a pretty weak explanation. His dad passed away last Saturday and the Yankees still played the Orioles series during that span and won. They have no emotion because all of that high-priced talent can't hit the ball except off Valverde. Probably doesn't help their home fans that showed up booed everyone on the team in a heartbeat. TBS and Sager were full of excuses for the Yankees though instead of doing anything to give the Tigers some credit. 0.94 ERA from the starters so far in the playoffs. Throw in some timely hitting and you've got yourself a very dangerous team if the bullpen doesn't implode. This series is far from over, but the Tigers are the reason the Yankees look listless.

Anibal Sanchez brilliant again and they finally got him some runs! Great work by Coke as well to finish it off. Comerica is going to be a madhouse on Tuesday.

Exactly. Couldn't agree more. I think this season is gone, may as well get the lockout fanatic removed as some consolation.

I've seen some speculation, but I think the Tigers need to "make" an injury for Valverde so they can add another arm to the bullpen for this series. He's done and the team already took an extra position player over 12 relievers. Add a lefty like Downs against the Yankees or even Villarreal. No way even stubborn Leyland can put Valverde back out there again. The Tigers have given up 15 runs in the playoffs and Valverde is responsible for seven of them. Maybe a bit overlooked due to the chaos late, but where would the Tigers be without Peralta last night? Two terrific defensive plays early to help out Fister and he has hit the ball well the entire playoffs so far. Considering Miggy and Prince haven't gone nuts yet, what a great job guys like Peralta, Infante and Young have done to contribute offensively. Hate to get greedy, but a 2-0 lead is there for the taking today. Kuroda on short rest, the Yankees have played five consecutive days and the bullpen has thrown a lot. Sanchez just needs to keep the lefties in the park. The Yanks are going to be inspired though losing Jeter and knowing what awaits them in Game 3 back in Detroit. (JV and a sellout crowd)

The Tigers win! I have no idea how, but what a resilient group of guys to keep battling and pull it off. Delmon was huge and awesome work from Smyly coming out of the pen. Leyland shouldn't be let off the hook though. He would have been facing major heat had his team not gotten the win. Unbelievable what playoff baseball can display every night.

Delmon loves Yankee Stadium in the playoffs. What a roller coaster.

I hate Jose Valverde with every bone in my body. Jim Leyland too for the completely inexcusable move of leaving him in for that long or hell pitching him at all. There is loyalty and then there's being a stubborn jackass costing your team a win.

Getting close to Game 1 of the ALCS. Baltimore did the Tigers a big favor at least by stretching it to five games. Sabathia doesn't pitch until Game 4 and no day of rest means a starter on short rest tomorrow in Game 2. Like the Tigers chances quite a bit because of the starting pitching. Gotta keep the Yankees in the park (easier said than done on that high school field). Also going to need more from AJ, Miggy and Prince in this series which I fully expect to happen. The Yankees struggled offensively in the ALDS, but that is a very tough lineup to navigate still and close games that come down to the bullpens scare me. Tigers in six, Giants in seven. Tough picking against the Cardinals mojo at this point, but gotta stick with my original World Series teams.

Are you kidding me? The Cardinals are incredible. They never quit or are out of a game. Drew Storen is going to be less popular than Valverde after this turn of events.

These playoffs so far have been unbelievable. Each divisional series goes the limit five games. The Tigers games give me near heart attacks, but as a neutral fan otherwise, I've loved watching all of the other series as well. I'd like to see the Orioles come back and win this game/series. Home field advantage for the Tigers if so and the O's are a very cool story. Plus I can't will myself to ever root for the Yankees. It sure has been fun eliminating them twice though.

I've never seen anything quite like Justin Verlander. You expect perfection and get it almost every time. The Tigers are going back to the ALCS!

Leyland bunts all the time and he doesn't in that spot with Avila to play for a run? I don't get it. Peralta would have scored there on the hit. I'm so nervous. JV is looking terrific. This game is all up to him. EDIT: Tigers finally bust it open a little with a big inning. 6-0 feels a lot better with JV out there. Just pray the bullpen doesn't get involved.