6
Oct
Posted by John S in MLB Preview Bonanza, Sports. Tagged: A's, ALDS, Bob Melvin, brandon mccarthy, Coco Crisp, Detroit Tigers, Doug Fister, Jarrod Parker, john calipari, Jonny Gomes, Jose Valverde, Max Scherzer, Miguel Cabrera, MLB, MVP, Oakland Athletics, predictions, prince fielder, Seth Smith, the science of platoons, Triple Crown, Yoenis Cespedes. Leave a Comment
Detroit Tigers (88-74) at Oakland Athletics (94-68)
OVERVIEW
Two division winners that actually trailed their divisions for most of the year face off in this series, though each team took a different path to its comeback. The Tigers were expected to win the AL Central, but underperformed all year and then snuck in when the White Sox lost 11 of their last 15 games. The A’s, on the other hand, surprised people be staying competitive all year, and ultimately finished ahead of both the Angels and the Rangers in what was probably the league’s toughest division.
LINEUPS
Obviously, Detroit has Miguel Cabrera, the first Triple Crown winner in 45 years and one of two serious MVP candidates in the AL this year.* Behind him, the Tigers have now added Prince Fielder, who justified his $214 million contract (as much as such a thing can be justified): Fielder’s numbers were great this season, if slightly less extraordinary than Cabrera’s. After those two, though, there is a considerable drop-off. It is what Jonah Keri likes to call a “Stars and Scrubs” lineup—the team was only sixth in runs scored despite having two of the best three hitters in the league (by OPS+). Jhonny Peralta returned to his subpar form, Delmon Young couldn’t maintain his production for a full year, Alex Avila took a big step back, etc. Austin Jackson had a breakout year and Andy Dirks shouldn’t be overlooked, but stopping this lineup is really about stopping Cabrera/Fielder. Continue reading »
8
Oct
Posted by NPI in MLB Preview Bonanza, Sports. Tagged: 2011 ALCS, 2011 playoffs, Adrian Beltre, Al Alburquerque, ALCS, Alex Avila, Alexi Ogando, baseball, Brandon Inge, colby lewis, Delmon Young, Detroit Tigers, Don Kelly, Doug Fister, haiku, haiku predictions, heterochromatics, Jake Peavy, Jim Leyland, Jonah Keri, Jose Valverde, Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Miguel Cabrera, Mike Francesa, Mike Napoli, mila kunis, Neftali Feliz, perfect No. 2 hitter, Rick Porcello, Steve Carlton, Texas Rangers. 2 Comments
MLB’s new one off-day policy meant that John S and Tim didn’t have time to preview the Division Series this year. But now they’re back to discuss the American League Championship Series. Together, they preview the Tigers-Rangers matchup and make their predictions…
JOHN S: Alright, so I think I’m finally over the Yankees loss enough to talk about this potential LCS. First off, let’s talk about Verlander. All throughout the season, we’ve heard how Justin Verlander is the key to how far the Tigers can go. His entire MVP case seemed built around the idea that the rest of his squadron was a bunch of glorified Little Leaguers. Hopefully, though, the ALDS proved that the Tigers are actually quite good, even apart from their dominant ace. And yet there are still a few Around The Horn talking heads who insist that the Tigers only chance against Texas is if Verlander starts Games 1, 4 and 7 (which Jim Leyland won’t do). This idea seems insane to me. So just how important do you think Verlander is to the Tigers, on a scale of “C.J. Wilson to the Rangers” to “Jake Peavy to the ’05 Padres”?
TIM: Don Kelly? Ramon Santiago? Tell me these plucky kids aren’t Little Leaguers! Continue reading »
