Tiger Chance
A week ago, I made the argument (on the local radio station) that if the Tigers were to lose the World Series to the Cardinals, too much rest would not be the reason.
What I was sure of, was that if you caught the Cardinals at the wrong time, they could be as tough as any team in the playoffs.
As it turned out, the St. Louis starters were awfully good, and the bullpen was even better.
In many ways, game 7 was a microcosm of the series itself.
-You had Cardinals starter Jeff Weaver going eight innings while allowing two runs.
-You had an inept Tigers' offense, with only Sean Casey providing an offensive spark.
-There was Adam Wainwright pitching out of trouble in the ninth to secure the title.
-And of course, there were the Tigers' pitchers, who never really pitched badly, but cost the team with some ridiculous defense. Some teams don't get that many pitcher-errors in a season. But it wasn't just the errors. It was the timing of them that simply couldn't have been worse.
Friday, it was Justin Verlander's error in the fourth that burned the Tigers, and the Cardinals rallied for two runs.
Five errors from pitchers in the series; eight total. If you allow eight unearned runs in five games and score 11 total, you aren't going to win.
The Tigers had a wonderful season, but you have to wonder if they can duplicate a year like this is 2007. Kenny Rogers may not find the fountain of youth again. Todd Jones may not be as effective next year. The offense, always streaky, will have to be altered in some way.
Everything fell into place for Detroit in October. As a Cleveland fan, I sympathize. Nineteen ninety-seven wasn't that long ago. We had no way of knowing then that it would be at least a decade until the Indians returned to the Fall Classic.
As great as the season was, I have a feeling many Tigers fans will look back at the Series as a great chance to win it all.
You just don't know when those chances will come around again.