Word has just trickled in that the Detroit Tigers have lost the pivotal game five of the World Series, 4-2, giving the crown to the St. Louis Cardinals.
I truly thought that the St. Louis pitching staff was down to its last legs entering the World Series, and that the Tigers would maul them. The Cardinals had something up their sleeve, though, and proved their grit in giving their manager, Tony LaRussa, his second world title. St. Louis is a great baseball town and, other than my Tigers, is the ultimate place to hoist a championship banner.
In the end, I believe the Tigers were just gassed. They were leaving pitches up, losing control, making all those pitchers' errors, and suffering with quiet bats. Key pivotal players were nursing small injuries that may have limited their effectiveness.
Starting pitcher Justin Verlander, for example, was likely worn out about a month ago and really had nothing left. The young kids did all they could, but their formal training bit them. I don't expect to see pitchers pitch 300 innings these days no matter what the age, but the way bullpens have become so much a part of their strategy actually hurts the workhorse pitcher. They're on too many limits when it comes to innings and pitches thrown per game. The human arm is still built the same as it was back when 300 innings were the norm. It's just the training and limitations that make the young pitcher break down earlier these days.
With that being said, I still offer my heartfelt thanks to a Tigers club that has rediscovered old glory. How long has it been since Detroiters had a sport to cheer for in October? We had baseball's best record for 2/3rds of the season; led the league in pitching by far and provided an intimidation factor; acquired a magician in Jim Leyland, who got 25 bodies on the same page; got sellout crowds back to the home park; blew past the hated White Sox, Yankees & A's; showed class & emotion when they won big; rejuvenated Kenny Rogers, cheater or not; and made Commissioner Bud Selig beam with pride that his revenue sharing program is working.
The respect has come back. Forget the decade-long fix on "Hockeytown", or "Dee-troit Baa-sketball"... this has always been a baseball town from its roots. Nothing symbolizes the sports history of this town better than the hometown nine. And general manager Dave Dombrowski won't have to pull a 1997 Marlins while dismantling the team; we know the Tigers will be back, better than ever, in 2007.
Thank you, Tigers, for making baseball sit up & take notice. You were truly the story of the year no matter the series outcome!
