The Tigers Are Down 3-0

The Tigers are down 3-0 in the 2012 World Series and could be swept if they lose tonight.  Their toughest challenge is tonight to not only avoid being swept but to beat Matt Cain.  The offense needs to wake up and score or else the team is doomed.  if the Tigers win tonight, they could easily win Game 5 and if they win Game 6, which isn’t impossible even though it will be hard, it’s a 3-3 tie, just like that and Game 7 anything can happen like Kevin Millar would say.  The only team in the history of the MLB to come back to win a postseason series down 3-0 were the 2004 Red Sox in the ALCS.  IF any team has a shot though, it’s this team.  They have the pitching that can do it and a built for winning four straight games with their offense.  The offense hasn’t been there but it could really show up at any time, one break or momentum changer and the hitters in this line-up could go off.  I expect a much better performance from Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder for sure tonight and I’d watch out for Jackson and Infante.  If this game is close and Berry is up, I’d pinch hit Garcia.  Garcia has proven he is more deserving of the at-bat.  The Tigers should at least win one game in this series if anything and they should protect their home field that has been good to them this year.  This team is talented and chances are very slim, but who knows with these Tigers.

Can The Tigers Comeback?

Yes, a team has come back from a 2-0 on the road and even though the Giants are a good road team, the Tigers are an even better home team and their pitching the next three games is better too.  Plus, the Tigers offense can’t be held to zeros forever and Cabrera, Fielder, and Young along with the rest of the team can hit so much better at Comerica.  I see the Tigers awakening and the Giants haven;t been in this position, so I see their chances of choking going way up.  Plus, home crowd is a huge factor in a game and the one at Comerica is going to help the Tigers a lot.  I expect to see more contributions from every Tigers player these next three games and I honestly think they will go 3-0 in the next 3.  Anibal should twirl a great game that is great and I think Scherzer can follow with an even better game.  i think the Tigers chances of coming back are greater than ever right now and my gut has this feeling that they will, but if they lose tonight they are more than likely done barring a small miracle.  The Tigers need to get off to quick starts in these games too, but they can do it,  This Tigres team in talented and special and could easily comeback and be one of the better teams in franchise history and in the past decade.  They can do something special, but the Giants are going to put up a fight even though I think the Tigers can beat up on them.
Updated Predictions
Game 3: Tigers 11 Giants 1
Game 4: Tigers 6 Giants 4
Game 5: Tigers 4 Giants 3

PS: Watch out for Andy Dirks and Peralta and maybe even Avila

Ranking The Starter Pitchers In The World Series

1. Justin Verlander
2. Matt Cain
3. Doug Fister
4. Max Scherzer
5. Madison Bumgarner
6. Anibal Sanchez
7. Ryan Vogelsong
8. Barry Zito
9. Tim Lincecum

The Tigers ae putting Scherzer up against Cain in Game 4, and that will probably be the best non-Game 7 match-up the rest of the series because of the fact Scherzer does well at home and has been hot and can face up pretty good against Cain.  the Tigers starters are better but both of these teams have A type starting pitching staffs.  Sanchez will put up some good innings and numbers tonight after a great outing against the Yankees, where he shut them down, but any of these game could be pitching duels with any of these starters.  They’re a group of All-Stars.  EDGE: Tigers

World Series H2H 2012 and Prediction

Catcher: Buster Posey vs Alex Avila- Avila is good and could make some impact or big plays, but Posey is the NL MVP at this point  EDGE: Posey
1B: Brandon Belt vs Prince Fielder-Belt might hit a HR, Prince has a better chance of hitting 5 before Belt gets 1  EDGE: Fielder
2B: Marco Scutaro vs Omar Infante- They are similar players, but Scutaro is hot and hitting very well, Infante could do well but not as well as Marco  EDGE: Scutaro
3B: Pablo Sandoval vs Miguel Cabrera: Both could be the team’s top hitter, but the Triple Crown winner gets the nod by a lot.  EDGE: Cabrera
SS: Brandon Crawford vs Jhonny Peralta: Crawford has a defensive edge but Peralta is playing out of his mind on both sides of the ball EDGE: Peralta
LF: Gregor Blanco vs Delmon Young- Blanco has been slumping lately and even with speed and being a singles hitter Delmon could change the whole series with his power and has been lately  EDGE: Young
CF: Angel Pagan vs Austin Jackson- Jackson has been so good all year-long and so has Pagan but I will take the Jackson in the battle of leadoff hitters because an advantage on defense and hitting  EDGE: Jackson
RF: Hunter Pence vs Andy Dirks- Pence was slumping but has really come out of it and should have a good series, Dirks has just hit all year but he loses the talent battle to Pence for now  EDGE: Pence
DH/PH/Bench: Tigers win with a better bench to select players from

SP1: Justin Verlander vs Barry Zito- No explanation needed, even with Rally Zito  EDGE: Verlander
SP2: Doug Fister vs Madison Bumgarner- Bumgarner has struggled lately and Fister hasn’t EDGE: Fister
SP3: Ryan Vogelsong vs Anibal Sanchez: Both have been so fantastic to this point with their different pitching styles EDGE: Tie
SP4: Matt Cain vs Max Scherzer- I really want to take Scherzer but Cain is just better  EDGE: Cain

Bullpen: Giants, even thought the Tigers only problem now is Valverde, the Giants have a stacked bullpen
Manager: Bruce Bouchy vs Jim leyaldn_ Botha re GREAT manager but Leyland seems more prepared EDGE: Leyland
Totals: SF 6  DET 10

Series Prediction: Tigers in 5
Game 1: Tigers win 6-2
Game 2: Giants win 4-3
Game 3 : Tigers win 6-5
Game 4: Tigers win 11-2
Game 5: Tigers win 7-4
MVP: 3B Miguel Cabrera

Are The Tigers World Series Favorites?

All of the teams that could have made the World Series this year are so closely matched, in almost every way, it’s kind of amazing.  The Tigers would have been easy favorites over the Cardinals but now they face the tough Giants, who refuse to die.  The Giants have been down 2-0 and 3-1 in two separate series and have cam back to win them, they will be tough.  The Tigers will be too.  I’ve heard either team being labeled as a favorite, and I don’t think the layoff will affect the Tigers.  The Giants have all of the right ingredients to win, but I think the Tigers are slight favorites over the Giants because of their talent.  They are hot and Cabrera and Fielder are ready to do damage.  This seems like it could be a classic, to close to call series between the Tigers and Giants, and it probably will be.  The Tigers just seem like the better team to me.  Both teams are going to be fun to watch and their pitching matches up too.The Tigers will be in their first series since 2006 and the Giants since 2010.  Both are tough teams and earned their pennents.  The Tigers can close ou the Gaints though and hhit their pitching most of the time.  I’ll give the Tigers a 60% chance in the World Sries.

Tigers Starting Rotation For The 2012 World Series Is Set

How I’d set it up

1. Verlander
2. Fister
3. Scherzer
4. Verlander/Sanchez (JV would be my number one option barring rest not being a big deal)
5. Sanchez/Fister (Rather Sanchez start)
6. Fister/Scherzer (Fister is my first choice)
7. Verlander

Verlander can go on 3 days rest once, maybe twice but the Tigers would defiantly be smart to keep him for Game 7.  I’d rather Verlander make three starts, but sometimes it’s impossible.

The Real Deal So Far

1. Verlander
2. Fister
3. Scherzer
4. Sanchez

I doubt Leyland will pitch Verlander more than twice, he’s just not that kind of manager and that’s fine, we can still win with these four great arms.  Verlander’s second start should be chosen very wisely, especially with the postseason he has had.  Verlander is great for Game 1 since he has improved a 100x this postseason and should take care of his business.  Fister is good to go Game 2, since he is good in the playoffs and has done well on the road and Scherzer in Game 3, since he has been the Tigers best starter behind Verlander and Game 3 is a huge game.  Let’s not forget Sanchez either, he’s a durable righty who can hold any offense most days that the Tigers get to throw out there for a game.  The Tigers rotation is fine regardless and the way Leyland is handling for the Tigers eleventh World Series is great.

NOTE: Valverde struggled again in a simulated game today, if he continues to struggle, Coke should close in the World Series and Smyly be used for all our lefty needs.  Also, I think Brennan Boesch should be on the World Series roster, but he can’t strike out like hr did in the simulated game.  Last, Avila hit a HR and I’ll be amd if he doesn’t start 3 of the first 4 games at least.

Yankee Lose Jeter

The Yankees offense is falling apart.  Rodriguez and Swisher are ice-cold and now Derek Jeter is hurt and he may not be the Yankees best player anymore but he is a postseason legend and always hits for them and he is almost irreplaceable while in the middle of a late career surge season.  Alex Rodriguez needs to step up for sure now and he just may a little, but he tends to choke and I wouldn’t bet against that either.  The big deal is that Jeter is a great leadoff hitter and even though Ichiro can fill that role being good but less productive it creates a hole somewhere else in the line-up and now Russell Martin is hitting fifth which isn’t good for the Yankees.  It also gives the Tigers an edge at shortstop and some momentum and makes winning this series look even harder for the Yankees.  Now Jayson Nix and Eduardo Nunez are playing short and they are not only a huge downgrade all-around but other than having some power probably won’t hit much a t all and their defense is shaky at best.  Losing Jeter and his WAR of 3.2 will hurt the Yankees this series and his a huge dent for them.  The offense really has to step up to make the loss of Jeter as minimal as possible.  Jeter will come back next year and I expect to see him in another postseason doing good just like he always has.

The Tigers Ninth Inning For The ALCS

The past three games the Tigers pitchers have given up eight runs, of those eight the Tigers closer since 2010, Jose Valverde has given up every single one of those runs, except one.  He literally is the problem for the Tigers right now.  Valverde has been good to the Tigers in 2010 and 2011 but he has had a massive collapse this year and it’s almost crazy how it happened and how in the playoffs it’s at its worst and changing closers in the postseason never happens, but after Valverde’s last two outings I think he has blown his job.  The Tigers have a good bullpen right now besides him and lots of other guys could close out the rest of the postseason.  What I’d do is pt Octavio Dotel as closer since he has postseason experience and I’d keep Benoit in his role because he is doing just fine there minus his home runs given up.  Al Albuquerque is another option but I don;t think putting him in that role in this situation his a good idea.  I’d keep Valverde as a mop up guy for now and if the Tigers are winning by a ton or losing a game that is out of reach for sure put him in.  If the Tigers keep Valverde in the role I think he will rebound somewhat and could get a save or two but he is still at high risk for blowing them.  He has good stuff, but it’s not working for him right now and he needs to figure out, but the Tigers can’t afford another blown save this series, so if they keep Valverde in there the Tigers are taking a big risk.  Valverde will be a lot better if he can get movement on his pitches like his fastball, but he could make that adjustment anytime.

Orioles vs Yankees ALDS Game 5

The Orioles have stayed in it all year and lately the Yankees have struggled in these games.  It will be close for sure.  The Orioles will stay close and did what they did last night, only the offense could be a lot better
Keys:
Orioles: Manny Machado and the offense to keep the Orioles in it
Yankees: Sabathia to keep the Yankees in it

Pitching Match-Up
Jason Hammel vs CC Sabathia Sabathia will have a decent outing no matter what and could be dominant like always, and he could have a start that is only a bit worse than Verlander did yesterday.  He needs to keep control and o 6 strong at least and get the big outs and just have a normal CC game and be the ace that he is.  PREDICTED LINE: 6.2 IP 3 ER 6 H 3 BB 7 K  Hammel should surprise everyone and not be untouchable but play very well and he should overpower hitters and I don’t see him getting bombed or anything like that at all.  Hammel is a good starter and should be starting this game for the Orioles

Line-Ups: The Orioles line-up is good and McLouth, Davis, Jones and Wieters could make some production and 3 RBIs at least,b ut I’d start Thome oer Ford even with a lefty.  They have enough in their line-up to win though and guys like Machado or Reynolds could come up huge.  Sitting Rodriguez is a questionable move for New York, I may have just started Chavez at DH and hit Rodriguez ninth.  Regardless this offense is non-stop and tough, but they can be stopped and the O’s pitching has found a way to do that in some games this year.

This game is a complete toss-up and almost even.  The Yankees have more talent but the Orioles are so good at taking advantage of things and playing well I wouldn’t be surprised either way, though I picked the O’s.  It could be a classic postseason match-up.  If the O’s do get eliminated I think they had a successful year and great postseason too.

Potential Hero: SP Jason Hammel or 2B Robinson Cano

MLB Pick’em for 10/12/12

Orioles over Yankees 5-4
CC tends to do well in these games and against the O’s but if he’s a little wild, they’ll jump all over him.  The Orioles will stay in it no matter what and I see them puling out a close one.

Nationals over Cardinals 7-6

Gonzalez has been struggling a bit but the Nationals can hit Wainwright okay too, and even though the Nationals are the better team, the Cardinals will stay in it like they always do.