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

Sneaky Players for World Series 2012

TIGERS
Sneaky Underrated Star: CF Austin Jackson
Sneaky RP: Al Alberquerque
Sneaky Hitter: Andy Dirks
Sneakiest Guy who could be next David Freese: Avisail Garcia

Giants
Sneaky Underrated Star: CF Angel Pagan
Sneaky RP: Jose Mijeras
Sneaky Hitter: OF Gregor Blanco
Sneakiest Guy Who Could Become Next David Freese: 1B Brandon Belt

A Note On My Tigers: I am a Tigers fan, and I try my absolute ebst not to let it affect my bias, but as a fan I am pysched to see them in the Sries after a great 2012 season and I will be rooting for them, truthfully I think they are the better team and I think everybody on their roster can contribute this series.  it should be fun to watch!

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.

MLB Pick’em 10/13/12 and Updated Predictions

Tigers over Yankees 6-4
Fister does grerat and Tigers geta ahold of Pettitte some while Cabrera breaks out

ALCS: Tigers in 7 (maybe in 6)
NLCS: Giants in 7
World Series: Tigers in 6

Do The Rangers Have The Edge?

I would say yes, their offense and ability to win trumps the fact that they’re on the road, but the Cardinals still have a decent shot, fi I were to put a percentage on it, I would say 33%.  If the Rangers win i think Adrian Beltre, Mike Napoli and Josh Hamilton will be the big offensive leaders but Albert Pujols should really help his team out here, along with Freese, Holliday and Berkman.  Right now I would say that this is the Rangers series to lose.  They can hit Garcia, though it won’t be real easy, they can get a couple runs off of him.  The Rangers have Colby Lewis going and he;’s clutch and if the Cards beat him, they will have an easier time beating Harrison, but beating Harrison won’t be easy.  Lohse or Jackson would get the nod for the Cards and the Rangers can score more off of either of them, Lohse especially and could help Harrison out a lot.  It will be hard for the Cards to pull off two wins, but they are the right team to do this.  The Rangers are a really good team and will be tough to beat, especially on the road.  The Rangers have an equal chance to win wither game, and their chance is, of course, a bit better than the Cardinals chance.

RANKING THE REMAINING STARTERS IN THIS SERIES

1. Colby Lewis
2. Jamie Garcia
3. Edwin Jackson
4. Matt Harrison
5. Kyle Lohse

A Look Ahead: World Series

CAN THE RANGERS COMEBACK: Tomorrow is a must win and if they get that game I believe Texas will wint his series, they need their pitching to come alive as it did against the Tigers and their hitting to step up just a little more.  Nelson Cruz hit a homer today and they need that but more from Beltre, Young, and Hamilton.
PUJOLS: Pujols will keep this kind of work up and he might even surprise you on defense, there is no walking him and he’s the best hitter in the MLB so Wash should use his walk Cabrera strategy on him or else we will see a few more bombs and some good play, he won;t repeat this again though.
PITCHING: The Rangers have Derek Holland up against Edwin Jackson tomorrow, Holland I’ll give a slight edge too though Jackson could be lights out, I see another high scoring affair but with the Rangers winning and taking advantage of their ballpark.  Game 5 is Wilson against Carpenter which is a toss-up, but if Wilson isn’t touched within three innings the Rangers will get just enough offense to beat Carpenter
STEP UP; that’s what the Cards bullpen has done and should continue too but Ogando needs to do better along with the other relievers like Feldman but the Rangers pitchers that start need to go at least six so then it goes Ogando-Adams-Feliz.  Dotel is an amazing reliever and will keep it up
I WILL STICK WITH RANGERS IN 6