A great season with a poor ending in the Series, but still in my heart I think the Tigers have the solid core they need to be a contender, if not champion, for years to come. Considering where they were projected to finish by every "great" sports minds, they have nothing to hang their heads over. They're young and learning and once they learn enough they'll be a force to be reckoned with. That's all I've asked of the Tigers, that respect Not championship after championship. All I've ever want was what my dad asked for, that teams looking at their schedule, see they have the Tigers coming up and groan in dismay. That's enough.
the 2006 Detroit Tigers were the most mystifying team I ever have witnessed. I'm not sure if they were mystifying, but they were excellent at not preforming to expectations. At the start of the year everyone penciled them in to hover around .500. Instead they posses the best record in the league for the majority of the season. Then, when everybody in Detroit thinks the Central Division title is locked up, they blow it by getting swept by the freaking Royals. I'll admit I didn't give the Tigers much of a chance against the Yankees. I picked them in four, but that was just homerism speaking. But of course, when everyone gave up on them, the Tigers trounced the "best lineup ever." That was the 2006 Tigers right there. They pumped up the fans and had everybody thinking the World Series was a lock. Then, in a moment about as quick as it takes a pitcher to somehow throw the ball ten feet away from the third basemen, their season was over and the Cardinals were celebrating a World Series win. The 2006 Tigers, they won when they were supposed to lose, and they lost when they were supposed to win. The one comfort is that there were 30 other teams sitting home over last week, and one of those teams was not the Detroit Tigers.
As I stated in other columns. I live in St. Louis and naturally wanted to have St. Louis win. But, I predicted (and unfortunately bet) on the Tigers. My hat is off to the Tigers. Congrats to them for having done a great job in the A.L.. Don't know if it was nerves or over-confidence or what this year,but, I predict them a lot of success next year. (Hope that never cursed them) And if St. Louis doesn't make it to the World Series next year, I hope the Tigers get another chance.
The only downside I can see about the Tigers making it all the way to the playoffs/World Series is that if the Royals, Pirates, Devil Rays or Nationals start off the 2007 season at 8-1, we'll have to listen to WAY too many lazily-written sports articles about how they could be "the next Detroit Tigers".
I get sick just thinking about that.
