The calm

I think this goes without saying, but we here at the Tigress are pretty pumped for the post season.  It's the calm before the awesome.  If you will, go back in your mind to 2006.  Who did the Tigers beat in the ALCS?  Oh ya, that was the As.  Who did the Tigers beat in the ALDS (and last year in the ALDS as well)?  Oh ya, that was the Yankees.  Texas is basically self destructing, thanks Hamilton!  The Os are the metaphorical Miss Congeniality anyway (just happy to be here folks!).  What I'm saying is, the Tigers should be well prepared for the American League teams.

The Tigers need to set their 25 man roster (11 pitchers, 14 position players) by Saturday.  Here's who would be on the Tigress roster:

Pitchers:

• Verdiggity (duh)
• SchEYEzer (He seemed relatively healthy last night...I'm hoping for lights out baseball like he was throwing all season)
• Sanchez (Welcome to the AL dude, you figured it out)
• Dougie Fresh (Note, first time around I forgot to add him.  Must be end of the season memory loss.  I still love you Dougie!  You're My Tiger!)
• Porcello (Ricky P had a good showing the other night)
• Smyly (Mr.-Soon-to-be Tiger has a theory that Porcello and Smyly, AKA Porsmyly, make the perfect duo to go four innings each.  He kind of has a point)
• Valverde (it's going to happen anyway, might as well plan for it.  Kind of like buying water in anticipation for a hurricane, a really terrible hurricane)
• Dotel (What a great pick up on the off season)
• Coke (need a lefty)
• Benoit (When he's on, he's on)
• Villarreal (Need someone to bring the heat)

Position Players

• Miggy (duh)
• The Prince (duh)
• Avila (He's been growing a beard in anticipation of October weather)
• Silent J (bring back some of that '11 magic, friend)
• Infante (He's got some '06 spice in him)
• AJacks (Finished the year at .300, huge year!)
• Dirty Dirks (Ditto on the huge year, almost as huge as his neck)
• Delmon Young (Man is crazy, but he can play post season baseball)
• Garcia AKA Mini Miggy (Only 23 games and he may make the post season.  That's banana sandwich)
• G$ (Remember when you won the World Series last year?  How about you try that again)
• TigerBerry (We are going to need some pinch runners late in games)
• Santiago (Most solid and versatile back up infielder.  I know, he had a bad year.  I still have faith though)
• BBoesch (You just squeaked in kid.  You better bring your bat, for when we play an NL team and you are actually subbed in for a pitcher.)
• Don Kelly (I picked him over Worth because he won the 10th man award last year.  A quick Google search also shows he's the brother-in-law of Neil Walker of the Pirates.  Remember, from the Hottest Men of the AL?  It's all about who you know)

For the next two days though, let's all just bask in the glory that is Miguel Cabrera.  45 years since the last Triple Crown.  That's also banana sandwich.  Actually, that may describe this whole season.

Strategy

With the next two games as a "warm up" to the playoff action, Smokes seems to be giving some of his regular day guys a break.  This extends to starting pitching as well.  Dougie Fresh is set to go five innings unless his pitch count is "ridiculously low."  SchEYEzer was supposed to throw a couple innings tomorrow, but someone stepped on his ankle last night and it's slightly twisted (my money's on Coke as the culprit).  Instead, Smokes is starting Downs, Marte, Putkonen...whoever loses Rock, Paper, Scissors probably.  I bet El Diablo or Papa Potato could lose the straw poll and end up starting.

Don't fret though!  If the bullpen is looking a little thin, never fear!  Donnie Kelly is always available to pitch a few.  That's almost a direct quote for Smokes, by the by.  When in doubt, Smokes' strategy is "use Donnie K."

I understand resting the fellas, but let's not lose momentum going into the playoffs!

Playoffs baby

Words cannot describe how I feel right now.  I probably sound like Miggy where he's talking about playing the game and yada yada yada.  I'm excited!

Here are some highlights from the game:

• Watched the game in a bar, so when Brother-In-Law Tiger went to the bathroom and we scored a run, we tried to keep him in the bathroom.  In fact, some dude walked into the bathroom and said, "Are you Brother-In-Law Tiger?  They say stay in here."  Classic
• Sister Tigress, New-to-Baseball Tigress, and I put on Rally Caps when the runs really started coming in.  You are welcome, Smokes.
• Can't believe they walked Garcia to get to G$ to load the bases.  Big mistake.  Have you not heard of G$?  He's one player, five tools!
• What's the reverse rally cap?  Like, if the other team is threatening and you want to stop their rally, what do you do?  I suggested putting your phone on your head.  Thoughts?
• Rod thinks high socks make Infante look faster.  He said the same thing about other players...I think you are dreaming, Allen.

Have playoff tickets for home game two, slated for Sunday.  Just got a shirt and hope it gets delivered soon.  I'm playoff ready!

Credit the Rally Caps

Let's talk about...

As the previous post mentioned, all anyone can talk about is Miggy's quest for the triple crown.  Sometimes, the commentators will mix it up and talk about how many combine hits or RBIs Miggy and the Prince have.  Here's two people that should get more talk time:

1. Dirty Dirks- Sure, he missed two months of the season, but he is hitting .320 in 86 games with 18 doubles and 35 RBIs.  How are we not talking about this guy?  If those were his numbers have way through the season (about what 86 games would be) he'd be up for an All Star team.  Instead, Smokes has him batting 6th or 7th most games and sometimes plays BBoesch over him.  Wake up folks, coming off his heroic efforts in winter ball (see here), Dirty Dirks has put together a great season.  Consider he played 78 games with the big club last year after being bumped around between Toledo and DTown and only batted .251.  Take notice world, I think Dirty Dirks is playoff ready.

2. Drew Smyly- Rario made some comment about how surprised they were with Guy's performance on Friday.  No one here at the Tigress (either myself or Magglio, the kitty) was surprised at all!  Smyly won the coveted 5th starter spot out of spring training and was dazzling in his first few starts.  In fact, I'm going to direct you to a past Tigress post.  Just know Guy, I've been in your corner since April and I'm pretty sure Cousin Tigress was with you way back on St. Patty's Day.

One more game to clinch.  Let's hope it's tomorrow.  Scratch that, it WILL be tomorrow.

Stress

The Tigress has been under a little stress lately.  Everyone has those periods of their life.  What's not helping, is watching El Diablo (Benoit) and Papa Potato in the 8th and 9th, trying to give up a 6 run lead the Tigers have built.  I felt JV's pain when he walked into the clubhouse.  He was pitching a shut out into the 8th, and an error was the only reason someone got on base!  Suddenly, the game was slipping away before his eyes.  I'd be stressed too.
 

Someone else feeling stress is Cabby.  All any announcer, especially my good friends at Fox, can do is talk about the Triple Crown. The pressure to perform... soon-to-be Mr. Tiger says Miggy needs to pop a Viagra and get over it.  Miggy has resorted to wearing his eye black all crazy to try and break the tension he is feeling.  In fact, his eye black is similar to Bryce Harper's.  In honor of Bryce Harper, the Tigers have the following headline on their webpage:
"Tigers pad cushion?  Crown question, bro."

Get it?  If not, click here.  Also, if you don't get that, you need to get out more, bro.

So with all the pressure, I was elated to walk into a gin joint just in time to see Miggy send number 43 into the stands.  I immediately started clapping, knowing the implications, knowing the gravity of the situation.  As I was standing there, doing my best Tigerberry impression, I had two dudes at the bar looking at me, baffled. 

So here's my plea to the tens of Tigress blog readers, start dealing with the stress of the postseason push by spreading the excitement.  More people need to jump on the Tigers' bandwagon.  What the world needs now is not love, it's more crazy Tiger fans so I don't look like a goof clapping in a sports bar, or yelling at the TV when El Diablo gives up a grand slam.

Only four games left Tigers and Tigerettes.  Don't get stressed, get pumped.

MY Tiger

Can we talk about MY Tiger?  I was leery of choosing a pitcher as My Tiger.  Then he went on the DL.  He had a couple shaky starts.  Then, today...nine strikeouts in a row.  That's right, he struck out the entire Royals batting order, consecutively.  That's bananas.  I didn't even know that was possible.  That's My Tiger folks.  So fresh and so clean.

Oh and by the way...the Tigers are in 1st place!  By themselves!  Two days in a row!  Woah, I'm excited.  Sister Tigress even scored us some playoff tickets today.  Now, just the final push and I'm sitting pretty at Comerica cheering for My boys.

Don't breathe

A tie is like kissing your sister or brother.  Well pucker up Sister Tigress!  Put on the chap stick Brother Tiger, because we are in a tie for first place in the Central!!!!

Now it's time for us, the fans (all you little Tigers and Tigerettes out there) to do your part.  Whatever you did yesterday to ensure a win, make sure it happens today too.  You know what I'm talking about, superstitions.  Hold your breath past graveyards.  Don't change your socks.  Jump over cracks.  Avoid those black cats.  Personally, Tiger Dog will be wearing his Tiger bandanna today and I'll have my rally cap close.

One thing is for sure, I won't miss a game!