The Detroit Tigers Have Gone From A 0.2% Chance Of Making The Playoffs In Mid-August To Currently In The Playoffs
Ladies and Gentlemen, I begin this blog on August 11th, 2024. That is merely 43 days ago on the calendar, but a life time ago for the hottest team in baseball: the Detroit Tigers. Folks, on that fine Sunday afternoon in the middle of August, they were 13.5 games out of first place in the AL Central, and they were an astonishing 9.5 games out of the Wild Card race, not even in contention. I mean, the Mariners, Red Sox, and Rays were all out of the playoffs.....but substantially closer than the Tigers.
On that date, the Tigers were given a 0.2% of making the postseason. I mean, they just sold off their team and were packing up shop for next year. But fast forward just over a month on the Roman Calendar and guys, if you were in a 43 day long coma you're probably going to need to sit down for this one.....the Tigers are in the playoffs.
Let me say this: I was flat out wrong a couple weeks ago when I suggested that the #2 seed was a better spot for the Guardians than the #1 seed. At the time, I thought the Orioles were better than the Astros....despite Houston's consistent runs to the ALCS in basically each of the last 100 years. And I thought the Royals were tougher than the Twins, who were the current 6 seed. Now? Now the Royals have lost one million games in a row, the Orioles are reeling....and the Tigers are the hottest team in baseball. I may be eating my words on that one in a few weeks, because it looks like the Guardians are about to lock in the 2 seed and I think the Tigers/Astros are both better than the Royals and Orioles right now. Fuck.
With that being said, there's a good chance the Tigers pass the Royals now too! Currently tied in the standings and there's one team playing great and the other team barely breathing. And I'm definitely cheering for the Tigers here. I know it'd be better for my team if the Twins snuck back in, but the Tigers are such a fun story. And if they do get in, they'll be a problem....seeing as they will be favored in any Game 1 with Tarik Skubal on the hill.
You know what, fuck it. Go Tigers. Make the playoffs. Pass the Royals if you can, but beat the Astros if you don't. And come to Cleveland let's have a series of two teams just a few hours apart from gritty cities. Winner moves on to the Yankees and loser has to continue to cheer for the other. Deal?
