Miguel Cabrera
By Joey Yashinsky
The standings in the AL Central, about a week or two ago, could have been described using words like “drama” or “race.” Those days are done. It has now become a formality. The division belongs to the Detroit Tigers, and with that, a spot in the playoffs. Which means that this final 46-game stretch now essentially becomes an almost comically long preparation for the postseason.
Often, the final weeks of the summer are characterized as a “sprint to the finish.” The Tigers don’t need to sprint anywhere. But they sure can start thinking about setting up that postseason pitching rotation.
It might sound like sacrilege in Detroit, but when this year’s playoffs come upon us, it will have to be Max Scherzer, not Justin Verlander, that takes the ball first. Scherzer’s 2013 has been too special. A near-impeccable 17-1 record, a staggering 175 strikeouts to just 35 free passes, and a zen-like ability to compel the Tigers’ offense to put up at least a half-dozen runs every time he’s on the mound. In the pressure-packed best-of-five format that accompanies baseball’s first round, having your ace hurler open the show, and if necessary, close the curtains, is a must. For this year at least, that designation belongs to Mr. Scherzer.
With plenty of time to prepare and set things up, the rest of the pitching order can be designed precisely to the Tigers’ liking. Verlander’s longtime status as ace of this rotation will almost assuredly earn him the nod in the next slot. His season has been well-chronicled for its many peaks and valleys, but there have been signs of late that Verlander is finding his groove again. His eight dominant frames in Cleveland last week served as a harsh reminder to the rest of the American League that an evening with #35 is still not a very pleasurable experience.
Aníbal Sánchez, on the basis of his team-best 2.58 ERA, will likely toe the rubber next, followed by Doug Fister. That tandem could be flip-flopped without much argument, and one could make the case that such a determination doesn’t make much difference one way or the other. But in any series, the next game is the most important one, and putting your best foot forward at the earliest possible juncture is always the best strategy. Rick Porcello is enjoying a steady season as the group’s anchor and hasn’t dropped a decision since June, but he will be the fifth Beatle come playoff time; only room for the main quartet on the big stage, Kid.
It’s technically putting the cart before the horse, but with the Cleveland and Kansas City logos appearing smaller and smaller in the rear view mirror, this hypothetical conversation and debate will very much become a reality in due time.
(Note: be prepared to hear the popular sports’ cliché, “It’s a good problem to have” used ad nauseam in reference to this abundance of starting pitching come October.)
LIONS
Snaking through the streets of Detroit was quite the challenge on Friday night. Sure, there was a pre-season Lions game coming to an end a few blocks away, but with the crowd usually fairly sparse for an exhibition affair, the logjam was a bit of a mystery. Then the answer came. Shooting had just concluded for the night on the massive set of Transformers 4. Roads were closed off and intersections were rearranged to suit the needs and wants of hotshot director Michael Bay. There is a mini Hong Kong set right in the middle of Detroit. It’s quite the scene.
And then the parallel hit me. The Lions 2012 season was very much a Transformers sequel in its own right.
Matthew Stafford threw for a million yards and Calvin Johnson (ironically dubbed “Megatron”) put up mind-boggling stats. Very few of these yards, or subsequent points, came at important junctures and were more or less window-dressing on an otherwise forgettable campaign. There was no meat-and-potatoes to go with the aerial attack. No running game to speak of. Very few difference makers on defense. Coaches made costly errors and lacked the ability to adapt or change on the fly. Just like every Transformers follow-up that’s been rushed through production since the well-respected original.
These movies generally have lots of big explosions. Objects appear one minute and are set on fire in the next frame. Plot and story arc are mere afterthoughts, and character development is brushed aside as an annoyance that will just take time away from the next mindless CGI-infused robot battle for world supremacy. But there is no depth. Nothing to latch onto. Nothing that says, “We really put the necessary work in to make sure this will be something special.”
The Lions have the opportunity to make this not-so-flattering comparison invalid this year. For the first time in a long time, to show a little substance to go with the style.
Make the tough 3rd and 3 by driving Mikel Leshoure off left tackle. Have Brandon Pettigrew become known for stability and a sure set of hands. Watch Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley live up to the lofty expectations that come with being top-15 picks. And for the oft-maligned secondary to harken back to the days of Lem Barney, or Spiderman Allen, or even Big Play Willie Clay, and start packing a punch again.
And not that tepid off-brand fruit punch that’s served in a huge salad bowl with an oversized ladle at middle school dances or summer camp socials; legitimately menacing, hard-hitting, “Don’t go over the middle of the field with your head down” punch.
The days of fawning over long bombs from Stafford to Johnson in the waning moments of a 17-point game have to be over. The end result is the focus now.
Flash and dash are nice, and they might even get your popcorn sequel half a billion in worldwide gross; but they don’t win you Oscars, and most importantly, they don’t bring your football team any closer to that elusive date in February with the Lombardi trophy.
In the Bonus
It’s very strange to see the San Francisco Giants, victors in two of the last three World Series, resting comfortably in the NL West cellar, a healthy 14 games out of first place. Less than 300 days ago, the Fightin’ Lincecums were putting the finishing touches on a four-game obliteration of the Tigers. Now they share the same record as the Chicago Cubs (52-65). In the latter stages of any season, that’s not the company you want to be keeping.
PISTONS
The Pistons have dropped their opening night tilt in each of the last three seasons. They have the good fortune this year of starting at home against the perennially putrid Washington Wizards. This is a “must win” game for the Detroiters. Joe Dumars went out this offseason and made a host of changes, including the additions of Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings.
If the 2013-14 season is going to be any different than what we’ve come to expect from this bunch, it absolutely must begin on the eve of Halloween against the sad-sack Wiz; keep in mind, this Washington franchise has won a grand total of one playoff series in the last 30 years. No, that’s not a typo.
MSU
Michigan State will open its season on a Friday night for the third consecutive season (August 30 vs. Western Michigan). This still doesn’t feel quite right to me. Shouldn’t the college football season open on a glorious Saturday afternoon as we hold onto the last vestiges of summer? I know playing under the lights always adds a certain layer of excitement, but let’s not get out of control here. Friday nights are reserved for high school games, 11:00 movies, and your Auntie Sharon’s sweet potato pie. College football in Big Ten country takes place on Saturday. Period.
