We head into the second to last series of the regular season. Toronto is on a roll lately, so the Tigers need to cool them off. Will just getting to the playoffs be enough? Or are these guys determined to win the division? KC won't give us any help against Minnesota, and the White Sox are demoralized so don't expect much help from them either. Realistically, the Tigers must win 4 of the last 6, because I don't expect Minnnesota to lose more than one.

Tonight it's Nasty Nate vs. Ted Lilly.

These are still must wins, in my opinion.

just like the NBA, it seems that we want to get hot at the right time.....let's whoop some ass :D

Good game all around tonight. Zoom looked a little rough, but we get the W regardless.

i was at the game, boy was it roudy. roudier than any game i've been to at the copa.

the best part was the conversation going on behind me. it was a bunch of ~50 year old men explaining the simplest of rules of baseball to this very tiny asian dude, and boy was he not getting it. now, these were some serious ballers, i was guessing, which was strange cuz we were in the bleachers. one of my favorite baseball experiences ever.

Detroit OF Magglio Ordonez was replaced in the top of the third inning because of spasms in his lower back. "I think he'll be fine," Leyland said.

hope he's ok....

I think "back problems" is short for "hung over".

lol, i remember having chronic back problems back in college......get well soon, Maggs.
[smilie=drunk22.gif]

I'm predicting a great game from Nate tonight (My Tiger).

Hope I'm right.

Maroth isn't on the playoff roster. I only start 1 thread here a month, so I'm just sticking this here.

I'm predicting a great game from Nate tonight (My Tiger).

Hope I'm right.

Good call, cocksucker.

Good call, cocksucker.

That's a fair comment, I deserve that.

Also, it's an afternoon game today.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/preview?gid=260928106


Toronto (84-74) at Detroit (95-63)

Game Info: 1:05 pm EDT Thu Sep 28, 2006
TV: ESN2, FSD
Currently: Detroit, MI
Temp: 52° F

Starting Pitchers
A. Burnett Tor vs. K. Rogers Det

By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA, STATS Senior Writer

While the Detroit Tigers' magic number keeps dropping, Kenny Rogers' win total continues to increase.

Rogers looks to match his career high for wins and the Tigers try to increase their AL Central lead when they play the finale of three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday.

Detroit (95-63) lost 7-4 to Toronto on Wednesday, but kept its one-game lead over Minnesota in the AL Central. The Twins lost 6-4 to Kansas City, reducing Detroit's magic number for clinching the division to three.

"They didn't do what they were supposed to do, but neither did we," said Craig Monroe, who homered for the Tigers. "We can't be happy when they lose -- we have to win games."

If the teams finished tied for first, the Tigers would win their first division title since taking the AL East in 1987 because they won the season series from the Twins 11-8. Detroit has fallen one game behind the New York Yankees, who beat Baltimore 16-5, for the AL's best record.

Rogers (17-6, 3.63 ERA) has a chance to reach 18 wins for the second time in his career. He did it with Texas in 2004.

The left-hander has been clutch for the Tigers down the stretch, going 6-0 with a 1.66 ERA in his last eight starts. His last loss was on Aug. 12, against the Chicago White Sox.

Rogers gave up one run and five hits in eight innings in a 15-4 win over Kansas City on Saturday. This will be Rogers first start against the Blue Jays this season. He is 14-8 with a 3.59 ERA in 26 starts and 27 relief appearances in his career against them.

Toronto (84-74) will counter with A.J. Burnett (9-8, 3.83 ERA), who is trying to finish his first season in the AL on a strong note. The right-hander is 3-2 with a 2.13 ERA in his last five starts.

"His stuff's overpowering," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "He's got that big hard hook that you really can't do anything with when he's getting that over and getting ahead of the count. ... He'll give up his hits here and there, but you know, he's doing a great job."

Burnett gave up two runs -- one earned -- and six hits while striking out eight in seven innings in a 5-3 win over Boston on Saturday. This will be Burnett's first career appearance against the Tigers.

Toronto's victory Wednesday, its 10th in 15 games, moved it into second place in the AL East ahead of Boston, which lost 11-0 to Tampa Bay. The Blue Jays haven't finished as high as second since 1993 when it won the AL East en route to its second straight championship.

Toronto's Bengie Molina hit his 19th homer, and is one short of Darrin Fletcher's team record for home runs by a catcher set in 2000.

Tigers outfielder Magglio Ordonez was back in the starting lineup after leaving Tuesday's win with back spasms. He went 0-for-3 with a walk.

I think "back problems" is short for "hung over".

You know what, I thought about this last night and I think you may be onto something there.

A day after clinching/celebrating, Maggs leaves the game early with "back spasms" only to return to the lineup the next day. Thames is out of the lineup the day after and leaves the park early because he was "ill", back in the lineup the next day.

Hmmm.

just a heads up, the game's 1p ET (now) on FSD and ESPN2.

Great way to start the game, errors on the first two plays.

Well, it's even at 2 errors a side now, but we're still on the short end of it on the scoreboard.

Fuck a Neifi, btw.

Has Alexis Gomez done a thing since being on this roster? I would trade that guy for a burrito right now. Jesus he blows.

Fucking A, Kenny is getting rocked, it's now 6-0.

He's had a great year, but for some reason I don't trust him at all pitching in the playoffs.

edit- They just pulled Kenny and put in Durbin.

Nice little comeback here, now 7-6 Toronto in the 7th.

bah.

tigers fall short, lose 8-6, despite a comeback from 0-7.

And FUCKING Joe Mauer hits a home run with 2 outs in the 9th to tie the game. Someone kill the Twins.

Fuck a Joe.