Fresh Prince Of Detroit

Fielder now makes not only the
transition to a new team, but
a new league.

In light of the recent injury to Victor Martinez, the Detroit Tigers have agreed to a deal that will being free agent first baseman Prince Fielder to the Motor City.

Even though Fielder would not want this to be said, he is following in his father's footsteps. After spending the first five years of his career playing for the Toronto Blue Jays and a Japanese team, the Hanshin Tigers, Cecil Fielder also was catered by the Tigers, signing a five-year $36 million contract prior to the 1990 season.

Fielder's contract is said to be worth $214 million over a nine-year period and while that is not quiet the money fellow first baseman Albert Pujols received from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, it could prove to be a better investment for this storied franchise.

Fielder, 27, will be 36 when his newly agreed upon contract expires. On the other hand, Pujols, who signed a 10-year $254 million deal in early December, is currently 32 years of age and will be 42 at contract's end.

A three-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger, Fielder made $15.5 million a year ago, that includes a $50,000 bonus for receiving the nod to start at first base for the National League in the All-Star Game at Arizona, something that could prove to be a challenge for him in the American League.

With Pujols and now, Fielder's addition to the the AL, there is a plethora of All-Star caliber first baseman to compete with. They join Miguel Cabrera, who is Fielder's newest teammate, Mark Teixeira, Justin Morneau and last year's starting first baseman, Adrian Gonzalez.

In his first ever start in the Midsummer Classic, Fielder was named the 2011 All-Star Game MVP, thanks in large part to his go-ahead three-run home run in the fourth inning off C.J. Wilson. His home run was the main component in helping the NL win back-to-back All-Star games for the first time since they won three straight from 1994-96.

As for his career, Fielder was originally drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the first-round of 2002 amateur player draft and where he has spent the last seven seasons paired up with 2011 NL MVP, Ryan Braun.

Fielder made his Major League debut in 2005 and from then now, he has been a prolific run producer in Major League Baseball. The 5-foot-11, 275-pounder owns a .282 career average over his first seven seasons, including 230 home runs and 636 runs batted in.

He has driven in 100-plus runs four times in his young career and has proven to be one of the most durable players in the league. Since becoming a full-time starter in 2006, Fielder has played in at least 157 games, including playing in all 162 games in 2009 and this past season.

Finishing third in the NL MVP voting this season, it's the third time Fielder has finished in the top five in the last five years. Fielder tied a career-high, batting .299, while adding 38 HRs and 107 RBIs.

He finished with a .415 on-base percentage, due in large part to his high walk total. Fielder drew 107 base-on-balls, including 32 of those coming intentional to lead the majors.

It's not the first time Fielder has led the league in major offensive categories. In 2007, he hit a career-high 50 HRs, which led the NL. In '09 and 2010, he led the majors in RBIs (141) and BBs (114), respectively.

As for the team he joins, Detroit adds one of the most premier sluggers in the game and fill a void they didn't think they would be without. Just a week ago, Martinez, who signed a four-year $50 million deal last winter, suffered a torn ACL during his offseason workouts and will most likely end his entire 2012 season before if even got started.

While Fielder looks to be the Tigers response to the injury, it poses an interesting situation for general manager Dave Dombrowski and skipper Jim Leyland.

Detroit already has a franchise first baseman in Cabrera, who has proven to be not only more than a serviceable asset, but one of the game's most feared hitters. Cabrera, 28, just like Fielder, is much too young to take on a full-time designated hitter role.

Fielder's father, Cecil, also signed as a
free agent to join the Tigers.

One logical solution seems to be that Cabrera could move back across the diamond to the hot corner. Cabrera played third base regularly during his days with the formerly known Florida Marlins before making the transition to first in 2008, his first year with the Tigers.

He has played 383 of his 1,351 career games at third, but then again, there is a reason why a change was made.

In any event, it's a problem that Leyland won't soon complain about.

In the end, Fielder along with agent Scott Boras waited patiently and eventually got exactly what they wanted, something Boras and his clients are no stranger to.

Ailing Tiger

Justin-credible

Verlander's 2011 season will go down as one
of the best in baseball history.

In a unanimous decision, Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander was named the American League Cy Young recipient Tuesday, receiving all 28 first-place votes from the members of the Baseball's Writers Association of America.

In the finest year of his brief, but bright seven-year career, Verlander stated his case as the best pitcher in the game, posting career-bests in wins (24), winning percentage (.828), earned run average (2.40), innings (251), WHIP (0.92) and now has the hardware to prove it.

Verlander becomes only the third pitcher in history to win the award while wearing the Tiger uniform. Right-hander Denny McLain was the first Detroit pitcher to take home the honor way back in 1968. McLain would repeat and win his second the following season in 1969, but had to share the honor with Baltimore's Mike Cuellar.

Fifteen years later, Willie Hernandez became not only the second Tiger in history to be recognized, but the second relief pitcher in history to receive the trophy, going 9-3 with 32 saves and a 1.92 ERA in 1984.

To go along with their Cy Young awards, both McLain and Hernandez are part of a limited class, receiving the AL Most Valuable Player Award in the same season, a feat Verlander hopes to accomplish as well.

Since the award was established in 1956, only nine pitchers in Major League history have been both honored with the Cy Young and MVP in the same season. Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley was the last pitcher to earn both honors as a member of the Oakland Athletics in 1992.

The 28-year-old Verlander becomes only the ninth AL pitcher to win the award by unanimous decision and the 21st overall. Now-New York Mets left-hander Johan Santana was the last AL pitcher to receive a unanimous selection, while pitching for the Minnesota Twins in 2006, oddly enough Verlander's rookie campaign.

Verlander's 24 wins, 2.40 ERA, and 250 strikeouts led the AL this season, becoming the 16th pitcher in AL history to win the pitching Triple Crown and with that, history held true.

The four-time All-Star is the 12th pitcher in Major League history to win the pitching Triple Crown and receive a unanimous selection in the Cy Young voting. Roger Clemens is the only pitcher to win the award and not have his selection unanimous after winning the Triple Crown. That came in 1997, when Clemens was pitching for the last-place Toronto Blue Jays.

Hall of Famer Hal Newhouser was the last Detroit pitcher to earn the Triple Crown. That coming in his 1945 MVP season.

It's a fitting end to a year that didn't start in the right direction. Verlander started off the season rather slow, going 2-3 in his first 7 starts, but after throwing his second career no-hitter on May 7, north of the border, the right-hander went 22-2 in his final 27 starts of the season, helping the Tiger capture their first AL Central division title in franchise history.

With Verlander totaling his maximum 160 points in the voting, Angels pitcher Jered Weaver finished second, tallying 97 points. Tampa Bay's James Shields and New York's CC Sabathia finished third and fourth, respectively.

With his first career Cy Young in the bag, Verlander puts his sights on the MVP, an award announced on Nov. 21.

Here We Go Again

Cruz enjoyed a record-setting ALCS, that saw
him hit six home runs.

It's hard to believe at one point the Detroit Tigers held a 2-0 lead against the Texas Rangers Saturday in Game 6 of the ALCS. After Detroit shut out the Rangers high octane offense for the first two innings, Texas bombarded the Tigers' pitching staff for 15 runs on 17 hits, closing out the ALCS, 15-5.

In a 38 minute bottom of the third inning, the Ranger sent 14 hitters to the plate, recording six hits in a nine-run outburst, setting the franchise record for most runs scored in a single postseason half inning.

Two of those six hits came off the suddenly red-hot bat of All-Star Michael Young. Young hit two, two-run doubles in the inning, driving in four of the nine runs scored. The 12-year veteran added a solo home run in the seventh, giving him a 5 RBI game and totaling 7 for the series.

His teammate, Nelson Cruz, who was honored as this year's ALCS MVP, got out his boomstick once again and continued this unbelievable postseason run. Cruz popped a two-run shot for his sixth home run of the series, driving in his 12th and 13th runs of the series, both are single series postseason records.

With his six home runs, Cruz is now the only player in postseason history to have hit six home runs in two different postseasons. In his first postseason appearance a year ago, the Monte Cristi native also hit six home runs, but that came throughout the playoffs, not one series. If that weren't enough, Cruz hit the first walk-off grand slam in postseason history and had two extra innings home runs in the ALCS, the first time that has ever been done as well.

All eight of hits during the LCS went for extra-bases, that's a lot of production for a guy that bats seventh in the lineup. But it wasn't just Cruz's bat that did the talking.

In the eighth inning of Game 4, Cruz fired a perfect game-saving dart to nail the not so fleet of foot, Miguel Cabrera, at the plate, keeping the game tied.

While Cruz continues to exemplify an October legend, the Rangers are headed to their second straight World Series. After losing to the San Francisco Giants in last year's Fall Classic in five games, they have come back with vengeance and fire in their eyes. After capturing both their two straight division title and American League Pennant, Texas is the first AL West team to accomplish that feat since the Oakland Athletics did so from 1988-'90. They did in three years in-a-row.

Those Oakland teams were led by future Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa, and with his Cardinals one win away from their eighteenth trip to the World Series, Texas could oddly enough face the last manager to do what they have achieved in 2011.

Texas accomplished all this without the power of last year's ALCS MVP, Josh Hamiltion, who didn't hit a home run in this series and has yet to hit one this postseason after hitting four in last year's LCS against the New York Yankees.

Showered in Ginger Ale for the second straight year, the Rangers hope to have one last celebration in them.

And the Award Goes To: American League Predictions

The 2011 Major League Baseball season saw so many great players elevate their game to the next level, making handing out this year's major awards all the more difficult.

American League Most Valuable Player: Jacoby Ellsbury, BOS
In what should be one of the closest votes in the Award's eighty-year history, Boston Red Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury should be this year's AL MVP. After missing most of the 2010 season due to an injury and playing only in 18 games, Ellsbury came back with vengeance. The 28-year-old outfielder not only became the most productive and best all around player in the Boston lineup, but one of the best in majors.

Ellsbury turned into a superstar center fielder
 in 2011.

Playing his usual Gold Glove caliber defense, Ellsbury's bat swung to new heights. The speedy leadoff hitter turned into a prolific power threat, hitting a career-high 32 home runs, nearly quadrupling his previous career high. Prior to the '11 season, Ellsbury had only totaled as many as 9 home runs in a single-season, that coming back in 2008.

In only 349 career games before '11, Ellsbury had only hit 20 career home runs, a number he nearly doubled this season.

To go along with his power, the center fielder lead the majors in total bases (364) and extra-base hits (83). He also was in the top five in hits (212), doubles (46) and runs (119). Not to mention the fact Ellsbury climbed into the top ten in RBIs (105), steals (39), average (.321), slugging percentage (.552) and on-base plus slugging (.928).

Ellsbury looked to be the clear cut favorite for this year's honor after it was a toss up most of the season, that was until his team took a nose dive in the season's final month. The Red Sox completed the worst September collapse in baseball history, blowing a nine-game wild card lead over the Tampa Bay Rays, missing the postseason for the second straight season. Despite his Sox finishing 7-20 record in September and completely floundering, Ellsbury flourished in the season's final weeks.

He hit .358 in September with 8 home runs and 21 RBIs, three of those home runs coming in a doubleheader against the New York Yankees, Sept. 26. He also recorded 43 hits that month, the most he had recorded of any month during the season.

There has been much speculation that Detroit's Justin Verlander, who is the favorite to win his first Cy Young Award, might become the 11th pitcher in major league history to win both the MVP and Cy Young in the same season. No pitcher has accomplished that feat since Oakland Athletics' closer, Dennis Eckersley, took home both honors in 1992 and don't expect it too happen again anytime soon.

Verlander started 34 game for the Tigers this season, which means he only had a hand in 34 of the 162 games Detroit played in during the regular season. There's no question if you take away Verlander's 24 wins from the Tigers' 95, they are not a playoff team. However, how can a pitcher be more valuable to a team than an everyday player, such as Miguel Cabrera, who won the AL batting title at a .344 clip, or Victor Martinez, who led the majors with a .394 average with RISP.

How can a player be deemed the most valuable player in the AL, if he might not be the most valuable to his team?

Toronto's Jose Bautista put together a case of his own after leading the majors in home runs (43) for the second straight year, also leading in slugging percentage (.608), on-base plus slugging (1.056) and base-on-balls (138). New York's Curtis Granderson and Boston's Adrian Gonzalez also put up fantastic campaigns, but don't edge out Ellsbury. Despite Granderson hitting a career-high 41 home runs, driving in an AL best 119 runs and leading the majors in runs scored with 136, his .262 average and opportunity to hit in arguably the best lineup in baseball hurts his chances.

With his 32 home runs and 39 stolen bases, Ellsbury joined the 30-30 club this season and was honored with the AL Comeback Player of the Year Award Thursday. He could add another trophy to his rapidly growing cabinet when the AL MVP is announced Monday, Nov. 21.

American League Cy Young: Justin Verlander, DET
There have been a total of 21 unanimous Cy Young Award winners since the award's inception in 1956, 13 from the National League and 8 from the American League. The last pitcher to win the award unanimously in either league came as recent as last year when Philadelphia Phillies ace Roy Halladay won in his first year in the National League. He also become the fifth pitcher in major league history to win the award both in the AL and NL.

Detroit's Justin Verlander should become the 22nd pitcher in baseball history to be named the Cy Young Award winner unanimously. The four-time All-Star went 24-5 for Jim Leyland's Tigers and tossed his second career no-hitter in '11. Verlander is the first pitcher to win 24 games in a single-season since five-time Cy Young Award winner, Randy Johnson, won 24 back in 2002 while pitching for the then-defending World Series champion Arizona Diamondbacks and went on to win what would be his final Cy Young.

Verlander drenched by his teammates after
his no-hitter May 3 in Toronto.

Verlander started the off rather slow, going 2-3 in his first 7 starts, but after throwing his no-hitter on May 7 against the Blue Jays, the right-hander went 22-2 in his final 27 starts of the season and almost inevitably ensuring his first career Cy Young.

Along with his major league best 24 wins, the Tiger's ace lead the AL in strikeouts (250) and ERA (2.40), winning the AL pitching Triple Crown. All that being said many believe Verlander is the front-runner to also come away with the AL MVP honors as well, but that simply should not be the case.

Not even the spectacular season of that Verlander put together deserves that honor. Johnson's '02 season couldn't even capture him both honors and believe it or not his numbers were even better than Verlander's. That season to go along with his 24-5 record, Johnson threw 260 innings, the second most of his career, and posted a career-low 2.32 ERA. He led the majors in strikeouts with 334 and tossed 8 complete games, four of those were shutouts.

Not to mention the fact Johnson pitched in the midst of the steroid era while playing in the same league as slugger Barry Bonds, who was fresh off his record-breaking 73 home run season.

Compare those to Verlander's '11 numbers, that also consisted of 251 innings with 4 complete games and 2 shutouts. Johnson would not finish the top five in the NL MVP voting, finishing seventh, that season.

There is no question Verlander should this year's unanimous selection for the AL Cy Young, but as for  the MVP, not so much.

American League Rookie of the Year: Jeremy Hellickson, TB
In another tough decision, the Rays Jeremy Hellickson seemed to stand out the most of any other first-year AL player. Hellickson helped orchestrate Tampa Bay's improbable September comeback, going 13-10 with a 2.95 ERA in his 29 starts this season. The rookie right-hander got his first taste of the big leagues last season, tossing 36.1 innings in 4 starts and 10 total appearances.

Still eligible for the award, Hellickson could be the second Rays player to win the honor in the last four years. All-Star Evan Longoria was the first, being named the AL ROY in 2008.

Hellickson was among not only one of the best
rookie pitchers, but best in the majors
in '11.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim first baseman Mark Trumbo was a close second. The 25-year-old slugger batted .254, but his pop and overwhelming offensive contributions are what drove this Angels offense most of the regular season.

Trumbo's 29 home runs and 87 RBIs led the team, becoming the first rookie in franchise history to lead in both those categories.

The Anaheim native also came two home runs shy of tying Tim Salmon's rookie franchise record of 31 set back in 1993. Trumbo also added two crucial walk-off home runs during the season to keep Los Angeles in contention. Without the welcoming surprise of his bat, the Angels could have been playing meaningless games as early as July.

New York's Ivan Nova also gave a later surge, winning 16 games and posting a 3.70 ERA. If not for being sent down in early July to make room for Phil Hughes in the rotation, Nova might have won a lot more games. That being said, his ERA was a bit high and benefited from some of the best run support in the majors.

Another one of Joe Maddon's rookies burst onto the scene and played a pivotal part to their late season surge. Desmond Jennings played in only 63 games this season, but filled in nicely for the departed Carl Crawford. Jennings hit .259 with 10 home runs and stole 20 bases for the Rays and if he would have been called up sooner, we might be talking about him instead of his fellow teammate.

Despite Hellickson having a record hovering around .500, the right-hander saw his offense average only 6.43 runs per game in his starts. That's nothing compared to Nova's 8.82 per game which was second in the majors.

American League Manager of the Year: Joe Maddon, TB
Three months ago if you would have said the Tampa Bay Rays were headed to the postseason, you would have been called crazy. Manager Joe Maddon didn't think so, with his unorthodox methods and never say die attitude, he lead his team to their second straight playoff appearance and third in four years.

Nine games back of the wild card as late as Sept. 3, the Rays came all the way back and capped off their magical run with an unbelievable walk-off win in the final game of the regular season that launched them into the postseason. Maddon was the architect of this club and with the departures Crawford, Carlos Pena, Rafael Soriano, and Joaquin Benoit, he saw his team win 91 games, good enough for second in the AL East, after they were pronounced dead before the season even started.

Maddon never let his team quit and the
end result was a wild card berth.

Cleveland's Manny Acta had the Indians in first-place most of the first half, but the Tribe trailed off after the All-Star break and settled for second in the division at 80-82, 15 games behind the AL Central champion Tigers.

Mike Scioscia kept the Angels in contention most of the season and may be the best manager he baseball when it comes to getting the most out of his players.

Maddon, who at one time was Scioscia's bench coach, is a close second in that regard, but should be this year's AL Manager of the Year.

Cycling Back To Arlington

Young, right, celebrates after his second home
run of the game that completed a team inning
cycle.

Just when it looked like the Detroit Tigers' season was on the brink of ending with their ace on the mound, a 99 mph fastball saved their season.

Justin Verlander pumped his fist after inducing a groundball double-play off the broken bat of Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler, escaping a one out base loaded jam in the sixth.

With the game still tied at two and inspired by Verlander's work in the top of the inning, Detroit's potent offense roared to life in the home half, that is with a little bit of luck.

Utility man Ryan Raburn, who has been filling in for the injured Magglio Ordonez, greeted Texas Rangers starter C.J. Wilson with a hard led off single to left followed by what would have normally been a routine 5-4-3 double-play, but for the first time in the series, the Tigers got the ball to bounce their way. Miguel Cabrera's ground ball hit the third base bag, shooting up and out of the reach of the Rangers' Adrian Beltre and down the left field line.

Cabrera cruised into second with an RBI double, seizing the lead back for the Tigers, 3-2.

Victor Martinez, much like he has all season for Detroit, delivered again with a triple into the right corner, scoring Cabrera. Following Martinez, Delmon Young answered the bell, blasting his second home run of the game and fifth of the postseason.

The Tigers had hit of the cycle in the inning, making that the first time it had been done in postseason history. If that weren't impressive enough, Detroit did it with with four consecutive hitters while hitting for the cycle the "natural" way.

Wilson escaped the inning alive, but the damage had already been done.

On the other side, Verlander trotted back out for his seventh inning of work, having a shut down inning, producing his first perfect 1-2-3 inning since the second and emphatically yelling, "It's about f-ing time".

Raburn added an insurance run in the bottom of the inning with a home run off Koji Uehara, increasing the lead to 7-2. Boy did they never need it. Nelson Cruz continued his unbelievable ALCS, hitting his fifth home run of the series and his second home run off Verlander in the series. This time a two-run shot, cutting into the Tigers' lead, 7-4.

Cruz is only the fifth player in major league history to have five homes in a postseason series, and the first to do so in a LCS. Surprisingly, Cruz had never hit five home runs over a a five game game span in his career, until now.

Manager Jim Leyland called upon left-hander Phil Coke to finish the game with the unavailability of set-up man Joaquin Benoit and closer Jose Valverde. Leyland made it clear prior to Game 5 that both Benoit and Valverde were not made available to pitch after extended work the last couple of games. The 66-year-old manager said he'd hope to get through the game using just Verlander and Coke and that's exactly what he did.

Despite the game becoming dicey with two outs in the ninth, Coke got the game's final five outs, sending the series back to Arlington for a Game 6 Saturday.

Bur the Rangers find themselves in a familiar spot. Last season Texas held a 3-1 series lead against the then-defending World Series champion New York Yankees. New York also won Game 5, only to have the Rangers close out the series at home in Game 6.

Verlander hasn't been sharp this postseason,
 but fought his way through Game 5.

Only 10 teams in major league history have overcome a 3-1 series deficit to win a best-of-seven series, most recently the Boston Red Sox, who did it in the 2004 and 2007 ALCS against the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians respectively.

With their backs against the wall, Detroit will need to defy the odds once again like they have all season long.

Cruz-ing Into Detroit

Cruz's power bodes well in the Texas lineup
and ballpark.

There have already been so many of firsts this baseball season and Monday's Game 2 of the ALCS proved to be no different.

Texas Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz continued to find his stroke this postseason after struggling mightily in Texas' first-round matchup against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Cruz, who homered in Game 1 against the Detroit Tigers, hit a pair of home runs, both coming in most crucial moments of the game.

With the Rangers trailing 3-2 after six and a half innings, Tigers manager Jim Leyland elected to have his starting pitcher, Max Scherzer, to return for the bottom of the seventh and pitch to Cruz. With left-hander Phil Coke warming in the Detroit bullpen and lefties David Murphy and Mitch Moreland to follow, it looked as if that would be the only batter Scherzer would face, no matter the result.

If all went according to plan, Leyland could have Coke finish the seventh and then summon set-up man Joaquin Benoit and closer Jose Valverde from the 'pen, for the eighth and ninth, to seal the win. It didn't.

On Scherzer's 91st pitch of the night, Cruz hammered a 1-2 fastball up in the zone and deposited it into the left field seats for a game-tying home run.

But it would be Cruz's second home of the night that would make postseason history.

After three scoreless innings from both the Detroit and Texas bullpen, innings that included both closers walking a tightrope and escaping ninth inning bases-loaded jams, Game 2 headed to the eleventh, setting the stage for a postseason first.

Texas set-up man Mike Adams struck out the first two batters of the inning, but surrendered a two-out single to the versatile only to have 2011 AL batting champion, Miguel Cabrera, fly out to center field to end the inning.

The Rangers quickly jumped on Tigers reliever Ryan Perry with three consecutive singles to start the home half of the inning, loading the bases with nobody out for the second time in the game. The first time Detroit was fortunate enough to allude any damage, this time would be much different.

Cruz, who had been dropped all the way to seventh in the order due to his recent struggles, came to the plate with a chance to be a hero. Someone who relishes in the moment, the 31-year-old slugger blasted his second home run of the game for a walk-off grand slam, giving the Rangers a 7-3 win and a 2-0 LCS series lead.

There have been 42 walk-off home runs in postseason history, but Cruz's walk-off grand slam was the first of it's variety, adding another accomplishment to his impressive postseason resume.

Technically it should have been the second in postseason history after newly hired Chicago White Sox manager Robin Ventura hit a walk-off home run with the bases-loaded in Game 5 of the 1999 NLCS as a member of the New York Mets to beat the Atlanta Braves, but was mobbed by teammates before he could reach home plate turning a grand slam into what we know today as a "grand slam single".

In last years postseason, Cruz hit .317 with 6 home runs, 11 RBIs and 13 extra-base hits. That is why his struggles in the ALDS, where he batted .067, came as such a shock.

An All-Star in 2009, Cruz is rapidly turning into one of the best big game performers in the majors, but injuries have halted him from becoming one of the games brightest young stars. The Monte Cristi native has taken five trips to the disabled list over the last two seasons, mainly due to hamstring issues. He has averaged only 120 games over the last three seasons with the Rangers, playing only 108 in 2010.

Texas will need to find a way to keep him healthy and his bat hot if they are repeat as American League Champions and return to the World Series.

ALCS Preview: Detroit Roars Into Texas

After one of the most exciting first rounds in recent memory with three decisive Game 5's, it's on to the League Championship Series with some of baseball's most historic franchise's.


Detroit Tigers at Texas Rangers:
The last time these two teams were in the ALCS, they both advanced to the World Series, but came up short in five games. In 2006, the Tigers launched to the Fall Classic thanks to the bat of Magglio Ordonez, but it was the inability of their pitchers to make plays off the mound that saw the St. Louis Cardinals celebrate their tenth World Series title. As the Rangers, they are the defending American League champions and trying to have avenge last seasons World Series loss to the pitching packed San Francisco Giants.

Detroit battled through a tough five game series with the New York Yankees, who had the AL's best record in 2011, much like they did in '06. Manager Jim Leyland chose not to pitch his ace Justin Verlander in a decisive game, which would have quite a stir if the Tigers would have lost in the Bronx. Instead, Leyland's decision looks genius as this flame throwing right-hander is set to pitch Game 1 of the ALCS.

Leyland clearly out managed Joe Girardi in
the ALDS and could do the same to Ron
Washington.

It will need to be the pitching that carries this Tigers team through the postseason's second round if they want to slow down the Rangers' high octane offense. Detroit had yet to lose a game this season when leading after eight innings. That can be contributed to arguably the best closer in baseball this season, Jose Valverde. "Paper Grande" as they call him was a perfect 49 for 49 in save opportunities during the regular year and has saved both games asked of him this postseason.

The Rangers will need to score early and often if they want different results at the end of games.

Don't forget about the Tigers offense which was one of the best in the majors in 2011. After yet another MVP caliber year by Miguel Cabrera and a late September surge that won him his second career batting title, he will be the main focus of the heavily left-handed pitching staff in Arlington. Victor Martinez was among the best in the majors with runners in scoring position and the rejuvenated bat of Jhonny Peralta could loom large in this best-of-seven showdown.

Despite all their recent offensive success, it's the bat of late season acquisition Delmon Young, who hit a franchise record three home runs in the ALDS, that will be sorely missed. Young was left off Detroit's roster after suffering an oblique injury late in Game 5 against the Yankees.

Texas is coming off their thrilling series with the Tampa Bay Rays in which they beat them for the second straight year in the ALDS. With their offense struggling most of the series, offseason acquisitions Adrian Beltre and Mike Napoli caught fire. In the series-clinching Game 4, Beltre hammered three home runs while Napoli became the first catcher in postseason history to hit a home run, steal a base and throw a runner out in the same game, that coming in Game 3.


The Rangers survived the first round after a relatively quiet series from three of their main sluggers, Michael Young, Josh Hamilton, and Nelson Cruz. Maybe with a trip back to World Series in their sights will ignite their unusually subtle bats.

Ogando is one of the few pitchers that had

success against the Tigers in 2011.

Ron Washington's bullpen is even stronger than last season with the addition of Alexi Ogando. The hard throwing righty, who was responsible for all three of Texas's wins this season against Detroit, started most of the season for the Rangers, but has translated well back to the bullpen and could be a difference maker with Neftali Feliz still slamming the door shut in the ninth.

Poised with three young talented left-handed starters, the Rangers rotation will need to be on their game to hold down a heavy right-hander hitting offense in the Motor City.

Detroit won the season series with Texas six games to three, taking two out of three in all three series they played in 2011. But the postseason is a whole new season where anything can happen.

DET X-Factor: Jim Leyland


TEX X-Factor: Alexi Ogando


Detroit in Six

A Fist To The Face

Fister was the steal of this years July 31st
trade dealine.

Heading into hallow yet treacherous territory, the Detroit Tigers entered Yankee Stadium with an abundance of confidence not only in themselves, but in their lanky right-hander Doug Fister.

After having a forgettable what was technically a relief outing in Game 1 of the series, Fister was absolutely brilliant in the biggest game of his career, throwing five high stress but gritty innings against the heavily powered New York Yankee lineup.

Back-to-back home runs off the bats of Don Kelly and Delmon Young in the first gave Detroit the early momentum, something they never relinquished.

Both of those home runs came off New York's rookie right-hander Ivan Nova, a 16-game winner during the regular season. Nova would only make it through the first two innings, leaving the game what was said to be forearm tightness, causing manager Joe Girardi to dip into his bullpen soon than he would have liked.

Phil Hughes and the often used Boone Logan got the Yankees through the third and fourth with two scoreless innings combined, giving the Bronx Bombers a chance to inch closer in the home half of the fourth.

New York loaded the bases and with only one out and catcher Russell Martin stepping to the plate. Girardi's squad had plenty of success this season with the bases full. Not only did the his team lead the majors with 222 home runs during the regular, but 10 of those were good enough for grand slams, also leading the majors. Three came in an 22-9 rout of the Oakland Athletics in a game back in August, setting a major league record.

Fister got Martin to pop to the infield, putting the infield fly rule in affect immediately and then after falling behind 3-1 in the count to the speedster Brett Gardner, the 6-foot-8 Fister got Gardner to pop up to Kelly at third in foul territory, ending the threat and preserving his 2-0 lead.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland stated before the game that his ace and this year's front-runner for the AL Cy Young Justin Verlander was unavailable out of the bullpen. That was not the case for New York as their ace C.C. Sabathia came to the mound in the fifth.

After allowing a leadoff double to Austin Jackson, Sabathia struck out back-to-back batters for the innings first two outs. Faced with the tough decision to pitch to 2011 batting champion Miguel Cabrera with a base open, Girardi opted to walk Cabrera and face Victor Martinez, who led the majors with a .394 average with RISP.

Martinez made them pay with an RBI single right back up the box, tacking on an insurance run that would prove to be costly.

Cano quickly responded with his second home run of the series, cutting the lead back to two, 3-1.

Fister lasted only the five innings, but is the obvious steal of this years July 31st trading deadline not only because of his 8-1 record since the trade to Detroit, but after pitching the most important game of his career and delivering on baseball's biggest stage.

General Manager Dave Dombroski deserves a lot credit for some of his deadline acquisitions and success of this Tiger club.

Leyland turned the game over to his bullpen and rather than Verlander it would be another starter emerging from the pen. Max Scherzer, who pitched a masterful Game 2 in the Bronx, was ready for more. And after a relatively clean first inning of relief, Scherzer gave way to set-up man Joaquin Benoit in the seventh.

Benoit was greeted by a little bit of gamesmanship after being asked by the Yankees to remove an over sized bandage on the left side of his face because of the distraction it might cause to the hitters. There is no question it rattled the Santiago native and Detroit found the bases loaded once again with only one out, giving the Yankees their final shot at a comeback.

The right-hander got Alex Rodriguez on strucks and after forcing in a run with a walk to Mark Teixeria, Benoit deposed of Nick Swisher on a fastball that appeared to be out of the strike zone, somehow maneuvering his way out of trouble with a 3-2 lead.

New York had one last glimpse of hope in the bottom of the eighth. With Gardner at first and two outs, Derek Jeter launched a deep drive to right field only to see in settle into the glove of Kelly just shy of the wall.

I bet Jeter and Yankee fans were asking, where's Jeffrey Maier when you need him?

Rodriguez batted .111 this postseason,
without an extra-base hit.

In the ninth, Detroit called upon closer Jose Valverde, who said the series would not even come back to New York days earlier, pitched a perfect inning, getting Rodriguez to struck out. It was the second straight year Rodriguez had struck out to end the Yankees' season.

When that final out was recorded, longtime Yankee icon Jorge Posada, who batted .429 in the series and got on base eleven times, watched from the top step of the dugout in disbelief. It has been said with his contract expiring and youngsters ready to take the next step, that could have very well been the finally game for Posada in that trademark pinstripe information.

If in fact that becomes the case, the final memory Yankee fans will have of Posada is not the weak ground ball to shortstop Jhonny Peralta he hit in his final at-bat as a Yankee, but the true professionalism and class he showed for seventeen years.

Now the Tigers are right where the want to be, their ace on the mound for Game 1 of the ALCS Saturday night in Rangers Ballpark in Arilington, while New Yorkers experience another failed season.

Maybe Girardi should ask Benoit for a band-aid to help heal the wounds.

AL First Round Preview: Let The Games Begin

After an unbelievable and maybe the most exciting finish to an 162 game regular season in baseball history, October is upon us, setting the stage for an what could be an unforgettable postseason.


Tampa Bay Rays at Texas Rangers:
This series is a rematch of last years ALDS in which the road team won every game of the series and it needed all five games to determine a winner. Only this team Texas has the home-field advantage.

Tampa Bay comes into this year's postseason feeling as confident as ever and if they are to dethrone the defending American League champion Texas Rangers, they will have to use their outstanding pitching staff and defense to do so. As a whole the Rays recorded the second best ERA in the American League at 3.58 trailing only the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Hellickson is the favorite to
land the AL ROY honors.

Jeff Niemann, who is 0-2 with an ERA over 11 in his last two starts against Texas, looks to be getting the ball to open the series on the road. He will need to match C.J. Wilson pitch for pitch and keep his team in the game much like he did last year. In the 2010 ALDS, Niemann kept the Rangers off the score board for three innings, allowing only two base runners while punching out four.

Right-hander James Shields became a pitcher not a thrower after a terrible '10 campaign, posting a franchise record eleven complete games to go along with four shutouts. After an early trip to the disabled list All-Star Evan Longoria has recorded 87 RBIs since the month of June, by far the most in the majors. He will need to continue and carry the load much like he did Wednesday night at the Trop.

Also Rookie Matt Moore could be the 2011 version of David Price or Francisco Rodriguez.

In Arlington, the Rangers won the season series with the Rays 5 games to 4. Despite not having Cliff Lee, Texas has three above average left-handers going the first three games of this series with Wilson, Derek Holland, and Matt Harrison.

Napoli is batting .320 season with
an OBP of .414.

As for their bullpen, general manager Josh Daniels addressed that issue at the trading deadline, bringing in two of the games best set-up men with Koji Uehara and Mike Adams. Closer Neftali Feliz hasn't been what he was in his rookie season, but still gives Ron Washington a lethal weapon in the ninth inning.

The real strength of this club is their offense with Adrian Beltre and Mike Napoli adding 62 home runs and 180 RBIs to an already dangerous order. How could we forget Michael Young after another amazing season sharing the major league in hits with 213. Somehow reigning AL MVP Josh Hamilton is flying under the radar.

TB X-Factor: Jeremy Hellickson


TEX X-Factor: Mike Napoli


Tampa Bay in Five


Detroit Tigers at New York Yankees:
A rematch of the 2006 ALDS, in which the Tigers lost the first game of the series in the Bronx, but stunned the Yankees by winning the next three en route to their first World Series appearance since 1984. Game 1 will be a battle of aces that could decide who wins and who goes home.

Detroit heads into the Bronx as the hottest team in baseball after a 20-6 September run. The series rests in the hands of their ace Justin Verlander. The last time Verlander took the postseason stage he was a rookie and the losing pitcher in series-clinching Game 5 of the World Series. One thing is for sure Verlander is no longer a rookie and this years favorite to not only win the AL Cy Young Award, but the AL MVP as well after a 24 win season and winning the AL pitching triple crown.

Verlander enjoyed the best season of his
 career while tossing his second no-hitter.

Doug Fister has been anything short of spectacular since coming to the Motor City. In his 70 1/3 innings under Jim Leyland, Fister is 8-1 with a 1.79 ERA. Closer Jose Valverde was a perfect 49 for 49 in save opportunities in '11, but it will be the bridge to "Papa Grande" that will come into question.

We haven't even mentioned the Tigers offense that consists of some of the games best hitters. Miguel Cabrera is having yet another MVP caliber season while Victor Martinez looks to be the steal of the offseason. Not to mention the rejuvenated bat of Jhonny Peralta. This team can do it all.

In New York, the Yankees finished with the AL's best record for the the second time in three years, reaching the postseason for the 16th time in the last 17 years. The pitching behind C.C. Sabathia is still in question until they prove the regular season wasn't a fluke. Rookie Ivan Nova will get the ball in Game 2 in the Bronx despite his numbers being better on the road. Nova was 12-0 in his last 15 starts and is a rookie out to prove he belongs on the big stage.

If the Yankee starters can get the game to the bullpen, it could be game over. New York has developed a deadly three-headed monster with Soriano in 7th, Robertson in 8th, and of course Rivera in the 9th.

Posada could an erase a season full of pain
with one last magical October run.

The health of Alex Rodriguez is a major concern for New York and a key if they want to continue their chase for No. 28. Rodriguez has only 68 at-bats since the All-Star break which could have him well rested for another monster postseason. These two teams have not seen one another since May 5 and that is when Derek Jeter was still not quite Derek Jeter. Since that time Jeter has found his stride batting .327 and will continue to be the table setter for this Yankee offense.

DET X-Factor: Justin Verlander


NYY X-Factor: Jorge Posada


New York in Four

First Time For Everything

Verlander...Then There's Everyone Else

Lighting Strikes Twice

Verlander tossed his second career no-hitter
Saturday in Toronto.

Saturday afternoon in Toronto marked yet another historic day in the young career of Detroit Tigers ace, Justin Verlander.

Verlander tossed his second career no-hitter in the Tigers' 9-0 win at Rogers Centre. It's the second no-hitter thrown of the 2011 season after division rival, Francisco Liriano, threw the first in Chicago Tuesday night for the Minnesota Twins.

After not having a no-hitter be changelled in the first month of the season, two come within less of a week of one another.

It's the seventh no-hitter in Tiger history, and Verlander becomes the 28th player in history to throw multiple no-hitters. 

The last player to accomplish that feat, excluding the postseason, was Chicago White Sox left-hander Mark Buehrle. He would toss his first no-hitter in a 2007 game against the Texas Rangers and reached new heights by throwing a perfect game in 2009, capped off by one of the most memorable catches in baseball history by defensive replacement DeWayne Wise.

Verlander's first no-hitter also came back in '07, no-hitting the Milwaukee Brewers during Interleague play.

The three-time All-Star had been perfect through the first seven innings, but had it broken up by walking a Blue Jays rookie. Catcher J.P. Arencibia battled Verlander with an epic 12 pitch at-bat in the eighth inning -- an at-bat that saw the twelfth pitch sail outside at 100 mph.

That would be the only blunder of the day by Verlander.

The slender right-hander showed great command from the gecko, throwing 74 of his first 108 pitches for strikes. Verlander struck out only four batters Saturday compared to in his first no-no when he struck out 12 Brewers. It was his third of the young season bringing, his record to .500.

But if it wasn't known before, Verlander possesses the repertoire to throw a no-hitter every time out with his upper 90s fastball and 12-6 curveball.

The 28-year-old was the 2006 American League Rookie of the Year, winning 17 games for the Tigers. That same season, also in his rookie season in Detroit, manager Jim Leyland clinched the franchise's first wild card berth and helped the Tigers win their first AL Pennant in 22 years.

Verlander started Game 1 of that World Series and was opposed by fellow rookie Anthony Reyes of the St. Louis Cardinals. It was the first time in the series' 103-year existence that two rookies faced off to open the Fall Classic

After avoiding the dreadful sophomore slump in '07, it would come a year later for Verlander, losing a career-worst 17 games.

Since that time Verlander has become the horse of the Detroit staff, throwing 200 innings each of the last four years and striking out 200 batters in back-to back seasons, including leading the majors with 269 in 2009. He has won as many as 19 games in a season and finished as high as third in the AL Cy Young voting.

The final out was recorded by punching out right fielder Raja Davis on a 2-2, 87 mph breaking ball.

Detroit is currently two games under .500 and six and half games back of the division leading Indians, who are in Anaheim for a weekend series with the Angels.

Despite the slow start, with the trio of Venezuelans at the heart of their order and two power arms at the front of their rotation, Detroit will be in the hunt for their first AL Central title in franchise history. Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan holds the record for no-hitters thrown in a career with seven. The former first-round pick has a ways to go if he wants to reach that mark.

In the mean time, Motown will be rocking and waiting to congratulate their ace with maybe another on the horizon.