Tiger’s second half, take 2
Reading Buster Olney this morning gave me another thought on yesterday’s post; we’ll call it item #7 to watch in the second half:
7) Detroit’s results vs potential playoff teams.
Based on the schedule, this may or may not impact Detroit’s front office’s desire to make a move. Detroit still has a lot of games left against potential playoff opponents that are interesting. So far, their records against potential playoff teams (Non-AL Central):
Texas (6-0), Seattle (2-1), LAA (3-3), NYY (1-2), Boston (0-3), Tampa (not played).
Games remaining against those team:
Texas (home), Seattle x2 (both home), New York (away), Boston (away), Tampa x2 (home/away), LAA (away).
Makes you wonder if there will be a difference in the desire to acquire additional help (a bat and/or an arm) if Detroit looks like they can win the AL Central but can’t compete against the other playoff teams. We’ll get an interesting glimpse starting tonight, as Detroit throws their best two pitchers in a three game series on the road in New York — obviously French is getting the start tonight, but followed by Verlander and Jackson.
Initially, it sounded like Mike Illitch’s comments to ‘do what it takes’ was just about making the playoffs. The Red Wings had great success this year, but it still left us a bitter taste when they lost in game seven of the stanley cup finals. Is getting to the playoffs really the goal?