4/26: Tigers 6, White Sox 2

As I watched the bottom of the ninth inning of last night's game, I was flashing back to 2003. That year, as you remember, the Tigers had two ways of playing baseball:

1. Losing games right from the get-go
2. Coming tantalizingly close to winning a game, only to blow a lead in a new and infuriating way

I thought I was seeing #2 all over again. After enduring Todd Jones's bungling (seriously, who lets the tying run come in on a wild pitch?) I was more than happy to see Joel Zumaya take the mound and close the door on Chad Durbin's gem.

Yeah, that's what I said -- Durbin's gem. Because that's what it was. His curveball was moving all over the place and his change-up was deadly. He posted nine strikeouts in eight innings' work, which, by the way, is the most any Tiger has thrown in a game all season long. That's stellar, but what really puts the performance over the top was the fact that he didn't surrender a single walk. His work has been the subject of tribute by others, as well.

And then Zumaya came in. After giving up a leadoff single which was erased by a double play, he proceeded to hit a batter and give up four consecutive walks. Yes, that means he had a six-run lead with two outs and nobody on, and yet at some point the tying run came to the plate.

Luckily the game ended the right way and Durbin's hard work wasn't squandered. And yes, Todd Jones got to pad his stats, picking up a save in seven pitches.

Sunday, April 22: Tigers 6, White Sox 5 (12 innings)

Remember those "Choose Your Own Adventure" books? You were given a little bit of introduction, and at a pivotal moment in the plotline, the book instructed you to flip elsewhere in the book. ("As you open the carton of milk, you think you notice the faintest hint of Drano. What do you do? If you drink the milk, turn to page 37; if you simply pour the milk on your little sister's Cheerios, flip to page 49.")

Jim Leyland has been in the position to choose his own adventure this weekend. The story's the same; the Tigers get out to a respectable lead, the White Sox close the gap, and the game goes to extra innings. Saturday, Jim flipped to page 142, where the story ended with yet another Fernando Rodney meltdown. Sunday, Jim did the right thing and let Wilfredo Ledezma get 3 innings of work. The result? A crucial win over a division opponent.

Hats off to Marcus Thames for hitting a clutch homer in the bottom of the ninth to allow the Tigers to get back into the game and to Placido Polanco for (let's face t) just being who he is. And of course, it's great to see Justin Verlander fending off that sophomore slump. A 2.08 ERA after four starts, none of which was shorter than six innings pitched? I think we'll take that.

Saturday April 21: White Sox 7, Tigers 5 (10 innings)

FERNANDO RODNEY WILL KEEP THIS TEAM OUT OF THE POSTSEASON. PERIOD. HE NEEDS TO BE GONE.

AND SHEFFIELD COULD USE A DAY ON THE BENCH AS WELL.

4/20: White Sox 5 Tigers 4

When Sheffield was up in the bottom of the ninth last night I was certain that it was time for his coming out party in Detroit. I just KNEW a home game winning home run was going to happen. Instead, he stared as the ball as strike 3 whizzed by his knees. I still have faith with Gary, but it's time for him to start producing. He is a leader of the Tigers and needs to start showing it on the field. I'm sure he'll have a great day today as the sun is shining and the weather is warm - a perfect recipe to break out of a slump. Additionally, Chad Durbin came close to his goal but his ERA remains in the double digits at 10.54 - keep trying Chad!

Day Off

The Tigers must be feeling pretty rotten after blowing the series sweep against KC yesterday. It should give them a lot to think about as they head into a series against the Chicago White Stockings. Hopefully as the temperature warms up in Detroit so will the Tigers bats. Somehow they're still in first place, but it won't last at this rate. Durbin has a great opportunity to start the series with a bang and lower his ERA into single digits.