Detroit Tigers on Precipice, But to What?

(Photo by: Dave Sandford/Getty Images)

With all the scuffling the Tigers have been doing this season, I was startled to learn that as of this final weekend in June they sport the third best record in the majors, behind only Boston in the AL East and Los Angeles in the NL West.

As I write these words, Detroit holds a five-game lead over Minnesota in the Central, with the White Sox and Royals, each having spent some time at the top of the Central, not far behind. Only Cleveland, 12 games back, seems out of the hunt.

All in all, Detroit’s record in the Central is much improved over a year ago.

Last weekend the Tigers swept the Milwaukee Brewers, a team that came to town having scored thirty runs in a three-game sweep of the Indians. Detroit won the series largely on good pitching and timely hitting.

The Cubs came to town after the Brewers left and again the Tigers got out the brooms to take a three-game set in one of the more tightly contested series at Comerica all season, winning the first game on a walk-off homerun in the bottom of the ninth and coming from behind in game three.

Offensively the Tigers have run hot and cold. Only Cabrera, who hit .700 the first week of the season, has maintained any consistency, despite suffering a strained hamstring earlier this month. His batting average is currently among the leaders in the AL.

Carlos Guillen has yet to find his rhythm, a sore shoulder finally landing him on the DL in late May.

Magglio Ordonez struggled so much at the plate, that Manager Jim Leyland sat him for several games to get him away from the game. Prior to Wednesday’s game against the Cubs, his second game back, he cut his shoulder-length hair and promptly went two for four and hit the game-winning homerun Thursday afternoon.

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