5 Reasons the Detroit Tigers Will Do What the Minnesota Twins Couldn't

The last time the Detroit Tigers made it to the playoffs was 2006. They finished second to the Minnesota Twins that season and entered the postseason as the Wild Card—it's the last time a team from outside the AL East earned that honor. It was Jim Leyland's first season as the Detroit skipper, and improved the Tigers by 24 games over 2005 and guided them all the way to the World Series.

Surprisingly, since 2006 the Tigers have won exactly one AL Central Division title. The Minnesota Twins have won two consecutive division titles and three total over that same time frame.

In the three American League Divisional Series the Twins have gone 0-9—to say the Twins did not represent the AL Central very well in the postseason would be a gross under-exaggeration.

This offseason, fresh off a new ballpark and the revenue it generated, Minnesota decided it was time to rectify that situation and spent some money in hopes of making it past the ALDS. They came into the 2011 season with the ninth-highest payroll in baseball, a huge increase from 2008 when they had the 25th payroll in baseball. 

Unfortunately for the Twins, it seems to have backfired. They currently find themselves with not only the worst record in the American League, but their worst record in 30 years.   

Sure, Twins fans can point to a plethora of injuries and countless games lost to the DL by their stars, but they will get no sympathy from Tigers fans. It was only two seasons ago that the Twins eliminated the Tigers' playoffs hopes with a victory in Game 163 to decide the division champion.

But now all is well in Motown. The land of the Motor City Kitties is currently on top of the world.

Not only have the Tigers won their first division title since 1987 (only to lose to the Twins in the ALCS!) but the Lions are 2-0, and favored against the Vikings in the Metrodome. 

There's a very good chance that the Tigers will be able to do what the Twins have not.

Here are five reasons to believe the Tigers' winning ways will continue through the ALDS.

Their Highest-Paid Player Is Leading the Team

While the Minnesota Twins two highest-paid players—Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau—have only played in a combined 151 games this season, the Tigers' top gun, Miguel Cabrera, is leading the Tigers with a .333 batting average, 26 home runs and 98 RBI. 

In 17 postseason games, Cabrera has 12 RBI and four home runs.

For Mauer and Morneau, in a combined 16 postseason games they have only five RBI and two home runs—to no surprise, both were hit by Morneau.

The Tigers Have a Better Record Against the East

For the Minnesota Twins, despite having five seasons with 90 or more wins since Ron Gardenhire took over in 2002, they have not fared well against the AL East—the most likely opponent in the playoffs.

Since 2006, the last time the Detroit Tigers were last in the playoffs as a Wild Card, they have a 106-109 record against the beasts of the East. 

While this is still below .500 by a measly three games, it is much better than the 89-126 record the Twins have.

The Tigers have a winning record against the East in 2011 at 18-15. However, they might want to pull for the Angels to catch the Red Sox for the Wild Card because they are only 1-5 against Boston this season.

The Tigers Have a Manager That Has Won It All

Jim Leyland has 20 years of experience as a major league manager.

In 1997, after 11 seasons as the Pirates manager, he led Florida to the World Series, where the Marlins defeated the Cleveland Indians in seven games.

Following a six-year layoff when he last managed the Colorado Rockies in 1999, Leyland joined the Tigers in 2006 and immediately led the Tigers to the American League pennant. 

The Tigers Have a Swagger About Them

Never mind that Tigers roster looks an awful lot like an AL Central All-Star team. I mean, with Jhonny Peralta and Victor Martinez from Cleveland, Wilson Betemit from Kansas City and Delmon Young from Minnesota, these guys are probably pretty happy with where they came from compared to where they were.

In 2011 the Tigers have an equally good record at Comerica Park, where they are 45-31, as they do on the road with a 45-36 record. 

The Tigers, who will host the ALDS, have the third-best batting average in the American League and are among the leaders in runs scored and RBI.

The Tigers, who had not won a season series against the Twins since 2007, dominated the Twins in 2011 going 14-4 and have a commanding 47-22 record against the AL Central with a winning record against the AL East and a .500 against the AL West.  

They Have an Ace To Lead the Way

The Detroit Tigers have the one thing the Minnesota Twins have been lacking since they won their last World Series in 1991—a pitching ace that can carry the team through the playoffs. In 1987 it was Frank Viola, and in 1991 it was Jack Morris—both who pitched three games in the World Series and were named the MVP in the Twins' two championships. 

Justin Verlander is leading the American League in wins and ERA.

The ability to pitch Verlander three times in a seven-game series definitely gives the Tigers a huge advantage. 

Right now I would take Verlander over Josh Beckett, C.C. Sabathia, C.J. Wilson or Jared Weaver in the American League.

Perhaps Minnesota GM Bill Smith Should Copy the Tigers

For the Minnesota Twins things couldn't have gone any worse than they did this season.

If the Twins are to quickly turn things around they might want to take a page from the Tigers' game plan and look at building a roster that is built to succeed in the postseason.

All Minnesota general manager Bill Smith needs to do is sit back and watch how the Detroit Tigers will do this postseason.

As a life-long Minnesota Twins fan, I'm pulling for the Tigers to go all the way this season.