The 2012 World Series starts tonight as the Detroit Tigers look for their first championship in 28 years. In other words, their first in my lifetime. If you aren’t excited already, you have 5 hours to get pumped. If you can’t get excited for this you are either a Michigan State fan or are in a coma. But I am trying to refrain from all of the local (and national) media hype already crowning a Tigers victory in 5 games or less. I know it is a different year, with two different teams, but this is reminding me of 2006. So instead of predicting the outcome, I want to point out some key matchups in this series and be thankful that I get to watch at least 4 more Detroit Tigers games this season.
Before getting the brooms back out or blindly expecting the Tigers to win, you need to know your enemy. The San Francisco Giants are built the same way as they were in 2010, when as big underdogs they knocked off the Texas Rangers in the Fall Classic. This baseball team is built around starting pitching, good defense, and clutch hitting. Over the past 5 years, the Giants have consistently been in the bottom half of runs scored, but they find ways to win. The 7 game NLCS affected their starting rotation, which should help the Tigers. However, they are still primed to have Matt Cain pitch in Game 3 and Game 7 if needed. Jim Leyland does not believe in throwing your ace on short rest (Game 1, 4 and 7), so us Tiger fans should hope the series does not last the full distance. San Francisco does have 2 big question marks in the starting rotation, Tim Lincecum and Barry Zito. The Freak has struggled all season, but has been dominant out of the bullpen this postseason. They might be forced to start him in Game 4. Barry Zito, the 80 million dollar man, was not even included on the Giants post season roster in 2010, but now the team has won his last 13 starts. It is the best we have seen Zito look since he left Oakland. He gets the nod tonight in Game 1 against JV, which might sound like a huge mismatch, but the Tigers have really struggled against crafty left handed pitchers this season. It will be important to get to Zito quickly so he doesn’t fall into a rhythm at home.
Offensively, the Giants have 2 well known names and a bunch of role players. The problem is these role players are scorching hot at the plate right now. People know about Buster Posey, the likely NL MVP, and Pablo Sandoval. But Marco Scutaro just set an NLCS record for 14 hits in one series and won the MVP. Hunter Pence has been picking up clutch hits with runners on base all October. Angel Pagan has hit 2 lead off homeruns. Even their pitchers are picking up hits. It is not often when a team loses a potential MVP candidate (Melky Cabrera), and somehow gets better offensively and pulls away in their division. The Yankees have more stars in their lineup, but the Giants are firing on all cylinders. If the Tiger starting pitchers post a sub 1 ERA and WHIP again, it will be one of the best post seasons of all time. I don’t expect it to happen.
San Francisco is 6-0 in elimination games this post season. They only have 7 total wins. At this point, fans on each side can make the argument that either team is one of destiny. Both are playing their best baseball of the season, so it only seems right that they meet for the trophy. The Tigers will have to shake off the rust quickly tonight, and that includes Verlander. All I know is who cares about work, because this is going to be fun to watch.
Some key factors to look out for in this series:
Defensively, the Tigers have tightened up so far in the playoffs, but this was the first thing to go in 2006 with the 7 day layoff. It will be important for the Tigers to not give the Giants extra outs, because this time of year they always seem to come back and hurt you.
It is unlikely for Detroit’s starting pitchers to continue on their path of domination, so it will be important to limit the walks issued. San Francisco batters are susceptible to the strike out, so the strike out kings need to keep pumping in strikes.
San Francisco will not allow Miguel and Prince to beat them in a 7 game series, so who will step up this time around. In the ALDS it was Don Kelly, Avisail Garcia, and Omar Infante. In the ALCS, it was Jhonny Peralta, Delmon Young, and Andy Dirks. The Tigers big 2 are better than the Giants big 2, but Detroit will be in good shape if their supporting cast also outshines San Francisco’s.
Go Tigers!
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