Magic # is 3 after Sweep of Comerica's Team

Finally, a series you can take something from! The Cleveland Indians overcame deficits in three straight games and took it to the Tigers to sweep the most important and pivotal series of the season. The Tigers came to Jacobs Field trailing by 4.5 games (5 in the loss column). A sweep by them and they would have trailed by only 1.5 games. Unfortunately for their plans, the Indians magic number for clinching the Central Division dwindled from nine to three in three days.

It was an impressive performance by the Indians, who now are tied with the Angels for the best record in all of the MLB! The Tribe had hitting for power, awesome starting pitching, and an unbeatable bullpen. {Their defense was horrendous. : ( }

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070920/SPORTS02/709200423/1048

Manager Leyland conceded the Central Division title between puffs after the third beating of the week. Like it was his to give away! The Tigers have never won the division. 2007 will be the Indians division-leading 7th title.

As the Detroit daily newspaper print copy states in headline form, the Tigers magic number is '08.

The season series went to the team from Ohio with Cleveland winning 12 of the 18 games.

The highlight of the series was a fan's sign in the stands after Casey Blake's walkoff home run, stating, "First the Pistons, now the Tigers!" to which I add "...and don't forget Appalachian State!"

That team up north - BCS Champs?

Appalachian State, a great team in their division of the NCAA football world, beat the BCS champion to-be Michigan team. BCS Champ would mean they have the best program in all of the NCAA football world. (Something the Buckeyes of Ohio State have been.) Well, that little misstep cost them all of that and an undefeated season.

Then, they lost again the following week in their worst loss since before Bo Schembechler took over, a 50-14 loss to Ohio State back in 1968.

http://library.osu.edu/sites/archives/OSUvsMichigan/1968game.htm

That Team Up North has not won since Bo Schembechler, another Ohio-born football coach and former Buckeye assistant coach, died on the eve of the 2006 UM/Ohio State game, a string of 4 straight losses.

The Ohio State University Buckeyes remain undefeated and are ranked in the Top Ten (of the NCAA football world) ahead of both Appalachian State and Oregon

Two Game Split at Jacobs Field

The two worst teams in baseball (for the past two weeks) squared off during the last two nights. The Tigers won on Tuesday by attacking Joe Borowski in the 10th inning, 6-2. The Tigers returned the game on Wednesday by only managing 2 runs in 5-2 loss to Cleveland. The teams remain tied for first in the A.L. Central despite the Tribe being swept by the Yankees in a three game sold-out series at Jacobs Field over the weekend.

Grady Sizemore did not bat in the lead off spot for the first time since May of 2005. His first at-bat (in the three spot) resulted in a 2 run home run, his 20th this year. He joins Joe Carter, Roberto Alomar, and Bobby Bonds as the only Indians with 20 HRs and 25 steals in the same season.

C.C. Sabathia (14-6) pitched well on Tuesday (no decision). Fausto Carmona (14-7) got the win on Wednesday.

Next week, the two teams play a three game series at Comerica Park.

Last line of this article makes for great rivalry building

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070704&content_id=2067476&vkey=news_cle&fext=.jsp&c_id=cle

Misplaced Confidence

What a blow out! 12-3!! Detroit's offense looked really good especially when you consider that was our best pitcher that gave up three home runs, ten hits, and 7 runs...in four innings. It was very disappointing.

It was encouraging that the Indians got to Verlander, too. However, he had some fabulous innings in the middle of his appearance where he got eight outs in a row (including five strikeouts in a row).

The Indians remain in first place by a one game margin on Detroit. Now, Cleveland heads to Toronto while the Tigers host the best team in the MLB, the Boston Red Sox.

Detroit Free Press article re: Tigers vs. Indians

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070703/SPORTS02/707030399/1050

Detroit 6, Cleveland 4

Plenty of base runners, not enough two out hits. Had they come through with one or two, what a different outcome this game would have had! How many times did the Indians have the bases loaded and fail to get anyone home?

So, my conclusion? These are two great teams. Detroit has five All Stars, with pitcher Jeremy Bonderman awaiting the results of the "Final Vote". Cleveland has three, Victor Martinez, C.C. Sabathia, and (my favorite) Grady Sizemore.

On the ESPN broadcast of Sunday night's 1-0 Tiger win over Minnesota, John Miller stated that the Tiger players were upset that Sizemore was chosen over Curtis Granderson. Sizemore was chosen by the MLB players. Should the right to vote for the best players be taken away from the players? Their own manager, Jim Leyland did not pick Granderson. What are they saying? The comment was made that the Tiger players felt Granderson had better stats. Let's compare.

http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/sortable_player_stats.jsp?c_id=mlb§ion1=1&statSet1=1&sortByStat=SB&statType=1&timeFrame=1&timeSubFrame=2007&baseballScope=mlb&prevPage1=1&readBoxes=true&teamPosCode=All&box6=XXXX429713cleO&box46=XXXX434158detO&compare.x=24&compare.y=7

At this MLB stats site, I see Sizemore leads in the important statistics including runs, HRs, RBI, and stolen bases. And although Grady has more strikeouts, he has twice as many walks. He even has fewer fielding errors in more games.

I will not attend the game at Comerica Park today because I want to keep score and be close to Canton in case Sandy needs something. Sabathia vs. Verlander is the best pitching matchup of the season. I am confident that the Indians will win this get away game.

(And no, I did not hang out at the front door of the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham waiting for a glimpse of the Tribe. Maybe in August.)