Game #162 (2007 Detroit Tigers Replay Update)

Where we left off, the Detroit Tigers had to win out the rest of the schedule to force a one-game playoff against the New York Yankees.

During Game #156, the Tigers suffered their last loss, a 2-0 victory by Jorge de la Rosa of the Kansas City Royals -- that game put the Tigers in the win out the remainder of the season situation. The Tigers followed up that performance with a three-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins, who have been a nuisance to say at the very least.

Now the Tigers had to go to Chicago for the final series of the season, in Chicago. The Tigers won the first two games, edging the White Sox in both, by the scores of 5-3 & 4-2.

Now it comes down to this....

GAME #162

The Detroit Tigers send Chad Durbin (15-7, 4.73 ERA / Grade C) to face Jose Contreras (a Grade D pitcher).

Jermaine Dye and the White Sox strike early, taking a 2-0 lead with a two-run single in the bottom of the first inning.

Top of the 3rd - The Tigers cut the lead in half, when Brandon Inge scores from 2nd, on a dropped fly (error) by Jermaine Dye in right.

Top of the 4th - The Tigers tie the game up at 2-2, with an RBI single, driving in Placido Polanco from third base; Brandon Inge would hit into a double play to end the inning.

Top of the 5th - Curtis Granderson hits his 26th home run of the season off of Contreras, a one-out solo shot to right, to give the Tigers a 3-2 lead. Ryan Raburn followed with a single, but the Tigers could not do any more damage.

Jermaine Dye: Tigers in Dye or go home situation.

Top of the 6th - Tigers start gaining momentum as Jose Contreras gets sloppy, he would end up plunking Placido Polanco for the second time in the game. Polanco has but hit by a pitch, a team-leading 14 times with Brandon Inge. Carlos Guillen followed with his 2nd hit of the game; Guillen has underachieved for most part of season, but has been hitting well in September; Runners on 1st & 2nd. Sean Casey hits into a team-leading 24th double play, Polanco now on 3rd, with two outs. Brandon Inge (batting .189) hits a clutch-single to left, to score in Polanco; Inge is thrown out at 2nd trying to stretch play into a double for final out in the top-half of the inning. Tigers lead 4-2

Bottom of 6th - After striking out Jim Thome to lead off the inning, the Tigers were thinking strategy, and chose to go with Fernando Rodney to face Paul Konerko and Dye; Dye , had a two-run single in the first; Chad Durbin leaves, allowing 5 hits, 2 earned runs, three walks in 5.1 innings. Konerko would reach first safely on a infield grounder that Brandon Inge fielded well, but would end up throwing to first, forcing first baseman Sean Casey off the bag (throwing error). One out, one on -- Jermaine Dye strikes again, two-run homer that would tie the game, 4-4. Scott Podsednik follows up with a double -- forcing Tigers to go to the bullpen again. Tigers call on Zach Miner, Miner retires both Juan Uribe and Danny Richar to end inning. Game tied though, 4-4

Top of the 7th - With one out, White Sox reliever Ryan Bukvich would allow back-to-back singles to Curtis Granderson and Ryan Raburn; The hit would be Granderson's 240th hit of the season (709 AB's). With runners on 1st & 3rd, former White Sock Magglio Ordonez (batting .378 with 39 HR & 126 RBI) is intentionally walked -- White Sox looking for a double play to get out of the inning. Gary Sheffield would hit into a force, and just reaches first safely, while Granderson scores from third to give Detroit the lead. With runners on 1st & 3rd again, Placido Polanco who has been coming up with big hits of late, collects an RBI single. The White Sox pull Bukvich, and send reliever Ehren Wassermann (Grade B-Z, making him a Grade A-Z against first batter Guillen). Carlos Guillen hits into inning-ending ground out. Tigers lead 6-4

Bottom of the 7th - Zach Miner returns for some more action in the 7th, but this inning would not be as successful for him -- giving up back-to-back singles to Toby Hall and Jerry Owens, runners on 1st & 2nd. Josh Fields who has been a dangerous foe of the Tigers all season, hits into a double play, as the Tigers get the lead runner Hall; Owens on second, two outs. The Tigers have a conference on the mound, discussing their strategy again Jim Thome, who also has lit up the Tigers this season -- They decide to pitch to Thome, but they don't give up any give-me pitches, as Thome draws a walk. Runners on 1st & 2nd, two outs, and the Tigers pay the price against Paul Konerko -- Paulie hits a three-run HR that sucks the wind out of the Tigers' dugout. It appears the Tigers' luck is running out, as the White Sox take 7-6 lead. Jermaine Dye, 2-for-3 with 4 RBI, grounds out to finish the inning. Miner has been a very effective reliever for the Tigers, 87 appearances with an ERA staying in the flat 3.00 ERA range, he has been a bit prone to the long ball (especially of late) with 12 HR's allowed in 109 innings. White Sox lead 7-6

Konerko delivers nail in coffin?

Top of the 8th - Sean Casey leads off with a single against Ehren Wassermann, but the Tigers would do nothing after that, as Brandon Inge, Ivan Rodriguez & Curtis Granderson (who has 3 hits) goes down in order.

Bottom of the 8th - The Tigers switch from Jason Grilli to Tim Byrdak, after Grilli gives up one-out double to Juan Uribe. Brydak retires Danny Richar and Toby Hall to keep the White Sox from adding more damage.

Top of the 9th - Things are starting to look bleak for the Detroit Tigers as Bobby Jenks, the White Sox closer (Grade A-XZ) takes the mound; Tigers do have Ryan Raburn, Magglio Ordonez, and Gary Sheffield coming to the plate though... then again Jenks has collected 5 saves against the Tigers this season. Raburn leads off with a single, but Magglio would fly out for out number one. Gary Sheffield, leading the team with 127 RBI, would get plunked by a pitch, he trots down to first while staring down Jenks. 1st & 2nd with one out, Placido Polanco (batting .297) comes to the plate, and makes his 200th hit of the season, a big one -- Three-run homer by Polly! Can you believe it?! Their backs against the wall, once again, and they come through yet again! Jenks is in shock. Jenks recovers by retiring Carlos Guillen and Sean Casey, but the damage is done. Tigers lead 9-7

Polanco: Once again, clutch.

Bottom of the 9th - Bobby Seay trying to convert his 20th Save, since taking over for Todd Jones as the team's closer, he will have hit work cut out for him: Jerry Owens, Josh Fields and Jim Thome (with Paul Konerko and Jermaine Dye following if White Sox can get a few hits on the board) are up this inning. Seay would strike out Owens, and then Fields would fly out, for two quick outs. Thome decides not to make it easy for Seay, as he hits a double to right; White Sox decide to pinch-run for Thome with Luis Terrero. Tying run is at the plate in the dangerous Paul Konerko, who hit a clutch go-ahead three-run HR in the bottom of the 7th inning. Seay reaches back, delivers, Konerko takes a huge swing, but strikes out! Bring on the Yankees! The Tigers have forced a one-game playoff against New York.

The Tigers have now won 6 straight games, and stand at 94-68

CORRECTION!!!!

So while I was doing the write-up today on this game that I actually finished about two weeks ago, I realized that I did not just made my playoff hopes a potential -- but that I actually made the playoffs, and actually won the division!

In real-life, the Indians went 12-6 against the Tigers, they only went 9-9 against me in the 2007 Detroit Tigers Replay season. At one point, likely the end of August sometime, probably right after my final series with the Yankees, I thought with the way the Indians would end the season by going on a tear in real-life, that I had only a shot at the wildcard spot held by the New York Yankees.

The 2007 Detroit Tigers celebrating their amazing season.

So I was just checking to see how many games that I lost the division to the Indians, when I forgot about my +3 differential against the Indians, and did not take in the effect that I finished 6 games better than the actual Detroit Tigers led by Jim Leyland. I was so obsessed in matching 94 wins that I did not even think I was in the running for the division.

For all that may be lost, I played only the Tigers games for the 2007 Detroit Tigers Season Replay, what ever differential that I create in my Tiger match-ups with those teams in those games, would only be different. The rest of the teams' records would not be effected, so whatever the Mariners did against the Angels would remain exactly the same, etc etc...

So I went on a September tear of 21-6, not thinking anything of it, or the fact that I was 6 games better than actual Tigers, I was just trying to match Yankees' 94 wins. The Indians in real life won 96 games, but subtract 3 wins, due to the fact that I had a +3 win differential against them, and it appears that in Game #161 when Cleveland lost to K.C. in real-life, while I won a close game against the White Sox that I ACTUALLY took the division lead.

Now back to Game #162...

If I lost this game, we would be playing a one-game playoff actually against the Cleveland Indians for the division -- due to the fact that Cleveland did beat Kansas City on last day of season... but we won...

and apparently we won the American League Central! 

Which means the Cleveland Indians are out, and that the New York Yankees, the A.L. Wildcard will face against the Boston Red Sox in the ALDS, while my Tigers would have to play the Los Angeles Angels -- Angels own home-field against us, due to having a 5-3 record against us in season play.