The Oakland Press (

CAPUTO: Despite angst and agony, the Tigers earned AL Central title


Monday, October 1, 2012

While the Tigers didn't exactly "roll" to the American League Central title, to their credit, they didn't "back in," either.
Down times? The Tigers had more than a few in 2012. There was occasion when their quest to make the playoffs was less than hopeful.
Ultimately, though, the Tigers persevered.
Trailing the White Sox by three games with just 16 remaining following a dreadful defeat in Chicago, the Tigers were left for dead at the side of Baseball Road.
Two weeks later, they broke out the bubbly in Kansas City.
Actually, they captured the division title with room to spare, dotting the "I" with a victory at Kansas City Monday.
Embattled manager Jim Leyland can set up his starting pitching rotation for the American League Division Series any way he wants, although the odds are one-to-infinity the Game 1 starter will be Justin Verlander.
The Tigers are, after all the angst and hand-wringing, division champs for the second year in a row.
So they will not even win 90 games this season. So, in a sense, the Tigers underachieved in many ways. So their fan base is emotionally spent after living vicariously through the Tigers this summer.
It is quite an accomplishment nonetheless when considered the Tigers haven't been to the playoffs in back-to-back seasons since 1934-35.
The Tigers have been in existence since the early 1900s. In all that time, they have won just four World Series titles. It's always special isn't it, when they get a shot at a fifth?
The game of panic turned into celebration. Now it is a game of hurry up and wait to find out who the Tigers opponent will be in the ALDS.
In theory, the Tigers making the playoffs should not have been this difficult.
Their starting pitching rotation is led by the best pitcher of his generation, Verlander.
He is joined in the category of likely Hall of Famer third baseman Miguel Cabrera, who has had one of the best seasons ever by a Detroit hitter.
Prince Fielder has a shot at having his plaque hanging in Cooperstown, as well. Sometimes his fielding can frustrating, but a hitter with that kind of power and on-base percentage near .400 is rare.
Austin Jackson is one of the best all-around outfielders in baseball. All over the field, the Tigers either have high-priced veterans in the midst of solid major league careers, or younger players, who are accomplished considering the briefness of their respective careers.
Coupled with the AL Central not presenting another truly quality team, should have made winning the division less treacherous.
The Tigers are only the seventh-best team in the American League. The flip side is it may not matter.
The Tigers are flawed.
Their range defensively is shockingly bad. They don't run the bases well.
While they have proven major league hitters at all spots in the order save for right field, other than Cabrera, Jackson, Fielder and Andy Dirks, the ups and downs of their other hitters this season has been maddening.
The Tigers bullpen is a like their hitting. Sometimes, it sets up perfectly. Other times, it's like standing on a high cliff and looking down with the wind blowing 100 mph at their back.
Playoff baseball is unpredictable. The best team does not always win the pennant or the World Series.
Other than the Rangers, the Tigers' chance of reaching the World Series is as good any team from the American League. And it's not like the Rangers are unbeatable. The Tigers played a nip-and-tuck set against Texas in 2011's American League Championship Series.
All the agony during the regular season has been rendered meaningless.
Warts and all, the Tigers have made the first step toward a World Series title.
It doesn't mean they'll get it, but getting the opportunity can't be dismissed.