The Tigers won last night in an odd, rain shortened game but they were also eliminated from playoff contention as the Yankees blew out the Devil Rays to clinch up the Wild Card.  As a Tiger fan though, it’s hard to be too disappointed and in a way, I think they go their seasons crossed over and 2007 really should have happened in 2006 and vice versa.  I know I got spoiled by what happened in 2006 too but if the Tigers win out, they’ll finish with 90 wins.  The last time they had back to back 90 win seasons was 1983-1984.  They played meaningful baseball in mid-September when just two years ago, that’s all we were asking for.

In addition, making the playoffs is tough.  I know that sounds simple but look at the Tigers near 20 year drought before 2006.  Teams can be good (i.e. the Tigers through most of the 1980s), but just miss the playoffs for several years so hopefully, this is just a bump in the road and they can get back in the mix next year.

On the game, it rained pretty much the entire time.  The Twins jumped all over Jair Jurrjens for four runs in the first and the Tigers scored three in the second before the rain delay.  I was out in left field so it’s hard to tell how a pitcher is throwing, but Johan Santana walked home a run and I don’t think he brought his best stuff in a game that, for him, didn’t matter.  The Tigers got to face a new pitcher after a long rain delay and they jumped all over rookie Nick Blackburn for six runs.  The Twins shot themselves in the foot with some errors too (and some hits that should have been errors).  After five innings and change, the tarp came back on and once the Yankees finished their game over the Rays, it was called an official game.

Magglio Ordonez is hitting .359 and Ichiro seems to be stuck at .350.  This is one of the few remaining stories for the Tigers while Placido Polanco picked up one hit leaving him with 196.  Mike Hessman was the hitting star and he went two for three with his fourth homerun and four RBIs.

It’s a day off today, then three in Chicago.  This is the last Tigers baseball we’ll be getting so I’ll be sure to tune in.

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