Charging into the Post-season: Detroit Tigers Clinch Central

Posted on by farlane

Alex Avila

Alex Avila, photo by Keith Allison

On Wednesday night the Detroit Tigers clinched their 3rd straight American League Central crown on the strength of 7 shutout innings by presumptive AL Cy Young candidate Max Scherzer. It looks right now like the Tigers will open the playoffs in Oakland, facing the As once again.

Here’s 10 reasons why the Tigers are returning to the post-season!

Check Keith’s photo of Tiger catcher Alex Avila out bigger and see more in his Detroit Tigers slideshow.

Lots more Detroit Tigers on Michigan in Pictures!

Tigers’ ace Max Scherzer will start 2013 All Star game!

Posted on by farlane

Max Scherzer

Max Scherzer, photo by Keith Allison

The Detroit Tigers report that Detroit Tiger pitcher Max Sherzer has been given the nod to start the All Star Game tonight by Manager Jim Leyland:

Though Scherzer’s unbeaten season ended Saturday, he remained the perfect fit to start for the American League in this year’s All-Star Game. Manager Jim Leyland took care of the announcement Monday afternoon, naming his young right-hander for the honor.

“I don’t think I need to explain it any more than that,” Leyland said Monday, citing Scherzer’s 13-1 record.

Scherzer will be the second consecutive Tiger to start the All-Star Game, following Justin Verlander’s memorable opening inning from last year’s Midsummer Classic in Kansas City. They become the first teammates to start consecutive All-Star Games since D-backs teammates Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling started in 2001 and ’02, respectively.

“It means so much, especially for being my first All-Star Game, to be in this position,” Scherzer said Monday. “This is what you dream for, to get the nod and get the ball over so many great pitchers.”

For Scherzer, it’s merely the latest bit of history in a season that has forced several references to the history books. His 13-0 start was the best by a Major League pitcher since Roger Clemens in 1986 and the fourth-longest in modern Major League history. He came within a game of becoming the first Major League pitcher to enter the All-Star break with a 14-0 record, losing Saturday to Texas.

As it is, his 13-1 record ties him for the Major League lead in wins alongside fellow All-Star Matt Moore. His 152 strikeouts and 10.55 strikeouts per nine innings rank second to Yu Darvish among AL hurlers, while his 3.19 ERA ranks ninth.

The game starts at 8 PM and though Verlander probably wants to forget his 5 run shelling last year, it definitely shows that Tigers have one of the best pitching staffs in baseball. Check out Max Scherzer page at MLB.com, and here’s hoping the American League can break a three year drought!

EDIT: Scherzer joins Miguel Cabrera in the starting lineup along with Justin Verlander, Prince Fielder, Torii Hunter, Jhonny Peralta giving the Tigers a MLB leading 6 All Stars. Also, because I know that there’s one or two folks as geeky as me reading, Scherzer joins Justin Verlander, Jack Morris (2x), Mark Fidrych, Denny McLain, Jim Bunning and Hal Newhouser as Tiger pitchers who have been selected to start the annual showcase.

Check Keith’s photo out background big and see more in his Detroit Tigers at Baltimore Orioles slideshow.

More Detroit Tigers on Michigan in Pictures!

Happy 101st Birthday, Tiger Stadium

Posted on by farlane

Tigers at night

Tigers at night, photo by baklein62

101 years ago today on April 20, 1912, Tiger Stadium opened at the corner of Michigan & Trumbull in Detroit’s Corktown Neighborhood. Last year Eric Adelson of Yahoo Sports observed that this milestone passed largely unmarked:

It was 100 years ago this weekend. Ty Cobb scored the first run by stealing home. From that day until 1999, this very spot rumbled with din and greatness. Pretty much every legend that played in Fenway in the 20th century also played here. Lou Gehrig sat himself down for the first time in 2,130 games here, ending his incredible ironman streak. Babe Ruth hit his 700th home run here. Reggie Jackson hit one into the right field light tower here during the ’71 All-Star game. The Tigers won World Series titles here in 1968 and again in 1984, with Kirk Gibson launching a late-inning home run off Goose Gossage that no Tigers fan alive to see it will ever forget. Fair to say this was the most exciting place in the history of Michigan.

And now there’s hardly a trace. Fans committed to honoring the old stadium in some form maintain a home plate, a pitcher’s mound, two chalk lines for base paths and two benches where the dugouts used to be. The 125-foot flagpole from the old center field is still standing.

While the old ballpark’s birthday is definitely passing unmarked again this year, mLive hadan article about the uncertain future of the site a couple of weeks ago. If you’d like to do a little remembering, head over to 100 years at Tiger Stadium on Absolute Michigan for a whole lot more about this beloved ballpark and links to videos including the intro to the DVD Michigan & Trumbull featuring Ernie Harwell. (a 2 1/2 minute stroll through Tiger Stadium)

Check Barney’s photo out on black and see a whole lot more in his great Baseball as Art slideshow.

Lots more Detroit Tigers pictures on Michigan in Pictures!