The Detroit Tigers can sometimes make it tough for us fans to watch them as they make games harder than they have to be. For instance, they seem to squander games when they matter the most like at the end of this season. They clearly could have clinched the American League Central this year by either winning or splitting their last two series. They let Kansas City become their nemesis again by losing a tough series (Kansas City always seems to have our number). Then they play a lackluster series against the White Sox where they apparently left their bats at home.
So now we are left with a one-game playoff with the Twins in Minnesota. This domed game makes every crevice on my body tighten up since we always seem to have trouble seeing the ball against the roof. It is a definite advantage for the Twins.
Fast forward to the 8th inning, the Twins are up 4 – 3 and we start the inning with Ordonez who has been tearing the cover off of the ball the last month of the season. One pitch, one swing, and Ordonez ties up the ball game with a big time homerun. I don’t think that the people complaining about his contract last month are picking up their phones, so I won’t call. Then Guerrier walks the next two batters. We’ve got a tie ball game and runners on first and second with no outs. The little league coach in me is yelling Bunt, Bunt, Bunt! We need to get these batters in scoring positions and take away the double play ball. The Twins bring in Nathan who has owned the Tigers during the past two years and he gets them out of the inning. No hits, no runs, no bunts.
In the 9th inning, still tied, the Tigers get runners on first and third with no outs. Bunt, Bunt, Bunt! No bunt, one strike out and a double play. This stinks, I can’t take this anymore! During the bottom of the ninth, Rodney comes in for the Tigers and does his job. It’s going to extra innings.
The 10th inning comes and goes with more theatrics. Both teams get runners in scoring position. They get hits, 1 run each, and we are still tied.
On to the 11th inning, no change. On to the 12th inning, in the top half of inning, the Tigers have the bases loaded with 1 out and Brandon Inge at the plate. Will you bunt already! No bunt and Inge hits a grounder to the second baseman, the throw to the plate gets Cabrerra out. Next up Laird with the bases loaded, he strikes out and I have had at least three heart attacks. Twins come up in the 12th, base hit, walk, base hit, Twins win the American League Central! Congrats Twins!