Not the Time to Panic

If you've learned anything about manager Jim Leyland over the last couple of days, it is that he is BULLHEADED. At this point of the season, I applaud that! I applaud that he stuck with Pudge in Game 4, while many fans were clamoring to bench him; you had to know that a career .300 hitter would eventually produce in the World Series - that he had some pride, and cared about delivering a championship to Detroit. With the Tigers' passive hitting after achieving a 3-0 lead, only to blow it via the bullpen, who would believe that Leyland would not pull a rotation switch to Kenny Rogers, after Tony LaRusso had announced a switch to Jeff Weaver for Game 5 well before this game was played? But Leyland is an odd kind of bird. Here is a man with extreme confidence! If you could erase the sloppy play of a rusty bullpen, this series is tied going into Game 5. There isn't any question that the week lay-off has hurt the Tigers more, than it has helped them. While Detroit failed to put the foot over the throat when they were in command, this thing isn't over yet! Detroit had a window for teasing St. Louis that has now closed, and now the Cards have to face Tigers that will be snarling! They are right back in the environment that they savor; they are extreme underdogs... embarassed, but not beaten! Look out now; the mistakes are over now, and there will be nothing but focus, execution, and magic from here on out!

While most fans were thinking, "this isn't so drastic - Rogers will just be moved up for Game 5." But NO... Leyland says in the post-game, that it will be rookie Justin Verlander, as scheduled!!! WHAT BALLS!!!

This caught me totally by surprise! I was figuring, as I'm sure a lot were... Game 5 - Jeff Weaver vs. Kenny Rogers; and oh, Weaver will just crumble under that pressure, with the Tigers lighting him up, to come home for the last two, and then, WE WIN! Jim Leyland sees it different. I think he envisions the Tigers scoring at least 5 runs against Weaver, and on second thought, so do I!

He's willing to risk conventional wisdom, because he believes in his guys. This makes for an upcoming series switch of momentum, since La Russo has already blinked, while Leyland hasn't. When you think about it, the Tiger bats are coming around, and he trusts Verlander to shut down the Cardinals enough to win this one, and send the series back to the rabid fans waiting in Detroit, with the dual left-handed nemisis of Robertson and Rogers, while the Tiger bats are beginning to heat up. St. Louis doesn't have a prayer in beating Kenny Rogers at The Copa, and he'll be going for World Series immortality, with a chance to break the record for scoreless innings in the post-season, and in that, an enhanced chance to take his place in Cooperstown.

Nate Robertson has yet to pitch at home in the post-season, and Lord knows, his teamates owe him some run support, that hasn't been there most of the season. I believe that it is a good gamble, and one where the Tigers will ultimately end up prevailing! Detroit has come back from 1-3 vs. the Cards before in '68, and as rare as it has been, I believe history will repeat itself this season. I just believe that this time, there will be a statement made... something like Tigers 10, Cardinals 1.


I still believe that the Tigers are the best team in baseball today, and now, they have they opportunity to prove it, WITH putting the icing on one magical season. BLESS YOU, BOYS and GO GET 'EM, TIGERS! While on the brink of elimination, this season is far from over; destiny will take care of the rest now.