With the White Sox win last night they pulled within 6.5 of the league leading Tigers. They are starting to pull away from the pack, and making the White Sox only chance at making the post season by winning the Wild Card, of which they only have a half of a game lead over the Twins.

I would very much welcome the Twins passing the Sox and them not getting into the playoffs. I’m sure being a Cubs fan, makes me a White Sox enemy, but regardless I don’t like some of the players on the team, and I don’t like the coach at all. Putting it nicely, they are jerks. Also, their two play-by-play guys are the most biast announcers I’ve ever heard in my lifetime. Every time I hear the phrases, “He gone!”, and “You can put it on the boarddddddddddd YEAH!”, I want to throw something at the TV. They can never say thing good about the other team, it’s always about the Sox.

Getting back to the Tigers, I’ve kind of become an over night fans of theirs. I think it’s mainly because I’ve been a fan of Jim Leyand over the years. He always had good ball clubs. I will be routing for them whole-heartedly in the play offs. It’s hard to imagine that only two years ago, they only won 40 some odd games while loosing 120 games.

With the deadline trade for Sean Casey, I think pretty much put the icing on the cake for the guys. While Casey might not have the range of Derrek Lee, Pujols, or Teixeria, but if it’s in his range at all, you can guarentee that it will be an out. He has one of the best fielding percentages in the league ever since he was brought up in the Reds organization. Also he may not be a huge power hitter, but he’s hit over .300 most if not all of his career. The Tigers are a huge power threat with guys that are going to put up 40+ homeruns in a season, but they have more spread out power in their lineup. They have a good handful of guys that can easily put up 20+ homeruns in a season. Right now they have three players, Marcus Thames, Brandon Inge, and Craig Monroe that have more than 20 homeruns and three other active players have more than 10. They are also a team that spreads the RBIs around the team as well. Simply put, the Tigers have some of the best small ball play in the league.

I’m guessing with the slipping of the White Sox since the All-Star break the Tigers will end up with about a 10 game lead over the Sox when it’s all said and done, with either the Twins or the Sox making the wild card. With the season winding down, the Tiger’s rotation needs to stay strong, anchored by likely Rookie of the Year, Justin Verlander, in order to compete in the playoffs. That is only their real weakness now. Mike Maroth is still on the shelf while on the DL, and Kenny Rogers is slipping in the 2nd half, like always does. Miner had a bad start last night against the Tiger, but has also pitched well for a rookie. Jermey Bonderman is still pushing himself to be one of the best in the AL. It’s just nice to see him get some support offensively and not having to do it all himself.

Good Luck Tigers!