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Analytic philosophy (and other stuff) in the anal-retentive tradition. Since 5 November 2003. By Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D. All material copyrighted.

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The season is down to its final month. Detroit and Chicago lost today; Minnesota won. Detroit, which no longer has the best record in Major League Baseball (the New York Mets do), is 83-51, having lost two of three games in New York to the hated Yankees. (Sorry, Tom.) Chicago is 78-55 and Minnesota 77-55. If the Tigers split their remaining 28 games, they’ll finish 97-65. The White Sox will have to go 19-10 to tie them. The Twins will have to go 20-10 to tie. So while the Tigers have been struggling (can you say “Placido Polanco”?), they’re still in control of their destiny. Just win, baby! I’m afraid that if the Tigers lose the division, I’ll be scarred for life. P.S.: If this post seems disjointed, it’s because I’m writing under the influence—of Van Halen. You should not try to write while listening to “Panama.”

Posted at 6:10 PM CT on Thursday, 31 August 2006

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Tom Anger (mail) (www):

Keith, I would add that if the Yankees only split their remaining games the Red Sox would have to go 23-9 for a tie in the AL East. As for the Tigers, they are 7-15 since August 7. Based on that, I doubt that they'll win even half of their remaining games. Therefore, the White Sox and Twins probably have a better shot at the AL Central title than you suggest. But I still have a soft spot in my heart for the Tigers. I'd like to see them win the AL Central title and advance to the ALCS -- where they would lose to the Yankees.

8.31.2006 7:53pm

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Steve Walsh (mail):

It must be said, sadly for me, that the Red Sox are done for 2006. Going 9-18 in August was as demoralizing as it was unexpected. They were in first place by 3 1/2 games on July 22nd. Oh well.

I am a parochial fan, a homer, if you will, and so now that the Sox are done I will pay little attention to baseball. But what attention I do pay will be directed toward cheering for the Tigers. They are a young, likable bunch, some might say underdogs. And they have two other positive characteristics:

1. They are the favorite team of my web friend KBJ.
2. They are not the New York Yankees.

Go Tigers!

9.1.2006 6:14am

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JJS:

KBJ--your frequent confession that you would rather the Tigers lose early than make the post-season and not win the World Series looms large. Even if the Tigers hold on (which I predicted they would not back in July), they have not shown that they can beat the Yankees, who hold a 5-2 edge in their seven games. So far they have been lucky in that they, Chicago and the Twins have been beating each other up over the last few weeks.
By the way, "Panama" is not that long of a song, so what else may have distratced you?

9.1.2006 8:30am

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Keith Burgess-Jackson (mail) (www):

You miscalculate, Tom. On 16 August, the Tigers were up by six games. On 31 August, they were up by four games. However badly the Tigers have played recently, the White Sox and Twins have played almost as badly. The Tigers will hold on, and then they will crush the living shit out of your Yankees.

9.1.2006 11:57am

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Tom Anger (mail) (www):

Ah, but the White Sox and Twins aren't flailing quite as badly as the Tigers.

Since the Tigers' last game with the White Sox, on Aug. 24, the Tigers have gone 2-4 while the White Sox have gone 3-3; a gain for the White Sox of 1 game a week. There are about 4.5 weeks left in the season. Therefore, the Tigers' lead over the White Sox goes to zero at the end of the season.

Since the Tigers' last game with the Twins, on Aug. 9, the Tigers have gone 7-13 while the Twins have gone 12-9; a gain for the Twins of 1.37 games a week. At that rate, the Twins (now 5 games behind) will overtake the Tigers in the last week of the season.

My money would be on the Twins, who will face the White Sox in the season-ending series -- at Minnesota. The Twins are 9-7 vs. the White Sox, and 4-3 at home. That final series will be played at Minnesota and the noise made by the Twins' fans will rattle the White Sox.

Not that I'm rooting against Detroit, mind you. I'd love to see a 7-game ALCS final between the Yankees and the Tigers, with the Yankees winning the 7th game in the 9th inning, as Mariano Rivera saves the game for NY.

9.1.2006 2:07pm

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Keith Burgess-Jackson (mail) (www):

You need to quit while you're ahead, Tom. You're proving my point. For the Twins or White Sox to catch the Tigers, the Tigers, who have had the best record in Major League Baseball all season, will have to continue playing terrible baseball. How likely is that? I predict that the Tigers will win the division by at least six games. Remember: Minnesota and Chicago will beat up on each other. As for your Yankees, good luck. Has there ever been more money wasted than by George Steinbrenner over the past six seasons? Repeat after me: No World Series title since 2000. No title in 2001. No title in 2002. No title in 2003. No title in 2004. No title in 2005. Don't say that my Tigers haven't won, either. They spend less than half of what the Yankees spend. See here.

9.1.2006 2:34pm

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Keith Burgess-Jackson (mail) (www):

Don't misrepresent me, JJS. Here is what I said. If I had to choose between (1) the Tigers finish in last place in their division and (2) the Tigers make it to the World Series but lose, I'd choose 1.

9.1.2006 4:07pm

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Tom Anger (mail) (www):

Keith, we'll just have to wait and see, won't we? As far as "bang for the buck" goes, I'll leave a comment at that post. I do believe that I enjoy a spirited discussion about baseball more than I do a spirited discussion about politics. How about you?

9.1.2006 4:27pm

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