41
That is the number to keep in mind. There are exactly 41 games left in the 2012 MLB regular season for the Detroit Tigers.
41 games to gain 1.5 games against the Chicago White Sox, who the Tigers will play 7 times in these 41 games, or gain 2 games over the recently departed Baltimore Orioles, Tampa Bay Rays, andOaklandA’s. Sure they don’t need to gain exactly two games over all those teams but let’s aim high for now.
In the last 10 games the Tigers hare 4-6, and over the last week they are just 3-3. They just lost two in a row to the Orioles. From here on in the opponent does not matter, save those 7 games against the White Sox. The Tigers are 7-4 against the Sox this year another get they get three more times at home and four more times in Chicago. That means to win the division the Tigers sort of control their own destiny. If they can beat up on the Sox in those seven games, and if they can win a majority of the 7 series left to play the division is theirs.
The other remaining opponents areTorontoat home, Los Angeles Angels at home and on the road,Kansas Cityon the road and at home,Clevelandat home and on the road,Oaklandat home, andMinnesotaat home and on the road. Beyond beating up on the White Sox in their seven remaining head to head contests the Tigers need to go out and win as many of these series as they can. 21 of those games will be played atComericaPark, and 20 of them will be played on the road.
A .500 record in these last 41 games is not going to get it done. The Tigers need to make a big push, well maybe not a big one but a push none the less. They need to get hot, and stay hot over these 41 or games or until the divisional race is determined. If I were a betting man I would not wager money on the Tigers making the post season without winning this division. It may come down to that, but I think at least two other teams have a better shot at winning the two AL Wild Card sports.
That is where a summer of mediocre baseball really starts to hurt. The Tigers themselves have painted themselves into this corner. It is not over by any means, but the door to the playoffs is closing a bit. Now with each game played, and each week that passes that door either closes more, or gets cracked back open a bit. We shall see.
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