World Series Time!

The Major League Baseball playoffs have reached their pinnicle; a match-up between the very best of the American League vs. the best of the National League, appropriately titled the "World Series." Game one of the World Series started last night and if you are a Tigers fan (like me), it didn't start the way you would've liked. A lot of people thought the long rest in between games would not hurt the Tigers. In fact, it had been seven days since the Tigers last played; the day when they swept the Oakland A's in the ALCS. Needless to say, the Tigers were absolutely flat. They struggled at the plate; their pitching wasn't up to snuff, and they were basically out of it from the first few innings of the game. If you were a Tigers fan, you were disappointed by game one and thought it was rather boring (at least I did). They just didn't show much heart and failed to do what they did best during the previous seven games of the playoffs.

Justin Verlander, the Tigers ace rookie pitcher, took the loss for the Tigers. After they took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, the Cards tied the game up in the top of the 2nd from a home run. It appeared that Verlander was struggling a bit and leaving fastballs out over the plate. Although Verlander did have a number of strikeouts, it was a stat ignored thanks to the number of runs he had earned. The two-run homer he had given up to Pujols was the back-breaker, in my opinion. All of the momentum that the Tigers had was completely gone after the home run. And they definitely never regained any kind of momentum, nor passion, the rest of the game. They just weren't into their usual playoff mode. Hopefully that'll change in tonight's game two contest.

I was so disappointed, and quite frankly, bored with the game that I ended up falling asleep on my couch. I found myself waking up to a 5-1 game and Jason Grilli pitching with two runners on. I knew it would not be a good omen when I saw Grilli pitching, so I pretty much gave up on the game and went straight to bed around 9:30 (it doesn't help working five 10-hour shifts in a row). I was hoping for a miracle comeback, but I knew those chances were very slim. Sure enough, when I woke up this morning, I found out that the Tigers had lost 7-2. Even some of the so-called baseball experts were beginning to be concerned about the Tigers and their lack of spunk in game one. But folks, it was only game one. Do you honestly believe the Tigers will make it two-straight lackluster games in their own home field? I can't say that it won't happen, but I honestly have faith to say they will make it much more exciting and play exactly like they have been. I mean, the entire state of Michigan and Tiger fans throughout the world are depending on it!

With Kenny Rogers pitching tonight, I am pretty confident that the Tigers will set things right and tie the series up at a game a piece. He has been the Tigers most reliable pitcher so far in the playoffs (who would've thought, eh?). I believe the Tigers' bats will come alive, too, with ALCS MVP Placido Polanco having another huge game. And tonight we should see the return of Joel Zumaya. Tigers even things up 1-1 tonight, I can feel it. :-)