Jinxed

Just a few moments ago the Minnesota Twins scored the winning run in the bottom of the 12th inning to win the American League Central, ending the season of the Detroit Tigers, the team I root for. It was an epic game, full of lead changes and clutch hits and bad bounces and one blown call by an umpire. Though it ended badly for my side, it should be one of those games people talk about for a long time.

The first few minutes I followed on my computer at work, and the Tigers jumped off to an early lead, thanks to a hit by Magglio Ordonez and then a two-run homer by Miguel Cabrera. The latter had been involved in a bit of media firestorm for being in a domestic dispute with his wife, who didn't like him stumbling in after a bender. I imagine the Tigers didn't appreciate it, either, since it was the night before a big game and he was drinking with players from the opposing club. But apparently he didn't imbibe too heavily last night, and crushed one above the baggie in the Metrodome and the Tigers were up 3-0.

Rick Porcello, the 20-year-old rookie hurler for Detroit, was cruising. A run came in when a pick-off throw of his went errant, but he was fanning Twin hitters at a personal best clip. Then he hung a change-up to Jason Kuebbel and, following a walk to the next hitter, his day was over. Reliever Zach Miner got out of that inning, but in the next the Twins took the lead on Orlando Cabrera's two-run dinger. Miner, who was inconsistent all season, seemed to have cost the Tigers the season.

Except the Tigers weren't done. Ordonez led off the next inning, the eighth, with a game-tying homer. Regulation ended knotted at four, and the game went into extra-innings, with more drama than General Hospital, with players becoming goats and then heroes, or vice versa. Brandon Inge saved a run in the bottom of the ninth, and then in the top of the tenth doubled home pinch-runner Don Kelly (who had misplayed a fly ball in a game two weeks ago in the Metrodome that cost the Tigers a game). The Tigers were three outs away from the playoffs.

But in the bottom of the frame Ryan Raburn made a costly mistake in left field, trying to make a shoestring catch on a short fly by Michael Cuddyer that skipped past him for a triple. The Tigers looked to get out of it when Matt Tolbert bounced what looked like a game-ending double-play ball, but somehow it got past the sure-handed Placido Polanco and once again the game was tied. Then Rayburn got some redemption by gunning down a Twins runner at the plate. The game would continue.

The Tigers loaded the bases in the top of the 12th with one out. The first pitch to Inge caught the fold of his jersey, but the ump missed it, and that would cost the Tigers a run, as Inge would ground out and then Gerald Laird would strike out. The Tigers closer, Fernando Rodney, valiantly working into his fourth inning, would allow a few hits and it was all over.

The Tigers moved into first place on May 10th and were not out of it until about twenty minutes ago. They stumbled to the finish, blowing a seven-run lead, gasping for air as the Twins played great baseball, even without one of their key sluggers, Justin Morneau. There was just something snake-bit about the way the Tigers played. And then they were doomed by a Sports Illustrated cover, that proclaimed them "The Righteous Franchise," a reference to the hard times that Detroit is undergoing and how the team had personified a gritty determination in the face of bad times. Some of this talk is a bit much, as I'm not sure if the results of a game can really make people feel better about themselves. Winning or losing doesn't affect a fan's bank account. A lot of this chatter was in the air during the Red Wings run at the Stanley Cup, but they didn't win and the hard times went on.

In any event, a Sports Illustrated cover usually jinxes the subject, and this was again the case. But beyond media hexes, the Tigers just weren't good enough. They were barely a .500 club, and only by virtue of playing in a weak division were they even in a position to be fighting for a playoff spot. They had some great starting pitching from Justin Verlander, Edwin Jackson and Porcello, but didn't get much from the fourth and fifth starters (who were numerous). The bullpen work was spotty, and the offense left tons of runners on base. The outfield defense was also shoddy, with several misplayed balls during the last couple of weeks, including by the usually reliable centerfielder, Curtis Granderson.

The Tigers loss does do one thing--it spares me from having to see them mowed down by the Yankees. The Twins have less than 24 hours to celebrate before they get their asses kicked by the men of the Bronx. The Yankees have spent the last few years coming up with interesting ways of losing in the playoffs, but I think they breeze by the Twins, who haven't won a game in Yankee Stadium (either old or new) since July of 2007. I think the Yanks sweep.

The other AL series should be a great one. The Red Sox have eliminated the Angels three out of the last five years, but this year I think the Angels turn back the Sox, who limped to the finish. Angels in five.

As for the National League, there should be two good series. I was going to pick the Rockies over the Phils, but the loss to injury of Rockie hurler De La Rose may be the difference maker. Even though the Phillies have a potential horror show for a closer in Brad Lidge, I'll take them in five.

The Cards-Dodgers series may be the best of the opening round quartet, with the winner taking the pennant. I'll go with the Cards because of their pitching and Pujols.

As for my rooting interest, it's basically anyone but the Yankees. I think I'd like to see the Angels win it all, maybe against St. Louis, but any combination that excludes New York suits me fine.