Tigers get to Pavano and Twins; Magic Number is 2

You’d think with a game against Carl Pavano (4-0 with a 1.69 ERA against the Tigers this season) and a game on ESPN, where they notoriously play bad, Detroit would be destined to falter.  After Eddie Bonine gave up two runs in the first inning, it was definitely starting to have that Freddy Kreuger lurks in the distance feeling to it and it would be another one of those peeing your pants nights.

However, Detroit stormed back to score four in the bottom of the second, thanks to a two run double from Inge and a two run single from Santiago.  After Inge scored he got silly, flipped his helmet around, and started asking people if they’ve seen his dentures while accepting high fives.

Then Magglio Ordonez added cushion to the two run lead in the bottom of the 5th with his two out, bases clearing, three run double that coincidentally put his average for the season at exactly .300 (although it dropped to .299 when he flew out to the warning track in the 7th). I then read about 100,000 messages about his $18 million contract.  ***(No that hit doesn’t earn him $18 million.  Let’s get real.  Tigers probably would have won without it and I don’t even know if Pujols-like numbers earns him $18 million seeing as Pujols is only making $16 million next season.  I love Magglio and am happy he will be a Tiger next year, but $18 million is a business fail on the part of the Tigers organization.  If they can pay it no problem and it doesn’t hinder bringing other quality players in, then fine, but nothing in the realm of logical in this day and age of baseball could make me believe that Magglio has “earned” $18 million for next season.  I digress).***

The seven runs off Pavano equalled the total he has allowed against the Tigers in his career.  So in 4.2 IP tonight he gave up 7 ER against the 7 ER he allowed over the first 37+ IP he threw against Detroit.  Impressive work, Tigers hitters.

With the victory, Detroit pretty much all, but seals the deal in the Central Division.  But let’s not get crazy and call it over yet.  Detroit leads by three games, but has one more vs. the Twins tomorrow afternoon and then three against the hated White Sox who have made it their dying wish to screw the Tigers this year.  Ozzie Guillen has reportedly tweaked his rotation to do so.  So let’s celebrate the big nationally televised victory and the extra insurance game in the Division, but the Tigers still have work to do.

That being said they are very close with the win vs. the Twins, as the magic number has been chopped down by two again, in half, to two.  Representing the Tigers magic number tonight is someone almost more obscure than Billy Bean at No. 4.  Due to the fact I’ve done two posts in a row either implicitly or explicitly mentioning homosexual activities, I figured I’d bring in a chick to straighten me (and some of the readers) out.

No, not a hot busty chick.  Actually, the exact opposite… John Thomas Matchick.

He looks a little old, but I assure you he played for the Tigers back in the day.  He was on the Tigers roster from 1967-1969 and played 182 games with the Tags.  During that time he racked up 6 HRs and 92 RBIs while hitting .224.

Another former Tiger All-Star I’ve chosen, right? No, but it makes sense.  Matchick wore the number two in 1968 and in 1968 the Tigers won the World Series.  Also, Matchick was nicknamed “Pizza” because at the time he had bright red hair.  Obviously, from the picture above you can’t see, but it says so right on the back of one of his old trading cards pictured here:

It’s fitting that he was called “Pizza,” and played for a World Series winning team because the Tigers are currently owned by a guy some could call “Pizza,” (Mr. Illitch) because he owns Little Caesars Pizza (although I’ve never heard him called that).  And after tonight’s big win, cemented by Magglio’s 5th inning hit, a lot more people are going to be in better spirits and willing to support his $18 million contract.  They might do that by helping to pay it by buying more and more $5, closer to $6, hot-and-ready ‘zas.

So I’ll end it there before I try to stretch this out any further and pull a hamstring.

GO TIGERS!