re: the tigers rotation and the 1934 world series

(1) the tigers rotation is so good, that if you picked it out of a hat, it would be fine. Bonderman does throw fire, but since St. Louis can't hit lefties, why not throw four games of lefties with Robertson and Rogers at them? Or at least jump out to a 2-0 lead with them and then shut down the series with Bonderman in game four for the sweep? No matter how you cut it, St. Louis does not have an easy out here as they did with the mets. For these reasons, I have to pick the tigers in 4 or 5 games.

(2) but here's the weird part. Both times these teams have met, in 1968, and 1934, the series went 7 games. weirders still, both times there was further weirdness. In 1968, Bob Gibson dominated, but the Tigers won after being down 3-1 and Lolich won 3 games to win the series.

(3) In 1934, the gashouse gang met the tigers of Gehringer Greenberg & Mickey Cochrane and Dizzy and Paul Dean pitched nearly every game for the Cards. Leo "the lip" Durocher was the shortstop for the cards and Pepper Martin the of/3b.

This was the famous series where in game 7 in Detroit, the fans started throwing garbage at Joe "Ducky" Medwick in an 11-0 Cards rout and forced Medwick to be removed from the game.

Twenty-Five bonus points to tigers fans for home-field edge this year.

I have little doubt they would hesitate to toss garbage on Albert Pujols or Scott Rolen in 2006 if the mood seized them.

--art kyriazis

ps Hank Greenberg, Charlie Gehringer and Mickey Cochrane were great players!

Leyland wouldn't be Leyland if he always went by the book. Living in New Hampshire, I din't get to see the Tigers very often this year; but every time I did, Leyland pulled at least one move that left me scratching my head (or screaming at the TV). And then, of course, his move would pay off big-time.

Season-long example: using Todd Jones as his closer, even though Jones may be the worst pitcher on the staff.

One-shot example: in the late-summer game where Polanco hurt his shoulder, Leyland put Ivan Rodriguez at 2B. Pudge had never played second base before, but he did just fine.

Another one: I saw a game where Leyland assembled a lineup that looked absolutely incompetent. Infante and Santiago, Inge (when he was batting .200), Vance Wilson subbing at catcher, and a couple other bench players. It was a sure-fire prescription for a shutout loss. Of course, the Tigers won the game.

There may be a team-building value in having a manager do unexpected things. He keeps the team on its toes; he sends the message that every player should be prepared to do whatever he's called on to do. This may even build a sense of self-confidence -- if the moves don't backfire. A manager has to be pretty self-confident himself to do this stuff, especially in these days of sabermetric analysis, instant replays, talk radio, and the blogosphere.

Maybe Leland learned unconventionality after the star-laden Pirates teams let him down 3 years running in post-season.

Is it possible Leyland started verlander to get off to a fast start, what do u guys think? Cause the men who score first usaully win. Also Pujols vs. Verlander take your pick.

Everything Leyland has touched has turned to gold this fall -- including his unconventional rotations ... let's hope the trend continues.