2025 Detroit Tigers Magic Number Thread

[oblong]

I don't want any indoor baseball opponents.  That's not real baseball.  Call it metrodome PTSD or whatever.... even if the roof can be opened it doesn't count.  

[lordstanley]

6 minutes ago, oblong said:

I don't want any indoor baseball opponents.  That's not real baseball.  Call it metrodome PTSD or whatever.... even if the roof can be opened it doesn't count.  

Seattle feels a bit different though. Even if the roof is "closed", it's really just a lid that stops raining from falling on the field. You still feel the wind and the cold and the odd raindrops.

[Edman85]

9 minutes ago, oblong said:

I don't want any indoor baseball opponents.  That's not real baseball.  Call it metrodome PTSD or whatever.... even if the roof can be opened it doesn't count.  

I... actually do.

Because the schedule works out that Skubal can pitch game 1 of the ALWCS, followed by games 2 and 5 of the ALDS. Weather can foil that plan though.

[Edman85]

I got selfish reasons for wanting to get the 5 and pass Boston...

A series against Toronto/New York is more likely to be prime time.

[oblong]

Good things happen when we play NYY in the playoffs 

[chasfh]

Rangers crush Guardians in Cleveland, 7-3. And so, despite the Tigers coughing up the game in Boston by failing to take advantage of big threats in the first and fourth and ninth innings, and then giving up runs in each of the last three innings:

[Sports_Freak]

Cleveland loses. 

[Sports_Freak]

If the Tigers somehow end up making the playoffs, would 2025 still be considered a collapse? I say yes...

[tiger2022]

23 hours ago, GalagaGuy said:

Skubal is currently penciled in to start Sunday.  Sure would be nice if he wasn't needed.  

Regardless of how the game on Saturday turns out, the Tigers will still be alive on Sunday.

[Sports_Freak]

Oh, Boston clinched a playoff spot tonight. Celebrate boys, all night long...🤣🤣

[Sports_Freak]

4 minutes ago, tiger2022 said:

Regardless of how the game on Saturday turns out, the Tigers will still be alive on Sunday.

If Houston loses tonight, I think our magic # to make the playoffs is 1.

[Tigermojo]

I think Boston will be motivated to get at least one more win?

[tiger2022]

Hypothetical question.

If Houston loses on Saturday and the Tigers win, they will clinch the playoffs. Would they pitch Skubal on Sunday trying to win the division?  I wouldn't and would rather have him ready to go game 1, but the smartest man in the room might start him. 

[Sports_Freak]

48 minutes ago, tiger2022 said:

Hypothetical question.

If Houston loses on Saturday and the Tigers win, they will clinch the playoffs. Would they pitch Skubal on Sunday trying to win the division?  I wouldn't and would rather have him ready to go game 1, but the smartest man in the room might start him. 

Winning the division would mean home games in the WC round. So yes, you would want to win if there were a chance.

[Arlington]

2 minutes ago, Sports_Freak said:

Winning the division would mean home games in the WC round. So yes, you would want to win if there were a chance.

But pitching him Sunday would make him available for the WC round game 3 on 3 days rest and just game 3 of the ALDS on 4 days rest.  Not pitching Sunday would give him plenty of rest for game 1 of the WC,  and for the ALDS games 2, with 4 days rest,  and game 5 if needed also with 4 days rest.  If no game 5 is needed, he could start games 1 & 5 of the ALCS on 6 days and 4 days rest, respectively.  If ALDS game 5 is needed, he could start game 4 of the ALCS  with 4 days off, and for game 7 he'd get 3 days rest.  So it seems that resting him on Sunday would make sure he pitches in the WC series, and makes him available and rested twice for each of the subsequent series including the last game of ALCS and ALDS series.  If he is used on Sunday for home field advantage, he might not even get a chance to pitch in the post season at all if the WC ends in a two game sweep of the Tigers.  If the Tigers advance, he would get one game in the ALCS, and 2 in the ALDS.  I'm sure Hinch would agree with me.  In fact, that may be him on the phone right now. 

[Arlington]

1 minute ago, Arlington said:

But pitching him Sunday would make him available for the WC round game 3 on 3 days rest and just game 3 of the ALDS on 4 days rest.  Not pitching Sunday would give him plenty of rest for game 1 of the WC,  and for the ALDS games 2, with 4 days rest,  and game 5 if needed also with 4 days rest.  If no game 5 is needed, he could start games 1 & 5 of the ALCS on 6 days and 4 days rest, respectively.  If ALDS game 5 is needed, he could start game 4 of the ALCS  with 4 days off, and for game 7 he'd get 3 days rest.  So it seems that resting him on Sunday would make sure he pitches in the WC series, and makes him available and rested twice for each of the subsequent series including the last game of ALCS and ALDS series.  If he is used on Sunday for home field advantage, he might not even get a chance to pitch in the post season at all if the WC ends in a two game sweep of the Tigers.  If the Tigers advance, he would get one game in the ALCS, and 2 in the ALDS.  I'm sure Hinch would agree with me.  In fact, that may be him on the phone right now. 

Nope, that wasn't him.  Wrong number.

[lordstanley]

1 hour ago, Tigermojo said:

I think Boston will be motivated to get at least one more win?

I don’t think so.  They can’t win their division. They’ve clinched a playoff spot. So they will be either the #5 or #6 seed. If they win another game they will be #5 and play the AL East runner up. If they lose their last two they might drop to #6 and play the AL Central winner. Who would you rather play?

[tiger2022]

13 hours ago, Sports_Freak said:

Winning the division would mean home games in the WC round. So yes, you would want to win if there were a chance.

I would think you would want Skubal to pitch in the series.  It's a best of 3 series and you have a huge advantage in one of the games with Skubal out there.

[tiger2022]

Pizza Boy probably would prefer to pitch Skubal on Sunday if it means they can win the division.  Two home games with attendance, parking, and concession revenue.  It'll help pay for the Alex Cobb terrible signing.

[chasfh]

15 hours ago, Sports_Freak said:

If the Tigers somehow end up making the playoffs, would 2025 still be considered a collapse? I say yes...

I can see why you ssay that, but I will be, if not exactly happy, then at least somewhat relieved if we don't win tonight or tomorrow, back into the playoffs with an Astros loss tonight, and lose 2-0 in the ALWC series. I would much, much prefer that to the scenario of we lose two, Astros win two, and we lose out on the playoffs entirely.

[chasfh]

15 hours ago, tiger2022 said:

Hypothetical question.

If Houston loses on Saturday and the Tigers win, they will clinch the playoffs. Would they pitch Skubal on Sunday trying to win the division?  I wouldn't and would rather have him ready to go game 1, but the smartest man in the room might start him. 

I believe we do not pitch Skubal in that case, even if it's the difference between home field advantage vs not.

[lordstanley]

Hinch has already come out and said that if the Tigers have a playoff spot clinched already then he won't pitch Skubal tomorrow.

 

 

[Sports_Freak]

14 hours ago, Arlington said:

But pitching him Sunday would make him available for the WC round game 3 on 3 days rest and just game 3 of the ALDS on 4 days rest.  Not pitching Sunday would give him plenty of rest for game 1 of the WC,  and for the ALDS games 2, with 4 days rest,  and game 5 if needed also with 4 days rest.  If no game 5 is needed, he could start games 1 & 5 of the ALCS on 6 days and 4 days rest, respectively.  If ALDS game 5 is needed, he could start game 4 of the ALCS  with 4 days off, and for game 7 he'd get 3 days rest.  So it seems that resting him on Sunday would make sure he pitches in the WC series, and makes him available and rested twice for each of the subsequent series including the last game of ALCS and ALDS series.  If he is used on Sunday for home field advantage, he might not even get a chance to pitch in the post season at all if the WC ends in a two game sweep of the Tigers.  If the Tigers advance, he would get one game in the ALCS, and 2 in the ALDS.  I'm sure Hinch would agree with me.  In fact, that may be him on the phone right now. 

I guarantee you if the Tigers still have the chance to win the division, he'll pitch Sunday. Home playoff games money is too big to resist. Another example of baseball being a business...

[Sports_Freak]

23 minutes ago, chasfh said:

I believe we do not pitch Skubal in that case, even if it's the difference between home field advantage vs not.

That's a fans emotional wish. But if it means making millions of dollars for having 3 possible home games instead of all wild card road games? Fans are great but we need to remember baseball is a business. To make money. The more money, the more successful. Skubal will pitch Sunday.

[4hzglory]

2 minutes ago, Sports_Freak said:

That's a fans emotional wish. But if it means making millions of dollars for having 3 possible home games instead of all wild card road games? Fans are great but we need to remember baseball is a business. To make money. The more money, the more successful. Skubal will pitch Sunday.

See the quote from Hinch above