Disappointing. That seems to be the best word to describe the feelings of those around Tigertown. It's disappointing to see the Tigers lose the World Series. It's disappointing to see them play so poorly on the sport's biggest stage. It's disappointing to see this incredible, wondrous season of Detroit baseball come to a close.
There is simply no denying what a great season the Detroit Tigers had. 95 wins. A playoff berth. The dismissal of the New York Yankees in the ALDS. The sweep of the Oakland Athletics in the ALCS. The American League Championship and their first World Series appearance since 1984.
For the first time in a forever, it seems, the Tigers had nearly everything go right in 2006. Their veteran leaders -- Pudge Rodriguez, Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen -- all had good, if not great, years. Their two big free agent signings, Kenny Rogers and Todd Jones, both did exactly what was expected, if not a bit more. The Tigers young players, guys like Jeremy Bonderman, Nate Robertson, Curtis Granderson and Fernando Rodney, all made strides to reaching their potential. They also got huge contributions from rookies, specifically Justin Verlander and Joel Zuyama. It's the sort of combination we've seen other teams have for years and a recipe that eluded the Tigers since their last World Series.
We can't leave out Jim Leyland and his coaching staff. Many wondered if Leyland was really ready to get back into managing when he took the Tigers job almost one year ago. No one wonders now. Leyland (and his staff) did precisely what one would expect a veteran, winning manager to do -- he helped his players take the next step in their progress both individually and collectively.
The Tigers on-field success -- so sudden, so unimaginable, so dominant at times -- thrilled Detroit's long suffering baseball fandom, awakened emotion from those fans who had turned their backs on the Olde English D and, one hopes, built an entirely new generation of Tiger fans. Is it any wonder why this year will be so hard to let go of?
Certainly each of us will carry memories of this season. Four moments immediately spring to my mind. There will be Craig Monroe's homer at Yankee Stadium. I was on the phone with Ian. As the ball leaves Monroe's bat, both of us go into audible disbelief. It will be the day I got free tickets to watch the Tigers take on Cleveland only to see Pudge hit a walk-off homer before yet another sell-out crowd at Comerica Park. It will be the celebration after beating the Yankees. Over-the-top for a ALDS triumph? Probably, but it just seemed so spontaneous. It was like the players and fans had shared in a winning lottery ticket.
Finally, there is the one we probably will all share together -- Ordonez' shot to win the American League. As that ball soared into the night, it took the years of frustration with it. The jokes about the Tigers had finally ended. The guys and gals that sat in their empty corner of the ballpark game after game, year after year, with no one but their very own hotdog vendor to share the game with were rewarded for their patience. That 119 loss season finally had a counter balance. Ordonez' homer was a unique, emotional moment shared by anyone and everyone that cares about baseball in Detroit.
The baseball surprise party that began with Chris Shelton's redhot April and peaked with Ordonez' winning the American League pennant for the Tigers is unfortunately over. It's disappointing to have to let it go. We may not see another quite so remarkable again.
2 comments:
As a long-time Tigers fan (one of those who has had his own hotdog vendor many times), I am beyond thrilled with everything they accomplished this season.
Of course I am a little disappointed that they didn't win the World Series (and that they played so poorly against St. Louis). That being said, if you had asked me in February how I expected the team to play, I would have said that .500 would be wonderful. Everything above that this year has just been gravy.
It's been a great ride, I've enjoyed every minute of it, and I just hope they can keep enough of the team together, and that the young guys can grow enough in the off-season to make another run at it next year.
Oh, I happy with the season, Joseph. How could you not be? I'm just disappointed the ride is over.
Even if they make another charge in 2007, it will be difficult to replicate this season, as it came out of the blue. There will be no such surprise factor in '07.
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