Oh, so this is what it’s like to cheer for a team that wins in the postseason… I had forgotten.
I actually started my Tiger cheering last night after the Twinkies got swept, by going to a bar full of Detroit fans and seeing them go up 2-1 in the series with the Yanks. After returning from my tailgate experience this afternoon, I sat in my room alone and watched the Tigers finish it up and send themselves to the ALCS against Oakland starting next. Jeremy Bonderman took a no-hitter into the sixth while in the meantime, the Tigers offense demonstrated that yes, the AL Central was the best division in baseball. They clobbered the Yankees left and right — I was so pleased.
The one thing I didn’t understand… Bonderman went 8 and 1/3 innings. With only two outs to go, why didn’t Leyland leave him in to finish it? He didn’t look in particularly poor shape to me and it’s not like Jamie Walker is an unstoppable closer or anything. Not that it really matters that he gave up a two run homer to Posada. The Tigers are still going to the ALCS and, almost more importantly, the Yankees are not.
Edit: Oh man, how can you not be happy for these guys? I’ve never before seen a team win a series and then go back on to the field and spray the fans with champagne. Not only that, but one of the security cops standing guard also got his own champagne shower.