At this point in time, the Detroit Tigers are losing to the Chicago White Sox and the Minnesota Twins are winning.  If this is how the evening plays out Detroit will then be one game ahead of Minnesota with two games remaining in the season.  Therefore by Sunday October 4, Detroit’s playoff bid could have evaporated, ended in a tie, or simply come down to the last game of the season. 

I don’t know about other baseball fans, but I can’t help seeing the Detroit Tigers as sentimental favorites to make the playoffs and hopefully advance to the World Series.  It seems as if it would be a tremendous morale boost to the citizens of the economically beleagured City of Detroit.  Unemployment there is nearly twice the national average, and entire city blocks are nearly abandoned in some parts of the city.  The Tigers organization has done many things to aid the city and the fans, and the fans have shown as much support as they can.  I have family in Michigan, though I’ve only ever passed through Detroit; and though the Tigers are not my favorite team, with things like they are now I want to root for them. 

With my Arizona Diamondbacks long out of the playoff picture for 2009, my preference from the National League is the Saint Louis Cardinals or the Los Angeles Dodgers.  I’ve always liked the Cardinals, and frankly there are few finer players and good, decent men in baseball than Albert Pujols. I grew up in Los Angeles as a Dodger fan and I still like them; however I wouldn’t be too unhappy to see the Cardinals get there instead.  Normally looking at the playoff picture at this point in time from the American League I would pick the Anaheim Angels (is having to say Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim the dumbest thing ever??), or frankly anyone other than the New York Yankees (LOL!); however this season I’m rooting for the Detroit Tigers for sentimental reasons.

GO TIGERS!!!!