Tigers choke again when White Sox offer up top spot

There are nine games left and the AL Central leading Chicago White Sox crucially have lost five straight in as many days. But just like every other instance when the second-place Tigers have had a chance to move into first place, they have failed, and this time it was losing a doubleheader at home to the Minnesota Twins, who just to rub it in have the second worst record in the American League.

The White Sox have just been swept by the Angels and with it saw their three-game lead over Detroit close to within half a game. All the Tigers had to do to move into a tie atop the division was split the doubleheader with the 89-loss Twins, but they failed to do so; losing the first 10-4 before an offensive struggle saw them fall 2-1 in extra-innings.

Even more frustrating for Jim Leyland’s team was the fact that they held leads in both the encounters, but blew them both even with Triple Crown candidate Miguel Cabrera.

As of the weekend, ‘Miggy’ as he is known was leading the three categories that make up the Triple Crown – home runs, RBI’s and batting average. The slugger was tied with Josh Hamilton of Texas with 42 home runs while leading the league in batting with a .332 average and also in RBI’s with a staggering 131.

Comerica Park has been chanting ‘MVP’ ‘MVP’ a lot recently, but it will not be the only thing they want to cheer and without a playoff spot this year Cabrera’s shot at the MVP award will lose credibility, while his mind-boggling numbers will pale into insignificance if his team don’t pip the White Sox to the division title.

With Prince Fielder at first base and a solid defensive lineup backed up by ace Justin Verlander, the Tigers have all the tools to make the playoffs and are surely targeting a world championship with the amount of talent they have. Even so, at every chance of really grabbing the initiative this season they have failed.

Since sweeping the White Sox at home to move into a division tie on September 2, they have missed every opportunity to overtake them in the standings. After the sweep – and seemingly full of confidence – the Tigers welcomed the AL’s worst team the Cleveland Indians and went on to lose two out of three. They were then swept by the Angels and lost the opening game of a four-game set on the road against the White Sox. They recovered to take the next two but lost the final game, which was postponed and pushed back a few days later.

As much as that will mystify Leyland and the Tigers, realistically they still have a legitimate shot at moving into first place and, more importantly, staying there. While the White Sox play the Rays four times beginning Thursday, the Tigers face only the Twins and the Royals the rest of the way.

What the Tigers have to do over the next ten days is better the White Sox by two games, and while the schedule deems that they can do that, recent history tells us a different story.

Have the Tigers had their last chance at a playoff shot? You would think not, but they better take the next chance because it will be their last.