Tigers. Fister. Playoffs

The year was 1987.  Bon Jovi’s “Livin on a Prayer” was jamming’ on boom boxes, and “Three Men and a Baby” was the big motion picture.  Gas cost only 90 cents a gallon, and the cool kids were wearing jean jackets.

This was the last year the Tigers won a division crown. That is, till Doug Fister threw eight innings of one-run ball to propel Detroit to a 3-1 victory Friday night.  With the victory, the Tigers will be in the playoffs for their first time since their World Series run in ‘06.

Back in the beginning of July, Fox Sports Columnist Jon Paul Morosi when referring to Detroit and Cleveland said, which ever team gets the most out of their newly acquired pitcher will win the division.  Well, to an extent, he was right.  Not only has Doug Fister been better than Ubaldo Jiminez, he’s been the best deadline acquisition period, as he’s now 6-1 with his new team.

In 59.1 innings pitched with the Tigers, Fister has struck out 46 batters and walked only 5.  That 5 looks like it’s a typo, but it’s not.  Fister has also logged at least seven innings in each of his last six starts, which I’m sure has done wonders for keeping the pen fresh.

The whole idea of getting the “right guy” at the deadline is huge.  Texas got “the guy” last year in Cliff Lee, and it vaulted them to a World Series.  It seems the Tigers most definitely found the right guy in Doug Fister, and it might take them all the way.

The Tigers really have something going now.  There is an X factor starting to brew within this team – something that can’t be quantified or measured with sabermetrics.  Obviously the wins have been rushing in like a tsunami lately, but it’s the manner of how they’re coming in all shape and sizes.  Things are constantly coming up roses for the Tigers whether they’re wrapped up in a low-scoring affair or a shoot-out.  If they find themselves down a couple in the later innings, then they just start blasting homers.  This is the mark of a champion – a team that just knows how to win.

Potential Cy Young/MVP candidate Justin Verlander, Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez form a pretty solid nucleus.  And the team gets stronger when you consider their role players like Ramon Santiago, Phil Coke and AL Alberquerque.  But it’s the addition of the “right guy” that pushes them to another level with Doug Fister.  And remember they added two more players like this in Delmon Young and Wilson Betemit.

The Tigers are on a terror heading into the playoffs, and the question has got to be asked.  Will anybody stop them?