The World Series returned to Detroit for the first time since 2006 (back in the days when The Office and How I Met Your Mother weren’t hollow shells of themselves, and before we knew that Daniel Day-Lewis would, in fact, drink your milkshake) not with a bang, but a whimper. And what a whimper it was. Unfortunately, owing to commitments elsewhere (Recorder Halloween Party 2012?), I was unable to observe and comment upon the actual nature and intrinsic shape of the game. Things would have been different if one of the members of the staff were not only historically adverse to the sport of baseball, but also hosting the party. I’m sure there’s a provision about this in Robert’s Rules, and thus it went unchallenged. Consequently, I only witnessed brief snippets of the game last night.
Which is fine, because apparently, they simply replayed Game Two with a new cast of characters.
Major highlights include the Giants manufacturing two runs in the top of the 2nd, once again the only runs that would be scored in this snoozefest of a series. Seriously, for the World Series to be as exciting as it can absolutely be, it is really dependant upon both teams showing up. The Giants are executing flawless baseball, working as a team, playing with momentum, and creating their own breaks. The Tigers are a double play machine, a team starved for power, lacking an identity.
Let’s look at the stars of the Tigers:
- Miguel Cabrera, signed away from the Florida Marlins in 2007.
- Prince Fielder, signed away from the Milwaukee Brewers last year.
- Austin Jackson, acquired from the Yankees.
- Jhonny Peralta, acquired from the Indians.
- Delmon Young, acquired from half the teams of the American League.
- Doug Fister, acquired from the Mariners.
- Anibal Sanchez, another refuge from Miami.
- Max Scherzer, acquired from Arizona.
- Justin Verlander, home grown prospect.
Sensing a trend?
Now for the Giants:
- Buster Posey, home grown prospect.
- Kung Fu Panda Pablo Sandoval, home grown prospect.
- Matt Cain, home grown.
- Tim Lincecum, home grown.
- Madison Bumgarner, home grown.
- Sergio Romo, home grown.
- Gregor Blanco, home grown.
- Not to mention Cheerleader Extraordinaire Brian Wilson, Rally Captain.
Now, this excludes a great deal of both teams that may be homegrown (Alex Avila anyone?) or acquired through trades or deals (Hunter Pence, Aubrey Huff, most of the Giants’ bullpen, Marco Scutaro, etc.) but my point is thus: the Tigers are an assembled team, already lacking in the chemistry that builds as a result of years of traveling on minor league busses, months spent in the dugout and batting practice, and a familiarity of working with the same group of guys day in and day out. Now, again, this is not a quality exclusive to the Giants; Miguel Cabrera has been with the team for five years now, carrying it on his back at times, and many other players there have established a winning culture on their own terms. That being said, when one looks at the group of men in the Giants dugout, the public perception is of a frat-house culture that has grown up together, faced adversity together (through the suspension of Melky Cabrera), and triumphed two years ago in the World Series. This year, that bond of unity, aided by a hot streak and an impressive grasp of fundamental baseball, has led the Giants to the brink of a world championship.
Can the Tigers extend this series for another day? We’ll find out tonight as Scherzer takes the ball against Matt Cain. Stay tuned.
Travis J. Cook
Travis J. Cook is the Editor-in-Chief and one of the original founders of the Addison Recorder. He writes about baseball, movies, and music, among other topics. He resides in a hole in the ground near Wrigley Field.
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