Before the weather turns cold, before we launch into the holiday season, and before we bid a farewell to the summer sporting season, we have one final denouement – the World Series of Baseball.
The World Series dates back nearly 110 years and has produced some of the greatest moments in baseball. This year, the playing of 108Series will be a matchup of the American League (AL) champions Detroit Tigers and the National League (NL) Champions San Francisco Giants.
The Detroit Tigers make their first World Series appearance since they lost in 2006 to the St. Louis Cardinals and they are looking for their first World Series victory since the late Tigers manager, Sparky Anderson, led them to victory in 1984.
The 2012 Tigers offseason took a major turn after they made the free agent signing of former Milwaukee Brewer 1B Prince Fielder for 9 years and 214 million dollars, the fourth-richest contract in sports history. On July 23, with the trade deadline nearing, the Tigers acquired 2B Omar Infante and starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez from the Marlins.
Midway through the season the Tigers looked very much out of the playoff picture with a slacking 39-42 record. However, Tigers manager Jim Leyland led the team to a second straight AL Central Division title after finishing the season at 88-74.
On the final day of the season, Tigers 1B Miguel Cabrera earned the American League triple crown in batting, leading the league in three key statistical categories during the season: batting average (.330), home runs (44), and runs batted in (139). Cabrera was the first man to do so since Boston Red Sox LF accomplished the feat in 1967.
Reigning AL MVP Justin Verlander posted a 17–8 record this season in games he pitched. He also ranked first in the AL in innings pitched (238.1) and strikeouts (239), while also ranking second in ERA (2.64). The Tigers defeated the Oakland Athletics and the New York Yankees in the playoffs to advance to this years’ World Series
The NL Champions San Francisco Giants come into the 2012 World Series looking for their second world title in three years. Leading the Giants this season was 3B Pablo Sandoval who set a franchise record with 19-game hitting streak that would ultimately reach 20 games. Outfielder Melky Cabrera would tie a franchise record with 51-hits in one month (May). On an inept note, Cabrera would be suspended from baseball for the rest of the 2012 season and some of the 2013 season due to an illegal use of performance-enhancing drugs.
Giants pitcher Matt Cain threw the 22nd perfect game in the history of baseball on June 13. On September 22, the Giants led by fifth year manager Bruce Bochy, would clinch the NL West division, finishing with a 94-68 record. The Giants defeated the Cincinnati Reds and the St. Louis Cardinals in the playoffs to reach the World Series.
Both of these teams are a “no surprise” in the World Series this year. Both of these teams have a very identical track record this year and they are both familiar with the postseason. However, in my mind, it’s going to come down to pitching, and, without a doubt, the pitching trio for the Tigers, Starting pitchers Verlander and Matt Scherzer and closer Jose Valverde are the key to this series. The Tigers have a definite upper hand in pitching that will ultimately lead them to their first title since 1984.
Prediction: Tigers 4-3.
Be sure to check out the action starting on October 24, starting at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.
