While watching the Yankees and Tigers conclude a pair of three-game series (thanks to rain postponing game 7), it struck me how similar these two teams are. Tell me which one I'm describing:
1. They have a big payroll and face high expectations.
2. They have a well-respected manager.
3. They have a roster that's expected to mash.
4. Their rotation needs a rotation. It's aging in the middle.
5. The bullpen is stronger than the starting corps. The best hurler on the team is a reliever.
6. They've been inconsistent so far and have fallen behind their main competition.
7. Fans hold their breath every time a ball is hit near their first baseman.
8. Their defense is questionable.
Their destinies may also be linked. Detroit's pitching, which appears to be in worse shape than NY's right now, especially with Verlander and Bonderman spiraling out of control, seems to have little chance of reeling in a balanced Cleveland squad. And the Yanks have their work cut out for them if they expect to rise through the bloody waters of the AL East to get their heads above Boston. It's quite possible that NY and Detroit will compete for the Wild Card.
At this point, the Bombers appear to have a much better team. They have endured much of their troubles with ARod and Posada on the DL, while only Gary Sheffield has battled injuries for the Bengals. The two Yankee pitchers who have flamed out were expected to provide back end support, while the entire Detroit staff has been a disaster. As for defense, the Yankees are the French Resistance, but the Tigers are the Maginot Line.
But Detroit has one thing in its favor: The Twins, White Sox and Royals, not to mention the early struggles of the Tribe. Its race to respectability will be marked by little more than potholes. Of course it might all be moot unless 44-year-old Kenny Rogers starts pitching like it's 1995.
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