AL Central champion Detroit Tigers ousted from ALDS
Oct 2, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles left fielder Alejandro De Aza (12) slides into second base ahead of the throw to Detroit Tigers shortstop Andrew Romine (27) during the eighth inning in game one of the 2014 American League divisional series at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
It turns out the Detroit Tigers played just three more games than the Chicago White Sox this 2014 season. That is true because the AL Central champion Tigers were eliminated from the ALDS in three straight games by the AL East champion Baltimore Orioles.
Oct 5, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Baltimore Orioles center fielder Adam Jones (10) celebrates in the locker room after defeating the Detroit Tigers in game three of the 2014 ALDS baseball playoff game at Comerica Park. The Orioles move on to the ALCS with 2-1 win over the Tigers. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
The third and final win by the Orioles came on Sunday evening, by a 2-1 score. The other two wins by the O’s earlier this week came by scores of 12-3 (Game 1) and 7-6 (Game 2).
I picked the O’s to win the series, but I would have never have guessed the AL Central champion Tigers, a team that won 90 games in the ’14 regular season, would be swept in three straight games.
Again, who would have guessed a sweep with pitchers like Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander and David Price (all former CY Young award winners) making starts, the Tigers would not win a single game in the ALDS?
It’s isn’t like those three pitched their best (they allowed a combined 10 earned runs), but the bullpen of the Tigers played awful. On Sunday in Game 3 the Tigers’ offense couldn’t score multiple runs, sending their season to a close.
Yes, they are four-time consecutive AL Central champions so they deserve that respect, but no World Series titles to go with any of those titles. Plus Victor Martinez and Scherzer will be free agents, so who knows what the Tigers will look like in ’15.
I do know one thing, they will be in an offseason battle for relievers with the White Sox, because both teams need to improve drastically in that part of their team.
The O’s win on Sunday also means that former Chicago White Sox outfielder Alejandro De Aza will be playing in the ALCS. He played in the first two games of the ALDS against the Tigers, where he had a combined three hits and two RBIs. De Aza batted .375 in the ALDS.
De Aza didn’t play in Game 3 in the ALDS against the Tigers.
Bud Norris was the winning pitcher for the O’s, going 6.1 innings. He allowed no runs on two hits and two walks. Price pitched eight innings in the Tigers’ loss, allowing both runs.
The ALCS begins on Oct. 10.
As for fans of the White Sox, this season against the O’s, the White Sox went 1-5, allowing 30 runs, while scoring 18 runs in their six games against each other in ’14. When the White Sox played the Tigers this season, the White Sox were 9-10 in the 19 divisional meetings.