If the Tigers are in the hunt August 1, 2011, we stand a decent chance

Major league schedule for 2011 was released last night, and just perusing it, and thinking if the teams next year hold true to this year's form, with no huge leaps in talent, or shifts in the balance of power, if the Tigers are in it at the start of August, they will stand a decent shot at bringing home the Central Division crown.

Of course, that's a huge "IF", seeing how the Tigers went from 13 straight losing seasons to the World Series in 2006, those kinds of quantum leaps do occur. But, if you'll grant me that if, the Tigers play 15 games against the like of Cleveland, KC and Baltimore in the month of August, followed by 16 against KC, Cleveland, Oakland and Baltimore in September. Mixed in among that are three series against the Twins and a couple against the White Sox.

That said, in order to be in contention at that point, the 2011 version of the Tigers will have to survive a harsh midseason stretch. After a manageable April, the Tigers are in for a hard month of May, when we might as well be in the AL East during that month.

While the months of June and July are leavened by the existence of national League teams on the schedule, the uncertainty of how the Giants and Dodgers might be performing at that time of year keeps me from being too confident of the Tigers prospects.

Granted, I say all that independent of what the Tigers squad itself might be performing like all year. Does the potential of a hot early start overcome the grinder that will be May? Is the AL East stretch something that might destroy the will of a still young Tigers squad for the rest of the season? Who knows.

All I can say is, if the Tigers are in the chase come August 1, 2011, there's a chance we might have a team we really care about playing into October.