Prediction time!
You Predicted This, Right? - Hot Corner -- Baseball Nation
David won't like to hear this, but in the divisional round of the playoffs run differential meant nothing. Nothing. All four teams that advanced to the ALCS actually lost on aggregate runs.
ALCS predictions: Detroit Tigers' roll will keep going past Rangers, into World Series -- MLive.com
All three MLive writers polled see the Tigers winning in either six or seven games. The reason: pitching, pitching, pitching. Namely the starter variety.
Tigers-Rangers: A super-quick ALCS breakdown -- Detroit News
Tony Paul has a break down of the teams. Like the MLive folks, he sees the Tigers winning in six.
Predictions for Tigers-Rangers series -- Detroit Free Press
Even Drew Sharp is picking the Tigers? I officially became nervous with that.
... OK after all those pro-Tigers predictions, I'm actually reallly nervous.
The Previews:
The matchup: Tigers' edge in starting pitching the difference vs. Rangers in ALCS -- MLive.com
Chris Iott dives a bit deeper into his predictions here.
2011 MLB Playoffs, ALCS Preview: Tigers vs. Rangers -- Beyond the Box Score
You kow how I like info graphics.
Bill Petti concludes: I still think the Rangers are the favorite, but given it's a seven-game series I think these teams are closer than some, and the seasonal statistics, may suggest. Verlander and Fister were two of the most consistent starters in all of baseball this year, so the odds are the Tigers will get good to great starts from them throughout the series. Still, the Rangers hold home field, and that might be difference maker. I'll say the Rangers advance to the World Series, 4 games to 3, but it's a very close series.
Five things the Texas Rangers must do to win the ALCS -- Big League Stew
Or: Four things the Rangers must do, and one "duh" as stay healthy is kinda necessary for most teams around this time of year!
10 numbers for the ALCS: Tigers vs. Rangers -- Big League Stew
You want numbers, Alex Remington has got numbers for you. Not all of them beautiful. Some quite ugly actually.
Ryan Raburn Could Be Huge Against The Rangers -- Motor City Bengals
With Delmon Young officially out, this is an even bigger point. John Verburg likes Raburn to be a key "surprise" in the ALCS.
The divisional series one last time:
ALCS-bound -- Roar of the Tigers
Samara just keeps drawing terribl(y awesome) cartoons.
None of the top-nine payroll teams are still alive in the playoffs -- HardballTalk
Detroit now has the highest remaining payroll.
Leftovers: Putting a bow on the ALDS -- Daily Fungo
Mike compares Game 5 of the ALDS to some of the other memorable games he's witnessed. Conclusion: It compares quite favorably.