On September 20th, the Detroit Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins 6-2 -- to take a three game lead -- in what they thought was the last game the Tigers would ever have to play in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. Having lost a heartbreaker the day before -- when left fielder Don Kelly lost a fly ball in the all-white Metrodome background to continue a late-inning Twins rally -- the Tigers were more than happy to escape the dome for the final time.

This week, at Comerica Park, the Tigers have watched their lead evaporate going 3-4; while the Twins won their last four games, including an improbable 5-4 victory over Cy Young favorite Zach Greinke on Saturday. All of this means that after 162 games of the excruciating baseball regular season, the Tigers and Twins are tied for the lead in the American League Central Division forcing a one game playoff to be played Tuesday night in the Metrodome, where the Tigers are 2-7 on the season.

Optimism is hard to come by for anyone who has watched this Tigers team play on a daily basis. The Tigers had myriad chances of clinching the division at home this past week and did very little. Tuesday afternoon, they left eight men on base scoring only one run while rookie Rick Porcello, who turned in a quality start, was in the game. Thursday, they left 12 men on base spoiling another quality start this time from Nate Robertson.
The weekend series against the White Sox, who were out of playoff contention, was arguably even more pathetic. On Friday, they barely got anyone on base as Jake Peavy, who was coming off an injury, yielded just two hits in eight shutout innings. On Saturday, Tigers manager Jim Leyland made a managerial decision that served as an indictment on the organization’s lack of pitching depth as he picked Alfredo Figaro to start a game that was absolutely paramount. Figaro didn’t make it out of the second inning, but the Tigers offense left seven men on base anyway scoring only one run.

The Tigers offensive woes are the primary reason they were unable to wrap up the division. The Tigers pitching has been good enough to win, but in the last week of the season only ace Justin Verlander was able to carry the Tigers lowly offense to victory as non-Verlander pitchers went 1-4.
Their offense has been hard pressed to get consistent production from the corner outfield spots and designated hitter all year. Signing Adam Dunn this past off-season would have plugged one of those holes in a major way. Instead, the Tigers stuck with the hodgepodge of Carlos Guillen, Clete Thomas, Ryan Raburn, Marcus Thames, and the resurgent Magglio Ordonez before acquiring Aubrey Huff, who is hitting a cool .189 for the Tigers. In all four of the Tigers’ losses in the last week, Raburn’s name wasn’t written in the lineup despite having the best numbers of the group. If Leyland isn’t able to find a spot for Raburn and his .885 On-base plus slugging (OPS) in Tuesday’s game, then the Tigers will be without a bat that has been vital to their playoff hopes and they might see theirs dashed.

On Tuesday, the Tigers will definitely play the Twins in the Metrodome for the last time and Rick Porcello will face Twins starter Scott Baker. Those are the only things I can tell you. It’s baseball, anything can happen. Still, I believe there is a lesson to be learned from this Tigers season: take care of home. Elimination games in ballparks where you’ve been historically unsuccessful is not the desired road to playoff baseball.