Tonight the Detroit Tigers play in Game 1 of their second ALCS in two years, this time against the New York Yankees. Doug Fister will match up against Andy Pettitte.
If the Yankees win the series, it will be their 41st pennant win. If the Tigers win, it will be their 11th.
According to an ESPN poll, 39% of voters chose the Tigers to win it all, 26% chose the Yankees. The Cardinals came in at third with 21%, and the Giants fourth with 14% of the vote. At the time of this writing, over 83,000 voters had weighed in.
As we know it here at Baseball Jerks, polls are for jerks. The Tigers’ lead in this poll may be indicative of something other than baseball knowledge and perhaps more akin to general distaste on behalf of anyone not living in New York.
Jim Leyland’s lineup for Game 1:
2B Omar Infante
DH Delmon Young
LF Andy Dirks
Joe Girardi will counter with:
SS Derek Jeter
DH Raul Ibanez
RF Nick Swisher
One thing is for sure, tonight’s game will be played. There’s no rain in the forecast so these two clubs won’t have to wait on Mother Nature to show their hands.
The Yankees have a bone to pick with the Tigers after being bounced by them in two recent ALDS (’06, ’11), but by all accounts, the Tigers have a stronger starting pitching rotation so the Yankees’ task won’t be easy.
Stats and info courtesy of MLB.com
