Every great season has a turning point.
If 2009 proves to be a meaningful one for the Tigers, we will all recall the incredible weekend series in Cleveland and how the Tigers dominated their Central Division rivals in a way we haven’t seen in decades.
In the last 18 years, the Tigers have only swept the Cleveland Indians one time on their home turf. This past weekend, the Tigers doubled their sweep rate.
Friday night’s game was one of the best I’ve ever seen. It was a pitching duel between Justin Verlander and Cliff Lee. Verlander was pitching with the ferocity and determination of Jack Morris. Great hustle by Clete Thomas and an amazing game-robbing catch by Curtis Granderson turned an almost 2-1 loss into a 1-0 win for the Tigers.
The next two games were dominated by the Tigers pitchers as the Tribe was shut out again on Saturday and only scored three runs on Sunday. Three runs in three days.
Yes, folks, this weekend was special. If we are in a pennant run come September it will seem even more so. This Tigers team is for real. And they just proved it to themselves and the baseball world in Cleveland, Ohio.