Tigers vs. Twins vs. White Sox

The White Sox are in serious trouble, 5 behind us and 4 behind the Twins with 13 to play. This series against the Whit Sux - beginning tonight and going through Wednesday - is the most important series the Tigers have played since 1987. At the beginning of the year, we would have been giddy if anyone had told us that we'd be in this position.

If the Tigers win one of the three games, that probably ends any realistic chance the White Sox's have to catch us. If we are swept, we'll still be 2 up. So the pressure is entirely on the White Sox.

Meanwhile, the Twins have a great chance to be sitting in first place by the end of baseball on Wednesday. They play the Red Sox for three games starting tonight. I never thought I'd say this, but, Go Red Sox!

And maybe the best thing about this is the Tigers get to play in a real playoff race. Normally, every championship team has to go through stages before they can play great when it counts. The Tigers figure to have the talent to be competitive for the next bunch of years since we've got great young pitching, and with Cameron Maybin (#1 prospect in baseball according to many) and some other good position prospects on the horizon. As these guys start arriving in Detroit, the Tigers will already have gone through a lot of their learning curve.

It's a great time to be a baseball fan, specifically a Tigers fan.