Detroit Tigers - part 2 of 2

Well that effort tonight makes it a good time to write about the pitching of the Tigers - a very strong outing by Bonderman, followed by another 1-2-3 by Jones as the Sox lose another series, almost simultaneously with the Yankees moving ahead of the Orioles in the Bronx.

As I mentioned yesterday, the Tigers offense is above average, but not enough above average to make them owners of the best record in baseball.

So on to the pitching staff -

		League Rank
		Tigers	Sox
ERA	3.70	1	19
WHIP	1.27	1	12
SHO	13	1	26
K/9	6.47	16	8
K/BB	2.18	10	6
BB/9	2.96	8	10

Some nice #1 rankings there, and a clear part of the Tiger story. And the starters individual numbers clearly are the building blocks -

	2006			Career
	ERA	WHIP	OBA	ERA	WHIP	OBA
Verlander	2.95	1.21	.306	3.26	1.25	.314
Bonderman	3.76	1.18	.291	4.68	1.35	.323
Robertson	3.85	1.30	.321	4.63	1.40	.334
Miner	4.25	1.33	.318
Rogers	4.36	1.25	.311	4.22	1.39	.333

Rogers aside, the Tigers rotation is having a career year - and I can say that without doubt for Miner! However, it is not just the starters, the bullpen has also been very strong -

		League Rank
		Tigers	Sox
ERA	3.47	3	14
BAA	.230	1	18
SV%	80%	2	11

So the moral of the story... an average offence with a well above average pitching staff = sure fire run to the play-offs and a decent chance at progressing from the AL... and 2 out of 2 so far from the Sox in Fenway.