| Chances are that if you're a Tigers fan, you've | | | | match wits has already been a pleasure in the |
| been thinking that MLB tickets would still be | | | | first two games. |
| available at this point. If you live in or root for St. | | | | Neither of them is perfect, but neither ever |
| Louis, the fact that the Cardinals are still alive may | | | | needs to learn a lesson more than once. For |
| be a bit of a surprise. What's no surprise, | | | | instance, it's a good bet that the Tigers won't be |
| however, is that the World Series is off to a | | | | pitching to Albert Pujols any more if first base is |
| competitive start, tied at a game apiece, and it's | | | | open, as they learned the hard way in game one. |
| beginning to look like it's going the full seven. A | | | | On the other side of the diamond, it's already |
| breakdown of what to expect will explain why | | | | apparent that the Cardinals have figured out that |
| this could shape up to be one of the all-time fall | | | | the Tigers have been concentrating on plate |
| classics. | | | | patience, which is why so many first-pitch |
| Pitching | | | | fastballs over the plate are beginning to appear. |
| Each team's "ace" has been identified, but both | | | | It's these subtleties that make this match up so |
| the Tigers and Cardinals have been getting | | | | intriguing, and also why neither team is going to |
| unexpected results from their other starting | | | | run away and hide with the series before either |
| pitchers throughout the postseason. Kenny | | | | Leyland or La Russa makes the adjustments to |
| Rogers stoned the Cardinals in game two, and | | | | keep everything close. |
| Chris Carpenter takes the mound in game three. | | | | Momentum |
| Each of them should win their starts, which | | | | Neither team is one of those "on a ridiculous roll" |
| basically gives each team a win and sets up a | | | | teams that we've seen sweep through the series |
| potentially dramatic game seven if they face each | | | | in the recent past, including the Boston Red Sox in |
| other in the deciding game. | | | | 2004 and the Chicago White Sox last year. These |
| The Cardinals have been getting great | | | | are evenly-matched teams, both of whom |
| performances from the likes of Jeff Suppan, who | | | | struggled badly down the stretch and both of |
| was scorned in Boston, and the Tigers have | | | | whom nearly choked away their spots in the |
| gotten quite a bit of mileage from Jeremy | | | | postseason. |
| Bonderman. Neither is seen as a "stopper," but | | | | They're not feeling lucky to be here, but they're |
| both have been nearly untouchable in crucial | | | | not feeling invincible, either, and given that |
| stretches. | | | | competitive edge along with good pitching and |
| Managers | | | | top-notch game management and preparation, |
| When's the last time the managers were catching | | | | this World Series is going to go the distance. |
| the attention of general fans in a World Series? | | | | However, MLB tickets in Detroit are going to take |
| Managers don't normally move MLB tickets on | | | | on historical value in a few days, as the Tigers will |
| their own, but Tony La Russa and Jim Leyland are | | | | win it in seven games. |
| both masters of their craft, and watching them | | | | |