I guess if you watch enough baseball in your life you do get to experience just about everything. From the delirium of 1984 and ’06 to the body blow that was Game 163, I thought I’d gone through every emotion as a Tigers fan.

Then came Saturday morning. That’s when the letdown set in and I’ll be damned if I can’t shake it.

This is new terrain for me.

In 1984, the Tigers clinched the American League East with 11 games remaining on the schedule. The same is true this year. Twenty-seven years ago, at least as I remember it, those final games seemed to zip by as the Tigers prepared for the ALCS against the Royals. (Sparky’s club went 7-4 after securing the division title.)

This year, though, these final games are nothing short of excruciating – like a baseball version of “The English Patient“. (Add a Tuesday-night disaster from Brad Penny and it only gets worse.)

Maybe the remaining games will gain some zip when the Tigers return home on Thursday for the final two series of the season and get a raucous welcome home from the Detroit faithful.

Let’s get to the playoffs already.

Am I alone on this?

Watching the Tigers celebrate in the visitors clubhouse Friday night was surreal in a lot of ways. There they were, spraying champagne on the likes of John Keating and generally, in the words of George Kell, kicking up their heels in Oakland.

I was pleasantly surprised that MLB Extra Innings allowed extra airtime for the revelry. Usually they clip the broadcast right after the final out. Here are some things that came to mind as I watched:

The Unexpected Crew. Brandon Inge fielding the final out was, as noted elsewhere, fitting as the longest-tenured Tigers player. Two months ago it would’ve surprised no one if we never saw Inge again given his miserable first half, but there he was. … Then there was Ryan Raburn, another frustrating player (understatement?) that emerged from his first-half slumber to get some big hits – none bigger than this one two weeks ago. … Don Kelly‘s homer on Friday only solidified his position as an essential piece of this team. I have to admit that I cringe whenever I see him in the starting lineup but he rarely disappoints … Delmon Young has effortlessly worked his way into this team’s lineup and it seems less and less odd to see him in a Tigers uniform … Magglio Ordonez seemed about as done as a player can be, but has hit enough to be a scary option off the bench and especially in the playoffs. What other team can boast someone of Maggs’ caliber in a pinch-hitting role?

Dour Dave Lightens Up. It’s not often that you see Dave Dombrowski smile, at least not like this. Friday night was something to behold, watching the usually buttoned-down CEO getting doused with champagne and wearing that God-awful hat. It really is too bad that Mike Ilitch couldn’t attend, and what sad circumstances too.

The Brookens Factor. The last two times before Friday night that the Tigers have won a division title, Tom Brookens was in uniform. I wonder what it felt like for him as a coach to be a part of Tigers division crown. Too bad it couldn’t have happened with Tram, Gibby and Lance on staff.

With the Central title in hand, let’s see how far above 90 wins the Tigers can get while we wait for the ALDS matchup.

It never gets old.

I’d forgotten about this tweet from last month. Posted in frustration, no doubt.

Rod Nelson sent along word of the next meeting of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) Detroit Chapter. If you love Tigers baseball — and baseball in general — you can never go wrong attending a SABR event. Rod shares the following details:

As the Tigers close in on their first October appearance in five years, the SABR Detroit Chapter has put together a program that covers all the bases. Featured speakers include an expert on race and gender issues in baseball along with two individuals who were part of the Detroit organization when the Tigers last won the World Series.

If you have not attended a meeting in while, give this one a try even if you can only stop in for a part of the afternoon. Remember, too, that you are welcome to bring friends and family—whether SABR members or not.

If that isn’t enough baseball to sate you, the Sunday afternoon docket comes with added attractions:

• An opportunity to have lunch and talk baseball before the meeting begins;
• The inevitable and always popular trivia contest, with prizes for the winners; and,
• A chance to watch the Tigers while chowing down on pizza at Lefty’s Lounge across the street.

Sept. 18 Program Speakers

• Lisa Alexander will speak about “Race on First, Class on Second, Gender on Third, and Sexuality Up to Bat: Intersectionality and Power in Major League Baseball, 1995–2005.” Alexander is a professor of Africana studies at Wayne State and is currently editing her dissertation for publication. She is also versed on race issues around steroids, the diminishing number of black baseball players, and former Negro Leagues owner and Hall of Famer Effa Manley. Watch a video preview of Dr. Alexander’s discussion.

• Irwin J. Cohen was the founder, editor and publisher of a monthly baseball publication in the 1970s and his roster of 20 writers included Peter Gammons, Tracy Ringolsby and Ernie Harwell. Cohen worked as a department head in the Tigers’ front office in the Monaghan era and earned a 1984 World Series ring. Cohen has authored nine books, including Tiger Stadium, Crosley Field and Comiskey Park for Arcadia Publishing. His latest book Tiger Stadium/Comerica Park is, of course, a history of the two familiar ballparks as well as an inside look at working in the Detroit front office.

• Howard Stitzel engineered the Tigers’ radio broadcasts for more than 50 years, working with Harry Heilmann, Mel Ott, Ernie Harwell and Paul Carey, among other broadcasters. Stitzel also spent plenty of time on planes talking about the radio business with former Tigers owner Tom Monaghan.

Logistics

Location: Community Room/Special Collections Room on the third floor of the David Adamany Undergraduate Library on the Wayne State campus in Midtown Detroit.

Parking: Street parking should be ample on Sunday. If you are planning on going to Lefty’s afterward, you should park on Cass Avenue or Kirby Street if possible.

Time: 1-4 p.m. Note that the Lions are playing at Ford Field at 1 o’clock, so you might want to allow for the extra traffic on your way in.

Tigers Game and Pizza

Afterward, we will walk over to Lefty’s Lounge to watch the Tigers play the Athletics in Oakland. First pitch is at 4:10. While enjoying pizza & beer at Lefty’s friendly sports bar, we should get a chance to talk to one of the southpaw owners, Ron Way and David Marcon — both of whom pitched in the minor leagues.

Please RSVP to Gary Gillette if you expect to attend. Or leave a voice message at (313) 331-3423. If you want to come early for the box lunch from Union Street, we will send an order form to you upon receiving your RSVP.

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