So, one day away from Game 1 of the American League Division Series, the A's announced they'll start Jarrod Parker on Saturday afternoon and Tommy Milone for Sunday's "Breakfast at Comerica" and the 9:07 A.M. Bay Area time first pitch (Coco Krispies might be a good choice?). All that really matters though right now is this: the Athletics face Justin Verlander in Game 1. At first glance, this looks like a "A's look ahead to Game 2" headline just because he's Justin Verlander, a flame-throwing strikeout pitcher facing the most frequent punchout lineup in a season covering the American League's century-plus history.
For what it's worth, Verlander was complimentary to the A's during Friday's press conference. At least if you count calling a 94-victory division winner as scrappy a respectful tone. Heck, all those home runs the A's did hit aside, I don't disagree. In fact, despite the star power shining down on Verlander, Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera and fellow slugger Prince Fielder, you can also label the Tigers with the "scrappy" adjective and should not expect any less hate mail from Dearborn or Grosse Point than Verlander should open from San Leandro or Union City. These are two teams that have been grinding away late in the season when they were chasing division leaders, the Tigers ultimately lapping the stumbling White Sox and the Athletics making a historic charge from five games behind Texas with nine to play to win the West in regulation.
I'll make a series prediction before Saturday's Game 1. But you have to like the Tigers' edge for taking a 1-0 series lead. Verlander is that good, despite an ordinary postseason sheet (3-3, 5.57). Not that Parker is a slouch on the mound, but the Comerica Park crowd will be as a big factor in that first game as Verlander's right arm. It could take the A's a game adapting to being cheered against after those fired-up Coliseum crowds made what I believe was a critical crutch for the Athletics completing their sweep of the Rangers. The key in this series for the A's -and in reality all the higher seeded teams that will have to play the first two on the road- is somehow, someway, no matter how ugly you have to make it, get a split and you're in decent shape.
For what it's worth, Verlander was complimentary to the A's during Friday's press conference. At least if you count calling a 94-victory division winner as scrappy a respectful tone. Heck, all those home runs the A's did hit aside, I don't disagree. In fact, despite the star power shining down on Verlander, Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera and fellow slugger Prince Fielder, you can also label the Tigers with the "scrappy" adjective and should not expect any less hate mail from Dearborn or Grosse Point than Verlander should open from San Leandro or Union City. These are two teams that have been grinding away late in the season when they were chasing division leaders, the Tigers ultimately lapping the stumbling White Sox and the Athletics making a historic charge from five games behind Texas with nine to play to win the West in regulation.
I'll make a series prediction before Saturday's Game 1. But you have to like the Tigers' edge for taking a 1-0 series lead. Verlander is that good, despite an ordinary postseason sheet (3-3, 5.57). Not that Parker is a slouch on the mound, but the Comerica Park crowd will be as a big factor in that first game as Verlander's right arm. It could take the A's a game adapting to being cheered against after those fired-up Coliseum crowds made what I believe was a critical crutch for the Athletics completing their sweep of the Rangers. The key in this series for the A's -and in reality all the higher seeded teams that will have to play the first two on the road- is somehow, someway, no matter how ugly you have to make it, get a split and you're in decent shape.
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