[Lefty Noob]

The Detroit Tigers have clinched no worse that a Wild Card berth in the 2006 American League playoffs, making their first postseason appearance in 19 years. Detroit beat Kansas City 11-4 today, regained the best record in the major leagues at 94-62 and will obviously avoid a 13th straight losing season. So what's the major factor for the turn around? Gotta be Jimmy Leyland, right?

[hotshot7796]

Jimmy Leyland gets my vote mostly, but also the overall health of the squad has been huge, but one could give Kenny Rogers a vote as well

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

The Detroit Tigers have clinched no worse that a Wild Card berth in the 2006 American League playoffs, making their first postseason appearance in 19 years. Detroit beat Kansas City 11-4 today, regained the best record in the major leagues at 94-62 and will obviously avoid a 13th straight losing season. So what's the major factor for the turn around? Gotta be Jimmy Leyland, right?

I personally like the young pitching staff and the pitchers ball park.

[EmpireWF]

I never thought I'd see the Tigers in the playoffs. I've been (seriously) following MLB since the late 90s and my memories of them is mostly being one of the worst teams in the game. HUGE props to Leyland for righting the ship.

Doesn't this season just cement I-Rod's case as being one of this generation's elite catchers? I mean he had all those tremendous years in Texas (stats wise) then goes to Florida and wins a world series. He chooses to take the money and go to Detroit (a losing situation at the time) and helps lead them to their first division title in forever.

[MJHMarc]

But don't they also have Magglio Ordonez and Chris Shelton? Rondell White and Dmitri Young haven't produced great numbers over the past few years. A great team that has surprised MLB fans nation-wide.

[EmpireWF]

Too bad they couldn't hold on to the division. They did so for all but about two and a half weeks of the year. Hilarious that the Twins were right behind them and jumped in one the last day.

Good luck to the Tigers as the american league wild card representative.