Friday, September 16, 2011

We've waited 24 years for this; or for some of us, a lifetime

23 years, 3 months, and 19 days -- that is how long I have been alive. I've also had the enjoyment of being a Detroit Tigers fan that same amount of time. That's not an over-exaggeration either, as I can't remember any period in my life that I wasn't obsessed with this baseball team, that in all honesty, has done little in terms of rewarding fans during that time period.

Yes, in 2006 they made the playoffs as the wild card team and went on to reach the World Series. It was easily the most exciting season as a baseball fan in my life and being there for Magglio Ordonez's walk-off home run was a moment I will never forget.

The only problem with this is the fact that this has been the only season in my lifetime that they have made the playoffs. While it was an amazing season, it was five years ago and many things have changed -- most notably, there is not one starting position player left on the roster.

Brandon Inge, Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen have since had their workloads reduced to reserve players who play one or two times per week. Curtis Granderson, Placido Polanco, Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez and Marcus Thames have all either been traded or released. Finally, Craig Monroe and Sean Casey are out of baseball all-together.

Only five of the players from the Tigers 25-man playoff roster in 2006 are still on the team and not all are guaranteed a spot on this year's playoff roster.

That's how much has changed in a short five seasons, now imagine when you look back to the last time the Tigers won a division championship and how much has changed.

In case you forgot when that was, you'll have to go back all the way to the late summer/early fall of 1987.

Lou Whitaker, Alan Trammell and Kirk Gibson were the heart and soul of the Tigers lineup that season. A far cry from the names of Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez and Alex Avila.

Detroit fans are loyal, passionate and will always be there for their teams. That is just the way we're built here in Detroit. It doesn't matter if it's the Tigers, Lions, Pistons or Red Wings. We've truly been through hell and back with all franchises -- but it may not be any worse than the hell we've been through with the Tigers.

That's why when they finally clinch the division -- even though we already know it's just a matter of time -- this city will explode with excitement. We've waited 24 years to enjoy a division championship and I'm very confident the excitement for it will not disappoint.

Enjoy this moment Detroit because you never know, we may have to wait until 2035 for the next one!

Photo courtesy of the Associated Press