Caputo: Tigers are the ultimate team
Can we stop proclaiming this as voodoo or predetermined destiny?
Can we give the Tigers credit where it is unequivocally, unquestionably, undeniably and undoubtedly due?
The Tigers are just good. Actually, they are really good. Who knows, it may turn out that they are great.
Going to Houston and destroying the Astros in two games in the playoffs roars at high volume what this team has become.
The utter angst of summer is gone. It's in the past. Let it go. Forget about it. It's moot. It's not relevant to debate the future, either. It's unknown.
The Tigers are not rebuilding at this stage. They are trying to win the World Series. Not next year. Now.
The Tigers just went on the road and handily defeated the club that played for a spot in the World Series last season, and won it the year before.
Does anybody in this town fear the Cleveland Guardians? You shouldn't. They are a good team, but certainly not indestructible. The Tigers get by that series, and this postseason is anybody's guess, even if it is vs. the Yankees.
Manager A.J. Hinch is getting a colossal amount of credit for the Tigers' turnaround, and is worthy of every bit of the praise. Ditto pitching coach Chris Fetter.
President of baseball operations Scott Harris has pushed the right buttons lately, and owner Chris Ilitch has proven the level of vitriol aimed at him was way too extreme. He is, after all, responsible for hiring all of the above.
But ultimately, this comes down to the players. No longer should it be viewed that the Tigers are a ragtag outfit of marginal MLB players and overrated prospects.
Tarik Skubal is going to get the Cy Young Award, perhaps unanimously, and has proven his chops in the postseason. That's the definition of a star. Riley Greene, Parker Meadows and Kerry Carpenter and several members of the bullpen are obvious core pieces.
This is an unselfish team, one willing to accept roles.
That's a rarity in baseball. The goal of every minor leaguer is to move up to the next level, not necessarily to win. It's a sport that tends to be about self-survival in that way, and one of the biggest challenges is getting players to suddenly switch into team-first mode upon reaching MLB.
You can't measure the current edition of this team by its stats, but more by the way it meshes together perfectly. These are good players, team players, tough players mentally and physically.
Ultimately, it's the players who took command, executed the plans of their leaders and righted a sinking vessel by turning it into a speed boat.
They just raced by the stunned Astros.
Nobody should be surprised if they do the same to the Guardians.
