Trade acquisition a must for the Tigers

As of right now, we can safely say that the Detroit Tigers are doing good.

Not great, but good.

6 games above .500 is good. 6 games above .500 means that your team is having an above-average year. 6 games above .500 is a record that many teams would like to have. But 6 games above .500 does not get you into the postseason.

Yes, I'm aware that the Tigers are neck-and-neck with the Minnesota Twins in a race to take the A.L. Central, but the Tigers have been behind in that race for almost the entire season, and don't think we can expect a total role-reversal from last year. The Tigers are playing very well, but they're not cutting it. Even if their current squad ends up being enough to get them into the playoffs, it's doubtful that it's enough to make it past the first round, let alone the World Series.

The Tigers have many of the crucial pieces. They have the hitting. They certainly have the bullpen. The defense could be better, but it's good enough. The only area that they are weak in is the most important area of all: the starting rotation.

Justin Verlander has been mostly phenomenal. But his supporting cast has been far too inconsistent. It has not been terrible, but it could use some work.

Which brings us to trading.

Aces Roy Oswalt and Cliff Lee are among those believed to be available via trade. If the Tigers were to pair one of them with Verlander, they would in the process become not only the favorites to win the A.L. Central, but, in my opinion, favorites to win the A.L. (New York who?).

Either pitcher would be a fine addition. Oswalt's numbers look better this year, while Lee has proven to be dominant in the postseason. Personally, I would take Lee, seeing as he should be good enough to provide the little push the Tigers need to make the playoffs, and would probably help them more once they get there.

That decision, however, is for the Tigers to make. But whatever they do, they better do something.

'Dome, Big Mo, Tigers' offense will all have their roles in Tuesday showdown

And it wasn't too long ago that we thought they were finished.

Just weeks ago it seemed as if they were out for sure. They trailed by 7 games with little season left. As television play-by-play broadcaster Mario Impemba put it, "If they don't watch it, the Minnesota Twins may soon find themselves out of this A.L. Central race."

They weren't a serious problem. Our focus was Chicago, Chicago, Chicago. The Twins were nothing but an afterthought.

And yet, this very Tuesday night, the Detriot Tigers will head out to the Metrodome in a one-game-playoff against the Minnesota Twins to determine the winner of the pennant race.

The Tigers have held at least a share of the division since the middle of May, so it would seem that they would have wrapped things up by now, and yet, heading into tomorrow, their playoff hopes remain up in the air.

And neither team is truly all that much greater than the other. They each have their strengths (offensive power for the Twins, strong pitching and defense for the Tigers) as well as their flaws (offensive woes for the Tigers, pitching issues for the Twins). And obviously they have the same records.

But which one will win? Unfortunately, the Twins do have one added advantage: the Metrodome. Oh, the dreaded dome. Most visitors hate it, and our Tigers are no exception. They have won just twice there, and one of those took 16 innings.

And then, of course, there's momentum, aka Big Mo. I think one thing that often seperates succesful sports experts from sports experts who always get it wrong is their ability to understand Big Mo. It is a determining factor in several games that appears to have no exact science. Believe me, if I could completely explain to you, I would. Part of it is evaluating, but the second, more imporpant principle is being able to feel it.

So who has the Big Mo? One could likely make a case for either team. The Twins are on an extreme hot streak, came from behind, and are playing in front of their home crowd. The Tigers, well maybe it's not as easy making a case for them. Let's just settle for the fact that since they have led the division most of the year, there is a definitely a feeling of superiority. Also key here is whether or not the Twins will keep their firepower going.

As of right now, I couldn't tell you. My feel part isn't talking.

Regardless of Big Mo, one thing is for sure. If the Tigers plan on winning at the Metrodome, they will need some offense. As good as Rick Porcello is, I doubt that he is capable of keeping a high-powered Minnesota Twins offense from scoring any less than 3 runs. So obviously the Tigers will have to fight fire with fire.

The Tiger offense has been feast or famine all year long, and if they plan on winning Tuesday, they better go with the first of those two.