With a quick 2-0 lead in Game 6 of the ALCS, the Tigers had us believing that Game 7 could be more than wishful thinking. A couple of innings later, the season effectively came to an end. It’s not good form to blame a nine-run inning on umpiring – Max Scherzer did most of the damage to himself – but a couple calls undoubtedly went against the Tigers that helped extend the inning. In many ways, it seemed like the Tigers had no business playing in the ALCS when you looked at the Rangers lineup. But Detroit could’ve made quick work of Texas had they gotten a timely hit or two – check that, one would’ve done in many cases – in the first…

As Rick Porcello was crafting a beautiful outing through the first five innings, I allowed myself think about the Tigers heading back to Texas with a 3-2 series lead. I should’ve known better; the Tigers were up only 2-0 and the Rangers were just waiting in the weeds for the right moment to get back into the game. When David Murphy, who’s become as irritating as David DeJesus, lined a single to left to leadoff the sixth … I had a bad feeling. No way Porcello can lose steam that fast, I thought. Ahem. All of a sudden the Tigers are losing and, well, you know. But then Brandon Inge hit a game-tying homer in the seventh and maybe there’s more magic to be…