Central Division Champs

The Indians already won, 7-6 at Minneapolis. If the Tigers were to end the night as champs, they needed a win in Oakland.

Doug Fister provided the pitching -- eight innings, one run, three hits -- and Donnie Kelly drove in three with a single and a two run homer. 

With the score 3-1 Tigers, good and wonderful things once again happened in the wee hours of an Eastern time zone morning. Papa Shut 'Em Down gave up a leadoff bloop double to Coco Crisp (sigh ...) but retired the next two. Then, Governor Inge speared Josh Willingham's grounder and threw him out, and the Tigers were 2011 American League Central Division champs.

They did it the right way, with a win and and the on-field celebration that winning their way in made possible.

Fister's numbers since he put on the Olde English "D" on July 31: six wins, 59 innings, 49 hits, 46 strikeouts, five (count 'em) walks, and a 2.12 ERA.

We knew he was good, but never expected him to becomes a second stopper in the starting rotation. 

Kelly's contribution highlights what's kept the Tigers in contention all season: Skipper Leyland's liberal use of his roster. No one rusted on the bench. They all put the yeast in. All 25 guys became part of something that, indeed, turned out to be special.

-------------------------------

The temptation was there, to enjoy a postcard-perfect mid-September day, the last Saturday of the calendar summer,  outdoors and leave the radios and baseball at home.

Then again ... there hasn't been a day-after-clinch game since 1984. In '87 and '06, their post-season fate (East winners in '87, wild card in '06) was decided on the last day of the season. And also in 2009 (going home after losing Game 163). The fan never got to watch, and listen, minus the need to wonder what the second place team was up to, and how the Tigers would either claw their way into first place or lose more of their lead. 

So they lost, 5-3; that's okay, it's been a long season and they partied like it was 2011 well into the morning. Rick Porcello allowed nine hits but only three runs in seven innings. Ryan Perry gave up two runs and three hits in the eighth. Without that, the Tigers tie it in the ninth; however, he's the last guy in the bullpen and may not see action in a short post-season series, and that can be more or less forgiven.