Detroit Tigers: Still reasons to play hard vs. Minnesota Twins

It has been one of the toughest baseball seasons of recent memory for Detroit Tigers fans. Actually, it is safe to say THE toughest in the last five years, and quite honestly, it will be a blessing once it is all over.

But as the saying goes, it ain’t over until the fat lady sings. No, I’m not referring to the Tigers 0.1 percent chance of making the playoffs according to the ESPN standings. I’m talking about the 14.5 percent chance the Minnesota Twins have of claiming the second American League Wild Card spot.

Honestly, I don’t understand how ESPN comes up with these random percentages for the likelihood of each team making the playoffs. Before Thursday’s game, why do the Los Angeles Angels, who are 1.5 games behind the Houston Astros, have a 20.7 percent chance of making the playoffs and the Twins just 14.5, who are one game back of the Astros?

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Anyway, the percentage is irrelevant to my point, which is the Twins still have playoff aspirations in 2015. Therefore, it is the Tigers job to do whatever possible to spoil it for them.

But the games don’t really matter you say? Detroit, don’t you have any pride? Aren’t you at least a little bit mad the Vikings beat the Lions last weekend? Sure, the NFC North teams play each other again, but let’s get some revenge right now. You’re miserable about the Tigers seasons, so why not make Twins fans miserable too?

Granted, Detroit is far from the only city or fan base to pack in the towel when there is no hope for their team to make the playoffs. Heck, Philadelphia sometimes packs in the towel before the season begins! It’s one of the biggest problems with the young generation of Americans today. Go ahead and call me an old fogey (I’m 24 by the way), but if the result doesn’t have any direct barring on our status in life, than we don’t care.

Well, you should still care. You should care about anything you are a part of and anything your name goes on top of in life.

All year, Tigers players have been shoving down fans’ throats about how professional they are. Now is the time for them to show it.

Despite the disappointing season, Tigers fans have actually had some reasons to smile this week. Victor Martinez hit his 200th career home run and Justin Verlander reached 99 MPH on the radar gun on his 111th pitch Wednesday. But if fans are searching for a reason to go to the final home series of the season, look no further than to root for the Tigers to end the season of the Minnesota Twins.

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