Tigers' Magic Number: 6

All that Magic Number crap is out the window now. Sweep this double-header and it's pretty much over. 

Days like this should be considered borderline holidays, and all daytime and evening activities, including work and youth hockey practice, should be canceled. 

Tigers' Magic Number: 8

With their sweep of the Indians complete, the Tigers' Magic Number now stands at 8, and no doubt most of you are wondering whether the Kage's Advanced Probabilities formula is still on track to hold true. Oh, ye of little faith!

The Tigers can still clinch on Monday against the Twins, but it's going to require a Tigers' sweep of Chicago this weekend, as well as a Royals' sweep of Minnesota. That would bring the Magic Number down to 2, and a win for the Tigers Monday against the Twins would finish it off. I, for one, like our chances.

Somewhere on a barge in Florida, Dave opened his Sports section, saw the box score and smiled, and then scratched himself. (It happens!)

Tigers' Magic Number: 9

We're into the single-digits, so that's a good thing. Unfortunately, the Twins keep winning, so the Tigers' Magic Number only dropped one with last night's 11-3 hammering of Cleveland. The Tiges go for the sweep tonight, but we can assure you the Twins will not win this evening. That's cuz they don't play.

Somewhere on a barge in Florida, Dave opened his sports section, saw that Justin Verlander is due to pitch tonight, and thought, "Sweet, that should get our names in the same sentence again!"

Tigers' Magic Number: 10

With Tuesday's 3-1 win over Cleveland, the Tigers' Magic Number dropped to 10. No doubt it's going to be an anxious rest of the week for Tigers fans, but here's something that should give you a vote of confidence. The Tigers put their playoff tickets on sale yesterday, beginning with first-round games against the Yankees. Maybe they know something we don't.

Somewhere on a barge in Florida, Dave flipped to his sports section, read the box scores and smiled. And then he put in an enormous chew.

Tigers’ Magic Number: 11

Last week, the Kage's advanced probabilities formula indicated that the Tigers would clinch the division with a win over the Twins on Monday, Sept. 28. On the way to getting there, the formula predicted that the Tigers’ Magic Number would be down to 9 by the end of the recent three-game series against Minnesota. Instead, it’s at 11, a little off pace. No big deal.

Actually, were it not for a rookie outfielder losing a flyball in that stupid Metrodome roof Saturday evening, the Tigers’ Magic Number would be sitting at 9. Thankfully, the Kage’s formula takes into account such anomalies. We predict things will correct themselves sometime this week. We’re still calling for a Sept. 28 clinching. 

Tigers' win drops Magic Number to 13

A four-run Detroit rally erased Kansas City's 3-0 lead Wednesday evening, and the Tigers grabbed a 4-3 win to move one step closer to the post-season. The Kage's advanced probabilities formula is on track. The Magic Number now stands at 13. 

For daily updates of the Tigers' pennant run, check back often with the Kage, the only place online where you might find the names "Justin Verlander" and "Dave" used in the same sentence.

Calm down everyone, the Tigers’ Magic Number is still only 14

Somewhere down in Florida, Dave is sitting on a barge reading the sports section, and his shorts just climbed a little higher after seeing the Tigers got blasted 11-1 last night. Easy, blonde boy. Everything’s gonna be fine.

To put Dave – and a few other Tiger fans – at ease, we at the Kage did a little math and were able to pin down precisely when the Tigers will clinch the American League Central Division pennant. Using an advanced probabilities formula (so advanced it takes into consideration factors such as the aerodynamic benefits to Magglio Ordonez since he had nine pounds of hair lopped from the back of his head) we were able to conclude that the Tigers will not repeat the collapse of 2006.

So chill out. Aside from not knowing who two of their five starters are, the Tigers are poised to finish this thing off. Luckily for them, Twins fans still don’t know three of their starting five, and they’ve been pitching for them since July!

Detroit-area fans will be pleased to know that the Tigers will clinch the pennant at home on Monday, Sept. 28, against none other than the Minnesota Twins. It’s the first of a four-game set, and the Tigers’ Magic Number will be down to 2 when the game starts. (Among our other findings: The Tigers will win 6-4, Curtis Granderson will score the game-winning run, and it’s gonna be chilly, so wear a sweatshirt.)

Photo Credit: UMJenn