Final game cannot ruin Detroit Tigers' amazing season

It didn't end the way that any Tigers' fan wanted.
Actually, it ended in about the worst way any Tigers' fan could imagine.
The 2011 season came to a screeching halt with a heartbreaking 15-5 drubbing by the Texas Rangers in Game 6 of the ALCS. For the first time this post-season the Detroit starting pitching completely fell apart. Max Scherzer teamed with three other Detroit pitchers to give up nine runs in the third inning, and it was over from there.
As disappointing as the final game was, and as much as it still stings, we have to put that one moment behind us and look at the bigger picture.
This was a fantastic year to root for the Olde English D.

AP Photo
Justin Verlander's no-hitter in Toronto should be one of the lasting images of the 2011 Detroit Tigers
They won their first division title since 1987. They ran away with the Central with a late season 12-game winning streak, and they won 95 games. Then they followed it up by knocking the 200-million dollar Yankees out of the playoffs. Also remember the three or four times that it felt like Justin Verlander had a real shot at a no-hitter, and the one time he actually pulled it off.
The team also made some great moves down the stretch, the biggest being acquiring Doug Fister to be the high-powered compliment to Verlander.
They also are losing the big contracts of Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen. That's almost 13-million dollars coming off the books that Dave Dombrowski can use to plug holes.
The AL Central will once again be up for grabs in 2012, and the Tigers are primed to repeat.
2011 was a fantastic year to be here in Detroit rooting for the Tigers, and it is setting the table for more great years to come.
So do your best to forget how the season ended, and remember how great it was to be along for the ride all year long.


source : http://blog.mlive.com/ottoman-empire/2011/10/final_game_cannot_ruin_detroit_tigers_amazing_season.html