The mathematical first half ended here late Saturday night, an occasion that provided yet another opportunity to compare these Tigers with their most successful forebears.
Their 81-game record was 55-26, nine games better than the 1987 and 1972 division winners and two games ahead of the world champion '68 club. They were only one game behind the mythic '84 edition.
Before Sunday's game, manager Jim Leyland was asked about his starting pitchers, and whether he could expect them to sustain their success into the second half. His response had little to do with sliders or slide steps.
"It's totally different than it's been the last 12 years around here," Leyland said. "A lot of things are different. What we're trying to do is change things."
The Tigers would win 110 games if they maintain their first-half pace, or 96 if they play .500 the rest of the way. That is significant. In the 10 full seasons played with the three-division, wild-card format, 23 American League teams have won 95 or more games.
All 23 made the postseason.
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First-half record points to postseason
First-half record points to postseason
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