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Now this is the Detroit Tigers we all expected. Finally, back to an even 40-40 for the year, the Tigers are showing the capability and promise we all expected from the talented, veteran team they are.

After making several major offseason trades, the team needed time to get it together. In recreating their infield, Guillen and Cabrera are both learning new positions at third and first base while newcomer Renteria has taken over shortfield. All those errors we were seeing by the infield during the first two months are finally going away. Along with getting in sync with their new teammates, the Tigers' have been torched with major injuries that the far majority of teams would never be able to overcome. They don't have two (Bonderman, Willis) of their opening day starting pitchers in the lineup due to a season ending injury and control issues. Their bullpen (Zumaya, Rodney) is finally healthy for the first time this season. Their catalyst (Granderson) has come back after missing the early part of the season recovering from injury. Their DH (Sheffield) is finally 100% healthy. When teams lose their starting pitchers, bullpen, catalyst, and DH for significant periods of time, they usually don't have enough talent to make it to the playoffs. The Tigers are one of the few teams in the majors with the extroadinary amount of talent needed to even attempt such a comeback (after starting the season 0-7 and being 24-36 in early June). Fortunately, the Tigers have maintained focus, fought through these injuries, and placed themselves in prime position to make a run for the Central Division. No team has ever made the playoff after starting 0-7; expect the 2008 Detroit Tigers to be the first.

Over their past 20 games, the Tigers are playing .800 ball (16-4), best in the majors. Here are a few reasons the Tigers have climbed back to .500:

1. The Tigers have won their last 6 series including sweeps of AL Central leading White Sox and the Dodgers (and perhaps the Rockies tomorrow, they lead 2-0 currently in the series).

2. During this stretch, the Tigers have had a 6 game winning streak and are currently riding a 4 game winning streak.

3. The starting pitching is finally coming together, in the past 20 games delivering 13 quality starts and 18 games with the Tigers' starting pitcher going at least 5 innings. Many games the starters have gone deep into the 7th and 8th innings and Verlander pitched a complete game during the 20 game stretch. Even with the blows the starting pitching has faced (Bonderman out for season with injury, Willis still trying to get his control back in AAA), the rookies have come up big with Galarraga going 7-2 in 12 games started with 8 quality starts and Bonine going 2-0 in 3 starts (debut on June 14 during current Tigers' 16-4 streak) with his last two outings pitching 15 innings allowing only 3 runs.

4. The bullpen is back with Zumaya and Rodney, slowly but surely, returning to their 2006 form when they helped a league leading pitching staff reach the World Series. Todd Jones is 14/15 in save opportunities (his only blown save coming last night in the Tigers' come from behind 7-6 win. Seay, Miner, and Dolsi have all improved their play dramatically during this stretch.

5. Granderson is back and in full effect. In the past two weeks, he's been batting .489, recently delivering back to back 4 hit games. His season average has improved from roughly .240 to .298 in the month of June alone. His two games before last night he combined for 8 hits (on 10 at bats) with a double, two triples, and five runs scored. Again, in two games.

6. Sheffield has finally recovered from his lingering injuries, stating the other night he feels 100% healthy for the first time all year. Since coming back to the lineup 4 games ago, he has 4 RBIs, is batting .375, and has hit 2 home runs and a double. He looks like the Shef last year that produced clutch hits throughout the summer when he was healthy.

7. Coming into the season left field was considered to be the Tigers' only weakness. Thames and rookie Clete Thomas have combined to produce spectacular results from left field during the current June run. Thames has hit 9 home runs, with 7 coming to tie or take the lead. Clutch hitting. Thomas showed some serious poise the other night in the batter box when he took a bases loaded, 2 out walk in the bottom of the ninth to win it for the Tigers against the Cardinals (also, winning the series). In Thomas' six games played during the current 16-4 stretch, he's batted .375 on six hits in 16 at bats with 3 doubles to along with four walks. Not too shabby for bench production.

8. Here are how the rest of the starters (who have started at least 10 games) have faced during the past two weeks (splits taken from baseball-reference.com): Polanco - .400 batting average, two doubles, triple, home run; Guillen - .286 batting average, four doubles, home run; Cabrera - .271 batting average, two doubles, two home runs; Ordonez - .271 batting average, three doubles, two home runs

The Finish?

Tigers' pitching is back on track. Galarraga continues to impress, being a serious candidate for rookie of the year. Verlander is finally getting command of his fastball and seems to be getting back to being the ace the Tigers are used to. The all star lineup has been clutch with its extra base hitting, especially during crucial two out situations. In the past three games alone, the Tigers have had two walkoff wins. Its scary to think the Tigers' haven't seen even close to the best out of Cabrera, their blockbuster offseason trade and extension (over $150 miilion, 7 years). Maybe last night's bases clearing, two run, walkoff double will give him the jump he needs.

The Tigers are on their way to winning the AL Central. Boston has jumped out to a large lead in the overall AL standings, but the Tigers, now being only 5 games out of first in the Central, seem ready to take control of the division. Tigers face the top two teams in the AL Central, the White Sox and Twins, a collective 19 times over their remaining 82 games, 10 and 9 games respectively. They will have their chance to shine and take control.

I am sticking to my prediction of the Tigers I made before the season started in my first (and only) throwdown (http://www.fannation.com/throwdowns/show/132897). The Tigers will win the 2008 World Series. I thought the Tigers didn't need two months before they started gelling together, but they did. But now they are on, and they are playing with a chip on their shoulders. They are sick of hearing all of the media throughout the first half of the season writing the Tigers off after they fell 11 back of the White Sox earlier this month. They are playing for a purpose. Expect to see them in this years' Fall Classic. I do.