Detroit Tigers are "house money rent chicks" led by A.J. Hinch, says former Yankees coach
The Detroit Tigers, who were well under .500 into August, are one win from the ALCS. After another impressive victory, the sixth seed in the American League are one home win away from eliminating the AL's number two seed, the Cleveland Guardians. All of that seemed implausible two months ago.
Former New York Yankees hitting coach Sean Casey, who served with the team during the second half of last season, believes the Tigers have something special under AJ Hinch.
His co-host Rich Ciamincino said on The Mayor's Office podcast (14:48):
"I think if you are the Detroit Tigers right now, you are house money playing it. Anybody who's betting on the Tigers now and they're beating up on maybe the most consistent team in baseball from day one ... and we don't know who anybody on the team is."
Casey responded (15:33):
"It's incredible, you talk about house money rent chicks. They are all in. All-in every hand. That's why they swept the Astros. That's why they're dangerous. They're playing with house money!"
The Tigers don't have the pressure like some other teams. Ciamincino mentioned the Los Angeles Dodgers spending $1 billion and that the Yankees have pressure all the time. The Tigers don't have that, which makes them "dangerous," according to Casey.
Spencer Torkelson talks impressive Detroit Tigers approach
The Detroit Tigers are one win away from an unthinkable ALCS berth. Yet, the vaunted and talented Cleveland Guardians still stand in their way and won't out without a fight.
Spencer Torkelson, the Tigers first baseman, said via Detroit News that they're human, so they hear everything that's being said around this series:
"We know how close we are. But it just goes back to one pitch at a time, one out at a time. That's been our approach since day one of spring training, just finding ways to win every single day. Things started to click a couple weeks ago, month ago, whatever it was. And that's what's worked. So if it's not broken, don't fix it."
The Tigers will be at home for Game 4 on Thursday night. If they return to Cleveland for the fifth game, they will have presumptive AL Cy Young Tarik Skubal on the mound.