Tigers already had early scouting report on Athletics

Let the road to the World Series officially begin.

 

The Detroit Tigers and Oakland Athletics meet in Game 1 of the American League Division Series at Comerica Park at 6:07 p.m. today in a series filled with so many story lines.

 

During the regular season Detroit reportedly had at least two scouts following Oakland that helped them take two out of three during a three-game series at Comerica Park on Sept. 18-20.

 

At the time it was also a preview of the ALDS.

 

Let's be honest: coming out of spring training nobody thought Oakland had a chance at punching its ticket to the postseason, but after completing a three-game sweep of the two-time defending AL champ Texas Rangers -- Oakland showed baseball nation that it's the real deal.

 

Wasn't this supposed to be a year of rebuilding in Oakland, Calif., after vice president/general manager Billy Beane traded his top starters? 

 

The A's opened the season with the lowest payroll in the majors at $53 million and now look at what Oakland has accomplished.

 

The expectation in Motown is that the Tigers would win the AL Central division, which is exactly what Jim Leyland and company have done.

 

Rookie Jarrod Parker will get the nod against experienced Tigers pitching ace Justin Verlander, who threw a career-high six complete games.

 

Parker will have his hands full with Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera and the hard hitting Prince Fielder, so expect to see Oakland pitching carefully against the Tigers in this series.

 

One of my fondest memories -- and I'm sure Tigers fans will agree that this is one they'll remember too -- is when Magglio Ordonez ripped a walk-off home run in the American League Championship Series against the A's in 2006, helping Detroit earn its trip to the World Series. 

 

Oakland is still thinking about what happened and will certainly look for revenge against Detroit, but it won't be an easy task against a Tigers team that has a legitimate chance at heading to the World Series again.