2009 Detroit Tigers - The Season of Missed Chances

Scrappy, frustrating, exhilarating. These are just some of the words used to describe the 2009 Detroit Tigers. But nothing sums up the entire season like the word "almost." The Tigers almost ended it after the top of the 10th. They almost scored a go ahead run in the 9th and 12th. But, when it was all said and done, it was the Minnesota Twins, taking advantage of the Tigers mistakes, ending Detroit's 2009 campaign.

Believe it or not, the Tigers didn't lead the majors in LOB (men left on base), nor were they even close. It's hard to imagine, especially considering Tuesday's one game playoff, but it's probably because they have a difficult enough time even getting guys on to begin with. Inge couldn't come through in the end, Laird couldn't come through, and Cabrera, despite his two run shot early on, is going to take a lot of deserved heat these next few days.

This end's going to make for a long summer, and bring up plenty of questions. Should the Tigers have given Magglio those AB's to kick in his $18 million next year? Where are they going to improve the starting pitching/bullpen when there are hardly any good free agents or money to pick them up with?

Kudos to the Twins and Tigers for putting on a heck of a show, but it's another morning on Wednesday where I've gotta duck SportsCenter for CNN.