And this is why I didn't want to face the Giants at the beginning. They are, in my opinion, the best team in the NL. I'd take the Tigers starting pitching over the Giants, but everything else about them is just flat-out better. Better offense, better defense, better bullpen, better baserunning, etc. Congrats to them, even though the San Francisco Bay Area is spoiled sports-wise (Giants, A's, 49ers, Sharks).
Oh well. Tigers have some work to do, but I think they'll be a better team next year. They'll get Victor Martinez back, and although I don't think he'll hit like he did in 2011, I still think he'll be far more productive than Delmon Young. He's a good leader, too. Jose Valverde is probably done as a Tiger, so they need a new closer (and maybe another bullpen arm). I don't know what they'll do there. They could trade for one, they could bring up Bruce Rondon, they could make someone they already have a closer. Who knows? I'm still hoping they'll sign Annibal Sanchez, find a way to trade Porcello in a package deal, and bring Drew Smyly back as a starter. They need a RF. Don't know what they'll do there, either. Maybe go after Torii Hunter or something.
And something that would help: let's hope Jim Leyland can lead the American League to a victory over the National League in next year's All-Star game.