Not news to anyone in the U.S. at this point, but since I hear that there are readers from abroad who visit, here’s the scoop: The Detroit Tigers lost the World Series to the St. Louis Cardinals, winning only one game to the Cardinals’ four. The Tigers played well below expectations in the series, and were particularly hurt by numerous errors (an error being where a player fails to complete a play on the ball that he should have been able to complete, in the judgment of the official scorer, and so allows an opposing player to advance on the bases). Many have speculated that the week off which they enjoyed, while the Cardinals and the Mets fought for the National League spot in the series, destroyed their sharpness and timing.

I’ve been following the Tigers’ progress in the baseball play-offs, mainly because Bob Dylan picked them as his favorite team of 2006 during an interview in August with Rolling Stone. So, the big question is answered: Bob Dylan ain’t no baseball prophet.

Still, they did make the World Series, which probably few other people would have predicted in August. They had a fantastic first half of the season, before slumping badly and losing what should have been a cinch Central Division championship. They then surprised everyone by coming into the play-offs with rockets attached to their boots (figuratively speaking) and smashing through the New York Yankees and the Oakland Athletics. Conventional wisdom stated that the National League contenders were not up to snuff this year, and the Tigers should then have had an easy path to winning the World Series. But as has been said, it ain’t over till it’s over. It sure is over now.

And I still think it’s a cop-out for Dylan to change his favorite team based on whimsical year-to-year preferences.

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