The Detroit Tigers, in the midst of a six-game winning streak, are feeling pretty good right about now. And you certainly can’t blame them for doing so, especially after escaping a nine-game skid that had put even the mere thought of the playoffs in serious doubt.
Pitchers Daniel Norris and Matthew Boyd got together for coffee in Milwaukee this morning, and the playoffs were on Norris’ mind.
And why not? Anything can happen in the shortened 60 game season, and the Tigers are proving plenty of people wrong after last year’s less than remarkable record of 114 losses.
“That’s all we talked about,” Norris said Wednesday. “I don’t think that’s really a hope thing. We just gotta keep doing our thing to get there. As far as turning it around, I think it was just a matter of time. We all knew we were coming along in the past several years.”
Though he’s mostly come out of the bullpen this season, Norris naturally wants to once again be a starter, but he’ll take what he can get – especially in the midst of an upstart campaign for his teammates.
“I love starting and that’s ultimately what I want to do,” Norris said. “But with this season, look at us? We’re right in the heart of the playoffs, so whatever I can do to bridge the gap or whatever that means. I’m down for whatever.”
Norris, who had his name pop up in trade rumors, admitted that he did his best not to pay attention to the rumors – though he couldn’t say the same about his family.