Tigers to use 2006 lesson to combat World Series layoff

• The Detroit Tigers will return to the World Series for the first time since 2006
• The Tigers will likely have a long layoff as they await the winner of the NLCS
• Detroit hopes the experience of a similar layoff before the 2006 World Series will be a good lesson

DETROIT — With a dominating performance in the American League Championship Series, the Detroit Tigers are on quite a roll. They just hope a long layoff that results from a 4-0 sweep of the New York Yankees doesn't bring all that momentum to a halt.

We've got a little bit more work to do, but it's a start," said first baseman Prince Fielder, who secured the final out in Thursday's pennant-clinching 8-1 victory.

The circumstances are similar to those surrounding the franchise's last trip to the World Series, when the Tigers also polished off a four-game sweep and then had to wait an entire week before they played again.

"I think we learned our lesson from 2006 and we'll approach things a little differently this time," said Tigers ace Justin Verlander.

"For me 2006 was such a whirlwind, I never really got to appreciate how tough it is to get here because it was my first year and we did go to the World Series," he said. It almost seemed like it was easy."

The Tigers may have learned a little more about how to approach the World Series from their victory in this year's Division Series.

But after winning the first two games, the Tigers failed to put the A's away until the fifth and deciding game. Third baseman Miguel Cabrera said they made a point not to get back in that position against the Yankees.

"I think in Oakland, we think too much about that (one more) game we got to win," Cabrera said. "Don't think about 'We're going to go to the World Series' because it's going to be a lot of distractions."

Now they'll have plenty of time away from the spotlight to prepare for either the St. Louis Cardinals or the San Francisco Giants next Wednesday.

The Series will be a chance at redemption for the Tigers, who went into the 2006 Series as heavy favorites under first-year manager Jim Leyland after coming off a victory over the Yankees in the ALDS and a sweep of Oakland in the ALCS.

Meanwhile, their opponents, the St. Louis Cardinals, needed seven games before outlasting the New York Mets in the NLCS.

Infielder Omar Infante was also on that club that lost to the Cardinals. But he says the layoff wasn't as big a factor as the opponent.

"That did not affect us, you have to keep sharp every day," Infante said. "We have to keep being positive."

Verlander was the American League Rookie of the Year and the Game 1 starting pitcher in that 2006 opener.

"I hope it's the complete opposite result as last time," he said.

In that game, Verlander went only five innings, giving up seven runs (six earned) on six hits as the Cardinals went on to win the opener — and the Series in five games.

Now, six years later, he'll start Game 1 as the reigning AL MVP.

"You want to keep sharp and maintain your rhythm," he said. "I'm sure I'll think of something, whether it's a handful of bullpens or maybe a simulated game. I don't know yet."

Verlander said there may be a few lessons the Tigers can learn from that pennant-winning season — the feeling of coming so far, only to fall short.

"I think I have a new respect for how tough it is now, so (this time) is probably a little bit sweeter."

The one difference between the two Tigers clubs may be in the starting pitching. Verlander and Kenny Rogers both won 17 games in 2006 but the rest of the rotation wasn't as accomplished as this one is.

Including Max Scherzer's clinching effort in Game 4, Detroit's starters have allowed only seven earned runs in 62 innings — an ERA of 1.02 — in this year's playoffs.

Verlander and Scherzer were first and second in the majors in strikeouts during the regular season. Plus, Doug Fister and Anibal Sanchez have been outstanding down the stretch as well.

"The pitching staff has been excellent," Fielder said. "When you're playing all great teams, everybody has great pitching. Sometimes good hitting is going to get stopped by it, but when our pitchers are better than their pitchers, we usually win."

With that dominant pitching and a sweep of the Yankees under their belts, the Tigers will likely be the favorites once again in the World Series. If they can learn their lesson from 2006, Detroit could end up celebrating its first championship in 28 years.