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    • “Tiger fans are the biggest”
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    “Tiger fans are the biggest”

    Idris Bevan Posted on

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    In the clubhouse, Detroit Tigers owner Christopher Ilitch addressed fans as he watched players and coaches celebrate their berth in the postseason for the first time since 2014.

    Ilitch eventually joined the party and received an invitation from All-Star outfielder Riley Greene that he couldn’t refuse, resulting in a beer shower from the players.

    “It’s something I’ve always dreamed of,” Greene said.

    FINALLY: The Tigers advance to their first postseason appearance since 2014

    Earlier, Ilitch watched the Tigers celebrate on the field in front of 44,435 fans.

    “I’m so happy for the Tiger fans,” Ilitch said after Friday’s 4-1 win that clinched a wild-card spot in the American League. “I mean, Tiger fans are the biggest fans. They are loyal fans who have supported this club for years. This is what you saw tonight. They appeared in large numbers. Tiger fans deserve this. I couldn’t be more excited for our fans.”

    The Tigers marched into the playoffs by winning 31 of 42 games after falling under .500 in eight games on August 10. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Twins were terrible down the stretch. The Tigers are one of two MLB teams to ever make it to the postseason after finishing at least that far under .500 in 115 games.

    “I don’t remember the exact game,” Ilitch said, “but after a while it became clear that it wasn’t just luck or chance that we were winning games. It was part of a plan and high-level implementation. “At some point, when we evaluate what was happening from an organizational perspective, you could see that things were working and fitting.”

    For all the victories, Ilitch praised the players and coaches – all led by manager AJ Hinch.

    The Tigers hired Hinch in October 2020.

    Hinch lost three seasons in a row before returning to winning ways in 2024.

    “It’s not safe for anyone there, not even the owner,” Hinch said of Ilitch’s beer shower. “He is incredibly supportive of me and our office and our build to be a winner. Seeing our players feel comfortable enough in their own skin – or naive enough – to include him in the celebration is really cool.”

    THE GAME: Tigers go 4-1 to secure AL playoff spot; White Sox set MLB record with 121st L

    After the players, Ilitch praised President of Baseball Operations Scott Harris and Assistant General Manager Jeff Greenberg for their vision. He also mentioned Deputy General Manager Ryan Garko and Deputy General Manager Rob Metzler.

    The Tigers hired Harris in September 2022.

    “It all starts with Scott,” Ilitch said. “He had a vision. He has a plan. He implements it.”

    Ilitch doubled down.

    Harris has a plan that he fully supports.

    “Sometimes he can tell us all everything he’s working on, and sometimes he just has to make it happen,” Ilitch said. “I have the utmost confidence in him. … Luckily, I get all the background and details behind the plan they are implementing. Of course, some we can’t reveal for competitive reasons, but there is a real vision.”

    Contact or follow Evan Petzold at [email protected] @EvanPetzold.

    Listen to our weekly Tigers show, Days of Roar, on-demand every Monday afternoon on freep.com, Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And check out all of our podcasts and daily voice briefings at freep.com/podcasts.

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    Idris Bevan
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