DETROIT -- "Let's go, Blue Jays! Let's go, Blue Jays!"
Toronto fans who crossed the Detroit River Thursday afternoon for the middle game of what became a three-game sweep of the Detroit Tigers chanted that in unison.
And what did Tigers fans did to quiet their invaders from Ontario?
They did nothing. They sat there and texted ... or yawned ... or decided to get up and walk to the concession stand or bathroom ... or go for a ride on the Ferris wheel.
To me, this was more shocking than Detroit's baseball team going down with little fight in 5-3, 8-2 and 7-3 losses.
Way back in 1987, at Tiger Stadium, a Blue Jays fan rose to his feet in the upper-deck bleachers in center field to proclaim his team's supremacy and was promptly pelted with hot dogs from all directions. There was probably some legal infraction that occurred during this assault.
I liked the spirit, though. Besides, who would admit to Ballpark Franks molestation in a court of law anyway.
But I digress.
The point here is that more than a quarter-century has passed since Detroit and Toronto met in such a meaningful series. Their last series on the final weekend of the'87 season in Detroit ended with Frank Tanana fielding a grounder and under-handing the ball to first baseman Darrell Evans for the final out of a 1-0 victory that clinched the American League East Division.
As the sun set on that beautiful Sunday evening in October 1987, there was at least one Blue Jays fan driving back across the bridge or through the tunnel with a mustard-stained game jersey. I think it was a George Bell jersey â- fitting because the Toronto left fielder choked down the stretch and still robbed Tigers shortstop Alan Trammell of the MVP Award.
But I digress.
The point here is that a Tigers-Jays series once had the feel of an intense college-football rivalry, both on the field and in the stands.
Now, for the first time memorable to fans under 30, these border-baseball rivals reunited for a matchup as two of the best teams in baseball. Toronto leads the East and Detroit is in first place in the Central.
This meeting of World Series contenders, however, was tame.
I spent a couple innings among the 39,440 at Comerica, and nobody was egging anybody on. The only voice I could hear was that of an older fan in full Tigers gear beckoning Detroit starter Justin Verlander to quit throwing over to first base in an attempt to pickoff Toronto catcher Erik Kratz, who hasn't attempted a steal this year.
If not for this guy shouting, "C'mon, J.V., throw strikes!" it would have been as quiet as the Detroit Opera House across the street from the ballpark. There wasn't a single "Let's Go Tigers!" chant echoing through the stands.
Detroit fans like to talk about how they're the best in baseball, but they're sitting on their hands and providing no spark for their team.
Not that Tigers catcher Alex Avila feels he can blame them.
"On the same hand, you have to give them something to cheer about," Avila said. "We can't worry about how loud fans are cheering for us. It hasn't been as loud as in the past, but we haven't given them much to cheer."
The result of a team not playing well and fans not showing any fire has been a 2-9 record in the last 11 games at Comerica. The Tiges have a 14-14 home record after going 51-30 here last season. They will have to go 37-16 (.698) the rest of the way in Detroit to match that.
The Boston Red Sox -- conquerors of the Tigers in an emotional 2013 ALCS -- are in town this weekend. Maybe that will get the local fans fired up and motivated to verbally support a team with a five-game losing streak.
If not, the Tigers will return to the road, where they're 17-11. And you know when they need a rally in Chicago or Cleveland, there will be Michigan transplants and vacationers there to cheer on their team: "Let's go, Tigers!"
Go figure.
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