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Detroit Tigers: 10 Things I Hate About You

Matt Snyder

Correspondent Written on August 03, 2009

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ARLINGTON, TX - JULY 29: Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers celebrates his three-run home run with Carlos Guillen #9 and Magglio Ordonez #30 during action against the Texas Rangers on July 29, 2009 at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas. (Photo b

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

I hate the way they're losing games. I hate that they can't score. I hate that they can't hit in the clutch. I hate when pitching's poor.

I hate that they didn't get a bat, what it seemed they needed most. I hate that they seem so tame when other teams play host.

I hate the many bad contracts—not one, but three or four. I hate that we don't seem to know who's in or out the door.

I hate the way that I can't hate them very much at all. I hate that it's so gosh-darn cold in Detroit in late fall.

I hate the way they're losing games

ARLINGTON, TX - JULY 27: Shortstop Adam Everett #4 of the Detroit Tigers on July 27, 2009 at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The Tigers have been in first place for the better part of the year, but since the All-Star break the team is a measly 7-10.

The two game lead the Tigers now sport could, and should, very well be four or more.

I hate that they can't score

ARLINGTON, TX - JULY 27: Catcher Gerald Laird #8 of the Detroit Tigers on July 27, 2009 at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The Tigers have managed only one run in six of the 17 games since the break. Including four very winnable 2-1 games.

On the year, Detroit is fourth from the bottom (11) in the American League in runs scored.

I hate that they can't hit in the clutch

OAKLAND, CA - JULY 01: Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers reacts after striking out against the Oakland Athletics in the eighth inning during a Major League Baseball game on July 1, 2009 at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California. (Photo by Je

The Tigers are hitting 0.259 with RISP on the year. Compare that to the Twins and White Sox, who are both hitting on the plus side of 0.270. The Tigers' team average drops to 0.243 with RISP and two out.

Late in games, the bats are also quiet. Just 0.245 as a team in innings seven on.

All of these numbers are in the bottom half of the AL.

I hate when pitching's poor

ARLINGTON, TX - JULY 29: Pitcher Justin Verlander #35 of the Detroit Tigers reacts after giving up two runs on a double by Michael Young #10 of the Texas Rangers on July 29, 2009 at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty I

This doesn't happen too often for the Tigers, but when it does, it frustrates the heck outta me.

The pitching has been so good that I have come to expect it to be so day in and day out. And with the slim margin for error, it has to be.

It just seems like the Tigers have troubles getting good hitting and good pitching to line up on the same day.

I hate that they didn't get a bat, what it seemed they needed most

DETROIT - APRIL 8: General Manager Dave Dombrowski of the Detroit Tigers smiles prior to the opening day game against the Minnesota Twins on April 8, 2004 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers won the game, 10-6. (Photo by Tom Pidgeon/Getty

The offensive woes of the Tigers have been well documented but the non-waiver trade deadline came and went without the acquisition of a hitter. Team President, CEO, and General Manager, Dave Dombrowski said that Carlos Guillen's return from injury would act as a trade for a bat.

I think they still needed to get one more.

I hate that they seem so tame when other teams play host

ARLINGTON, TX - JULY 27: Third baseman Michael Young #10 of the Texas Rangers celebrates a run in the dugout on July 27, 2009 at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The Tigers sport a championship caliber home record of 32-16, but it's been a different story on the road. The Tiger's are ten games under 0.500 in games away from the friendly confines of Comerica Park.

They've scored 24 fewer runs on the road—in nine more games!

I hate the many bad contracts—Not one, but three or four

TORONTO - APRIL 6: Nate Robertson #29 of the Detroit Tigers walks off the field during the Opening Day game against the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre April 6, 2009 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by: Dave Sandford/Getty Images)

Nate Robertson, Jeremy Bonderman, and Dontrelle Willis earn a combined $39 million between them. All three are on the disabled list, and all three sport an ERA above seven.

The Tigers are paying Gary Sheffield $14 million to play for the Mets, and they're paying Magglio $18 million to platoon in right field.

That's a lot of money for a very little amount of production. How many Adam Dunn's (or Matt Holliday's or Roy Halliday's) could $71 million buy?

I hate that we don't seem to know who's in or out the door

ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 21: Magglio Ordonez #30 of the Detroit Tigers takes batting practice prior to the start of the game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium on April 21, 2009 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Image

Magglio Ordonez's play on the field has warranted time on the bench; His contract warrants a release.

Will Maggs stay put and get paid next year?

Placido Polanco is in a contract year and negotiations for an extension have not taken place. Is this the end for Poly in Detroit? Will Scott Sizemore be ready to play everyday?

Will Jeff Larish get another shake in Detroit? With Miggy cemented at first, will Larish actually play another position? Can he play another position?

Lots of questions still surround the Tigers current and future roster.

I hate the way that I can't hate them very much at all

DETROIT - MARCH 31: Miguel Cabrera #24 and Clete Thomas #36 of the Detroit Tigers share a laugh in the dugout against the Kansas City Royals during their game on Opening Day on March 31, 2008 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. Royals won 5-4 in 11 in

No matter how bad or how frustrating things may seem now, I'm in it for the long haul. At times it's still hard for me to believe that my lovable losers of 2003 turned into World Series contenders.

No, I can't hate that.

I hate that it's so gosh-darn cold in Detroit in late fall

DETROIT - OCTOBER 14: The Detroit Tigers crowd around Magglio Ordonez #30, after Ordonez hit a 3-run walk-off home run against Huston Street #20 of the Oakland Athletics during Game Four of the American League Championship Series October 14, 2006 at Come

Long sleeves? This is baseball!

Nothing was sweeter than to see the Tigers stretch the season out into the chilling cold. I had never carved an olde english "D" into a pumpkin before but I want another chance.

The Tigers have the pitching and defense to make another fall playoff run.

Here's to hoping its a long one.

View this in single page format at tigers2knight.blogspot.com

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written on August 03, 2009 Opinion

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