Team 88: The 2005 Detroit Tigers

• Year: 2005
• Record: 71-91
• Win %: .438
• Win % Change: -6
• Run Differential: -64
• Pythagorean Record: 75-87
• AL Finish: 11th of 14
• Manager: Alan Trammell
• Best Transaction: Signing Magglio Ordonez as a free agent.  The Tigers made their second major free-agent splash in two seasons with the signing of Magglio.  I’m ignoring his semi-bad contract here and focusing solely on the Tigers signing a guy that would be a major presence in the middle of the Tigers lineup for the bulk of his contract.  Magglio didn’t give a lot to the 2005 club as he was injured for most of it, but this move has been positive over the long haul.  Oh and by the way, the club also made that famous Ugueth Urbina-for-Placido Polanco deal.  Hard to argue with either of these moves.
• Worst Transaction: Traded three prospects to the Chicago Cubs for Kyle Farnsworth.  Whenever your team brings Kyle Farnsworth on board, it’s a bad move.  The Tigers gave up former top-pick Scott Moore and Roberto Novoa to the Cubs to bring Farnsworth into town.  Farnsworth pitched reasonably well and was later flipped for Zach Miner, so it wasn’t all bad.  I just really don’t like Kyle Farnsworth at all.
• Upper:  There were several rookie cameos on the 2005 club and while they didn’t pay any immediate dividends, it was a positive glimpse into the future.  Curtis Granderson got into 47 games and slugged eight home runs.  Meanwhile, a 22-year-old Justin Verlander started two games and picked up a pair of losses before exploding onto the scene and winning Rookie of the Year the following season.
• Downer: Injuries plagued the 2005 club.  Bobby Higginson was finally forced out of the game as he appeared in only 10 games.  He played on 10 awful Tigers teams in and was finally done in the year before they were actually decent...tough break there for Higgy.  Placido Polanco and Carlos Guillen each only played in around 85 games while the outfield duo of Rondell White and Magglio Ordonez each appeared in fewer than 100 games.
• Summary:  This team was bad, and they were disappointing, but there were a few glimpses that the team would be better in 2006.  Sure, no one had them pegged for a World Series trip, but still.  The 2004 Tigers made a major jump in the standings and another jump was expected in 2005 but injuries got in the way.  The pitching staff was led by the likes of Jason Johnson and Mike Maroth, which was just never going to get it done.  Free agent pick up Troy Percival didn’t pan out as he struggled with issues and a young Fernando Rodney ended up leading the team in saves with only nine.  Manager Alan Trammell was fired following the season and things needed to change.