Ladies and Gentleman, the 2008 World Series Champion Detroit Tigers!
Wait. What? You don't automatically win the World Series for having by far the best off season of any team in the league?
Uh-oh.
Yes, it is a sad but true concept that must be grasped for Tiger fans these days. And the question continues to be asked, how can a team with so much talent only be 47-47 going into the second half of the season?
Well. It could be worse I guess. Considering they started the season with seven straight losses and an unbelievable 2-10 mark out of the gate.
A team shutout only twice all of last year has been shutout eight times already this year.
Miguel Cabrera couldn't hit.
Dontrelle Willis couldn't throw a baseball down the heart of the plate if he was two-feet from it, and Jeremy Bonderman went on the DL for the remainder of the season.
Anything else?
The Tigers have been without all their stars for extended periods of time throughout the season. Magglio Ordonez, Placido Polanco, Miguel Cabrera, Brandon Inge, Curtis Granderson, and Gary Sheffield have all missed multiple games or have had stints on the DL through the first half.
But that was then. This is now.
For all intensive purposes, at 47-47, the Tigers are at 0-0 in their mind. They are spotting Chicago seven games, but that's what you get when you can't hit, pitch, or play consistent defense.
They have a chance. Because beginning tonight against the Baltimore Orioles, the Tigers will be fully healthy.
Everyone is beginning to hit, most importantly Cabrera. Ordonez is off the DL, Polonco has a hot bat, and Mr. Consistent, Carlos Guillen, is playing as good of defense as he is offense these days after a rocky start at third base.
Call-up Matt Joyce has also contributed nicely for the Tigers, along with Marcus Thames, who has played in only around half the games this year, but leads the team in home runs.
Edgar Renteria and Gary Sheffield are the only big question marks for the Tigers. But, if the Tigers had to choose two players to underperform, these are the two they could live with.
By trade deadline time, one of them could be gone if they continue to under perform. Most likely Renteria who's in the last year of his contract.
Pitching-wise the Tigers are looking better as well.
Justin Verlander is back to All-Star form. Kenny Rogers has pitched surprisingly well after a shaky start. Nate Robertson has given the Tigers solid starts as of late.
And the biggest surprise of all? Rookie of the Year candidate Armando Galarraga, who is tied with Verlander for wins and leads the starters with a 3.27 ERA.
The bullpen has come together nicely. Joe Zumaya is throwing dominantly again after a long stay in the DL, having no problem throwing 100+MPH gas. And Fernando Rodney, after a rocky return, is looking good.
That, along with the emergence of rookie Freddy Dolsi, the Tigers bullpen is strong in the late innings.
The biggest question marks pitching wise are: who will be the number five starter for the Tigers? With Bonderman done for the year, and Dontrelle Willis only making one start in A-ball so far, it will most likely be a rookie from AA Erie.
Also, the Tigers were shopping Robertson earlier in the year, will they continue even though they are without Jeremy Bonderman now?
Many teams also have their eyes peeled on former All-Star Freddy Garcia. Could they make a run after him?
There are questions. But more answers now then there were before.
The Tigers are getting back to winning. The only question now is, is it too little too late?
They have the talent.
But big names don't buy you championships.
The Tigers have learned that the hard way. And tonight they begin with a clean slate.
A second chance, if you will, that is much needed for a team who was already crowned World Series Champions before the season even began.
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2 months ago
As a huge Tigers fan, I loved the trades this offseason, but looking back I have to say that we did not have the best offseason in MLB. The Rentiara/Juirgens trade now looks awful, and it looks like we gave up way to much for Cabrara/Willis. But we are still in it and we could very well take over Chicago. I will be glued to the TV for each and every game.
PS. very good article!
2 months ago
I hope they begin to turn things around. Now that all of our key players are back, hopefully their talent will return too. Zumaya and Rodney will help our bullpen tons.
2 months ago
I do think they have what it takes to keep the momentum going, I think J.L. makes some good management decisions and some bad, I think it has been obvious to fans and commentators alike that pulling Inge off of 3rd was a bad idea, Inge proves it every time he is put back there, Carlos Guillen is a good player but his throws are low and more than not Cabrera has to catch it off the ground, or come off the base if it is an off balance throw. I would trade Santiago and rotate Guillen and Renteria, I don't get what happened to Sheffield's bat but if it doesn't pick up I would trade him or use him to relieve Mat Joyce, I know he is a fan favorite but dead bats won't get you to a playoff. they would need a backup catcher so Inge can play 3rd. Another thing that bothers me is I find myself more and more yelling at my defenseless TV screen to the players "STOP TAKING THE FIRST PITCH!" Pitchers are getting ahead on the count because they know with the exception of Marcus Thames they take the first pitch I can't be the only one who sees that. My idea of the main line up would be from left to right field Joyce, Granderson, Ordonez, from 3rd to first Inge, Guillen, Polanco, Cabrera, Rodriguez as catcher, Thames DL rotating positions with Joyce. send Sheffield to the minors till his bat picks up or trade him. Ok I know I have probably made a few people mad, but the chosen players can't be about popularity it has to be about results....Thank you for listening.
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