Bleacher Report - Articles by Steve Lewis

Have the Detroit Tigers Quit on Manager Jim Leyland?

Steve Lewis — Sun, 11 May 2008 13:46:04 -0400

One third of the baseball season has almost been played and one assumption can be made—the Detroit Tigers appear to be frauds!

The Tigers have improved drastically since GM David Dombroski has shown the uncanny ability to lure marquee players such as Magglio Ordonez, Ivan Rodriguez, and Kenny Rogers to a franchise that has been in disarray since the late 90’s.

David Dombroski made a huge statement by plucking Jim Leyland out of retirement to steer the ship straight. Leyland had a magical season in 2006, directing the Tigers to their first World Series since 1984.

The Tigers had a great follow up in 2007, posting 88 victories and just coming up short of making the postseason for consecutive seasons.

The Tigers made plenty of noise after the ‘07 baseball season ended, quickly trading for shortstop Edgar Renteria. Shortstop was one of the biggest offseason needs, and the Tigers filled it promptly. The acquisition let Tigers fans know that the organization means business.

Left field has been a gaping hole of inconsistency since the 2007 season. However the Tigers traded for Jacque Jones.

This was a questionable trade to begin with because Jones has never lived up to expectations. The Cubs could not have been happier when they unloaded Jones and his $6 million contract. Jones has recently been designated for assignment and will not wear a Tigers jersey again this season.

The baseball winter season meetings started slow, but the Tigers wreaked havoc when they traded coveted prospects Andrew Miller, Cameron Maybin, and a few other prospects for power slugger Miguel Cabrera and durable Dontrelle Wills.

The baseball nation and Detroit fans quickly making claims of how this could be the highest octane offense for years to come.

The Tigers sold out of season tickets for the first time in franchise history. The city of Detroit was thinking about how great the Tigers could be to the plummeting automotive economy where unemployment is at an all-time high.

So far, the Tigers have done nothing but let fans down since opening day. The Tigers were swept by Kansas City in their first three games. The Tigers then faced the Chicago White Sox only to be clobbered in a three-game series sweep.

And not to mention, they took an embarrassing loss on Sunday Night Baseball, which was televised on ESPN.

Baseball analysts could not explain the slump the Tigers had embarked upon. Most analysts were thinking once Curtis “the spark plug” Granderson came back from the DL, the so-called catalyst of the team would surely be the answer.

Granderson entered the lineup assisting Detroit to five victories and a historic sweep of the Yankees.

Since beating the Yankees, the Tigers have managed to enter an abyss of losses , getting walloped by Boston and Minnesota. The daily pitching displays prove the Tigers are out of the game almost shortly after it begins. The Tigers have gotten into big run deficits quickly after the game begins.

The marquee players of the second-largest payroll in baseball can no longer hit. Leyland does not have any answers for the hapless Tigers, and he continues to shuffle a struggling lineup. The pitching staff has been absolutely odious with the worst ERA in baseball.

None of these overpriced superstars have stepped up and this team is starting to look like a bunch of players who have quit. Team chemistry does not appear, and the skipper continues to make excuses and preach patience.

Leyland appears to be out of answers and does not know how to fix this rut his team is in. There are still many games left to be played, but this team has shown no lifeline for fans to believe there is any kind of light at the end of the tunnel.

When Will Charlie Weis Learn?

Steve Lewis — Thu, 08 May 2008 07:58:58 -0400

Charlie Weis has done it again, no he has not managed to go 3-9 because the season has not begun. Weis has decided to take a shot at the Michigan Wolverines the same team that has embarrassed the Fighting Irish 2 years in a row. Michigan is expected to have a sub-par season due to the recent transfers and coaching changes that have taken place in Ann Arbor.

Weis apparently wants to give the Wolverines another chance to get fired up and place a severe shellacking on the Irish. You would think Weis would be concerned with getting his team on track and possible going .500 this season. The self proclaimed offensive genius has managed to start qualifying why the Irish had a dismal season, he most recent claims are that he win could with thugs today, but that is not his current mantra.

Weis still forgets that is the first coach to lose at ND to Navy in past 50 years. Weis has done nothing at this point to prove he is a good coach. Weis arrogant attitude persona have not done him any favors with Notre Dame alumni or the national media. If the Irish come up short against Washington and Michigan, Weis will finally learn from the unemployment line.

Detroit Tigers' Lackluster Performance Has Become Toxic

Steve Lewis — Wed, 07 May 2008 02:33:15 -0400

The Detroit Tigers are not just going through a bad stretch right now, they look like a team with no identity. This team went to the world series two years ago, and won 88 games last year. After adding perennial All Stars Edgar Renteria, Miguel Cabrera, and Dontrelle Willis, the Tigers have taken a turn for the worse.

The sports nation is perplexed by the current situation the Tigers have encountered. No one can explain how bolstering an offense which was considered to be so strong went so quickly to anemic.

Jim Leyland has run out of answers, and clearly does not know what to do. Leyland has continually shuffled the lineup, which has provided zero spark for the Tigers. I don't buy into the fact the Detroit has too many All Stars. The Yankees have been loading their lineup with All Stars for years, and they continue to win 90 plus games a season.

I believe the situation the Tigers have embarked upon can decipher the difference between a good and great manager. Joe Torre was put to the test last year, and still managed to deliver the Yankee's to the post season for the 11th year in a row.

The Tigers need to make some big decisions soon. They may need to part ways with Sheffield. Another option would be trading fan favorite Brandon Inge for pitching. The most aggressive option would be pursuing Bonds. He may be old, but he will still strike fear in opposing pitchers. The bottom line, some type of statement must be made soon.