Detroit Tigers: Despite Awful Start, Team Slowly Showing Signs of a Turnaround

The Detroit Tigers have badly underachieved so far this season.

Coming into the year with the highest expectations in recent memory, The Tigers are 16-18 and four games behind Cleveland, over one-fifth through the season.

I've been as hard on Detroit as anyone during its devastatingly slow offensive start,  with defensive mediocrity and a struggling bullpen. But believe it or not, the Tigers are beginning to show signs that they will eventually come out of their collective slump.

Nobody in the Tigers clubhouse is panicking so the people calling for a complete lineup upheaval, or big trading moves, or firing members of the coaching staff, should pump the brakes.

The Tigers have a proven track record, and won't stay down for long.

Despite going 3-5 in their last eight games, The Tigers bats have begun to wake up. During the stretch, Detroit has averaged 5.4 runs per game—up from just over four per game all season—including two wins which they scored 10 runs apiece.

Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder began the year as bad as anyone, both suffering through 0-for-22 slumps. But are starting to hit their way out. 

Cabrera, who hit .298 in April with a five-game hitless streak, is hitting .328 so far in May, is on pace for 26 RBI's this month, with 10 hits and six RBI's in his last four games.

Fielder suffered through his own five-game hitless streak earlier this month, but in his last four games, he has eight hits and five RBI's.

The entire Tigers lineup hinges on Cabrera and Fielder doing well. With the 3-4 hitters performing to their capability, everyone else will get see better pitches. 

Andy Dirks is the biggest offensive surprise this year, earning a chance to play every day. After only playing 10 games in April, Dirks has appeared in 14 of 15 games so far in May.

Dirks leads the team, averaging .429 this month (.369 overall), and if he had more at-bats, his average would be recognized as second best in the American League.

In 49 at-bats this month, Dirks' on-base percentage is .500, and he has 13 hits and five RBIs in his last eight games.

The Tigers leadoff hitter, Austin Jackson, was heavily criticized last season for finishing second-worst in the AL with 181 strikeouts. After adjusting his approach this off-season, Jackson struggled at first, hitting .284 with three home runs and seven RBIs in April.

But Jackson has acclimated to his new swing, hitting .400 in May, with two home runs and 10 RBIs in 15 games, and four hits and six RBI's in his last four games.

The Tigers' .259 average is fourth in the AL, and Detroit has hit .286 in the last seven games.

Every hitter has shown they can perform at the plate, but not over an extended period of time, and Manager Jim Leyland said he can't figure out why.

"I think the only thing that's been consistent is the inconsistency," Leyland told the Detroit Free Press. "That's pretty much as simple as you can put it. It's mind-boggling to me."

The biggest thing keeping the Tigers from getting out their sub-.500 funk is the pitching.

Detroit's ERA is 11th in the AL at 4.35 as a team.

22-year-old rookie Drew Smyly has been the most impressive pitcher, with a 2.31 ERA in seven starts, which is third in the AL.

Smyly's given up one earned run or less in five of seven starts, but only has a 1-0 record to show for it. He's remained consistent, despite doubters claiming his production will drop off.

The Tigers No. 2 starter Doug Fister injured his finger his first start, and was out for a month, forcing Adam Wilk to make three spot starts. Fister has only given up four earned runs in four starts, but is 0-2.

Wilk only lasted 11 innings in three starts, giving up 10 earned runs, going 0-3. 

But as a unit, the starters have been pretty good. Including Wilk, the rotation's ERA is 3.90, sixth in the AL. 

The bullpen has shown flashes of brilliance, including Brayan Villarreal, Duane Below and Joaquin Benoit, who all have ERA's under 3.00.

Closer Jose Valverde has badly struggled so far this year and is day-to-day with lower back tightness. But maybe a few days off will give him rest, and he'll come back in 2011 form.

As the pitchers figure out their stuff, and get healthy, the performance on the mound will continue to improve.

The Tigers have gotten better, but haven't clicked in all phases at the same time. The pitching was great at first, while the hitting struggled, and now it's vice-versa. 

But people need to remember, it's only May, and with the fire power the Tigers boast, and the quality arms on the mound, they are bound to turn the season around.

"I love the team. I'm a little surprised, to say the least," Leyland said. "(Yet) I don't all of sudden look up and say we aren't as good as I thought we were."

My panic meter is around a 4. Everybody picked this this team to run away with the division, and with 128 games left, there's a lot of time for this team to put things together and do just that.