Mariners-Tigers: Detroit Cut Again by Razor-Thin Margin for Error

The Detroit Tigers’ inauspicious second-half start continued with an all-too-familiar theme Wednesday against the Seattle Mariners. 

Curtis Granderson and Placido Polanco reached base to start the game in what appeared to be a continuation of Tuesday night's nine-run outpouring. The fast start was quickly halted as Miguel Cabrera and Clete Thomas failed to score Granderson from third before Josh Anderson flied out to end the inning.

Clinging to a 1-0 lead in the eighth inning, Bobby Seay served up just his second homer of the season. Just like that, the Mariners managed to pull ahead on their second hit of the evening.

Golden scoring opportunity in the first: wasted. Armando Galarraga's gem: wasted.  Lead in the AL Central: wasting away.

Seay took the loss, but with such a small margin for error, should he take the blame?

The inability to plate runners in scoring position with less than two out has crippled the Tigers since returning from the All-Star break. Holding this year's incarnation of the Bronx Bombers to just nine runs in three games ought to yield at least one win. However, going 1-26 with runners in scoring position resulted in a disappointing sweep out of New York City.

As was shown in New York, failing on scoring opportunities creates a maddening vulnerability.  Cashing in on Wednesday night's first inning opportunity would have cushioned Russell Branyan's blow.

I hesitate to characterize the last five games as anything more than a team-wide offensive slump. Despite no other Tiger hitting within fifty points of Cabrera's .329 average, the team has managed enough offense to support their stellar pitching.

Without the addition of a competent bat at the trade deadline or the rejuvenation of a couple career-.300 hitters, the Tigers risk the continuation of their recent malaise. Piece-work offense has gotten them this far, but championship teams require consistency.

Jim Leyland has done a masterful job of knowing which button to push each night. Here's to hoping for a few master buttons that can be pushed on a nightly basis.