Boston Red Sox: What the Tigers Should Have Been

Here we go again.

As a Red Sox fan growing up in Michigan, following both the Red Sox and Tigers, I can feel for the diehard Tiger fans, I really can.  

The problem is that somehow I knew this year was not going to be the kind of year everyone here thought the Tigers would have.  It is, of course, human nature to think that bigger is better, and what team was bigger on paper than the Detroit Tigers this year!? (The answer to that question WAS "no one.")  

The problem with the Tigers is one that we've seen year after year with the Yankees—too much talent breeds too much overconfidence, which, in turn, creates a lack of determination to win.  Thought processes go lazy, and players start to relax a bit more because there is more talent to pick up the slack.  

There is no way to tell if this is the actual problem with this team, but it sure seems to explain their record right now.  

First and foremost, we all knew Dontrelle Willis was not the savior fifth-man starter that he was projected to be.  He had not succeeded in the NL since his 20-win season years ago.  Cabrera was out of shape and has not shown much drive yet this season.  

But I guess it's better than Maybin and Miller, right?

Being a Red Sox fan, I can't help but think back to 2004, when the team seemed to gel together towards a common goal of winning the World Series.  Guys like Nixon, Bellhorn, Millar, Mueller, Cabrera, Varitek, were all blue collar players who were not flashy, but got the job done.  It can be said that if it were not for the cohesiveness of that team, they would not have come back to beat the Yankees down 3-0 after Game Three.  

My point being, the Tigers went for the "Bigger" when they should have gotten "Better".  They had their "Bill Mueller" in Brandon Inge.  What they needed to find was some solid RP instead of a big bat in Miguel Cabrera.  

Some may say, why turn down that kind of player if you can get him?  

Well, the answer is that chemistry is the most underrated factor in baseball.  Just ask the 2004 Red Sox, 2005 White Sox, 2006 Detroit Tigers, and the 2007 Colorado Rockies.  Cabrera is great, but he is also a lazy player who plays when he wants to, and that is not what the 2006 Tigers were about, and definitely not the direction the 2008 Tigers want to take.  

Offense wins games, pitching wins championships.  

All I can say for these 2008 Detroit Tigers is Zumaya can not come back soon enough.  And when Fernando Rodney comes back, find him a ticket to another town as soon as possible.  Talent will only get you half way, the rest is heart.