Detroit Tigers 2008 Report Card Dismal

In a sense, the 2008 baseball campaign was, for Detroit Tigers’ fans, more disappointing than those of recent years when they lost one hundred or more games. In 2003 they narrowly avoided setting the major league record for futility, wining five of their last six games to go 43-119 on the season, one loss shy of tying the 1962 New York Mets’ record for most losses. In 2003 they were expected to lose. In 2008, after making it to the World Series in 2006 and contending in 2007, many were picking this team to be the team to beat in the Central Division. But after starting the season at 0-7, the Tigers showed far too few flashes of brilliance, and now, with but a week left in the season, will finish under .500. It’s also likely that, with games against Kansas City and Tampa Bay to finish the season, they will finish in the cellar in the Central.

My report card for 2008:

Starting pitching: D. What on paper was supposed to be a strength ended up as a puzzling weakness. Even before Jeremy Bonderman was lost for the season in June with a blood clot in his shoulder he struggled. Justin Verlander, who has been dominated by Cleveland and Chicago hitters, had a miserable third year, despite little run support, consistently being pulled in the fifth and sixth innings with a pitch count over one hundred. Lefthander Nate Robertson was demoted to the bullpen for a time for his ineffectiveness. Dontrelle Willis missed much of the season with an injury, and was hit hard upon his return, finally being sent to AAA to get his confidence back. Kenny Rogers lacked consistency. The only bright spot in the starting rotation was right-hander Armando Galarraga who, as of this writing, is 12-6 with a 3.58 ERA. Gone from the staff overall was the swagger of the past two years. It seemed Tiger starters took the hill expecting to get hit, and hit they were. When they fell behind in the count they were punished by good hitters sitting on the fastball; when ahead in the count they were also punished for throwing too good a pitch.

Bonderman’s surgery was successful, and it’s been said that such a surgery often results in a much livelier arm, so look for Bonderman to be back with Detroit next year; whether he’ll regain his form remains to be seen. The Tigers aren’t likely to give up on Verlander; look for him to be back but perhaps with a revised strategy to getting hitters out ― he can’t rely on his 97 mph fastball anymore. Robertson may have pitched his last game for Detroit. Dontrelle Willis should be back and, should he regain his form, will be a positive influence. After the 2006 campaign, Kenny Rogers said he didn’t want to throw another pitch for any other team; he hasn’t said anything about next year, but retirement is a possibility, especially if the Tigers don’t want him back. He’ll be 44 in November. Galarraga is all but assured a spot in next year’s starting rotation; hopefully he won’t suffer the sophomore jinx. Zack Miner came out of the pen in August to start a handful of games and has looked good. He has always professed to want to start and, frankly, looks more comfortable in the role than out of the pen. A strong finish will it make it difficult for Leyland to relegate him to long relief.

Bullpen: D. Where to start. Tigers relief pitching just never showed up this season save for a couple weeks early on and far and between a few days here and there throughout the season. Last year they could be counted on to seal the deal, but this year there have been far too many blown saves. Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney both started the season with injuries and Zumaya was placed on the 15-day disabled list in mid-August, updated last week to the 60-day disabled list. When closer Todd Jones was placed on the DL at the end of July, Rodney was delegated the closer’s spot, a role in which he has struggled, perhaps the result of the pressure. It takes a special mentality to take the baseball in the ninth inning, with all the marbles on the line, and Rodney hasn’t shown he has the stomach for it. I doubt the Tigers will give up on either Rodney or Zumaya, despite their being prone to injury, but one wonders how much more patience will be shown. Jones will turn 40 next April, and this year he looked anything but solid; I think it’s time the Tigers look for a bona fide closer for next year. Kyle Farnsworth was obtained from the Yankees for Ivan Rodriguez prior to the trade deadline, but Farnsworth pitched far better for the Bronx Bombers than he has for the Tigers. Bobby Seay has been perhaps the most consistent reliever, with the remainder of the corps looking less than average.

As much as it pains me to say this about pitching coach Chuck Hernandez ― he was the genius who coached this staff to the World Series two years ago ― I wonder if he will be back next year.

Hitting: B-. I struggled not to rate this category C+, but Magglio Ordonez is in the hunt for another batting title, Curtis Granderson is having another solid season, as are Placido Polanco (after an abysmal April) and Carlos Guillen (prior to a season ending back injury). After missing most of April with a broken finger, Granderson rebounded nicely, hitting 20 homeruns and flirting with .300 until the last couple of weeks. Granderson is the sparkplug for this team, a bona fide superstar who has only scratched the surface of his talent. Renteria, despite hitting well over .300 against lefthanders, has for the most part been ineffective. Branden Inge’s power numbers are down this season, and he continues to puzzle with his .212 batting average. Still, he figures into the future, possibly back at third base where his play is nothing short of spectacular. I never cared for the Sheffield acquisition two years ago, as evidenced by his selfishness in only hitting for power in his quest for 500 homeruns. I wish this was the final year of his contract. Matt Joyce has been a pleasant surprise both for his bat as well as his defense in the outfield, even as Marcus Thames has been suspect in the outfield. One can’t argue against that Thames is capable of hitting 30 homeruns, and he hits better when playing everyday, but his defense argues against that happening. Miguel Cabrera started the season slowly but now sits atop the American League with 36 homeruns and near the top with 125 RBI. Couple that with a .297 batting average and you can see why the Tigers signed him last year. At times he has carried this team, and should do so for many years to come.

Defense: B-. Granderson is worth the price of admission alone. He covers more ground in centerfield and makes more plays than just about any centerfielder in the game today. After an early season juggling act that saw Inge relegated to backup catcher (behind Rodriguez) to accommodate Cabrera playing third and Guillen moved from shortstop to first base to accommodate both his back and Renteria, Guillen (who never looked comfortable at first) was moved to third base and Cabrera to first. Guillen finally adjusted to third base but will never look as good as Inge, while Cabrera looks to be the first baseman of the future. Now, with a bad back, one wonders at the wisdom of moving Guillen to third base. Inge is now back to playing third, his natural position, and Dusty Ryan, up from the minors, is being given a look at the catcher’s position. Ryan has a cannon for an arm, and the pitching staff has given him a nod at his ability to call a game. Next year, if Inge is the starting third baseman and Ryan the catcher, where does that leave Guillen, whose bat in the middle of the lineup is needed?

Last year the offense was quick to score first, which helped the starting pitching; this year the offense has struggled to score first and the starting pitching added to the stress by giving up runs early. Perhaps, with the musical chairs, this season can be seen as a year of transition, but to what? Next spring it will be interesting to see who plays where and for how long.

Manager: C. I’ve always admired Jim Leyland. For two years he pushed all of the right buttons, but this year his managing has seemed suspect. Truthfully, he has had more success with younger players, teams with talent but fewer stars. Perhaps it’s no coincidence that some of the young players up from the minors have showed the most promise. The Tigers are a team with the second highest payroll, and so one is left to wonder at Leyland’s ability to manage such a team, with all its interchangeable parts and huge egos. Granted, injuries played a large role in the Tigers’ disappointing season, but all teams must endure them. Still, with all the emphasis on conditioning, it seems that ballplayers suffer more injuries in today’s game than in previous eras.

With this season all but over, we Tigers fans have much to look forward to next year. But then, so do Kansas City, Cleveland, Minnesota and Chicago fans. Without a doubt, the Central Division is the toughest division in baseball.