Sitting 10 games under .500, (also sitting 10 games back of the Central Division leading Chicago White Sox) I think that it is safe to say that after 64 games into the season and in the midst of a 3 game tilt with those red hot Sox, this will definitely be the series that will indicate the outcome of the Detroit Tigers season. Consider the fact that those Sox prior to Tuesday nights’ 6-4 loss in Motown were winners of their last seven in a row.
CRACK THE CHAMPAGNE! WE BEAT THE WHITE SOX! YIPPEEE!!!
Sitting 10 games under .500, (also sitting 10 games back of the Central Division leading Chicago White Sox) I think that it is safe to say that after 64 games into the season and in the midst of a 3 game tilt with those red hot Sox, this will definitely be the series that will indicate the outcome of the Detroit Tigers season. Consider the fact that those Sox prior to Tuesday nights’ 6-4 loss in Motown were winners of their last seven in a row.
If they come out of this series with a sweep perhaps and continue the momentum and go on a quick 15 game burst going 13-2, or 12-3, maybe, just maybe they can officially get back into this thing. Give the fans that have shown up nearly 40,000 each night something to cheer for and make good on what has been an awful start.Reality sets in though, and makes me realize that I keep saying (and thinking, today is the day it turns around) that with the Tigers yet to hit their stride, perhaps the more truthful assumption would be that the Motor City Kitties are already out. I am a Tigers slappy; however, and with the optimism running wild like “Hulkamania” through my veins I have officially considered this next 15 game stretch as their last true breath at redeeming the 2008 season, and making the post-season.
I STILL BELIEVE BROTHER. ALL YOU LIL’ TIGERS SAY YOUR PRAYERS, EAT YOUR VITAMINS…AH HELL, WHO AM I KIDDING?
The rope that they have so dangerously held onto, is starting to fray and is close to snapping off, falling them into disappointment valley with other teams of “Haves” playing out a full season of disappointment and being “Have-Nots” instead. [for clarity, see non-salary cap NY Rangers (1996-2004) or any of the NY Yankees squads from 2002 on…OUCH!…ZINGER!)
Jimmy Leyland knows it, and is showing signs of panic. I haven’t seen this many line-up variations since the Tigers had the likes of super lead-off hitter Brian Hunter, which ultimately gave Buddy Bell a reason to get fired.
WHERE HAVE YOU GONE, BRIAN HUNTER? JESUS LOVES YOU MORE THAN YOU CAN KNOW….HEY, HEY, HEY
It’s funny in a way to use an example such as that; however, with the 27-37 start that the Tigers have had, they are almost exactly on pace to finish with a record of that team from what Tigers fans so fondly remember as “The Down Years”. Not anywhere near the American League record setting debaucle season of 2003 (er 43-119) but trust me folks, a roster stockpiled with superstars, a supreme mix of young talent and wily ol’ veterans is indeed on pace to go a gut-wrenching 68-94.
This record is eerily similar to that of the both the 1998 and the 2001 editions of the Detroit Tigers that the Brian Hunter so fondly feeds off of. Those are the two Tigers teams in recent history, whose records match closely to that of the projected record of this team that was supposed to do something. I say it so smugly now, “something”. Yeah, like win 100 games and stretch the season to October and win the World Series for the first time since 1984. Regardless, the win-loss totals of these disappointing teams from Tigers past are hauntingly similar to that of the pace they have set thus far. Records of 65-97 (in ’98) season, and a slightly better (?) record of 66-96 (in ’01) states only one thing. Both of those teams STUNK. Period. So, why do we still seem to be giving this years’ team so much respect?
AH GIBBY. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT IT’S BEEN 24 YEARS SINCE THIS?
I have previously stated that it will take at least a 93 win total to take the Central. With that in mind, at this stage of the season, the Tigers will now have to play at a .+670 clip and finish up the year 66-32 to even make it interesting. With Jeremy Bonderman finding out that his season is basically over, Justin Verlander still hasn’t shown the stuff that the baseball world had expected, Gary Sheffield’s body giving up on him proving him as pretty much done, and Dontrelle Willis struggling with location so badly that they send him to Class A Lakeland, why would things turn around any time soon?
GOOD LUCK IN LAKELAND DONTRELLE. HOPE TO SEE A DIFFERENT VERSION OF YOU SOON.
Throw in the fact that their skipper can’t figure out who he wants to play and where on a nightly basis and getting into a groove becomes extremely difficult. This team has soooooo many things going on underneath the surface that they basically need an intervention to get the derailed train back on the tracks. (pun on Dontrelle not intended…)
Check in with me tomorrow, as for fun, I throw up the rosters of the 1998, 2001 and 2008 Tigers teams and we take a scary look at the teams and try to figure out why this years’ team is competing at the same pace as those historic teams did.
