Okay, we knew the pitching was gonna be crap. But wait, there's more...
Team LOB: 5th most in the AL
Average with runners in scoring position: .251 (vs. .264 overall)
Through May 13, the Tigers are the ONLY team in the majors that has a lower BA with RISP than their overall BA. Are these guys CLUTCH or what???!!!!??!!!
There is an article at Yahoo Sports by Tim Brown that I think really sums up Tiger players and management. Very interesting comment by Leyland about his (and Dombrowski's) future in Detroit. I find it very sad that supposedly skilled and experienced front office people, as well as on field management, thought that all it took was to throw as many big name bats on the field and you'd automatically have a winner.
Oh well, I have to keep reminding myself that Dumbo's and Illitch's number one job is to put fannies in the seats. And on that score, it appears they've done well. Sorry Tiger fans we were all conned out of our socks. Some of us just saw it sooner than others.
Ilitch was able to buy his way to an NHL title in '02, when the Wings had 7 or 8 future Hall of Famers in the lineup. He's finding that doesn't work in Major League Baseball. Just ask the '05 Mets.
Not even 40 games into the season and your already giving up?!?!?! Fair weather fans.
Yes there are plenty of players struggling at the plate and rotation has shown many flaws. All of these players have a track record showing they can play a lot better. I bet most of them will turn around their seasons.
I have to agree with you about our expectations versus reality. But look at this. What incentive is there for the big bats to keep producing when no matter how many runs they put on the board, the pitchers give up more than they get. That has to be really discouraging. I do believe the Tigers will turn it around and finish strong, but I'm afraid by then it will be too late. When the offense scores 8 runs and the pitching gives up 9, we're in for a long season.
I am a huge Tigers fan, i was a huge tigers fan even in '03. This season is ten times more disappointing than that season was though. It was expected back then. They have such high expectations this year, but they are one of the worst teams in the league, and I don't care that it is only a quarter of the season. they are bad. I can't wait til we trade some of these idiots for young players. We could get rid of renteria, pudge, guillen. I would much rather have jair jurgens then renteria. They pay all this money for big bats, but couldn't shell out an extra little bit to keep Chad Durbin who has a nice 1.50 era in 25 innings this season. Why were we so good in '06? pitching. so why would we try to go the other way and say to hell with pitching, we want hitters.
Not even 40 games into the season and your already giving up?!?!?! Fair weather fans.
I'm also a huge Tiger fan, and don't think I ever used the words "give up." I'm definitely concerned, though, when a lineup with this many 'studs' in it can't make pitchers pay when they put guys on 2nd and 3rd.
Pointing out these stats in April, I'd buy your "fair weather fan" comment. But a quarter of a season is enough to make some judgments when the Tigers are showing NO SIGNS of improvement. Okay, Robertson and JV had back-to-back quality starts this week. I guess that's one.
You can add another telling stat: They've now been shut out 6 times (2 more times than the 2007 team, with a lineup that supposedly had all kinds of holes Dombrowski needed to fill).
