All year long the Detroit Tigers have struggled mightily to reach the .500 mark. And they've come oh-so-close on a few occasions.
There they were, just a week ago, merely one game shy of breaking even and headed to Cincinnati for a two game series. It should be noted the Reds are neck and neck with Miami for the worst record in the entire National League. What could go wrong?
Turns out, plenty. The little Detroit engine that had chugged, chugged, chugged its way uphill, and possibly could, finally blew a gasket.
The Reds would sweep the two game series, slapping the Tigers back down once again.
Well OK, let's get out of Cincinnati and head off to....
Cleveland. Where they were promptly shelled for a three game series, to the tune of a 26-4 run disadvantage. That's a serious beat-down.
What seems to have been a mystery all year is why it took the Indians so long to find their stride. In the otherwise pitifully weak American League Central Division, Cleveland is obviously head and shoulders above the competition.
Better pitching, both starters and relievers. Better hitters, both for average and power. Superior defense all over the field. More speed on the base-paths. You name it, and the Indians have a lot more of it than the Tigers. It finally showed -- in a big way -- with their own sweep of the Puddy Tats, in embarrassing fashion. 26-4 over three games? And BTW, giving up 26 runs, including eight homers and two grand slams along the way, isn't exactly good for Tiger pitching stats. As their team record is falling, the collective ERAs are definitely rising.
Yet it should come as no surprise. After all, the Tigers, long overdue for a rebuild, finally blew it up and got rid of any marketable talent they once had. Basically, it's a minor league team with a couple aging veterans long past their prime that have ridiculously bloated mega-contracts the Tigers continue to be saddled with. No other team was going to touch these guys. (See Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez).
So now, instead of getting to .500, the Tigers find themselves 6 games under, and a whopping 8 games back of the Indians.
It was sadly comical to watch them play against Cleveland. See a line drive hit right at Detroit shortstop Jose Iglesias. See him wave at it. In hockey terms, one could say it beat him cleanly on the glove side. On the very next play, see a routine ground ball hit at the same Iglesias, him throw a strike to the first baseman, only to hit him square in the glove -- and drop it. See one Tiger batter after another flailing at unhittable pitches far out of the strike zone. Whiff, whiff, whiff. This is Little League stuff.
Sure, nobody expected the Tigers to do much this year. At least those that are semi-sane and haven't partaken of any Detroit kool-aid of late. It seems to be particularly addicting stuff in that town, and makes the fans somewhat delirious with false hope. (See the Detroit Lions year after year, after decade).
So no, the Tigers won't be going to the playoffs. Forget that. With a whole lot of luck they might -- MIGHT finish in second place in the AL Central. The Minnesota Twins, hardly world beaters themselves, are nipping at their heels. The Chisox and KC Royals are both flat out awful.
By the time the season is over, look for them to be at least 20 games behind the Indians, because the difference in talent is just that obvious. It will show over the long haul.
Meanwhile, as mentioned before in this space, once again injured former super-star Miguel Cabrera, is sitting back collecting $76,000 a day, EVERY day, for not playing. And the Tigers are stuck with him for a mind-boggling FIVE MORE YEARS. Who's the management genius that signed off on THAT contract?
It just is what it is in Detroit.
And it's bad.
Very bad.
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