The Tigers Win a Game

It is over a week into the season and the Tigers are in last place, scored the fewest runs and are in dead last in the AL.

The Tigers, along with the Indians and the Red Sox were the odds on favourites to compete for the AL title and probably the World Series. However, the Tigers stumbled out of the gate losing 6 straight at home to the lowly Royals and the underachieving White Sox. Then they lost to the Red Sox at Fenway. The Tigers have probably the most potent lineup in the majors and would be capable of scoring 1000 runs. The holes are obvious in their pitching. Their stud relievers are all down, their closer, Todd Jones seems to have been able to shut down opponents and generally get the job done in the last two years dispite unfavourable numbers.

The holes in their pitching staff, in particular their releivers and the associated effects that situation would have on their starters who were plagued with injuries last year was known to organisation people, competiton, media and fans. Jim Leyland, a smart manager, would be able to accomodate for these obvious holes.

However, the Tigers pumped up offense has scored only 15 runs going into last nights game in Boston in which they scored 7 runs. So, in their first 7 games the Tigers scored a sliver over 2 runs per game.

From what I can discerne from the talking heads and sports reporters is that the Tigers would be more comfortable and able to recover if their pitching was strong and their hitting was weak. I feel the Tigers will come around. It has been their strengths that have been under performing. There is no way this lineup will be able to keep scoring around 2 runs per game.

What does this mean for the Tigers and their playoff hopes? My prognosis is they are not as bad as the first week says but the 7 games they have given up may make the difference between a 95 win team and a 91 win team and the difference between a playoff performance and watching from the sidelines in October. And watching they will be. The AL is just too competitive.

There have only been 2 teams that started 0-7 or worse to finish with winning records. In 1980 the Braves started 0-7 to finish 81-80 and never had a sniff at their division. In 1983 the Astros started 0-9 and went on to win 85 games and finish in third place but never got closer than 6 games behind the division winning Dodgers. In 7 of their 9 straight losses, the Astros, with great pitching, failed to score more than 3 runs.

I still feel the Tigers are better than either the ’80 Braves or the ’83 Stros. If they play .600 ball down the stretch (the last 155 games of the season) they will win 93 games. There hasn’t been an AL Wild Card team with less than 93 wins since Seattle capture the WC in 2000 with 91 wins. the Tigers won 88 games last year and their longers losing streak was 5 games. Those 5 loses started them on their skid to the end of the season. They were up a game on the Indians at the end of July and were 8 games back by the end of September.

It’s going to be tough to come back but the potent offence of the Tigers should be able to close in on 90 games, but I think the hole is too big.