Just how bad have the Tigers actually been?

By Kyle Bauer



Here's some split stats from baseball-reference.com that show how and why the Tigers have been the worst team in baseball post all-star break.


First Half - Second Half (38 games)

Record-52 -34- 15 -23

Runs scored- Runs allowed- 512 407-180 230


BATTING

Batting Average- .290 - .276
On Base Percentage- .352 - .324
Walks- 281- 88
Slugging Percentage-.474 - .446
Strike Outs- 521 - 286
Extra Base Hits- 330 - 115



PITCHING

ERA- 4.31 - 5.74
WALKS ALLOWED- 304 - 138
HITS ALLOWED- 798 - 390
HOME RUNS ALLOWED- 92 - 42
STRIKE OUTS- 557- 264
Starter era.- 4.70
Bullpen era.- 4.71

AUGUST LINE

Record- 6-11

Team avg.- .267

Team obp.- .324

Team era.- 5.92

I would like to see second half split stats on production with with 2 outs and runners in scoring position, errors and fielding percentage, and several other key areas in which this team has faltered in since the second half.This shows that the Tigers have been in the bottom rung of teams in baseball since the second half, luckily for them Cleveland has been just as bad.
There's so many different excuses or reasons you could come up for such a poor second half performance. I was among the many who believed that injuries were simply depleting this team but they're pretty healthy now and you're still seeing the same results.
The bullpen could be blamed for slowing this team down in the first half, hell they did blow 20 games. Yes 20 games! You could easily argue that an adequate bullpen will blow 10 to 14 games at this point so you could say if the Tigers had a decent bullpen they would still have a comfortable lead over Cleveland.

For me all these stats show lack of focus, energy and urgency. This team is such a mental case. Sometimes it seems as though the apathy comes from carrying arrogance over from being defending AL champs, but when they go up and take at bats with little discipline and patience you see a team that's pressing in fear. I'm not sure exactly which ward of the nut house this team belongs in but I just know they belong there.
Either way when this team shows so much potential as to destroy the Indians 6-2 then a couple nights later own the mighty Yankees 8-5, you have to think the dominant first place team is still here. Wrapped around those wins were three double digit strikeout games though, something that has become the norm in the second half. When a team can dominate one night then come out completely flat the next, there's an attitude problem, plain and simple. The Tigers can no longer respond to a big win as a matter of opinion I think they reward themselves after a big win by mentally taking the day off and just hoping that Cleveland blows another game so they wont be held accountable in the standings. It sounds ridiculous that major leaguers need incentive and added motivation to go out and play hard but even Jim Leyland has said it, sometimes this team plays like it doesn't matter enough to them.


Don't Give up on Thames....again.

Some suggest that the Tigers need a spark and some believe that came when GM Dave Dumbrowski called up top prospect Cameron Maybin. I felt like calling up Maybin may had been a hasty move considering that the Tigers have a proven and capable left fielder in Marcus Thames but once I found out Thames reinjured his hamstring, the move was necessary. A hamstring injury can be nagging so Thames who looked great, hitting 3 homeruns in his short return, could be hampered for the rest of the season and having Maybin up will give him time to fully heal. Maybin will likely be here to stay for the rest of the season and possible postseason as he was brought in before September 1st, making him eligible for the playoff roster.


Right now Maybin could be playing for an everyday spot on this team and so far you could argue that hes already earned it. With a homerun and a somewhat respectable .182 average in hist first 3 games up along with his potential to lay down bunts and steal bases, he offers a dimension that Thames could not give this ball club.


Personally I believe when Thames is healthy, Thames should be the guy or at least alternate starts in left field with Maybin. Thames has faced hard luck his whole career, in his personal life and professional life, notably being cut from the Yankees, then fighting his way up in the Tigers organization taking a spot as a platoon player with serious power, only to be usurped by the mighty Alexis Gomez for playing time in the playoffs. Hes proved that if you give him at bats he'll give you homeruns and rbis and I do not think it would be wise to take at bats away from him down the stretch once hes healthy. Next year is likely a different story. I have no problem with dealing Thames in the offseason possibly for a decent pitcher, catcher or infielder and having Maybin be an every day left fielder, but next year. We've already dealt with the learning curve of another extremely talented and young player in Andrew Miller. Do you want two players 22 and under learning how to play the major league game in crucial roles during a playoff race?


I would still like to see Maybin get a few starts here and there after Thames returns, but mostly I would rather see him late in games as a pinch runner or laying down sacrifice bunts. The beautiful thing about Maybin is that he can be a trusted late inning replacement. Of course if Maybin catches fire and proves to be a phenom already, you play whoever is better for this team right now. I would still take Thames.




It's unfortunate but it was time.

It was'nt too long ago I was suggesting trading Thames in a package for a relief pitcher for the belief that Craig Monroe would regain his form from 2006. Well after a very up and extremely down 4 year tenure with the Tigers, Craig Monroes run has sadly ended with him being designated for assignment and likely traded or straight up released within the next couple days.


I was never a Monroe fan, well Monroe as a ball player. His swing was always a mechanical nightmare which lead to his eventually demise but in the meantime had lead to him being among league leaders in strikeouts and in the drudges of lowest obp. in the American League. Monroe got into his own head and couldn't focus as anyone could see he was pressing, causing himself to be more impatient and take more erratic swings. By the time it was all said and done, his power was completely gone and he was completely gone. Its sad and astonishing how fast he went from a playoff hero and absolute fan favorite to being booed and ran out of of town in shame.


This isn't the end of Monroes major league career. 28 homeruns and 80 rbis doesn't just disappear. With a change of scenery, maybe a team in the NL playoff chase, or a team out of contention where theres no pressure he can get his head and focus back. Expect C-Mo to hit 30 homeruns within the next couple years, couldn't say with what team but it will happen.




Good luck Craig.

Why Jack Wilson is not a good fit for the Tigers.

He may play a steady shortstop which is more than what you could say about Carlos "23 errors" Guillen but would you sacrifice a .290 hitting veteran left handed bat in Sean Casey? If the Tigers were to pick up Wilson, which seems likely at this point, Wilson is believed to become the everyday short stop and Carlos Guillen will be moved to first, leaving Casey on the bench. Basically you would be swapping a .260 hitting right hander for Casey in the lineup. A move to first would be good for Carlos, he wont have to think as much, wont get as many balls hit to him or would have to be as mobile but I would rather have both his and Caseys bats in the line up, especially with the inconsistency of the offense lately. Defensively hes a great fit but it will hurt this teams offense immensely. Errors can kill a ball club, that's what killed the Tigers in the World Series, but if I have to choose I would rather take the rbi potential and obp of Casey and risk Guillen making error, just hoping its not a costly one. Also is Jack Wilson really worth 14 million dollars? Bottom line, I don't think Wilson is worth it. Maybe if Leyland would get off of Infantes case we can have a slightly better hitting, almost as reliable short stop, giving Guillen some rest.

If the Tigers want to turn it around, they need to do one thing; focus. This is still the same team that had the best record in baseball at the all-star break. Why they cannot get back the consistency and energy that goes into playing a 9 inning game, I don't know but that's what they need to do. The Tigers can still take the central and earn it but they need to remember who they are, what they're capable of and go out, work counts, go right after batters and play hard for 9 innings. It's starting to look less likely that they will be able to do that though. The next week will define the 2007 Detroit Tigers.

You can hear more of my opinions every Tuesday 2 to 3 pm with Corey and Brad. Also occasionally on Wednesdays 5 to 6 pm with Corey , Brad and Kyle Horner.