Kaline’s Korner
What’s wrong with the Tigers?
Sparky Anderson, Hall of Fame Manager, from the famed “Big Red Machine” Cincinnati Reds and 1984 World Series Champion Detroit Tigers often said that you can’t judge a team until they have played 40 games. We, the Tigers, have limped to the 40 game mark and in fact have played 41 games after yesterday’s dreadful loss to the Kansas City Royals. Well Sparky what can we say about this version of the Detroit Tigers. Pathetic comes to mind! Overrated? Overpaid? Old? There are only so many adjectives that one can come up with. To say this season has been disasterous is an understatement. After 41 games 16-25 they are currently on a four game losing streak and are 0-6 against division rival KC Royals. When asked about the inconsistancy, Tigers Manager Jim Leyland says …”I can’t say I’m disappointed with the effort, but I’m very surprised and very disappointed with the results.” He goes onto say that the offense is really his main concern. The Tigers only scored 6 runs in a three game series against the Royals. They have only three homeruns in the last 8 games. All three have been hit by Rookie Matt Joyce. “We’re having some (bad) at-bats. Too many giveaway at-bats. That’s what this is all about.” Leyland goes on to say “That’s all I can tell you. I’m puzzled by it. The inconsistency of the offense puzzles me.”
The fact remains this is a good ball club playing very poorly. This team isn’t old. Players like Guillen, Ordonez, Pudge and Polanco have had bad stretches and good stretches. Ordonez is still hitting at an all-star level. Polanco started the season on a terrible slump but has turned it around. Guillen has had to deal with two positions changes and attempting for the first time in his career to take at-bats as a DH. Gary Sheffield on the other hand is at a cross-roads in his career. Sheffield has become the whipping boy of the local Detroit media, talk shows and fans. Fan message boards are calling for a buy out or trade. Sheffield is definately hurting the club but he is not the sole reason for this downfall. Last season Sheffield was hitting at an MVP clip. From June to August of last season he was clearly the motor that got the Tigers offense going. But his shoulders are hurting, he can’t play the field anymore and a possible DL stint is in his future. This is wear GM Dave Dumbrowski and Jim Leyland need to step up and sit Sheffield down. Sheffield has a lot of pride and will not take himself out of the lineup. He needs to get himself healthy, he needs to be sent to his Tampa Bay home and told to relax and rehab his shoulder and come back strong for the dog days of summer and the race to the pennent.
Being a fan of this team can be very frustrating but lets be clear, Dumbrowski isn’t going to blow it up and start trading veterans. Lets face it, the Tigers offensive struggles are about players wilting so far under the weight of expectations - pressing - slumping - not getting it done collectively. Its not because their old, or overpayed. This team will come around and it needs to start this weekend. It’s not going to be easy with the NL west leading Arizona Diamondbacks on deck but it can be done. For a team 41 games into a season playing 9 games under .500 they are only 6 games out of first place. Thankfully for the Tigers no one has taken off. The Indians are playing well and coming around but the Tigers aren’t done! Sorry Sparky but I will give the Tigers another 40 games before I jump ship.
