I don’t know if an elephant could remember the last time Bonderman didn’t put the Tigers in a hole right out of the gate. One thing has become apparent over the last 6 weeks. Bonderman, Miller and Verlander really aren’t very good. Slumps happen, but this is just plain old ineptitude. It might have to do with conditioning - maybe their arms are getting tired as the season progresses. But with all the attention given to pitch counts these days, it’s no excuse. The sad fact is - the Tigers do not have an ace. There is no workhorse. Our best starting pitcher lately has been Jair Jurrjens (who?).
The worst thing is that after such a momentous win in late innings at 3:30am, they let that momentum slip away. A good team would have built on that. They didn’t - in a big way. They looked terrible. They looked like they were the only ones up playing ball at 3:30 in the morning. But they weren’t. The Yankees were there too, and the Yankees were on the receiving end of the late inning heroics. But the Yankees came to play ball the next day, and the Tigers did not. Which is why the Yankees will probably be playing ball in October, and the Tigers will not.
Something is becoming all too clear lately. The only way the Tigers will get into the playoffs playing like this, is if the Indians manage to play a whole lot worse. But does it really matter? Who cares if the Tigers make it in, just to get swept and embarrassed by the Angels or the Red Sox?
There is still time. But they need to take a long, hard look at their weaknesses over the off season. Some items to consider:
- How is Sheffield’s shoulder? He has stated on record that if he needs surgery, he’ll retire. His bat will need to be replaced if that happens.
- Do we really want a 3rd baseman that consistently hovers just above the Mendoza line? Brandon Inge has shown moments of defensive brilliance, but can the Tigers afford to have that .230 - .240 presence in the line-up? Especially at almost $5 million a year. I suppose it will depend on what’s available, but it should certainly be looked at.
- Starting pitching. Who would have thought after last year, that this would even be a concern? But it is. Bonderman has developed a deep psychological problem with getting out of the 1st inning unscathed. There can be no other answer. Verlander has looked average at best. Miller looks like he’s ready for “reassignment”. The Tigers need to find out what’s going on with the starting pitching, and make that their top priority.
The season isn’t over yet, but as an organization - these things have to start being looked at. It might not be time to throw in the towel, but it looks like it is definitely time to open the checkbook.
