Maybe it's because it's 11 p.m. and I just watched a fantastic gem of a game from the Tigers, beating the Red Sox 4-1 in Fenway, but I believe in this team.
This season has had it's highs and lows, from the horrific month of May and an 11- game losing streak at the hands of the Indians, to the subsequently hot June and Michael Fulmer's Rookie of the Year campaign. If this roller coaster type season sounds like you've heard it before, it's because you have.
The Tigers were in roughly the exact same predicament at last season's midway point. 44-44 at the 2015 All Star break, the team was in a rut. Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez and Justin Verlander all missed time with injuries and then-GM Dave Dombrowski decided it was time to sell off their remaining big names to cash in on the future. David Price was shipped to the Blue Jays and Yoenis Cespedes to the Mets and the rest is history.
But this isn't 2015.
Verlander, Cabrera and Martinez have all been healthy and showing that they are still extremely valuable to the organization. Newcomer Michael Fulmer is putting up numbers never seen before by a rookie pitcher and Francisco Rodriguez still has gas in the tank. The bullpen is at its strongest in years despite the flammable Mark Lowe and Bruce Rondon. But what was once the Tigers greatest strength looks like its greatest weakness. Detroit also doesn't face the possibility of losing hot offseason commodities and getting nothing in return, like they did last year. But there is clearly on gap this team needs filled: starting pitching.
The team's starting pitching has been unpredictable outside of JV and Fulmer, with the once reliable Anibal Sanchez now looking lost on the mound, paired with the unpredictable Mike Pelfrey. Daniel Norris and newly added Zimmermann have shown promise in their starts, but can't seem to stay healthy. The Tigers desperately need a reliable starter if they want to make a serious run at the playoffs. That's it! Just a reliable starter, not even an ace. The Tigers have solid prospects in their farm system to grab attention and value, but it's up to GM Al Avila and the rest of the front office to decide if the risk is worth the potential reward.
The Tigers, a team that won the AL Central four consecutive times from 2011-14, now finally sees that window closing, and this may be the last shot at a title. The core of this team is now shifting towards the twilight of their careers. There is little time left for the Tigers to mix young talent and experienced stars, which is why they must buy. Even despite the mindless errors and poor judgment from manager Brad Ausmus, this team has a strong chance to win every night. As I write, the Tigers are 5.5 games out of the division lead and 4 games out of the second wild card with 62 games to play. There's an eternity of baseball yet to be played, but it's up to Tigers' management if they want a place in MLB history or just another footnote in a season that could have been.
This season has had it's highs and lows, from the horrific month of May and an 11- game losing streak at the hands of the Indians, to the subsequently hot June and Michael Fulmer's Rookie of the Year campaign. If this roller coaster type season sounds like you've heard it before, it's because you have.
The Tigers were in roughly the exact same predicament at last season's midway point. 44-44 at the 2015 All Star break, the team was in a rut. Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez and Justin Verlander all missed time with injuries and then-GM Dave Dombrowski decided it was time to sell off their remaining big names to cash in on the future. David Price was shipped to the Blue Jays and Yoenis Cespedes to the Mets and the rest is history.
But this isn't 2015.
Verlander, Cabrera and Martinez have all been healthy and showing that they are still extremely valuable to the organization. Newcomer Michael Fulmer is putting up numbers never seen before by a rookie pitcher and Francisco Rodriguez still has gas in the tank. The bullpen is at its strongest in years despite the flammable Mark Lowe and Bruce Rondon. But what was once the Tigers greatest strength looks like its greatest weakness. Detroit also doesn't face the possibility of losing hot offseason commodities and getting nothing in return, like they did last year. But there is clearly on gap this team needs filled: starting pitching.
The team's starting pitching has been unpredictable outside of JV and Fulmer, with the once reliable Anibal Sanchez now looking lost on the mound, paired with the unpredictable Mike Pelfrey. Daniel Norris and newly added Zimmermann have shown promise in their starts, but can't seem to stay healthy. The Tigers desperately need a reliable starter if they want to make a serious run at the playoffs. That's it! Just a reliable starter, not even an ace. The Tigers have solid prospects in their farm system to grab attention and value, but it's up to GM Al Avila and the rest of the front office to decide if the risk is worth the potential reward.
The Tigers, a team that won the AL Central four consecutive times from 2011-14, now finally sees that window closing, and this may be the last shot at a title. The core of this team is now shifting towards the twilight of their careers. There is little time left for the Tigers to mix young talent and experienced stars, which is why they must buy. Even despite the mindless errors and poor judgment from manager Brad Ausmus, this team has a strong chance to win every night. As I write, the Tigers are 5.5 games out of the division lead and 4 games out of the second wild card with 62 games to play. There's an eternity of baseball yet to be played, but it's up to Tigers' management if they want a place in MLB history or just another footnote in a season that could have been.