Tigers Inconsistency Keeps Them Out Of First

Consistency is the key, in just about anything, especially sports. Manager Jim Leyland may be considered one of the best managers ever, but when you look back over the years using a consistent lineup produces winners. I was only a kid when the Tiger’s won their last World Series (1984), but I still can recite their starting lineup 24 years later. With a few exceptions they had the same 9 guys on the field everyday. Leyland should show some of the fire that he did in 2006 that drove the Tigers to an American League Championship. Shaking up the starters again and again does not seem to be getting it done. Just put together a batting order that “should” produce and stick with it. It may take a few games to get used to it but it will come through.

The 2008 Detroit Tigers were built to win, now. General Manager Dave Dombrowski made a few big trades with his former team (Florida Marlins), which was built to win and did it. Acquiring Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis for a number of Detroit’s young prospects was supposed to be the trade that would bring a championship back to the Motor City. Was it a bad move? Ask around Detroit and you might think so.

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Cabrera is playing mediocre baseball, at best. Fans can make all of the excuses they want. He has had plenty of time to get used to the American League; he has been in a slump, whatever. Maybe the fact of the matter is that he has been playing in the “senior league,” where old pitchers go to die. If his past numbers and performance is due to playing in a slower, less talented league, then the Tigers need to use him as a “role player.”

The player that Cabrera was supposed to replace is the MVP of the team at this point. I am speaking of Brandon Inge (is supposed to be the role player), who is still a regular in Detroit’s lineup. He has played 26 games at third base, 13 behind the plate, and 11 in the outfield. The Detroit Tigers are lucky that there was very little interest in Inge before the season began and that he remained a Tiger. He is the longest tenured Tiger as well as a fan favorite who provides a certain “spark” in our lineup.

Dontrelle Willis is coming off an early injury and may or may not be the Willis of old ever again. He was at his best in 2005 when he was 22-10; however his numbers have gotten progressively worse since then. Everybody in Tigertown would love to see Dontrelle come back with the dominance that he has shown in the past, but if he doesn’t then who does?

Of the other starters (Kenny Rogers, Nate Roberston, Justin Verlander, and Armando Galarraga) Galarraga has the best stuff or at least the best support that we’ve seen here. He is 5-2 and has a stat line which tops the rest of the staff, including the best start of the season of anyone who has taken the ball for Detroit. A recent injury to Jeremy Bonderman (which could mean his whole season) and inconsistent performance by the others leaves Galarraga on the top of our list at this time.

It is not that the Tigers’ pitchers are all throwing bad this season. When I talk about inconsistency it includes that when the pitchers bring their “A game,” the hitters are not producing. When a starter gets a quality start and allows less than 3 runs this “all-star” lineup of the Tigers should have no problem producing enough runs to earn them a win. Except that we have not been doing so.

On the other hand, when the hitters put up 12+ runs the pitching staff likes to give up 8 or 9 runs. Why does a team that is supposed to be so good keep coming up so inconsistent?

What is it with the huge influx of rookies coming up from the minors? It is like they aren’t giving anyone a chance to get used to playing before they ship them back down and try someone else. With Brett Clevlen and Ryan Rayburn, who are tried and tested in the big leagues, there shouldn’t be a need for Matt Joyce and Clete Thomas. And the bullpen, that is a different story. Well, not really, the same type of story, different situation. As the Tigers eagerly await the return of Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney they continue to rotate in a bunch of no-name kids who seem to get their dreams crushed by coming out have a bad day and getting shipped back to the minors. I’ve never played in the big leagues but I am sure anyone needs time to get used to the caliber of the talent there.

I will tell you this. The All-Star Break is fast approaching and if the Tigers can’t get it together and start winning like they were built to do, they are going to be in big trouble. Leyland, get consistent, if you need a lineup that will work, call me and I’ll give you one. Inge, keep doing what you’re doing. Cabrera, keep your head down and eye on the ball. To the entire pitching staff, keep the ball down, over the plate and let them hit it if they can. We have the defense to stop them. Defense wins championships, but if we can’t score runs on offense we’re doomed. This isn’t the NFL, defense can’t score points.

By Jake Doby
DFN Sports Detroit Sports Correspondent

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