Revisiting the Horror of the 2003 Detroit Tigers

by Ian Casselberry on Apr 8, 2009 1:00 PM EDT in News Comment 10 comments

If you need to feel better about this season's 0-2 start (and Big Al's already hovering over the panic button), perhaps it might bring you some solace to recall the 2003 Detroit Tigers. You know, the team that went 43-119? (I apologize if I'm bringing back any repressed memories or undoing any therapy with a mere mention.) With a starting pitcher, Mike Maroth, that carried 21 losses for the season?

Over at Fangraphs, Eric Seidman looks back at the '03 Tigers and who among them managed to persevere and carry on after that brutal season. Really, the only name mentioned that's faded away is Nate Cornejo. We know the fall that Dmitri Young has taken since then, but he's still in the majors, currently on the disabled list with the Washington Nationals. After suffering an elbow injury in 2006 and being traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 2007, Maroth was released by the Blue Jays this spring, and is looking to catch on elsewhere.

That leaves Nate Robertson and Jeremy Bonderman. And Robertson's barely hanging on for a job, though with a rather impressive inning of work on Monday night, maybe he'll manage to stick around. Will Bonderman, who took 19 losses himself that year, end up as the last man standing from that team?

Here's the Baseball-Reference page for the 2003 Tigers, if you care to reminisce or give yourself a shiver. Check out some of those names that were passed off to us as major leaguers. The horror. The horror.

0 recs | Comment 10 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

It's a funny thing

that you bring this up Ian because I was feeling like it would be easier for me to handle another season like 2003 rather than another year like 2008. In 2003 we had no talent and I enjoyed watching with an eye on the future. Yes they were terrible but you knew they would be terrible. This year’s team (like last year’s) has talent and can win. But they are doing things that essentially equate to giving games away (9 runs already surrendered this year with 2 outs in an inning). When I saw the results form last nights game my first thought was let me keep Cabrera, Grandy, Jackson (who was terrific last night), Porcello, Perry and maybe Galarraga. Everyone else can go. What I would really like though is just to see Miner and Porcello record quality starts the next 2 days and to show signs of being capable of staying in the rotation by the time Bondo is ready to come back. Once Bondo is healthy I am begging DD, Leyland and company to put him in the bullpen and give him a shot to close. I also want to see how Perry does and I am hopefully he can assume the 8th inning role eventually. I am also fine with giving Nate a shot at closer only because I have zero faith in everyone else.

by tigerfaninChicago on Apr 8, 2009 2:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

verlander?

you mean you wouldnt keep verlander ? geez i must be the only tiger fan on the planet who likes him and crap look at inge who has hit a couple of hr’s and is batting 45 points higher than last yr already……leave him at 3b anbd everybody else right where they are i agree they should do something with robertson release him or trade him ……

by tigfan1968 on Apr 8, 2009 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was upset

I am still upset over Monday night but when I am thinking clearly I understand Verlander is a guy we need. I also wouldn’t want to see Maggs, Carlos or Polanco go ( I love those guys). I do stand by what I said though, 2008 was harder to live through than 2003 and in the heat of my frustration my thinking was that I would rather sell off as much as possible and start from scratch (like in 2003) then see talent wasted.

by tigerfaninChicago on Apr 8, 2009 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Funny you mention that name..

Because this year’s Big Tilde Pants Party is tentatively entitled “The Nate Cornejo Memorial Classic”

by Jerkwheat on Apr 8, 2009 2:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I Wonder What Jose Lima is Doing?

This team is garbage right now thanks to some real bad decisions based on $$$$.

by Marcmargolis on Apr 8, 2009 2:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Jose

is still doing what he do. It’s Lima Time in Long Beach.

http://www.insidesocal.com/tomhoffarth/archives/2009/03/its-lima-time-a.html

-- pH

by patrick_hayes on Apr 8, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

spoken like a true(?)fan

i disagree with you on that one i think dombrowski has done a decent in bringing the team back from mediocrity and so what if they were last in the division at least they werent 43-118

by tigfan1968 on Apr 8, 2009 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why, Ian

Why????

::curls up in ball::

Mack Avenue Tigers

by MackAveKurt on Apr 8, 2009 2:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Memories

That is perhaps the favorite team of my lifetime as a sports fan. I am too lazy to confirm this, but didn’t they carry five Rule 5 draft picks that season (Roney, Ledezma, Spurling)? Good times.

-- pH

by patrick_hayes on Apr 8, 2009 3:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

what fun

I recall celebrating way too much when the Tigers beat the Twins on the final day to stay ahead of the ‘62 Mets. In those days, happiness came where you could find it. But I agree that ’08 felt so much worse than ’03. Last year just hurt because we didn’t see it coming.

by BigJP on Apr 8, 2009 4:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs