Why are we frustrated?

by apuzzuoli on May 29, 2011 9:43 AM EDT

It is surprising to me the frustration of many Detroit Tiger fans regarding the team so far this season. Going into 2011, and looking at the track record of the players, Detroit was a little above .500 team, with little depth, who could make the playoffs, if everything went perfectly right.

Everything has not gone right. Magglio Ordonez got hurt. Ryan Raburn, Brandon Inge, Austin Jackson, and Brennan Boesch have all struggled at the plate. Second base has been a carousel of inconsistency (both in performance and performers). The bullpen has been very ineffective and Cleveland has exceeded all expectations.

However, of all these things, the only ones that are really unexpected are Cleveland's excellence and the bullpen's ineffectiveness. The rest of the them are not surprising. The 2011 season, like previous seasons, was built on the hope that what would could happen; would happen.

In trading Scott Sizemore for bullpen help, as frustrating as it might be to many fans, Dave Dombrowski was addressing the only issue (that he could), that he did not expect to happen in 2011; the bullpen meltdown.

Is everything lost for Detroit in 2011? Probably not. While many things have not gone right, some have gone better than expected: Alex Avila and Jhonny Peralta have both exceeded expectations at the plate, and in my opinion, Rick Porcello and Phil Coke have both pitched (for the most part) better then I thought they would.

Detroit still plays in a winnable division and has proven that when they are on, they can play with some of the best teams in the American League. Their starting pitching can dominate for stretches and should they make the playoffs, can allow Detroit to steal a series from a deeper, better team.

On top of that, Ordonez could come back and be an offensive force in the lineup. Raburn, Inge, Jackson and Boesch could all hit to their abilities, Carlos Guillen could make a return to stabilize second base. A revamped bullpen with David Purcey, Charlie Furbush and a settled down Joaquin Benoit could handle tight games in the late innings and Cleveland could cool down.

Between now and September are a lot of baseball games to be played, A lot can happen. Let us not forget that.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Bless You Boys writing staff.

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I like your optimism and patience!

We need more of it!

by CoreyMichaelDC on May 29, 2011 2:20 PM EDT reply actions

The reason for frustration?

Because this team isn’t playing too far off from it’s ability. Sure there are a few players who are missing (Magglio) or playing worse than usual (Inge) but Boesch, Raburn and the giant void at second? Those aren’t going to go away that easily.

It is frustrating because this team hasn’t captured my imagination. In fact, this team has begun to bore me. This is a team who went out and spent money on a reliever who had a career year in hopes he could repeat his performance despite drafting relievers more often than not. Most of those drafted relievers are not panning out, either.

Instead of having much of anything, as far as position players go, the Tigers have almost nothing on the farm. The reason the Sizemore trade bothered me was because one of the few position players in the system at a position that is weak for Detroit, was given less than 150 at bats in the majors before being shipped off for a reliever that Detroit actually could use because of how poorly things have worked out for a front office that is obsessed with drafting relief pitching.

Possibilities are fine, but to ignore just how bad the Tigers have been in the present is just as wrong as thinking the season is over. There is a chance for the Tigers to turn it around. History says that isn’t too likely with the usual All Star break swoon the Tigers tend to take, but that chance is still there.

I have a grand idea: let's win a game.

by 13194013 on May 29, 2011 6:12 PM EDT reply actions

My frustration stems from more of the same.

It feels like the Tigers have fielded the same team since game 163. A few of the names have changed, sure, but it just feels like we’re treading water. You’ve got a ton of “could” up there and it might be nice if that all came true.

Me, I’m not holding my breath for it. I’m trying to remain optimistic but I’m just tired of the same old Tigers, or so it feels.

by john.kmiecik on May 29, 2011 7:05 PM EDT reply actions

This is true

But how much turnover can you realistically have? We have a different closer, a different shortstop, a different center fielder, a different left fielder and two different pitchers in the rotation.

"Aside from the stuff I haven’t been diagnosed for yet, I don’t have a problem."- Phil Coke

Contributor, Bless You Boys

by David Tokarz on May 29, 2011 9:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

Too much turnover isn’t a good thing unless you’re spending money like the Red Sox or Yankees to get All-Stars at every position.

Detroit4Lyfe

by Rob Rogacki on May 30, 2011 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions

Well said

The outlook for the Tigers remains positive. The starting pitching has been mostly consistent and more runs will be scored as the season progresses. Hitters like Raburn and Jackson will improve and likely reach their career averages thus improving the offensive impact of the team. Nonetheless, I would like to see the Tigers trade for a bat, probably not a flashy one, but a strong contributor.

The division is very winnable. The Tribe likely will not win 100 games and the starting pitching should close the gap. 2011 is shaping to be a season calling for patience until the middle of the summer with a good chance of success when the calendar turns to September.

For the sake of debate, firing Leyland or Dombrowski would be counterproductive and nearly moronic.

by NicholasR on May 29, 2011 11:28 PM EDT reply actions