Before last year lots of people were saying that the Tigers were big time 2nd half chokers with Jim Leyland. From 2006-10 the Tigers performed significantly worse in the 2nd half of the year as compared to the 1st half. In every year except for 2008 and this year the Tigers went into the All-Star break in 1st place. Yet the Tigers only finished 2011 in 1st place. I'm curious for everybody's input on why they think the Tigers collapsed.

2006: 1st half: 59-29 2nd half: 36-38. The Tigers still made the playoffs but some of the reasons I think they collapsed were inexperience with such a young team, some players that were over performing, and the injury to Placido Polanco.

2007: 1st half: 52-34 2nd half: 36-40. The Tigers had a great offense this year but during the 2nd half (especially August), the Tigers pitching staff collapsed big time and some of the reasons might have been the injury to Bondo, injury to Robertson, injury to the Gambler, and the mediocre pitching of the Bullpen.

2008: 1st half: 47-47 2nd half: 27-41. The Tigers started 0-7 this year but they started picking it up in June and reached .500 twice before the all-star break. However, the pitching (again) collapsed big time and the bats never really performed up to expectations. Also, the defense was awful this year.

2009: 1st half: 48-39 2nd half: 38-38. Most experts had the Tigers finishing last after 2008's debacle but the Tigers pitching stepped it up big time int he first half with JV, EJax, and Rick Porcello. I don't blame the Tigers that much for this collapse because the Twins were absolutely on fire to end the season.( Something like 21-4 to end the season).

2010: 1st half: 48-38 2nd half: 33-43. The Tigers started off the year like comeback cats and were lead by many unexpected rookies in the 1st half. Then, during the 2nd half the Tigers lost their first 4 games and then Ordonez + Guillen got injured and their lack of depth killed them. The 2nd half lineup was usually referred to as Miggy and the Mudhens.

2011: 1st half: 49-43 2nd half: 46-24. What a year! After the all-star break the Tigers only led by 1/2 game but by the end of the season led by 15 big ones! After the Weaver-Verlander game the Tigers really hit their stride.

2012: 1st half: 44-42 2nd half: 43-33 (Predicted) Underperformed much of the 1st half but this team has too much talent to not win the division. Will be a fight with Chicago for the rest of the year.