:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/6662948/20120426_jel_aa1_164.jpg)
When the Detroit Tigers were swept by the Seattle Mariners, at home in Comerica Park no less, you thought to yourself, "This is a day that will live in infamy." As the team stumbled worse and worse during a home stand against the Texas Rangers and Mariners, fans seemed to get jitterier and jitterier. The Rangers, OK, maybe we can understand that. Defending American League champs. Really good team. Probably not a good thing to be losing three of four to them at home, but certainly not the worst thing in the world. Besides, the punchless Seattle Mariners were coming to town. That should provide Detroit a chance to get back on ..
ACK.
Swept by Seattle.
And then Brandon Inge was unconditionally released from his contract. His time as a Tiger is up.
I'll say this, it was an eventful day for the Tigers and their fans. But let's leave the drama in the past, OK?
For the nuts and bolts recap, see
We'll have many more words about Inge later Thursday, and throughout Friday, as you'd expect. So I'll just take a moment to find some perspective on where the Tigers are at this point of the season...
19 out of 162 games.
11.7%.
That's where the Tigers are in the season.
11.7%. 19 out of 162 games.
Thought that might need repeating for some people.
One inning is 1/9th of a game. That's 11.1% Think about that.
Look, this wasn't going to be a cake walk. I know a lot of people anticipated a cake walk. And, if I might paraphrase myself, I said not to blame the team if it doesn't live up to your unreasonably-high expectations. Well, I know Bless You Boys is a site with a lot of fans who understand the bigger perspective. So I feel like in many ways I'm preaching to the choir here. Forgive me, if you will. But after looking at some comments and taking the temperature of some of the fans out there, I feel like some in the pews might need a reminder.
After 19 games last year, the Tigers were 9-10. They ended the month of April on a five-game losing streak. Included in that streak was a sweep at Comerica Park by none other than those Seattle Mariners. Detroit eventually lost seven in a row, including a sweep by the red-hot Cleveland Indians. As you might recall, the Tigers won 95 games and the Central Division, before toppling the Yankees in the ALDS.
Today, Detroit has a winning record.
Maybe you prefer 2006, where the Tigers went 2-5 during a homestand in April. Their longest losing streak was five games. They won the American League. These Tigers have lost four. The 2006 Tigers lost four in a row five times.
This is not to say that every team that loses a few games will end up with new flags to fly in their outfield being raised the next year. It is to say that yes, good teams lose games, sometimes in chunks. You believed the Detroit Tigers were a good team before the season. So did I. So did the Tigers. So did rival executives. So did the national media. That's because the Detroit Tigers are a good team. Being a good team doesn't make the Tigers immune from losing a few games in a row.
So yeah, the defense isn't the best. The pitching has had a few stumbles. The lineup isn't going to produce 1,000 runs this season. So be it. But I'm pretty sure Prince Fielder isn't going to finish the season with two home runs, either. Nor will Jhonny Peralta hit just .238.
You've watched the team this week. You've seen how badly it has played. You're convinced your eye tells you the Tigers are awful. What did it tell you during the first week when the Tigers took five of six against AL East teams Boston and Tampa Bay? Awful team then too? No. You saw those games and you thought "105 wins" didn't you? I read our comments section. I know the kind of crazy optimism there was.
Sorry, it wasn't going to happen. This team falling apart isn't going to happen either. It will come out of the tunnel and be just fine.
I'll let John Moz, who posted last night, have the final word.
Please stop freaking out, Tigers fans. A baseball season is a marathon, and you're acting like they're losing a 1,500-meter race. Stop the rosterbation, the calls for trades regardless of the long-term cost, the belief that there's something fundamentally wrong with this team and that what we're seeing is how they'll perform over the rest of the season. You know what? That may be true -- although this isn't 2008 -- but there's no way for us to know just yet.
At the very least, wait until June before freaking out. If you're a traditionalist, wait until the All-Star Break.
11.7% -- or about one inning of a game -- is way too early for this. Pace yourself, and save your freakouts for when the games really matter, OK?
Thank you.
Now would you please quit calling for Leyland's head in our comments? It's getting old fast.
3 ROARS
Miguel Cabrera - Tied the game at 4-4 with a two-run home run
Andy Dirks - Necked out a triple
Octavio Dotel - Scoreless inning on the mound
3 HISSES
Rick Porcello - Gave up 5 runs
Delmon Young - 0-for-3
Prince Fielder 0-for-4
Game 18 POG
Brennan Boesch edged out Duane Below