The calendar says August and the Tigers are in second place. The reaction of the fans ranges from resignation to freaking out. Allow me to be your counselor.
A mere two months ago, June 18, the Tigers had squandered a seven-game lead and were 1½ games out of first place. The bullpen was a dumpster fire. Eight days later, the Tigers had a 4½ game lead in the division.
On May 19, 2013, the Tigers were two games out of first place. Eight days later, they were in first place with a 2½-game lead. By June 23, the lead was four games. A mere eight days later, they were back in second place.
On Sept. 18, 2012, the Tigers were three games out of first place with only 15 games to play. Eight days later, they beat the Royals, 5-4, to take first place and never looked back.
In your head, you know this. The A's were running away with the American League West, until they were not. The Dodgers were out of the race last year, but a month later were in first place. This is baseball.
Maybe the problem is that it feels like fall? Too many days the thermometer reads in the 60s, and you may be fooled into thinking that the season is ending. When the sun does peak out, make sure to feel some on your skin to remind you that there are 40 games left to play.
The problem is not so much what we know, as what we feel. And for this, most of all, our rookie manager needs to show more emotion. Freaking out about the proper timing of a replay does not count. Yes, it is a long season and the players do not need to see him losing control, and start to doubt themselves. But the fans need to see some empathy.
This is not the 2003 Tigers. After every inevitable loss, manager Alan Trammell would find some positive development to discuss in his postgame interview. That team was not expected to contend, but this team is designed for the postseason. We do not need to hear that a pitcher's third pitch looked a little better, or a bench player had a good at bat. We do need to hear that the manager is frustrated and finds another bad ninth inning, or another night with no offense, unacceptable. We need to hear his voice rising, and see some veins popping.
We need to help our cerebral manager show some emotion. What would you like to see or hear from Ausmus to let you know things need to change?