KTE: Detroit Tigers. They're bad, but not as bad as expected

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

The Tigers suck. They do. This is undeniable.

A big portion of the fan base is OK with this. Because while the team sucks, it actually sucks less than had been expected.

Such as been life for a Tigers fans, where expectations are low for quite some time. It’s not like the team is tanking, like the Athletics. Tanking implies a strategy and that ownership and management knows what it is doing. The Tigers just suck.

It’s not like the team isn’t trying. It lured A.J. Hinch, who much have had other options despite the suspension. Folks here suspect he is a looking for a way out, and no one really blames him.

It signed big-money free agent and our former friend Javy Baez to a six-year, $140 million contract. He has fallen somewhat short of expectations.

Tanking teams don’t do these things. Teams that make bad decisions do.

The team fired General Manager Al Avila, who had been at the helm since taking over for Dave Dombrowski in mid-2015 and compiled a .417 winning percentage over six years. The team in September hired Scott Harris, one of the guys who was mentioned in discussions about the Mets post and allegedly turned us down. Skeptical people might question whether this was the case, as saying “yes” to the Tigers in Detroit but “No” to the Mets in New York with Steve Cohen at the helm would be considered bad decision-making.

OK, so why the optimism? And note, I am an optimist, Positivity is my No. 1 Clifton strength, which is nice third-party validation.

The good.

Kids: As Ashie mentioned, there are a number of nice players who have arrived in Detroit after being warmly cheered in Grand Rapids.

Riley Greene was a No. 5 pick in 2019 who made his MLB debut in June of 2022. He has not hit much for average or power, but he is 22 and learning on the job.

Spencer Torkelson was the No. 1 pick in 2020 and made his debut in April 2022. He is a year older than Greene, and has hit for less average but slightly higher power. He, too, might be better enjoying life in Toldeo, but is instead manning first base an hour north. Both will get time to figure it out

Matt Vierling is actually the best of the bunch at this point, and he just came in a trade with Philly for Roger Clemens’ kid and Gregory Soto.

Pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez does not suck. He has a 2.21 ERA. Closer Alex Lange, also a first-rounder (for the Cubs) has a 1.42 ERA and has been getting the job done when a save opportunity presents itself.

The team did take two of three from the Astros early in the season, and two of three from the Brewers, and swept the Giants in a rain-shortened series. That’s not horrible.

And, the team plays in the American League Central, where no team is running away with it, and two teams – the White Sox and Royals – are godawful.

This means the Tigers can all but claim third place for the season by merely sucking. And if you are in third, and the second-place team is two-games under .500 and the first-place team isn’t really that good, stuff can happen. You can stumble into first place if Carlos Correa’s ankle self-destructs ahead of schedule and the Guardians are just kind of meh. And if you can win a division and get into the postseason and avoid a wild card round, you will still likely get swept. But that’s something. When the Lions are the Lions and the Red Wings are in a rare down cycle and the Pistons aren’t exciting, this will get you through the winter. And winter here starts in early November, late September in parts of the state.

Also, the team has nice uniforms.

The bad.

Miguel Cabrera. Miggy is Mr. Tiger. He is beloved. His chase to 3,000 hits and 500 homers gave people something to cheer for when there was nothing else. He is a sure-fire, first-ballot Hall of Famer with a career .307 average and 507 homers in a ballpark where there are no cheap home runs.

He is doing a farewell tour like Albert Pujols without actually playing like Albert Pujols. People are coming to see him play and say farewell. But he is hitting just .189 with three RBI.

The rest of the rotation. Remember Rodriguez and his 2.21 ERA? You can triple that to get to the rest of the rotation.

I have seen the Mets play the Tigers in Detroit four times. This generally does not go well for the Mets, who have lost three of the four. I did get the final out ball from the 14-3 win on June 28, 2011.

But should the weather not suck, I have really good tickets for the Thursday Verlander homecoming game. Verlander is still well-loved and was traded to the Astros pretty much as a favor. It's a day game, so I can get back to my side of state by a reasonable hour.

This will be nice.

[Edgy MD]

Good show! I think the Tigers can feel seen now.

Ex-friends include journeyman lefty reliever and two-time Mets Chasen Shreve. Chasen is symptomatic of his generation and a Tigers roster that includes a lot of last-name-first-names — Chasen Shreve, Mason Englert, Tylers Alexander and Holton, Spencers Turnbull and Torkleson, and Riley Greene. Private school social or what?

Also on the 40 are the likes of Braden Bristo, Reese Olson, Tyler Nevin, and Parker Meadows. So, you know, break out the cucumber sandwiches if any of those guys get called up.

Also lighting the ex-Met lantern is Javier Baez, who at this point should be proud that he's still the subject of Nymr83's sig line.