Tigers Dive at Five, But Good News Still Exists.

It’s frustrating to be on the verge of something great, only to stumble. This has to be the current sentiment of not only Tigers fans, but of the team itself. Last nights heartbreaking loss to the Blue Jays gave the Detroit Tigers something they certainly didn’t want in the midst of a pennant race – their longest losing streak of the season. While the recent slide has left many of us scratching our heads, there is reason to lift our sullen heads, a bit. Let’s take a look at both the bad, and the good, from this stretch of futility.

The Bad:

The now second place White Sox have gained 2.5 games on the Motor City Kitties during this five game malaise. They currently stand five games back in the AL Central.

Leadoff hitter Curtis Granderson is 2-16 over the last five games, and 5-33 over the last 10.

Starter Edwin Jackson has allowed 18 earned runs in his last five starts, spanning 32.1 innings. He boasts a 5.01 ERA in that stretch. He has allowed five home runs in his last four starts and nine dingers in his last seven.

Closer Fernando Rodney has surrendered seven earned runs in his last four outings. He’s allowed six hits and five walks in those 3.1 innings.

The Tigers have lost five consecutive games to the Royals and Blue Jays, who are a combined 42 games under .500 for the season as of today.

Since hitting his game winning grand slam against the Rays, Brandon Inge is 3-17 with zero RBI’s and four K’s.

Nate Robertson has failed to last more than four innings in two of three starts since being added back into the rotation. In addition he’s suffering from some pelvic issues that jeapordize his immediate availability.

In 4.2 September innings Armando Galarraga has coughed up nine earned runs on seven hits and four walks.

The Good:

The now third place Minnesota Twins have lost four of their last five games.

Twins slugger Justin Morneau, who would be integral in a late season push, is hitting just .201 since the All-Star break, and is mired in a 3-39 slump in the month of September.

The Tigers magic number to clinch the division sits at 16, two games lower than it was when the Royals series began.

Rick Porcello takes the hill this afternoon for the Tigers. He has allowed two earned runs or less in six of his last eight starts and has lost only once since the end of July.

Justin Verlander will get the start tomorrow. In his last six outings he has allowed three earned runs or fewer five times.

Over the last week five different Tigers are hitting .360 or better – Wilkin Ramirez (.667), Marcus Thames (.625), Ryan Raburn (.538), Magglio Ordonez (.444) and Placido Polanco (.360).

Ricky Romero, who will start today for the Jays, has struggled against left handed hitters to the tune of a .316 batting average and a .949 OPS against.

While Curtis Granderson has been scuffling of late, his 56 career extra base hits (including 23 home runs) in the final month of the season are the most of any month historically.

Slumps happen. Good teams and bad teams alike fall into funks hither and yon every season. While the timing of this particular slide has been frustrating, it is hardly unusual. The Tigers have the good fortune of competing in a division without another team with a winning record, and will play 12 of their final 21 games at home, where they are 45-24 this season.

While there are no guarantees, I find it likely the boys in the old english D will pull out of this tailspin very soon, perhaps this afternoon. It is a bit of a concern that the team will not have a day off until 9/21, capping a stretch of 13 games in 13 days, but such is September baseball. For what it’s worth, the Blue Jays, Royals, Twins, Indians and White Sox, who make up the balance of the remaining foes, all have records under .500 as of today. No other first place team has this distinction in their remaining schedule.

In addition to having a litiny of veterans with pennant race experience, this team also has the luxury of some young talent to provide a lift here and there. Wilkin Ramirez has been spectacular in limited duty since his call-up, and I expect to see his name in the lineup more often in the final three weeks. Alex Avila has exceeded expectations since his arrival, and provides a powerful left handed bat that can bode well as part of the starting nine, or in a pinch hitting situation.

Despite playing like a last place team in recent days, the Tigers stil hold a five game lead in the division with 21 games to play. They remain in the drivers seat. They remain in control of their own destiny. While this team has lost five straight, it is the longest losing streak they have endured this season, a testament to their ability to rebound. With A 12 game winner on the mound today and a 16 game winner going tomorrow the Tigers have an excellent opportunity to turn this streak on its ear in a big way.

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Tags: Alex Avila, Curtis Granderson, Detroit Tigers, Detroit Tigers Magic Number at 16, Fernando Rodney, Justin Verlander, Magglio Ordonez, Marcus Thames, Placido Polanco, Rick Porcell, Ryan Raburn, Tigers losing streak at five games, Wilkin Ramirez