The Tale of Two Very Different Tigers Teams

It’s hard enough to follow the Detroit Tigers, but when you have to watch the Tigers and their ugly step-sister, it can really get rough – especially when you don’t know which team will show up. There is the proud group of guys in the Old English D who have been in first place since early May, the guys that win clutch games and inspire the city to believe they are capable of greatness. And then there are the other guys – the stunt doubles, the stand-ins, the cardboard cutouts, the group of players who show up to the ballpark, but do little else. This is what the Detroit Tigers have become in many ways. They’ve been this way all season. I had hoped that as October drew near the guys would snap out of it somehow, play like that glorious team that lifts our hearts, and march into the playoffs. But, as has been quite evident in the last week, both versions are still around.

The tendency at this point in the season is to live and die with every game, for emotions to swing wildly back and forth with every win and loss. If the Tigers find a way to hang one in the win column, then they are Gods, capable of no wrong, and anyone who says otherwise should be drawn and quartered. However if the Tigers lose, there is no shortage of volunteers to undress anyone who dares portend that it is not the end of the world. The shocks on the bandwagon are tattered and flimsy from all this jumping on and off. So in an effort to cure the bi-polar disorder of being a Tigers fan, consider for a moment that there are in fact two versions of this team. We’ll call them Team A and Team B.

Team A consists of the guys that win the games they should win. This is the group that beat Cleveland 14 out of 18 times. The team that is 72-0 when leading at the start of the ninth inning. The team that beat Minnesota twice when they had to. Justin Verlander is on this team, so is Rick Porcello, and even Fernando Rodney. Miguel Cabrera is usually on this team, but he’s taken a few days off here and there. Edwin Jackson used to be on this team, but not much lately.

Team A has struck out opposing hitters almost 1,100 times, has an ERA below the league average, has held leads late in games and found a way to score big runs. Team A hasn’t lost more than five straight games this season, keeping those deflating losing streaks to a minimum. Team A is 28-21 in one run games, and 50-29 at home, both signs of a playoff team.

Team A wins games like the one in Cleveland earlier this year, when Verlander shut out the Indians and Curtis Granderson made his now famous game saving catch. Team A gets a ninth inning grand slam from Brandon Inge to beat the Rays on the road. Team A rebounds from losing three straight to the Red Sox by winning 2-0 behind Verlander and Rodney. Team A is a very good ballclub, the kind we can believe in, the kind we want to root for.

And then there is team B.

Team B played last night against the White Sox. Team B gets manhandled, coughing up eight runs in three of their last six games during a critical stretch. Team B is 10th in the AL in runs scored, and second to last in hits. Team B self-destructs in big games against division rivals like the Twins, White Sox and Royals. Team B is a .500 team against the Royals and White Sox, and under .500 against the Twins.

Team B is 35-46 on the road, and 37-36 so far in the second half. Team B lost two out of three to Pittsburgh for cryin out loud.

Edwin Jackson has been pitching for team B a lot lately. So has Bobby Seay. There are a lot of hitters on this team, most of the Tigers offense this year has been on Team B more often than on Team A. The roster of Team B is filled with bad contracts and guys who haven’t been seen in a Tigers uniform in a long time. Team B plays like the sooner the game is over the sooner they can get in their cars and head home. Team B doesn’t give a damn, or at least they give that impression. Team B makes mental errors by the bucket load. Team B belongs in fourth place.

Team B makes us sad to be Tigers fans.

If you’re looking for me to now explain why this division exists, I’m sorry, I can’t help you. I see the problem, but I have yet to be able to diagnose the root cause. There are a number of hypotheses that could fit. Let’s see….

It’s a long season and every team experiences hot and cold streaks

Key players get injured, or slump

Guys get older and lose a step

Coaches become less effective, their rhetoric gets cold and stale

Other teams have good days against them

Luck

Lack of preparation

Tired from long road trips

Depressed about the Detroit economy like the rest of us

Seasonal Allergies (Yes you Ryan Raburn)

The Metrodome

Family Troubles

Wrist gets sore….from signing autographs, what were you thinking?

Intimidated by Comerica Park statues

Athlete’s Foot

Like I said, I’m not the Doctor, just the guy calling 911. For whatever reason this team has developed a Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde mentality. I’m fairly certain the players, coaches and management themselves can’t explain it, but it’s there. I wish sometimes it was decided by a coin flip. Then FSD could televise the coin flip and we would all know before the first pitch if we should make popcorn and watch with glee or go outside and change the oil in the lawnmower.

But it isn’t that simple. No. We have to watch, and cross our fingers. We have to find a way to keep the scary thoughts at bay and stay positive, hoping Team A will show up these last two regular season games. Because if Team B gets into Comerica Park this weekend, we’ll be watching the Twins play the Yankees next week, and that would be a shame, because Team A can give the bombers a run for their money.

All is not lost. No, all is not lost. Please don’t get too down. There are two games (at least) left for the Tigers this year. If Team A shows up and wins these two games then it is off to the happy land of the playoffs. The Twins can’t stop us. Boo-hoo Twinkies fans, sorry about your luck. Justin Verlander is set to pitch tomorrow, he’s a Team A guy all the way, so that’s a good start. Alfredo Figaro? I don’t know about him yet, but I was at Comerica Park back in June when he shut down the Brewers, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed. The offense will have to show up too. That one’s a crap shoot, but Team A has shown up to score six runs or more in five of the last ten games, so there is reason to believe.

Keep your eyes on the game in the early stages tonight, you’ll recognize which team is out there quickly and easily. I know it’s a pain in the butt, I know we shouldn’t have to root like that, but it is what it is folks.

Come on Team A!

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Tags: ALDS, Brandon Inge, Detroit Tigers, Edwin Jackson, Jim Leyland, Justin Verlander, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Rick Porcello, Tigers bad, Tigers good, Tigers Magic Number 2