This is not their year. As soon as they get a lead on Tribe they give it right back, and that's with the supposed "ace" on the mound.

It's official in my opinion, the season is over for the Tigers.
The last time they swept the Twins in July, they fell flat and it took them 2 months to recover...well the did again ans it deja vu. With only 10 games left and 6.5 games behind Clevaland and 4.5 behind the Yankees, only a major collapse by those teams get the Tigers in.

The whole second half of the season has been a mishmash and even though they put together a five game winning streak going into this series, their actions in these two games have mirrored those dog days on August. Bad relief pitching yesterday, bad starting pitching today , bad base running both days, questionable calls by JL and then the Tigers bats going silent after 4th inning. At one point after four innings, the line score was Tigers 4 runs 8 hits and the Indians, 4 runs 2 hits. The Indians did their damge with the long ball and the Tigers left 20 batters on base as they got caught stealing twice hindering their chances of getting more runs. Meanwhile the Tiger ace got killed by walking batters and giving up three dingers.

I think we have to start looking towards the next season. The future looks bright and the team should be competitive for the foreseeable future. They are not going to be on the top every year, too many things have to go right. But they fought until the end.

Wasted season
one and done
At least they made it interesting er frustrating.
damn yankees...spotted everyone 20 games at the start of the year and still fought back!!!!

I think were still going in the right direction. for every break that went our way last year they went against us this year. injuries last year? notta.... they were everywhere this year. if rogers pitchese all year and wins 14 games we are either in the playoffs or still right there fighting it out... if rodney and zum arn't hurt..... if bonderman wasn't hurt (seems for most the 2nd half).

we look to have 3 stud rookie pitchers that are going to be the real deal, maybe not even next year but the year they will be dependable starters.... we have other young players that are getting better and better, we look to be a more attractive landing spot for free agents now.....

We are not as bad this year as some think, just like we wern't as good last year as our playoff push may have been...

were a playoff contender this year, and that is great if you remember where we were 18 months ago, and we should be better next year.

Dumping Maroth was not a good move. What if Verlander goes down?
Buy now, Buy now.

Maroth struggled mightily for St Louis. And he's pitching in a pitcher-friendly league. I think it was a right move. Need to bring in youngsters, someone who could be a #1 or #2 starter on any team, not someone who is a #5.

It just wasn't in the cards this season for Detroit. But this team, the owner and the GM are pretty hungry. I hope Leyland stays hungry. He had burnout issues in Colorado. I'm really disappointed in Bonderman. Talk about a question mark for next season. Geez, I wonder how he'll perform next season. Verlander was great. Jurrjens was a nice surprise. I'm not that worried about the pitching even though that was the Achilles' heel this season. Zumaya will get better. Some of the middle relievers need to get lost (Byrdak, Grilli). Rodney has to throw strikes consistently. The guy seems to go 3-2 on everybody. I say keep Todd Jones around another year until he starts blowing saves consistently. I think the Tigers will pick up Pudge's option. Sheffield is a huge question mark. I think his workout ethic is so good that he'll do everything to get back in tact. But he's pretty old. But if anyone can do it, Sheff can. He's addicted to working out.

I don't expect Maggs to have as good a season, but I expect Pudge to have a better season.

What to do about third base and first base? I say Casey will be gone. Brando becomes a bench player. His ABs are horrible. Either the Tigs get Jack Wilson from the Pirates (although I'm not sure why they would give him up) or Santiago starts at SS. But his bat blows. I think Guillen will be the guy at first.

What to do about Maybin? Not sure he's ready for prime time yet. But they'll have a full preseason to evaluate him. Could be Maybin, Maggs and Granderson in the OF.

Tough season overall but I enjoyed the seasons by Verlander, Granderson, Maggs and Guillen quite a bit.

Go get 'em next year Tigers!

__________________
"I don't believe there's any problem in this country, no matter how tough it is, that Americans, when they roll up their sleeves, can't completely ignore. - George Carlin

anybody know for sure when bonderman starting having his problem with his arm? i seem to remember reading it was as far back as july.... if thats the case then maybe thats more to do with his second half issues then a "pitching" problem....

on july 19th he was 10-1 with a 3.53 ERA with 5 starts that he either got the one lose or got a no decision where he gave up 2 or fewer runs... so with a few breaks he could have been 15-0 (i know i am stretching) mid july.

I'll take him as our number 2 pitcher for years to come.

It was in the Cards last season, unfortunately.