Detroit Tigers Following the Beat of the 2007 Yankees
-Dexter Sports
1:56 PM
Dexter-Sports Inbox
The Panic has set in for Tigers fans across the nation. A team that was assembled to win now is in shambles. The Tigers sit ten games back of the AL Central leading Chicago White Sox and have lost four straight. With the division rival Cleveland Indians in town for a four game series, it is imperative that the Tigers start turning it up a notch. 12 games under .500 has been a shock, but the pitching staff and offense have not clicked at the same time. Justin Verlander is 2-9, but in all reality, if his offense was behind him, he would be at least 5-6. Sluggers Gary Sheffield, Miguel Cabrera and Carlos Guillen have all struggled. Timely hitting has become an extinct species. As manager Jim Leylan put it, "Every pitcher cannot be Sandy Koufax to us." Though it is only early June, we have seen a good sample size to judge what this powerful offense will end up doing. It doesn't look good. But we have seen this before. Just last year, The Yankees were 8 games under .500 and 12.5 games out of first place to start June. This was a team that ended with 94 wins. Lets compare the two teams starts to the season.
2007 New York Yankees: 2008 Detroit Tigers:
Month Wins Losses RS Month Wins Losses RS
April 9 4 131 April 12 15 158
May 13 15 137 May 12 21 120
Though the numbers aren't identical, they tell the story. The Yankees had a hard time mustering offense. Their pitching couldn't win them ball games. Until a man named Joba Chamberlain emerged, the bullpen was blowing games left and right. One of the things that eventually propelled this team to the top was bringing in Roger Clemens. He only tallied six wins and had a 4.18 ERA, but he was able to eat 99 innings in a shortened season. The Tigers have failed to do that in the past years. Dave Dombrowski and company have gone to the minors to find a spark. In 2007, after a world series run the year before, Detroit released now Twins DH Craig Monroe and brought up top prospect Cameron Maybin to try and catch a spark in the offense. Though he had a homer off Clemens and the Yankees in his pro debut, his offense didn't pan out. The Tigers went home for October, and the Yankees went on to win the wild card.
The 08 Tigers have tried many things to get this offense going. He has moved prized off-season acquisition Miguel Cabrera to first and has placed Carlos Guillen at Third and in left. When Gary Sheffield was healthy, Leyland was even willing to stick him in the outfiel
d to give the team some kind of energy. It hasn't worked. Now Detroit has brought in minor leaguers Brent Clevlen, Michael Hollimon, and Jeff Larish in hopes of a turn around. In reality, if the goal is to win now, why not go get someone out of the organization that has proved to be major league ready?
Especially with Jeremy Bonderman hitting the shelf for the rest of the season, it is time to make something happen. Go get someone like Matt Holliday, Rich Harden, Adam Dunn, or heck even Barry Bonds now that the court room is out of the picture for the rest of the season. Something needs to happen or this team will fail to make it back to the playoffs for two straight seasons. Dave Dombrowski took a chance when he tore apart the minor league organization. Now its time to fix the rip, or pay the price, which could happen if this team doesn't succeed in 2008.
1:56 PM
Dexter-Sports Inbox
The Panic has set in for Tigers fans across the nation. A team that was assembled to win now is in shambles. The Tigers sit ten games back of the AL Central leading Chicago White Sox and have lost four straight. With the division rival Cleveland Indians in town for a four game series, it is imperative that the Tigers start turning it up a notch. 12 games under .500 has been a shock, but the pitching staff and offense have not clicked at the same time. Justin Verlander is 2-9, but in all reality, if his offense was behind him, he would be at least 5-6. Sluggers Gary Sheffield, Miguel Cabrera and Carlos Guillen have all struggled. Timely hitting has become an extinct species. As manager Jim Leylan put it, "Every pitcher cannot be Sandy Koufax to us." Though it is only early June, we have seen a good sample size to judge what this powerful offense will end up doing. It doesn't look good. But we have seen this before. Just last year, The Yankees were 8 games under .500 and 12.5 games out of first place to start June. This was a team that ended with 94 wins. Lets compare the two teams starts to the season.
2007 New York Yankees: 2008 Detroit Tigers:
Month Wins Losses RS Month Wins Losses RS
April 9 4 131 April 12 15 158
May 13 15 137 May 12 21 120
Though the numbers aren't identical, they tell the story. The Yankees had a hard time mustering offense. Their pitching couldn't win them ball games. Until a man named Joba Chamberlain emerged, the bullpen was blowing games left and right. One of the things that eventually propelled this team to the top was bringing in Roger Clemens. He only tallied six wins and had a 4.18 ERA, but he was able to eat 99 innings in a shortened season. The Tigers have failed to do that in the past years. Dave Dombrowski and company have gone to the minors to find a spark. In 2007, after a world series run the year before, Detroit released now Twins DH Craig Monroe and brought up top prospect Cameron Maybin to try and catch a spark in the offense. Though he had a homer off Clemens and the Yankees in his pro debut, his offense didn't pan out. The Tigers went home for October, and the Yankees went on to win the wild card.
The 08 Tigers have tried many things to get this offense going. He has moved prized off-season acquisition Miguel Cabrera to first and has placed Carlos Guillen at Third and in left. When Gary Sheffield was healthy, Leyland was even willing to stick him in the outfiel
d to give the team some kind of energy. It hasn't worked. Now Detroit has brought in minor leaguers Brent Clevlen, Michael Hollimon, and Jeff Larish in hopes of a turn around. In reality, if the goal is to win now, why not go get someone out of the organization that has proved to be major league ready?Especially with Jeremy Bonderman hitting the shelf for the rest of the season, it is time to make something happen. Go get someone like Matt Holliday, Rich Harden, Adam Dunn, or heck even Barry Bonds now that the court room is out of the picture for the rest of the season. Something needs to happen or this team will fail to make it back to the playoffs for two straight seasons. Dave Dombrowski took a chance when he tore apart the minor league organization. Now its time to fix the rip, or pay the price, which could happen if this team doesn't succeed in 2008.
