2008 Detroit Tigers - the worst team of all time?

Liquidhippo · Post by **Liquidhippo** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 9:14 am

Its 'only' two weeks, but this is the worst 2 week stretch of baseball I've ever witnessed, from any team, ever. Top to bottom this team has been getting thoroughly and consistently dominated in every facet of the game. Playing defense, they look like a bad AA squad, and that's being kind. They're making mistakes little leaguers don't make, repeatedly, most every single game. At the plate, they look, collectively, as if they don't have a clue. On top of that, they act as if they don't really care either. Verlander and Jones have looked great, other than that, the pitching has been terrible. If you've got a pitcher facing the Tigers hitters, get them in your lineup now. Even if its a Single A pitcher with a 7.27 era making his first major league start, he's got a very good shot at a complete game shutout.

KJ Duke · Post by **KJ Duke** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 12:22 pm

I sorta agree with you Greg. Although I'm guessing the worst you've ever witnessed didn't include the late summer Cubs of the '70s.

RobG · Post by **RobG** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 2:04 am

Originally posted by Liquidhippo:

Its 'only' two weeks, but this is the worst 2 week stretch of baseball I've ever witnessed, from any team, ever. . Sorry, but any of the Tigers teams from the late 90's and the 2003 team are equally as bad. What is worse about this team was the expectations that people had. Most knew the pitching wouldn't be great, but has anyone ever seen a team hit into so many double plays?

Liquidhippo · Post by **Liquidhippo** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 3:24 am

Originally posted by RobG:

quote:Originally posted by Liquidhippo:

Its 'only' two weeks, but this is the worst 2 week stretch of baseball I've ever witnessed, from any team, ever. . Sorry, but any of the Tigers teams from the late 90's and the 2003 team are equally as bad. What is worse about this team was the expectations that people had. Most knew the pitching wouldn't be great, but has anyone ever seen a team hit into so many double plays? [/QUOTE]Hey Rob. It's interesting how perceptions differ. While I can't speak for the late 90's as I didn't follow the Tigers that closely during that stretch, I did follow the 2003 team, and in my humble opinion, that 2003 team, at their worst, would comletely and utterly destroy this 2008 team that we've seen take the field the last 2 weeks(assuming they play at the exact same level). It's not merely the losses, its the WAY they're losing. They're losing 11-0 and 13-2, and the problem is, it's not been as close as the score would seem to indicate. They're fortunate to be 2-10 right now. They haven't looked like a major league club even one game yet, at the plate or in the field. The ground balls aren't bad luck in many cases, its often because some of them look like its the first time they've seen breaking balls, flummoxed that the pitchers they're facing are not grooving batting practice fastballs over the heart of the plate, or, they'd rather take an off-balance flail at a breaking pitch out of the strike zone than take a walk.

Liquidhippo · Post by **Liquidhippo** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 3:31 am

Originally posted by KJ Duke:

I sorta agree with you Greg. Although I'm guessing the worst you've ever witnessed didn't include the late summer Cubs of the '70s. No, those were the pre-WGN days, if you were a Cub fan back then and it was worse than this spectacle, I feel for you!

Go Getta · Post by **Go Getta** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 6:50 am

I agree with you. Leyland is part of the problem too. Verlander threw a gem against the White Sox the other day and Leyland left him in 1 batter too long. Once he walked the first guy of the inning that should have been a sign. But no, he left him in there and he hit the next batter. Ding ding ding!! Pull him. Nope leave him in there to give up 6 earned runs and cost your team the game. Way to go guy.

There offense has been nothing short of atrocious. 1 HR and 4 RBI's from your 3 and 4 hitters in 12 games is a shame. How can you win games like that?? They need to get it on track soon or they will be so far out of it Leyland could be looking for another job.

Liquidhippo · Post by **Liquidhippo** » Tue May 13, 2008 4:17 pm

Well the Tigers have really turned it up a notch. They've improved their play to where they no longer look like the worst team of all time. Nope, at 16-23, they simply look like the worst team in the AL, this year.

Give it up for De'troit!

It's looking extremely doubtful that they'll get back to .500 in May. Heck, with Arizona and Anaheim on tap this month, they might just fall back even further from the .500 mark rather than approach it.

[ May 13, 2008, 10:18 PM: Message edited by: Liquidhippo ]

KJ Duke · Post by **KJ Duke** » Tue May 13, 2008 4:23 pm

Originally posted by Liquidhippo:

Well the Tigers have really turned it up a notch. They've improved their play to where they no longer look like the worst team of all time. Nope, at 16-23, they simply look like the worst team in the AL, this year.

Give it up for De'troit!

It's looking extremely doubtful that they'll get back to .500 in May. Heck, with Arizona and Anaheim on tap this month, they might just fall back even further from the .500 mark rather than approach it. Well, they did make it all the way back from 2-10 to 14-15.

I still think they'll be a 500-plus club. Put Renteria at 2 and Cabrera in the 3-hole and they may come alive.

[ May 13, 2008, 10:23 PM: Message edited by: KJ Duke ]

sportsbettingman · Post by **sportsbettingman** » Tue May 13, 2008 5:13 pm

I thought I smelt a side bet offer with the .500 and the May.

~Lance

KJ Duke · Post by **KJ Duke** » Tue May 13, 2008 5:16 pm

Originally posted by sportsbettingman:

I thought I smelt a side bet offer with the .500 and the May.

~Lance May's not looking good, maybe the break. First I want to see Leyland get his lineup right.

eddiejag · Post by **eddiejag** » Wed May 14, 2008 12:26 am

Fernando Rodney is due back son followed by Zumaya, these two will really help the bullpen.How bout the job Aqulino Lopez has done, hes ben amazing.

Liquidhippo · Post by **Liquidhippo** » Wed May 14, 2008 3:05 am

Originally posted by KJ Duke:

quote:Originally posted by Liquidhippo:

Well the Tigers have really turned it up a notch. They've improved their play to where they no longer look like the worst team of all time. Nope, at 16-23, they simply look like the worst team in the AL, this year.

Give it up for De'troit!

It's looking extremely doubtful that they'll get back to .500 in May. Heck, with Arizona and Anaheim on tap this month, they might just fall back even further from the .500 mark rather than approach it. Well, they did make it all the way back from 2-10 to 14-15.

I still think they'll be a 500-plus club. Put Renteria at 2 and Cabrera in the 3-hole and they may come alive. [/QUOTE]Anything is possible, but Leyland loves bat control and high contact % in the 2 hole. I haven't seen Polanco's contact % this year, but typically he's around 95% making him best in that regards hands down, at least on the Tigers. Polanco's back was bothering him earlier in the season, but he says it's better now, and the last 3 weeks, the numbers back that up. He looks like the Polanco of '07. Moving Polanco out of the 2 hole at this point would be surprising.

Cabrera to the 3 hole, I could see that once Miggy's quad completely heals. I could also see Sheff moving back there if he gets his timing back and returns to the form we saw from May-July of 2007. Yes, that's a big if. Sheffield is the 2nd best baserunner on the team and Leyland has expressed interest in moving what speed they have toward the top because their offense is still struggling on most nights. That's part of the reason Guillen was slotted #3 recently.

Plymouth · Post by **Plymouth** » Wed May 14, 2008 5:36 pm

Leyland should quit and save management the trouble of firing him. He might survive if he wises up and quits playing Guillen in the field. The only guy I know that plays a worse 3B is Lamb in Minnesota. The problem he has is that Sheffield should not be in the field either. Oh, the bullpen stinks too and the starting pitching hasn't. It does not look as if this "so called team" has any chance to turn things around this year.

Navel Lint · Post by **Navel Lint** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 11:14 am

Originally posted by Liquidhippo:

Well the Tigers have really turned it up a notch. They've improved their play to where they no longer look like the worst team of all time. Nope, at 16-23, they simply look like the worst team in the AL, this year.

Give it up for De'troit!

It's looking extremely doubtful that they'll get back to .500 in May. Heck, with Arizona and Anaheim on tap this month, they might just fall back even further from the .500 mark rather than approach it. I don't see Detroit play very often, but something must be going on. 6 wins in a row, 8 of last 10, 42-40 overall.

Current line in Vegas.

White Sox 2-3 to win div

Detroit 2-1 to win div

Minn 7-2 to win div