Has it finally happened? Are the Tigers on a winning path for the long term? It appears that this could be the case. Despite not having a long list of All-Stars on this squad, they have played relatively consistently all season long. They have avoided the long losing streaks for the most part, something they have been unable to dodge in previous campaigns. Along with their 15-18 record, they have scored 5 or more runs in 6 of 7 games. Furthermore, with continued good play in other facets of the game, this team is well on its way to a more successful season than expected.
A good team usually begins its success with solid pitching. For the most part, the Tigers have gotten that from both the bullpen and the starting rotation. In fact, the team ERA is 4.50, yes it’s not great, but respectable. Also fueling the pitching success, is the fact that the pitching staff as a whole has stayed relatively healthy, only having a few injuries as a team. If this good fortune continues, the team is sure to continue to have good things happen.
Clearly, one of the most improved parts of the team’s game is the offense. They are getting productive at bats from the likes of Javier Baez and the newly called up Andy Ibanez. This is in stark contrast from last season, when good at bats were hard to find. Furthermore, batters seem to be more patient at the plate, which inevitably leads to more positive results. With production from unlikely sources, and being selective in what pitches are offered at, success for the Tigers is likely to continue to occur.
Having a superb defense is a pivotal piece of the game that must be mastered, in order to have sustained success throughout any MLB season So far this season the Tigers have been able to hold fielding mistakes to a minimum. Through 33 games, the Tigers have 18 errors, good for a .986 fielding percentage. This is thanks to consistent play from Jonathan Schoop and Riley Greene, despite some struggles with the bat. It’s vital that the excellent defensive play continue if they want to progress to a championship caliber team.
To become playoff contenders, clicking on all cylinders must occur on a consistent basis. This means the pitching, offense, and defense must converge to create a well oiled machine that is able to propel an organization to new heights. Any aspect of the game that struggles to perform for any length of time threatens to derail any championship aspirations. As of now, with a few tweaks here or there, I see championship play in the near future for the Detroit Tigers.
4 comments:
Go Tigers!
Hey Gord. They've actually had 2 pretty long losing streaks but weathered the storm and bounced back. To me this is exciting baseball. If they can continue this kind of play it's gonna be an interesting year.
6 and 5 game losing streaks are pretty short for the Tigers. Lol
They'll need to avoid them if they plan on being a contender. I think they're gonna be in the thick of it though. I can feel it.
Love your commentary Gordy.
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