Between the Tigers and last weekend’s NFL Draft, there’s a bit of a buzz in Detroit right now. Last weekend’s NFL Draft drew a huge in-person crowd to downtown Detroit (estimated at 775k) and a gigantic viewing audience across the country (estimated at 12 million-plus). Still, the bigger and more compelling story for baseball fans locally is the resurgence of the long-dormant Detroit Tigers.
The Tigers are only 17-13 at the moment, 2.5 games out of first in the AL Central (as of April 30), but let’s not let mediocrity get in the way of something far more important: HOPE!
The baseball Tigers haven’t notched a winning season since 2016 and haven’t been to the playoffs in a decade (2014). The team has averaged 88 losses a season over the last three seasons. So why is there a reason to be optimistic in 2024?
With a pedestrian offense (and having half of their young lineup struggling mightily at the plate), this team has been a pleasant surprise. Eventually, some struggling players will eventually snap out of it or be replaced. It’s clear that the Tigers have amassed a core of young talent in the emerging Tarik Skubal, Riley Greene, Kerry Carpenter, and Reese Olson. And while challenges will most certainly arise as the season unfolds, it is also becoming clearer that the organization is sturdier and more able to weather storms.
I am not deluded, and I know that it’s not likely that the ’24 Tigers will be a playoff baseball club. But after a decade of genuinely awful and poorly constructed teams, it is refreshing to watch a team that is competitive, has some measure of talent, and is capable of possibly yielding a few surprises along the way.
As far as the problems go, we will most likely have to accept whatever we get from Javy Baez, and it ain’t likely going to be much. First base is a production position, which means the leash will be much shorter for Spencer Torkelson. If you can’t hit or play defense, your grip on the position becomes pretty darn tenuous, and first base would become a rotation position just like DH.
Colt Keith will hit; he has always started slow at each level. However, depth and his contract extension will take pressure off him and the organization, at least for the short term. Parker Meadows does so many things well that his weak bat is slightly less of a concern if only to keep Riley Greene playing a corner outfield position. Kenta Maeda barely warrants discussion, but it’s also clear that the Tigers have a few options if his performance becomes untenable. Jace Jung, Ty Madden, Jackson Jobe, Brant Jurter, and Keider Montero could all potentially rise to help if needed.
Yes, I know it’s early (I write this on the last day of April), and the Tigers play in arguably the weakest MLB division. (Is there an MLB club worse than the Chicago White Sox?) But the Tigers are .500-plus going into May.
To me, that spells hope.
