What’s wrong in Detroit?

The Detroit Tigers. 0-5. The only club in baseball that has yet to record a win. Entering the season, this team had high expectations. Let’s crunch some numbers from the 2007 season to put this in perspective:

Curtis Granderson- Became the 3rd player in MLB history to record at least 20 doubles, 20 triples, 20 stolen bases and 20 home runs in one season. Also finished the season with a .302 batting average. Granderson is on the DL to begin this ‘08 campaign.

Placido Polanco- 200 hits and finished the season 3rd in the AL in batting average with .341

Ivan Rodriguez- 141 hits in 129 games played. .281 batting average

Magglio Ordonez- AL Batting champion. .363 batting average, 216 hits and 139 RBIs.

Carlos Guillen- .296 batting average with 134 hits.

Gary Sheffield- .265 batting average with 131 hits

These were the Tigers big contributors last year. I know that there are 157 games left to be played this year but I also know that nobody on this team looks like they even realize that it is not spring training anymore. Brandon Inge, Carlos Guillen and Clete Thomas being exceptions. The funny thing about the previous three names I have mentioned is that if injuries were not a factor, two of those guys would be on the bench for this club. Brandon Inge recorded all of Detroit’s RBIs today with a run-scoring double and a two-run homer.

Again, I know it’s early and I know that these losing streaks happen but if these guys don’t get it together soon, they are going to dig themselves in a very deep hole that may be too steep to climb out of.

I would like to point out a play that caught my eye this afternoon while watching this game between the White Sox and Tigers. Edgar Renteria was on first. Keep in mind that the Tigers are the only team in Major League Baseball that has yet to record a win. The score is 4-3 (white Sox in front). A long fly ball is hit to left and caught. Renteria begins his retreat back to first, completely unaware that the left fielder has just thrown a missile to the first baseman. Renteria is jogging back to first and gets thrown out. This is exactly what I am talking about when I say that these guys look as if they are still playing cactus league ball. Sprint back to first! Your team is 0-4 for Pete’s sake! I don’t care if there isn’t even a throw to first on that play. Get your ass back to the bag!

So, here we are 0-5. Worst start since 2003. I don’t even want to talk about what happened that year. If you are a Tigers fan, you know what happened and I guarantee you don’t want to read about it either. I’m not saying this year will be anything close to that but the beginning of this season sure brings back that 6 month long heartburn I had that year.

I remain optimistic. The Tigers have bullpen issues. If I see Leyland come out of the dugout between the 5th and 8th inning and touch either of his arms on the way out, I cringe. What does that tell you?

Let’s just give them some time. They know what’s wrong and Jim Leyland sure as hell knows what is wrong. Leyland is one of the greatest coaches of our time. Let’s wait this out for a few weeks and see where we are. Restore the roar.