The Worst is Over (?)

So. The Detroit Tigers had the second-worst season in the history of the franchise this year. Only the 2003 season, where they won 43 games (rather than this season's 47), is a worse final number.

While we're here, let's look at the 2003 Detroit Tigers, and compare them with this well-heralded disaster that is the 2019 team.

The Tigers' most valuable player, in terms of WAR, in 2003 was Dmitri Young. In '03, Da Meat Hook had a .297 average with 29 home runs and 85 RBIs. He also had 130 strikeouts, which led the team. To compare, nobody on the 2019 Tigers had more than 15 home runs, and said hitter, Brandon Dixon, had 136 strikeouts. 6 more than the guy who actually was on his shit in 2003.

It's also worth noting that the 2003 team had one other guy over 20 homers, team legend Craig Monroe with 23, and two guys with 18, Eric Munson and Carlos Pena. So the 2003 team has 4 guys who had more home runs in their worst-ever year than the 2019 team had in the 2nd-worst year.

Also, to compare- highest number of RBIs in 2019: Miguel Cabrera with 56. Miguel Cabrera also had a -0.1 WAR this year, but still, he had 56 RBIs. Monroe and Young had more than that in 2003.

I can say with certainty that the area where the 2019 team definitely has a leg up is the pitching. They've been lucky enough to have Matt Boyd, Spencer Turnbull, Daniel Norris and...yeah, those three, with ERAs lower than 5, and 100+ strikeouts each. I cannot say that for the 2003 team. Their best starter was Nate Cornejo, who only had 46 strikeouts in 32 starts. And he was the best starter that year. Mike Maroth, Jeremy Bonderman, Nate Robertson and Adam Bernero couldn't manage shit. And just like the 2019 team after Shane Greene left, the 2003 team had NO DESIGNATED CLOSER ALL YEAR. Nobody had more than 5 saves. For reference, Joe Jimenez had 9 in the last two months of this season.

There's also the case of general miscellany. The 2003 team had guys like Warren Morris, a career utility man who started at 2nd base and never played in the leagues again after the season ended, and Ramon Santiago, another career utility man, STARTING GAMES FOR THEM. Hell, they had Dean Palmer and AJ Hinch as bench options. At the very least, this lineup had guys like Dmitri Young, Carlos Pena, Cody Ross and Omar Infante, all of whom would go onto better things.

I'm not sure if many members of this 2019 team have a future. A lot of people on this team, including Cabrera, Jordan Zimmerman, Edwin Jackson, Gordon Beckham and Josh Harrison are clearly on their last legs. So many players with starting gigs, like Grayson Greiner, Christin Stewart, Dawel Lugo, Jeimer Candelario and John Hicks, just aren't good. And the guys coming in to lead the team next year, like Travis Demeritte, Harold Castro and Victor Reyes, are guys that could turn out good, but could be flukey.

I can't say with certainty which iteration of the Tigers is worse. But I can say with honesty that the 2019 Tigers were really...REALLY...bad.

Coming Tonight: This was my last prepared custom of the regular season. Tonight, some superlatives.