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Originally Posted by DamPenguin
Okay this is my viewpoint in general concerning our Tigers. First let me say that while I am a die hard Tigers fan I am not an everyday Joe kind of fan. What I mean by that I want the Tigers to win championships and am not simply satisfied with winning records or divisional titles...
Recently it was asked something to the effects if DD has done a good job? Yes he did a good job. He turned the Tigers into contenders and with a great amount of Illitch's money. I'm still not satisfied though. Even when we made it to the Series against the Cardinals and then the Giants... both of which I think we were generally favored to win... why didn't we win? We had the big names, both in players and manager. We had spent the $$$ to win. But why didn't we win? And this is my reasoning...
It's the same problem we have had for quite some time. Fundamentals. Against the Cardinals our pitchers, or anybody else, couldn't field a bunt. On the flip side I can probably count the amount of successful sacrifice bunts we have in the last decade with my fingers. Pushing the runner in from 2nd or 3rd when we have 1 or less outs. Not hitting into double plays. Striking out at alarming rates (by the way I wouldn't allow these guys to play golf because any ball at the level of their shoe laces is getting swung at). Executing a hit-and-run. Taking a base on balls. Doesn't sound like deal breakers but when you play good teams... which you will in the playoffs or the Series... those are the things that need to be done successfully to win.
For all the big names we have and have had we just couldn't get those little things done. I enjoy watching the Royals play, the way they run the bases and play with heart. Maybe I'm alone but those things haven't been a part of Tiger baseball for a while. Maybe only when Miggy got mad when Valverde blew a save in the playoffs might be the exception.
Sorry for the rant guys but like I've said before... I want championships not just a "good" or "winning" team.
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I'm curious that you seem to blame the hitting for the Tigers lack of success when it seems fairly obvious that the pitching and defense just wasn't good enough. Rightly or wrongly the team was built around hitting and with such hitters that defense and small ball was going to be problematic. I understand your frustration: as a Blue Jays fan it kills me when they don't win (22 years) but I wouldn't want our big time hitters giving away outs and playing against their skills unless it's forced on them because they can't get a hit at all. Kind of like, "live by the sword... ...".
Not trying to provoke an argument here; just observing that GM's have to set a course and stick with it most of the time. A lot of things (luck) have to go right. The Royals are today's flavor but face some significant arb issues and only have 10 players under contract for 2016. Their window is tight considering the market and payroll limitations.