The Tiger’s Double Play
You really have to give it to the Detroit Tigers front office. They pulled off something that I thought was impossible. They managed to give a loyal and strident fanbase what they have long wanted. While still angering them and presenting a bleak outlook for the future. To understand this double play of instilling hope and foreboding fear. You need to understand recent history and club’s unique place in the region.
The early part of the 20th century was a golden era for the Tigers. After a putrid record setting 2003 season. The franchise quickly turned things around. The decade plus between 2004-2014 saw the Tigers in championship contention. They made two world series appearances and were regularly in the playo…
I had to cut myself off there. Memories are funny things. In that 11-year period of success. The Tigers only made the playoffs five times. The playoff eliminations were brutal. The non-playoff seasons were maddening. Yet in spite of that. I wouldn’t say the Tiger fanbase is branded with the “tortured” moniker that so many groups seem to embrace.
Why? Detroit (and Michigan) LOVED those teams. Just go to a current game. Peruse the jersey’s being worn. Ask a fan about their favorite players. You will hear names like Miggy, Mags, JV etc. The ringless teams of the early aughts are beloved and held in extremely high regard.
How did we get Here?
The answer is found what was going on in the city during this time, and frankly… where do you begin? Political scandal and massive graft, the complete collapse of the industry that built the town. All capped off by the largest municipal bankruptcy in American history. That’s a lot to endure.
In the midst of it all the Tigers…. went for it. Not in measured analytical way ala the current iterations of the Dodgers or Mets. They did it trust fund baby Vegas style. Spend the money before daddy can take it away from me. Victor Martinez tears his ACL on a treadmill near spring training… Who cares, let’s give Prince Fielder a 9-year 214 million contract to replace him. Fielder gets hurt, let’s just pay down the salary and trade him for Ian Kinsler. These “devil may care” moves were not isolated. Record setting extensions for Miguel Cabrera and Justin Verlander… no problem. Reckless deadline deals… too many to count.
The fanbase was fully on board and loyal. It’s why Cabrera and his contract were not seen as an albatross during a long decline. Pop on social media right now. Verlander and Max Scherzer are both free agents in their 40’s. They could both be 50 and throwing in the low 80’s and fans would be pining for their return. The juxtaposition of a free spending win at all costs team against a town that simply couldn’t, was catnip for a starving and passionate fanbase.
Now after nearly another fallow decade, the Tigers are coming off of back-to-back playoff appearances. And guess what?
The Tigers are ALL IN Again….
The numbers don’t lie. Just look at the pitching staff. Nearly 100 million dollars committed to the top three options. The bullpen, 11 million dollars on a closer (Kenley Jansen) and nearly nine million for a set-up man (Kyle Finnegan). The tab for the middle infield is going to be a cool 46 million (Javy Baez and Gleyber Torres)
An early extension for Colt Keith has flown below the radar. The major and minor leagues are stocked with mega agent Scott Boras’ clients. You would be hard pressed to call the Tigers cheap. So why are we seeing things like this?
Or if you desire a more established journalistic voice. Longtime ESPN insider Buster Onley chimed in with a measured but equally skeptical take
Saying there is some consternation about how Tigers decided to push all their chips to the center of the table would be an understatement. Is this a spoiled and entitled fanbase lashing out? The answer is a quick no. So what is going here?
The Bare Minimum Corollary
I’m going to depart from sports for second and move to another field. In a prior life I was semiprofessional musician. I was bass guitarist. As a bassist you get an interesting glimpse into the performance space. You are never the featured player. You are a mercenary. Play what you are supposed to play, don’t draw attention to yourself, and collect your check… most of the time.
It was different when you got paired up with a performer who wanted to give people a show. You knew it early. The precision and intensity in a sound check was apparent. At times it was refreshing not to have a set list. To follow someone who was going to be fluid with his approach and ultimately strive to give people their money’s worth.
Two approaches that both worked. Playing the hits and crowd pleasers, versus extended jams and deep cuts. You can probably guess which bucket I’m tossing the Tigers approach in. The Tigers certainly decided to bring the back the band for another show. However, they did the bare minimum to keep everyone together.
Playing the Hits
The Tarik Skubal saga is the current flash point. If they do not trade Skubal before the season (not ruling it out) Then it is fair to assume the club was prepared to pay him 32 million dollars to pitch. That is simple logic. Which begs the question, why did they low ball a back-to-back Cy Young winner with a 19 million dollar offer in arbitration? Simply put, because they could.
Gleyber Torres was given the 22.5 million dollar qualifying offer. Most thought he would turn it down. He didn’t and the Tigers have him like Skubal, for just one more guaranteed year. Jack Flaherty exercised a 20 million dollar… there that’s word again… one year option. Everyone is coming back, but with the least amount of effort. It does not appear the Tigers engaged any of these players in substantive extension discussions.
Which is why the recent Framber Valdez signing was such a seismic event. The contract put the Tigers back in the record setting contract stratosphere. The highest annual value for a left handed pitcher in baseball history. The largest contract ever given to a Dominican pitcher. That’s sounds like the old Tigers playbook. Alas the 115 million dollar pact is only guaranteed for two years.
Once again, it seems hollow and not resembling a true long term commitment. Perhaps that is right and prudent approach. Perhaps it will pay off with another thrilling October run. The front office is on serious heater of good decisions. But then what?
The answer to that question is at the core of this column. Are the Tigers just going do all of this again next fall with a looming lockout? That is the double play the Tigers have turned. A veritable 4-6-3 of hope and dread. A double play is a low-key exciting play. The slow roll, the quick infield turn, culminating with umpire’s verdict. Are Tigers fans going to be safe at the conclusion? Or is this the beginning of a long walk back to the dugout?
