Thoughts on the 2010 Detroit Tigers?

Soon the Detroit Tigers could be the tenth team in baseball to be officially taken out of 2010 playoff contention (their "elimination number" is 10). They currently have a winning record by one game, at 71-70 (.504).

The Detroit Tigers are historically a good team. Since starting in 1901, the franchise has a winning record of 8,634 wins and 8,426 losses. The Tigers have been to the playoffs 12 times. They have won the American League Pennant 10 times. They have even won the World Series four times (Detroit defeated the Cubs in both 1935 & 1945, the St. Louis Cardinals in 1968, and the San Diego Padres in 1984). The Tigers went from losing 119 games in 2003 to winning the AL Pennant in 2006 (when they lost the World Series to the Cardinals in 5 games). The Tigers again had a losing record in 2008, but had a winning record last year.

Let's look at the facts about this year:

First game of season: Defeated the Royals 8-4 in Kansas City (April 5)

First home game of season: Defeated the Cleveland Indians 5-2 (April 9)

LOSS OF A LEGEND:

- Longtime Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell passed away at the age of 92 (May 4)

THE 28-OUT PERFECT GAME:

- SP Armando Galarraga (4.60 ERA) would have pitched the 21st perfect game in MLB history (also the 3rd of the season and the 1st in Tigers history!) had it not been for a bad call by umpire Jim Joyce. In effect, Galarraga had to get a 28th out, but was robbed from having the distinct honor of officially having a "perfect game". MLB Commissioner Bud Selig refused to reverse the decision, but said that it could open discussion for expanding instant replay in baseball.

Longest Slump of season: Lost 22 of 28 games to Twins, Indians, Rangers, Blue Jays, Rays, Red Sox, White Sox, and Angels (July 11-August 10)

Worst Loss of season: Beaten by the White Sox in Chicago 2-12 (August 3)

Best Victory of season: Defeated the Kansas City Royals 12-3 in Detroit (August 23)

TRADES:

- The Tigers traded RP Clay Rapada (4.94 ERA) to the Texas Rangers for a player to be named

- The Tigers traded CF Curtis Granderson (.270) & SP Edwin Jackson (4.60 ERA) to the Yankees & Diamondbacks for SP Max Scherzer (3.86 ERA), P Daniel Schlereth (6.56 ERA), CF Austin Jackson (.309), & P Phil Coke (3.25 ERA)

- The Tigers traded C Dusty Ryan (.257) to the San Diego Padres for a player to be named

- The Tigers traded P Nate Robertson (4.90 ERA) to the Florida Marlins for P Jay Voss

- The Tigers traded SP Dontrelle Willis (4.12 ERA) to the Arizona Diamondbacks for RP Billy Buckner (5.74 ERA)

- The Tigers traded minor league pitcher Geovanni Soto to the Cleveland Indians for IF Jhonny Peralta (.262)

SEASON STATS:

So far the Detroit Tigers have lost 8 of 14 games against the Chicago White Sox

The Tigers have won 9 of 15 games against the Cleveland Indians

The Tigers have won 8 of 15 games against the Kansas City Royals

The Tigers have lost 9 of 15 games against the Minnesota Twins

Best Tiger batting average: 1B Miguel Cabrera (.333 average, 3rd best in MLB)

Most Tiger home runs: 1B Miguel Cabrera (33 home runs, tied for 4th most in MLB)

Most Tiger RBI: 1B Miguel Cabrera (110 RBI, the most in MLB)

Most Tiger wins: SP Justin Verlander (15 wins, 8 losses)

Best Tiger ERA: SP Max Scherzer (3.51 ERA)

Most Tiger saves: RP Jose Valverde (25 saves)

Detroit Tigers team batting average = .270

Detroit Tigers team ERA: 4.26

Detroit Tigers team fielding percentage = .982

What are your thoughts on the Detroit Tigers? What do you have to say about the trades, about the season, the players, the management, next year, etc?

http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/DET/

http://mlb.mlb.com/schedule/sortable.jsp?c_id=det

http://espn.go.com/mlb/statistics