The good: It's July and the Tigers are just 5.5 games out of first.
The bad: The Tigers are on pace to lose 90 games.
The ugly: The pathetic American League Central, although beauty is definitely in the eyes of the beholder if you are the Tigers and their long-suffering fans.
It isn't as simple as the Tigers merely being benefitting from playing in MLB's worst division, though.
Perceptible progress has been made year-to-year with heralded early draft picks. Riley Greene had a brilliant May until sidetracked by injury. Spencer Torkelson has proven he can hit MLB fastballs, produced some of the best hard-hit rates in MLB and added lift, which has resulted in a recent rash of home runs. While the Tigers nose-dived with a nine-game losing streak after injuries to Eduardo Rodriguez and Greene, they composed themselves by displaying remarkable pitching depth.
Nobody is saying A.J. Hinch is overrated this season. He, and his expanded staff, have been sharp.
And now comes the calvary. Tarik Skubal, who is the Tigers' most-gifted pitcher, made his season debut with four shutout innings in the Tigers' 1-0 loss to Oakland Tuesday. He will be followed tonight by the return of E-Rod. Matt Manning has already made two decent starts upon return from injury.
The current Tigers are clearly vulnerable against good right-handed pitching. Zach McKinstry and Kerry Carpenter are the only lefty hitters.
But Greene started his rehab assignment Monday, and Akil Baddoo, hitting well at Toledo, will be back soon, too, from injury.
Also, Beau Brieske has pitched well for the Mud Hens out of the bullpen. He is healthy, has an exceptionally live arm and could provide another key piece.
There are also aces in the hole. Colt Keith is tearing up Triple-A pitching at an even more torrid pace than Double A.
Parker Meadows, like Keith a left-handed hitter, is arguably the organization's best defensive outfielder and one of the fastest runners. He has come on after a ho-hum start.
Combine that with Justyn-Henry Malloy returning to form after a prolonged slump, and general manager Scott Harris has no shortage of in-house options.
The notion the Tigers should consider buying hitters at the trade deadline, if still in the race, seems illogical with three bats like that in Triple A.
As for selling, that's a different story. Rodriguez and Michael Lorenzen could have value. It may not be as much as some fans and media are expecting, though. They are rental players. Harris will have to weigh the value of a postseason shot versus the return as the deadline nears.
If the Tigers were in the AL East, where the last place Red Sox have a better record than the AL Central-leading Twins, it would be a moot point.
This is a gift, and there is no shame for the Tigers accepting it, nor their fans for enjoying it.
