Common sense dictates, especially in MLB where rebuilds tend to be uglier and longer than other sports, a franchise can't possibly go from zero to 100 mph in a flash.
The Tigers, however, have gone from barely crawling to galloping at a surprisingly fast pace.
The club was 9-24 after losing to the Twins on May 7. It is 31-23 since.
The reasons are countless. It's been as if highly-touted rookie pitchers Casey Mize and Tarik Skubal flipped a switch to turn from struggling prospects to bonafide MLB top-of-the-rotation starters.
Rule 5 draft pick Akil Baddoo went from hitting .192 to almost being too good to be true. It is not a mirage. Baddoo is one the fastest players in MLB, and among the most patient at the plate. It's a formula for the ideal leadoff hitter.
Catcher Eric Haase has proven to be far more proficient than a reputed 4-A player. What was Cleveland thinking by turning him loose? Haase did hit with power in that organization. Also, he is an exceptional athlete for the position.
Didn't think much of the ultimate potential for long-time Tigers prospects such as Derek Hill, Jake Rogers, Daz Cameron, Gregory Soto and Kyle Funkhouser two months ago? Me neither. Now we're not so sure, right?
Veterans Robbie Grossman, Jose Cisnero and Jonathan Schoop have been impactful.
Manager A.J. Hinch is deservedly receiving plaudits for his club's surprising turnaround. The Tigers have stopped beating themselves most nights. They aren't swinging at nearly as many bad pitches. They make many more routine plays. Hinch has wisely taken advantage of the Tigers' improved team speed to offset their lack of power. Strategically, Hinch has been aggressive, but not foolish. He was calm during the dismal start and has adroitly brought along the Tigers' youngsters.
There is hesitancy to credit general manager Al Avila, but it's based more on perception about his decisions, some of which are proving to be better than anticipated.
Taking Baddoo in the Rule 5 Draft and signing Haase have been excellent moves. Jeimer Candelario, Rogers, Willi Castro, Cameron and infielder Zack Short were trade deadline acquisitions. Grossman, Schoop and Willy Peralta are sound so-called value free agent signings.
With numerous prospects on the the rise, including Riley Greene, Dillon Dingler and Spencer Torkelson, the Tigers are building up organizational depth.
It's important to increasing competition at positions and having pieces to move in value-for-value trades, which is even more important to filling in holes around a young nucleus than big-money free agent signings.
Houston had won 11 games in a row before coming to Detroit and splitting a four-game set. The Tigers swept Cleveland in a doubleheader on the road before taking two of three from the White Sox. They did so without injured pitchers Matthew Boyd and Spencer Turnbull, who are second and fourth on the club in WAR.
The Tigers' schedule is unusually reasonable. They don't play a winning club until Aug. 3.
A .500 record and perhaps a second-place spot in the American League Central are possible. While it's nothing to host a parade about, it does represent significant progress, which was unimaginable two months ago.
And it suggests the Tigers may finally be on their way.
