This should have been so much different.
If only the Tigers were proactive.
If president of baseball operations Scott Harris and manager A.J. Hinch just acknowledged the Tigers’ shortcomings instead of analyzing the club based on the obvious overachievement by a number of players.
The Tigers had the prospects to move at the trade deadline, particularly a glut at catcher and second base.
Instead, they cleared out Aisle 2 at the Dollar Tree.
Only Kyle Finnegan has worked out, and that was before he was hurt. He has been less effective since coming off the injured list.
If the Tigers don’t make the playoffs, it will go down as one of the biggest collapses in the history of professional sports.
They are lucky the Astros are riding a long losing skid.
If the Tigers blow the American League Central title, it will be a monumental disappointment unless they somehow exact highly unlikely revenge on the Guardians, their probable wild card round opponent, in the postseason.
Any way this plays out, a harsh lesson has been served.
When you are clearly contending deep in the season, the responsibility of the organization, above all else, is to win now.
Any window of opportunity is not an illusion. A prospect’s potential development you traded is less haunting than an epic plunge now.
They don’t hold parades on Woodward Ave. for the West Michigan Whitecaps and Lakeland Flying Tigers capturing A-ball championships.
The Yankees, Mariners, Blue Jays, Padres and Phillies added significantly at the trade deadline. It’s not a coincidence they have flown right by the Tigers.
Since Harris has overseen the organization, he’s been hesitant to trade value to acquire value. Pitching chaos isn’t much of a philosophy, and the retreads and never-have-beens he’s brought in this season is embarrassing when considering the Tigers had resources to deal for solid MLB talent.
Harris has failed miserably in this regard. It’s been like he’s fearful of coming out rebuilding mode when the standings suggest the Tigers are contenders.
While Hinch has been hamstrung by player personnel issues, his core has faded to essentially zero down the stretch. Poor defense, horrid strike zone discipline, baserunning blunders and just generally sloppy baseball has been the Tigers’ modus operandi.
If that isn’t on the manager and his coaching staff, who else is responsible?
There are four games left in the regular season, and then perhaps the playoffs.
If this doesn’t change, Harris and Hinch should be heading into next season with much shorter slack.
If this continues into the abyss, it will be a massive step back for the organization.
And accountability starts at the top.