2010: The Year in Lists

A year ago, we were still stinging from Game 163 and not certain how the Tigers would respond to a crushing end to the 2009 season. Would they regress to 2008’s disappointment or regroup to erase the memory of the ’09 collapse?

The answer was: they’d be relevant. And that, ladies in gentlemen, is the extent of the analysis in this post. Instead of a deep dive into 2010, let’s look at the year in the form of randomly selected lists:

2010 At A Glance*

Record: 81-81, 3rd in American League Central, 13 games back of Minnesota
Days in First: 13, the last on July 10
Biggest Lead: 1, last on July 7
Farthest Behind: 15.5 on Sept. 15
Most Games over .500: 11, last on July 10
Most Games under .500: 5, last on Aug. 19
Longest Winning Streak: 7, June 11-18
Longest Losing Streak: 7, July 11-20
Most Runs Allowed: 15, June 9
Most Runs Scored: 13, Aug. 15
Longest Game (innings): 14, July 19
Times Shutout by Opponent: 10
Times Opponent Shutout: 5

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Tuesday Tananas: Fred Lynn, Ted Power and Don Draper

Is it just me or were there a lot of Aug. 31 trades made back in the day? Back in the late ’80s and early ’90s it seemed that Oakland was always adding a big name at the deadline — Willie McGee, Ruben Sierra, Harold Baines. Just asking.

The last time the Tigers made any noise worth noting at the Aug. 31 trade deadline was in 1988 when the made two deals, acquiring outfielder Fred Lynn from the Orioles for RHP Cesar Mejia, LHP Robinson Garces and catcher Chris Hoiles. They also picked up RHP Ted Power from the Royals for LHP Mark Lee and catcher Rey Palacios. In 2004, they acquired cash considerations from the Cubs for catcher Mike Difelice.

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No Hitters? No-Hitter!

Thumbs Down.jpg It seems awfully unfair for a guy to throw a no-hitter against a team that evidently has no hitters, doesn’t it?

In the spirit of full disclosure, I didn’t see any of Monday night’s bizarro-rama — Max Scherzer also had a no-hitter going into the sixth?! — because I was out at a family thing. (I think I would have put my marriage in jeopardy had I attempted to participate in Baseball Tonight Live on ESPN.com while at the restaurant.)

Nevertheless, I listened to the Rays’ announcers call the ninth inning on XM Radio on my way home. What a weird experience that was. The last time the Tigers were no-hit — June 2, 1990, by Randy Johnson — I couldn’t have listened to the Seattle feed even if I wanted to.

Whoa. Got off track there.

Anyway, what are Tigers fans supposed to do now? Their team is still — astonishingly — a mere three games out of first place at the end of July. You can’t give up on them, can you?

After all, on July 26, 2009, the eventual division champion Twins were one game under .500 and in third place just four games out.

Apple to apples? Not even close. Even though the Twins lost Justin Morneau they surged. Without Magglio Ordonez the Tigers are already showing signs of retreat.

So what if the Tigers pick up a hitter or two this week? Does Adam Dunn give them enough of a jolt — and protection for Miguel Cabrera? More than Aubrey Huff did last year. Would it help to bring Jermaine Dye back from retirement home? What about Carlos Delgado? Or Joe Crede?

Now this post has taken a turn toward the absurd. But that’s what we’re facing, isn’t it?

Even if Dave Dombrowski manages to add a few pieces will they be enough. It’s hard to believe they would be.

But he better get someone to hit the ball. Otherwise, Matt Garza‘s no-hitter might not be the last we see against the Tigers this year.