Patience the key for '08 Tigers turnaround

Patience the key for '08 Tigers turnaround

April 10, 2008

Sean Deveney
Sporting News

http://www.sportingnews.com/experts/sean-deveney/blog/1026277-p.html

BOSTON -- Walking into the Detroit Tigers' locker room Wednesday night
after what seemed to be something akin to a playoff victory, injured
outfielder Curtis Granderson wondered, "You going to write a good
article about us now?"

Aw, heck, Curtis. Sure. The Tigers beat the Boston Red Sox, 7-2, here
at Fenway Park, so after a week of doing autopsies on this Detroit
team, it only seems fitting for a few of us in the media to write the
"Tigers Aren't Dead Yet" stories. Consider this to be one.

Much of the soil that has been used to bury the Tigers has been
historical, and, one way or the other, this team figures to be one for
the record books.

The '08 Tigers either will be the first team in history to start 0-7
and make the playoffs, or they could be the highest paid team ($138
million) to miss the playoffs.

Two days ago, when the losing streak still was in play, manager Jim
Leyland wasn't in much of a mood to consider the weight of history. "I
don't give a (bleep) what has happened in the last 100 years," Leyland
said.

Wednesday night, he softened. Or, at least he made his viewpoint
suitable for children. "You get tired of talking about it, get tired
of hearing about it," Leyland said. "I am not overly excited about
this because we got a win, just like it would not have been the end of
the world if we lost.

"The thing I keep telling myself is, 'We've got a good club.' ... I
remember all along, it is a 162-game season. That is a fact. They give
you all this other stuff -- no team has ever done this, no team has
done that. But you do play 162 games. It is a little crazy to be too
giddy if you're 7-1, or 8-1, or too, too down if you're 0-7."

The Tigers are five games back in the AL Central. If the Cleveland
Indians are to be considered the Tigers' prime rival, then at least
the Indians haven't played very well, either. The Tigers trail the
Indians by just 2 1/2 games. With 154 games to play, these are not
insurmountable numbers, despite the persistence of history.

But the Tigers have some making up to do. There will be calls for
changes, of course. But in looking at the things the Tigers need to do
to set this year right, most of them involve simply being patient.
Have a look:

* Get the guys to relax

Leyland says some Tigers probably are trying too hard. An example is
Carlos Guillen, the converted shortstop who still is not quite
comfortable as a full-time first baseman. On Wednesday afternoon, more
than four hours before the game, Guillen was out on the Fenway infield
working on his footwork at first.

Then, in the third inning, Guillen committed an error on a throw from
third base. On the play, Guillen didn't get his footwork right -- he
later said he was overthinking it.

It always is welcome to see players like Guillen putting in extra
work. But sometimes, when you're struggling, extra work means extra
pressure. It might be good for Guillen -- and other Tigers -- to get
away from the extra work, the batting cage, the film study, for a few
days.

Just go out and play.

* Sign someone, anyone

The Tigers need bullpen help. Lefty Casey Fossum, who had a 7.70 ERA
with Tampa Bay last year, isn't exactly what most had in mind. But the
Tigers signed him to a minor-league deal Wednesday, and it's the right
idea -- Fossum can start or relieve, he is only 30 and he has worked
well with pitching coach Chuck Hernandez before.

Other players still available (the Phillies' Antonio Alfonseca and the
Dodgers' Roberto Hernandez, for example) generally stink. That's why
they're available. But the Tigers don't need a savior. They need
someone to help them through this rough opening stretch.

* Keep Brandon Inge

General managers around the league haven't been stumbling over
themselves to make offers for Inge -- knowing the Tigers' situation,
they're lowballing Detroit GM Dave Dombrowski.

Inge is still due $19 million over the next three years. He has warmed
to the supersub role, though, and has the ability to do it well. Stick
with Inge as the utilityman this season, and there will be a better
market for him next winter.

* Resist the Rick Porcello temptation

Porcello is the jewel of the Tigers' farm system. Last week, he threw
five scoreless, one-hit innings. Problem is, Porcello is 19 and the
start he made last week was the first of his professional life.

There are rumblings that the team should get Porcello on the fast
track and Joba Chamberlain his butt up to Detroit by August. Bad idea.
Chamberlain, remember, had two years of college experience. Porcello
is fresh from high school. His future should not be jeopardized in the
name of saving this season.

* Pray for Curtis

"I don't think we're struggling because of me," says Granderson, who
hasn't played this year because he is recovering from a broken hand.
"We're just in a bad spot. You're going to get bad spots throughout
the year. But it's not because I am not in there."

I beg to differ. Without Granderson, this is a lead-footed team,
having hit into 13 double plays (second most in baseball) with two
stolen bases. It also has been a lifeless team.

Granderson is fast. He is a high-energy guy. The Tigers need him, and
it looks like he could return next week. When he comes back, the team
will get a boost. It'll start winning. And we'll all be writing
positive articles about the Tigers.



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