Detroit Tigers Offense Has Been Their Biggest Concern This Year

Apr 16, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera (24) hits an RBI single in the eighth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Tigers Offense has been their biggest concern this year.  So when Detroit Tigers President and General Manager Dave Dombrowski made the decision to go with small ball players I was excited because that is how Comerica Park is constructed.

When he traded Prince Fielder for Ian Kinsler my concern went up because first Fielder was the only other power guy we had and second he was saying they did not want to resign Omar Infante who hit .315 last year compared to .271 for Kinsler in a more hitter friendly ball park for Kinsler.

When they signed Rajai Davis my concern went into over drive because even with the decision to split time with Andy Dirks Rajai Davis cannot hit right handed pitching and then Dirks hurt his back and I realized unless they did something else they were in trouble.  Then to add insult to injury Jose Iglesias, who cannot hit anyways,got hurt as well and instead of Dombrowski dealing with the outfield he once again had to deal with his shortstop position something he failed to do last year thus costing us Avaisil Garcia.  He once again has plugged in stop gaps for the shortstop but neither trade solved their offensive woes.

Dave Dombrowski wanted to prove to the fans that they were not dropping payroll someone working for the Detroit Tigers leaked the contract offer that Max Scherzer had turned down.  Then to send the message home they went into overdrive to extend Miguel Cabrera for $292 million, thus creating a bigger albatross contract then they had with Prince Fielder.  The only justification for Cabrera’s contract is if they win a World Series and as constructed they will be lucky to win this Division for a fourth year in a row let alone win the World Series.  Last year for most of the regular season they had 5 guys hitting .300 or better this year they will be lucky to have 2.

All that and the bullpen is still hovering as the second biggest concern,  this team has not been improved it has been made less talented.  I would take last years team over this years every day and twice on Sunday.  Unlike the other 3 major sports, 4 if you include Soccer, your defense cannot lead directly to offense.  In Baseball you can have the greatest pitcher and defensive players to ever play the game and if they cannot hit you will not win anything, then you could have a lousy defensive team but can hit and win everything.  If they do not turn it around offensively it will be a long year in Detroit to be a Tigers fan.