Detroit Tigers: Earning their important 44th win in exciting ways
The Detroit Tigers won their 44th game last night, beating the Baltimore Orioles, 8-4 in the 12th inning. It was a thrilling win and an important one. While 44 wins does not sound like a milestone—actually, it sounds abysmal—it is a meaningful number in Tigers history.
As most fans of the Detroit Tigers remember (or have mentally blocked out), the 2003 team was much worse than this current team. In fact, they were historically bad, finishing the season 43-119. Only the 1962 New York Mets finished a season with more losses (120).
Highlights from 2003 were not many. Dmitri Young led the team batting .297 and hitting 29 home runs. He also led the team with 130 strikeouts. No pitcher finished with 10 wins, although Mike Maroth came the closest (9-21). That team did not have a true closer; instead, eight pitchers shared 27 saves. Honestly, the best development: the results of the season netted Justin Verlander in the 2004 draft.
Comparatively, not much has changed between the two seasons. As in 2003, the Tigers will not have a hitter over .300, barring some incredible hot streak from Miguel Cabrera or Harold Castro. In fact, the 2003 team actually scored more runs on average than the current squad.
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Matthew Boyd has an outside chance at ten wins with three or four probable starts remaining, but at least he will avoid Maroth’s 21 losses. This team had a closer for the first four months of the season, Shane Greene, before the Tigers shipped him to Atlanta. Perhaps Casey Mize will be the future gem earned from this current stretch of drafts.
Last night’s victory will wind up being one of the most memorable of the year. Playing the hapless Orioles, who are not much better than Detroit, the two teams went back and forth with two ties and three lead changes after the 7th inning.
When the Orioles took the lead in the top of the 12th inning, it looked to be over for Detroit. But ultimately, it was John Hicks with the heroic, grand slam in the bottom of the 12th to seal the win for the Tigers. Every season, no matter how painful, brings wins such as these. It is part of what makes a long baseball season worthwhile.
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Regardless of how late in the season it occurs, winning that 44th game is always a small reminder of how things could always be worse. Of course, three years later, the 2006 Detroit Tigers played in the World Series. Now, even the most optimistic fan would be hard-pressed to pencil in the 2022 Tigers to the championship. They do serve a reminder, though, of how quickly fortunes can turn around in Major League Baseball.