After acquiring the best player the Florida Marlins ever produced (Miguel Cabrera) and the National League wins leader in 2005 (Dontrelle Willis) in an offseason trade, many thought the Detroit Tigers were the club to beat in 2008.
Then young star Curtis Granderson got hurt. Then they lost seven in a row to start the season. Then they lost slugger Gary Sheffield for half of June. Then they lost 10 of their first 12 games. Then all of a sudden, they were in the cellar of the AL Central and everybody was left to wonder, “What has happened to the perennial World Series favorites?”
But after stumbling to a 23-32 record entering June, the Tigers started to play more like the preseason favorites. Detroit finished 19-8 in the month of June and started to move up the standings in the Central. Now entering the second half of the season, the Tigs are just 6.5 games behind the first place Chicago White Sox.
So are they back? One indication they are is that ace Justin Verlander has completed turned around his season. After starting the year 1-7, he’s now won five of his last seven starts with two no decisions, and is 3-0 in his last three outings. The club is also getting quality starts from 26-year old Armando Galarraga (7-3, 3.27) and although he’s been inconsistent, Kenny Rogers has lasted at least seven innings in seven of his last nine starts.
The Tigers’ pitching staff still a ways to go, but the lineup picked things up towards the All-Star Break and they’ve gotten production out of one-time role players like Marcus Thames (leads the team with 18 HRs). And don’t undervalue how much Joel Zumaya – who finally looks healthy again – brings to the bullpen. He just might be the key to Detroit’s revival.
Nobody should fall asleep on this club, because the Tigers look primed for a major second half.
