THE TIGERS WAY

By:  Holly Horning

I keep being reminded how Kurt and I are the perfectly-balanced Odd Couple in both personalities and methods of analysis. He is the Yin to my Yang and together, we take different paths and different vehicles but usually end up at the same place.

This week, yet another example of how we both independently selected to discuss the firing of Doug Mientkiewicz – and we’re each seeing this move in different ways. For you, dear readers, it means that this blog offers an extensive picture of what’s going on from different angles.

And today is no different.

So let’s get to it……

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The news of Doug Mientkiewicz is yet another pattern revealing the inner machinations of the Tigers Front Office. And you know how I feel about patterns. Patterns don’t lie.

And this move has taught us two things:

1. Rebuilding successfully and quickly is not the Front Office’s top priority.

2. There is no Tigers Way Manual.

Back in 2015, Al Avila announced that the Tigers would be assembling a manual on how to play the game. A manual that would set and outline the standards for proper play that would be used from the lowest to the highest levels of the entire player system for the Tigers.

During the winter of 2018, Ron Gardenhire indicated that the Tigers needed a uniform system of play and Avila agreed that Gardy’s ideas would be taken into consideration. A comment that appeared to indicate that this was the first time something like this was ever mentioned to him.

It was a statement that contradicted the original comment from over 3 years ago. A statement that now confirms there is yet no such book.

Fast-forward to this year when we witnessed atrocious play from this Tigers team. Sloppy, undisciplined play in which even the basics like hitting the cut-off man were routinely ignored by the players.

Nothing was done, no one (who is still employed, that is) said anything. No one cares enough. Otherwise, we’d be seeing that manual and watching players being called out.

And now, the AAA manager is the latest to get fired, in part, because he was critical of how players were unprepared for their debut in the majors. Mientkiewicz indicated that he and Gardy were trying to coordinate a strategy for strengthening the standards of play.

Yet, despite Avila’s original statement, people are getting fired for wanting to make good.

It comes as no surprise to many fans that the idea of publishing and teaching a manual has turned out to simply be lip service. A statement made to make fans feel good about the team’s direction and rebuild. The intent was to generate false hope. Nothing more.

Point #1, however, is of much greater concern. It’s pretty damning evidence that this Front Office is solely focused on job security. Not on winning.

There is no culture of winning. There is no accountability. There is no leadership.

There is also no real direction or timeline. Maybe they are just hoping to get lucky.

This all brings to mind the definition of insanity given that the same people are doing the same thing and hoping to get different results.

First, it was Steve Liddle who “retired” after making statements earlier this year about the team’s sloppy level of play. Now, Doug Mientkiewicz.

What do the two of them have in common?

The ability to say the Emperor has no clothes.

And the desire to make this a better team.

And it sure looks like this group – most of whom have been together for 20-30 years, going back to the Expos and Marlins with a big old heapin’ helping of Pittsburgh – is intent on keeping this old boys’ club together no matter how inept some of them are. It’s a group that places a priority on loyalty and job security over winning.

It’s a group that doesn’t want to hear the truth. It’s a group that is afraid to hear the truth. Most importantly, it’s a group that doesn’t want the fan base to know the ugly truth.

We read the hype put out by the organization all the time. Hype of their minor league players, once again, in order to generate hope and credibility. But other than a handful of pitching prospects, there’s not much to pin one’s hopes on.

Yet, inexplicitly, the Tigers called up Jake Rogers to Detroit. Everyone knew he wasn’t ready. The fans filled the social media threads with their questions. Everyone was trying to figure out why.

Even his manager, Doug, who ended up being fired, in part, because he questioned the move, cautioned the team about the damage that can come from not being prepared.

The real question to ask is why was this move made?

Was it because the team couldn’t spend any money on a journeyman?

Was it because Rogers was the only choice they could possibly make?

Was it due to a desperate attempt to try to build team value in preparation for a sale?

Or was it because they were feeling the fans’ heat and became desperate to try to show that a rebuild was really in process?

Whatever it was, it doesn’t make the Front Office look good at all. Decision-makers who initially loved Mientkiewicz’s work and his ability to take the team to the playoffs for the first time in over a decade. A two-year extension was given as a result.

And then a complete 180 turnaround after 1 year with an explanation of wanting to “go in a different direction.” And, of course, neither Avila or Littlefield wanted to comment.

And we now know that this direction they want to go is down.

An organization that would prefer to risk ruining young bodies and souls rather than hear the professional opinion of their manager, who knows them best. Even when Doug told his bosses that two players of his players couldn’t even sleep because they were so worried about performing.

Instead, the organization hypes the “Road to Detroit” campaign to fans to keep them interested – and to keep their jobs.

A strategy that evidently put too much pressure on players like Rogers and Cameron who were promoted and not yet ready for prime time. Both players struggled. Both players had actually been recommended to go back down to AA to work on some issues. But instead, they got called up to Detroit and AAA respectively.

God forbid that the Tigers would have to demote a player. The decision-makers would be taking a hit in the public’s eye.

And we are now all too-familiar with how these two performed.

And the man who was trying to make these players better was punished. He became the enemy.

All because he told the truth.

A quality that Al Avila and company don’t appear to value. All because they need to cover up the level of ineptness that permeates every level of this organization. All because they want to perpetuate that fairy tale about the Emperor’s new clothes. All because they know that otherwise, they will look bad and their moves will continue to garner greater scrutiny.

This is a story of misplaced priorities. Any organization that places an emphasis on protecting their executives so they don’t look bad, instead of encouraging dialog and finding new ways to win, is going to remain mired in mediocrity.  Or worse.  No matter the level of talent.

It won’t matter how many #1 draft picks they get. It won’t matter if they sign the second coming of Mike Trout.

It’s because they don’t want people within their organization who will make a difference. People who will offer valid opinions or challenge the old ways of doing things in order to get better.

They want front office personnel who will simply nod their heads and do and say as they are told. As long as these same people are in charge, this team won’t be successful in anything they do.

But hey, maybe next year the Tigers can offer a bobblehead night. But instead of players, give the fans souvenirs featuring members of the Front Office. That should pull in the crowds….

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