DEEPER DISCUSSIONS

/ totallytigersblog

Many of the discussions this year in baseball have been about the AL Central.  In particular, how it is MLB’s worst division and filled with failure and ineptitude according to a recent national article.  In past years, it’s always been known as baseball’s weakest division.

The best team this year is only 5 games above .500.  The rest have more losses than wins with the team in second place 7 games under .500.

As a Tigers fan, is this division a blessing or a curse?

Is the division title easier to get or is it simply a recognition that doesn’t mean much outside of the Central?

Does the mediocrity and payrolls of the other teams influence what the Tigers do?

Do the other 4 teams inspire the Tigers to build a roster that will perform at the top of MLB or simply give ownership the excuse to do only as much as needed?

What do you think?

Today’s blog addresses this dilemma and allows readers to share their thoughts in more detail. And hopefully, to actively engage with others by responding to their posts and creating back-and-forth discussion threads. The more the merrier!

For this one blog only, you’ve got 6 sentences max to share your thoughts. Of course, you can also respond to other readers.

TT will supply the ammunition. One thought-provoking question. Several options provided. One hard choice to be selected. One vote.

Ready?

Make sure to come back and check the final results!

Comments are limited to a maximum of 6 sentences. Please make sure to check out the other rules for posting under the link at the top of the page in order for your comments to be published.

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18 thoughts on “DEEPER DISCUSSIONS”

  2. We have seen through the years (this year the Mets and Yankees) that a huge payroll doesn’t necessarily lead to more wins. Build the team from within and have your homegrown player jell together to win games.

    Liked by 4 people

  3. With apologies to Donald Rumsfeld, you play in the division you are in, not the one you might want to be in. The AL Central provides good opportunity to make post-season play, and as we have seen in recent years, a team getting hot at the right time can win it all. I think CI’s investments in infrastructure and player development, and his hire of Scott Harris, indicates he is serious about building winning baseball. This could mean many enjoyable years for Tigers fans in the Al Central and in the playoffs beyond.

    Liked by 10 people

  4. Currently it helps them because of turmoil in Chicago, meh in Cleveland, and a lack of direction in KC. I follow our minors pretty regularly and see real progress in how they are being orchestrated by Ryan Garko. We have real hope with some beneficial trades and the maturation of our youth. And could be competitive against the Twins by 25.

    Liked by 7 people

  5. It will hurt the Tigers if their focus is simply winning the Central Division. Their goal should be to build a team that can consistently beat the best teams in baseball. If they accomplish that, they will not only win the Division, but have an opportunity to compete for World Series titles.

    Liked by 3 people

  6. It neither helps, nor hurts a team with a record below .500. How the rest of the teams are doing only affects teams that are in the hunt for a championship, and that doesn’t apply to losers. I love baseball, even when the Tigers suck, but I suffer under no illusion that they are in a pennant race.

    Liked by 1 person

    • I’m with you Lon! When you are as far down as the Tigers currently are, you need short term achievable goals like winning the Central division. Once you reach that level, I think it hurts your teams competence and confidence because you haven’t played the better teams as much.

      Like

  7. The way I see it, the Tigers are currently 12th in the 15 team American League. It doesn’t matter what division a team is in the goal should be Number 1. The divisional set up disguises the fact of unfair payrolls that kill competition.

    Liked by 4 people

  8. it definitely helps them. in baseball, as often as not, the hottest teams not the best teams get to the world series. you gotta be in it to win it

    Liked by 3 people

  9. For the present, it helps because it gives them hope of a reachable goal to win the division. If the Tigers become division leaders at some point, it may be harder to go far in the playoffs because they might think they are equal to the other division winners who have to be better to win their spot. It does help that baseball has gone back to a more balanced schedule.

    Liked by 2 people

  10. I really don’t believe that Harris and Ilitch want to build a team just good enough to win the Central, although that would be an acceptable goal for the next couple of years. I would think that Ilitch brought Harris onboard to win it all in a few years.

    Liked by 6 people

  11. I said “hurt”. Yes, sure, it helps them in the short term, but only as a first step goal to reach for. Since it isn’t their long term goal, winning the central division, even consistently, can hurt them if they let it trap them into forgetting what they’re really after. Sustainable success (and one or more WS wins) won’t come just by beating up on the ALCD.

    Liked by 3 people

  12. I think it helps them to rise up quicker and get into habit of playing meaningful games. Winning will beget winning. If they played in the East, how long would it take to contend?

    Liked by 3 people

  14. If MLB hadn’t changed the schedule and they were playing the majority of the games against the Central they’d probably be in first given that they’ve played well against other teams in the Central for the most part. Clearly they have a long way to go to be able to compete against the AL East teams given their record this year.

    Liked by 1 person

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