A DECADE TOO LATE

by Holly Horning

During this time of year when October baseball is being played, we can’t help but reminisce about some of the unresolved issues we had with the Tigers during those 2006 – 2016 years.  For some of us, trying to wrap our minds around how it all turned out the way it did.

Especially when we’re constantly reading stories about a disproportionate number of former Tigers who are once again in the thick of it.  And winning those rings.

For me recently, it’s been the multiple stories all praising Max Scherzer during the playoffs and how he’s stepped up.  It appears that those reporters are not familiar with what happened during the 2013 playoffs. 

Once I stopped retching over the stories, I had to revisit some memories and wonder “what if?”

It started with a major national story about how brave Max was in deciding to start a game this week considering that he was still physically compromised.  It painted him as a warrior who was going to go above and beyond what was expected in order to give his team a shot at winning.

Then I thought back to 2013.  Specifically the 2nd game against the Red Sox in the playoffs.

Scherzer had a no-hitter going into the 6th inning.  He left after 7 innings, having given up just 2 hits, 1 run and striking out 13.  His pitch count was still manageable. He was in complete command.

Afterwards, the initial stories – until the ensuing controversy hit – was that Max pulled himself from the game.  He said “I was done. You can write that. I was done.”

But fans were furious at Max, esp. after the notoriously poor bullpen imploded, losing the 5-1 lead and the game (and eventually contributing to Detroit losing the series).  That’s when Jim Leyland stepped in and said he pulled Scherzer in order to take the heat off his player.  That’s what managers do.

But the question to ask is where was this “warrior” when he was most needed back in October 2013? 

Max would go on to win the Cy Young Award that year.  He was the most dominant pitcher in MLB. 

And given such,  if you know that your team has one of MLB’s worst bullpens – and you’re one of the best starting pitchers – isn’t it a no-brainer that you stay in the game for as long as you can?  Especially when you are dominating your opponents?

When it’s the playoffs, don’t you step up your game to ensure your team wins?

Did Max really think that there was another pitcher who could perform anywhere near his level to close out the game?

Or did Scherzer prioritize himself over the team?

Which now brings me to his comment from Monday night when his team made it into the World Series.  He yelled  “This is what I wanted!  I came here to get to the World Series. I came here to win it.”

I don’t remember him ever being that passionate or vocal about the playoffs when he was with the Tigers.  Nor can I find any quotes from him that indicate any level of ferocity.

We’ve talked a lot about why the Tigers failed to come close to a World Series title during those years despite the immense and ridiculous amount of talent they had.

And Scherzer has been part of that discussion.

It’s puzzling to see him so passionate about winning when we didn’t witness that in Detroit.

Maybe some of that can be attributed to youth.  But I also think his pending free agency was a significant factor, too.

Max couldn’t help but see that his main rival, Justin Verlander, was the team’s favorite child.  And JV received a contract extension a full 2 years before his contract expired.  Now with 1 year left to go, the Tigers hadn’t yet broached contract talks with Max.

Was Scherzer putting energy into thinking about a new contract strategy during the playoffs?  Was he trying to put himself in the best position by avoiding undue risks that would potentially impact the dollars he wanted?

Could he have been thinking that in order to stay with the Tigers, it would mean he’d continue to play in JV’s shadow?

Within days of being eliminated, he, his agent Scott Boras and the Tigers were talking contracts.  A process that did not go well and earned the wrath of Mr. I and Dave Dombrowski who both spoke out publicly. 

It was reported that Dombrowski asked what would it take to re-sign Max and Boras told him.  The Tigers agreed and believed they had a verbal agreement but then Boras moved the goalposts. He used that offer to solicit higher bids from other teams when Max became a free agent.

Ironically, the Tigers’ offer was just literally pennies shy of reaching Justin Verlander’s contract. 

And months later, on Opening Day, the new Cy Young Award winner did not get the honor of that day’s start.  Verlander did – on a much less impressive record.  And when Max moved to the Nationals, he made sure to take a veiled swipe at the Tigers at his initial press conference.

He said he chose to sign with the Nats, not because of the money, but because he wanted to win.  My husband had to restrain me from kicking in the tv set.

So now what’s left to ponder is whether the Tigers were at a disadvantage during their decade of contention simply because of where each of their star players were in their careers.

Were the younger stars more focused on monetizing their own careers over that of winning a ring?

Were they simply too young to understand that playoff seasons like these didn’t happen frequently?  Did they believe that other October opportunities would present themselves?

Is it better for a team to have somewhat older players who have longer contracts paying premium dollars?  Financially secure players who could now focus on being team players and battle in earnest for that ring?

All I know is that every single significant Tiger from those years who was traded, went on to win at least 1 ring with other teams.  (All except Nick Castellanos.)

Over a dozen of them.

They were all older, wiser and financially set.

We have to wonder whether players, as they age, change their priorities.  Does seeing that you are closer to the end of your career than to the beginning change your priorities?

Can setting yourself up for financial security co-exist with wanting to win it all?

Or do you have to pick your priority?

In Max’s case, he’s already earned over $308 mill. His current contract will pay him almost $87 mill for just 2 years.  Once again, he is MLB’s highest paid pitcher (and tied with JV).

I guess it’s now easy to perform a “warrior” act when you have all that.

It’s just too bad Scherzer couldn’t demonstrate an ounce of passion about winning a World Series when he was a Tiger.

This week’s stories are a reminder that it is exactly 10 years too late for us.

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