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Tigers' ship continues to sink

Tue 20th, May 2008

(Sports Network) - What's really going on with the Detroit Tigers?

At this point, is there a way out of this mess they've created for themselves? Or, is this really who they are? The latter would prove just about every preseason prediction out there wrong.

No matter how you slice it, the proof is in the pudding. Right now this team, $135 million payroll or not, is just bad. Flawed by some anemic starting pitching, the Tigers are burying themselves in an American League Central that remains quite wide open. Their 17-27 record is the worst in the AL.

The Tigers enter tonight's series opener with Seattle having lost six of their last seven. They are just 4-12 in May, and are losing relevance with each passing day.

We all know about Detroit's AL-worst starting rotation (10-21, 5.50). But lately, even the lineup is struggling. During their current slide, the Tigers hitters have a collective .215 batting average, second-worst in the majors over a one-week stretch.

On Monday, General Manager Dave Dombrowski had a nice little sit down with Manager Jim Leyland.

"We're all responsible -- myself, first and foremost -- for the club you put on the field," Dombrowski told the Detroit Free Press. "We have not played well. We're better than what we've shown. We're all responsible for that."

Leyland is taking his share of the heat, as well. He had the seemingly knee- jerk decision to switch Miguel Cabrera and Carlos Guillen at corner infield spots, and also experimented with Gary Sheffield out in left field. Subsequently the defense, although it does take nine to tango, has given up a boatload of unearned runs (second-most in the league).

Dombrowski insists his veteran players will step up and perform to their abilities -- sooner, hopefully, rather than later.

Reliever Jason Grilli, after being released last month, blames the Tigers' struggles on a lack of chemistry.

"Talent-wise on paper, that is one of the greatest teams assembled, but the atmosphere was stale and stagnant," Grilli told USA Today on Monday. "You kept losing, losing and losing, and everybody became distant. I have good friends over there, and I feel badly for them."

WILLIS OR GALARRAGA?

The starting rotation is due for a shakeup. Things simply cannot go on the way they have for much longer. That said, Dontrelle Willis looked sharp in his most recent rehab outing Saturday night. But will there be room for Willis when he is ready?

His previous rehab start did not go as well, and his effort on Saturday (six innings, one run allowed) included four walks and a wild pitch. Leyland has not updated his stance that Willis would reclaim his place from callup Armando Galarraga, who is due to pitch Friday against Minnesota.

Galarraga, in six starts, has compiled a 3-1 record and a 3.06 ERA. Considering the average ERA of the other four starters is an unsightly 5.89, keeping Galarraga in the rotation would seem a logical choice.

Then again, not much about the way this team has performed to date seems very logical.

WHO'S HOT

How about left fielder Matt Joyce, with four home runs in 10 games since being called up to fill in for the exiled Jacque Jones.

WHO'S NOT

For Justin Verlander (1-7, 6.05), Nate Robertson (1-5, 6.08), Kenny Rogers (3-4, 6.65) and Jeremy Bonderman (2-4, 4.76), can it get any worse? At this point, Leyland may as well set up a pitching machine on the mound and see how that works out. At least he wouldn't have to worry about pitch counts.

A LOOK AHEAD

As it stands, with the Mariners in town, Leyland will go with Verlander, Rogers and Bonderman. The Detroit hitters will see Carlos Silva (3-2, 4.17), Jarrod Washburn (2-5, 5.56) and Miguel Batista (3-5, 6.11).

And as of now, Galarraga stands to take on Kevin Slowey (0-4, 5.49) on Friday when the Twins come to town.

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