News Flash: The AL Central Sucks
August 13, 2009 · Blake VandeBunte · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
The Detroit Tigers fell to the Boston Red Sox for the third game in a row last night and it will now be up to Justin Verlander to salvage at least one win in the four game series.
The Red Sox entered this series on a major losing streak after getting kicked around by the New York Yankees. However, even after three straight losses, the Tigers still hold a two game lead in the AL Central and are in prime position to make the playoffs.
The Tigers have the best record in the AL Central, but only the seventh best mark in the American League. When you stretch it out a bit more, you’ll see that the Tigers have the 14th best record in all of baseball. In most ways, they are a completely average baseball team.
Teams like the Seattle Mariners, Florida Marlins, and Atlanta Braves all have better records than the Tigers and are unlikely to sniff the postseason.
It’s fun that the Tigers are in first place and in position to make the playoffs, but the fact is that they are just not that great of a team. The offense has been hit-and-miss (mostly miss) all season and their starting pitching is suddenly a bit of a mess.
The Tigers winning percentage currently sits at a tidy, .522. Yikes. If they continue that pace, they’ll join this group of teams to make the postseason with such a pedestrian winning percentage:
- 2008 Los Angeles Dodgers (84-78): Lost in the NLCS
- 2006 St. Louis Cardinals (83-78): Won the World Series
- 2005 San Diego Padres (82-80): Swept in the First Round
- 1997 Houston Astros (84-78): Swept in the First Round
So there ya go.
The only team as bad as the Tigers to make the playoffs and win the whole thing was a team that beat the Tigers.
It’s also worth noting that every one of these teams is from the National League. In 1993, the Texas Rangers were leading the AL West and were 10 games under .500 at the time of the strike.
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