Have y’all recovered from Monday’s playoff game yet? We’re continuing the fun today as we ask you to measure your observations and emotions about the Tigers in the playoffs. This …
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WATERCOOLER WEDNESDAY.
Totally Tigers
Have y’all recovered from Monday’s playoff game yet?
We’re continuing the fun today as we ask you to measure your observations and emotions about the Tigers in the playoffs.
This current team is nothing like we’ve ever seen before. Young, energetic, positive and closely-knit. Increasingly so, the number of home-grown players is growing.
Not a single free agent sits on this division series playoff roster. The total salaries add up to $18.6 mill. The 3 most-expensive players, Javy Baez, Miguel Cabrera ($8 mill buyout) and Kenta Maeda aren’t on the roster.
In contrast, the 2014 Tigers – the last time the team made the playoffs – had MLB’s 4th largest payroll at just under $189 mill. Only a handful of players were home-grown. Approximately one dozen of them were free agent signings by Detroit. More than half their roster were age 30 years or older.
The current team is known for their ability to have a different player be the difference maker every night. You never know how they are going to win the game. Their bullpen and overall pitching is superb and their defense (parts of it) are elite. But offense is still a challenge for them.
They also have the best pitcher in baseball who is expected to win the Cy Young. And A. J. Hinch is in the running for Manager of the Year. Scott Harris is also a candidate for Executive of the Year.
The 2014 team had a stellar rotation and could hit HRs. But they were slow, defensively-challenged and had one of MLB’s worst bullpens. They won only 4 more games than this year’s Tigers. No Tigers that year won any awards.
The team of a decade ago was swept by the Orioles in 3 games. The 2024 team is currently tied with the Guardians in the same division series.
Let’s now look back at this year’s games and also the team from 2014.
Which one of these teams was most exciting for you to watch? Who played more thrilling games?
Which Tiger team is the most exciting to watch?
1. The 2014 team.
2. The 2024 team.
3. Both teams equally exciting.
VOTE