The 2022 season has been miserable for the Detroit Tigers. Nobody is more aware of that than Detroit’s manager, A.J. Hinch.
Things did not go well for the Tigers on Wednesday. They were walloped 13-0 by the Chicago White Sox at home. When the game was over, Hinch made his team that the performance of his team has been nowhere near good enough.
A.J. Hinch: "This is unacceptable. We are better than this. We have not lived up to the standard that we expect. … We're all accountable: the players, coaches, manager, front office, everybody. It's been below par." #Tigers https://t.co/ifw5xtOmRC
— Evan Petzold (@EvanPetzold) June 15, 2022
It’s hard to dispute that. The loss moved the Tigers to 24-38. Many MLB fans joined Hinch in their criticism of Hinch.
I'm not sure what rock bottom is for the Tigers but losing 13-0 at home on a 100 degree day feels close.
— Isaac (@WorldofIsaac) June 15, 2022
I know all the Detroit teams stink, but in the last 10 years no one has been more disappointing IMO than THIS @tigers team. Playoff chatter preseason from owner, GM and coach and they're downright pathetic. Worst offense in franchise history. Unwatchable. Fire Avila NOW.
— Michael Spath (@MichaelSpathITH) June 15, 2022
My god. The Tigers absolutely stink. They're literally unwatchable on most days. There is not one exciting thing about this team right now. I didn't think this team was going to compete, but I thought there would be progress. What an absolute disaster of a season.
— Jordan Strack (@JordanStrack) June 15, 2022
The 2022 Detroit Tigers are the most unwatchable Tigers throughout the entire rebuild.
How is that even possible ?????
— Joey (@RedwingsTally) June 15, 2022
This Tigers team is the worst I’ve seen in my lifetime. Al Avila has to go. The offense he’s assembled is worse than putrid and if he’s still calling the shots at the trade deadline, this entire fanbase should be asking itself why it’s giving this team their time or money.
— Nolan Bianchi (@nolanbianchi) June 15, 2022
Jonathan Schoop has doubled the next-best Tigers position player in fWAR.
He's at 0.6.
He has a .190/.227/.310 slash line.
Nobody on the team has at least 6 home runs.
The team's 2nd-highest SLG of hitters with at least 100 PA is .368. pic.twitter.com/e7OMwgbeHl
— Matt Clapp (@TheBlogfines) June 15, 2022
The offense in particular has been troubling.
Before Tuesday’s game, Mike Petriello of MLB.com noted that Detroit was already having one of the worst offensive seasons of the last 75 years.
The All Star Game is only a month away. We're on at least yellow alert for a team having the weakest hitting first half since integration in 1947.https://t.co/yRAE7xJQNz pic.twitter.com/aJorOpvqV1
— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) June 14, 2022
Four points must be made.
One, the two worst teams on that list — the 1963 Houston Astros (then known as the Colt .45s) and New York Mets were both in their second year of existence.
Two, the 1968 White Sox, the only other team worse than the 2022 Tigers, did do in a season known as “The Year of the Pitcher.” That’s why a total of four teams in the top 10 were from 1968. Immediately after that season, Major League Baseball lowered the pitcher’s mound.
Three, all but one of the other teams on the list came before 1973. So, except the 1981 Toronto Blue Jays, every other team listed at least had the excuse of weak-hitting pitchers dragging down the offense. Detroit has the benefit of a designated hitter in all of its games. Now that even includes road games in National League parks.
Finally, in the two games since that was posted, the Tigers have a combined scored one run with 13 hits — 12 singles and a double and drew only one walk. Not surprisingly, they scored one total run and lost both. So, as bad as things have been, they may be getting worse.
[Evan Petzold, Mike Petriello]
