Success in the class of 2003

One hundred nineteen losses. It was one of the ugliest summers in Detroit. The Tigers were hosting games in the new and beautiful Comerica Park. The ferris wheel was still running, the carousel was still spinning. Even the water works in center field were spraying in an array of lights. On the field though, it was a different story.

Any fan that took in the 2003 season will tell you that it hurt. For me, It was something I will never forget. Seeing Mike Maroth, Jeremy Bonderman, Shane Loux, Matt Roney, Chris Spurling, Adam Bernero and Nate Cornejo struggle was tough. Every outing they gave it there all. Twenty one losses and five years later, Mike Maroth remains at his Orlando home, recovering from Shoulder surgery. He plans to pitch in 2009, after being released by the Royals in 2008. Then there is Matt Roney and Chris Spurling. Two rule five picks who stuck it out, even though they were not near ready for the majors. Both still are hanging on to major league hopes. Roney is in the Toronto organization, while Spurling last made a major league appearance with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2007. 

Yes, what hurts the most is the losses. But what about the attachments? For instance, Bobby Higginson. He will go down in Tiger history probably as the best hitter in one of the worst eras in Tigers baseball. Is it his fault that his career ended the way it did? Maybe. But how is a man supposed to produce, when those around him arent ready to protect him or hit Major League pitching? On the pitching side, what about a reliever like Steve Sparks. He will go down in my book at least, as one of the nicest players to ever pitch in the Tiger uniform. His knuckler will always be remembered. In 2003, he went 0-6 out of the pen.  Two years before, he put up 14 wins and a 3.65 E.R.A. Its those type of things that burn the most. Management’s poor decisions could of cost these players a chance at a healthy career. Well some of these players are taking what they have learned, and trying to make something of it. Lets take a look at where some of these “famous” players are at in their careers.

Shane Loux– After being drafted in the second round of the 1997 draft, Loux made his debut in the 2002 season, going 0-3 with a 9.00 E.R.A. The Tigers went to Loux late in the 2003 season, and he gave up 24 runs in 30 innings in his 11 starts. After the 2004 season, the Tigers granted him free agency, and Loux signed with the Kansas City Royals. Loux failed to catch on and gave up on his baseball career after the 2005 season. He then caught on as a baseball camp pitching coach in Phoenix. At the age of 29, Loux made capped off a comeback run with the Angels, after that baseball camp owner talked to a scouting friend about a possible comeback. Loux pitched seven games for the Angels last season as a reliever. 

Franklyn German– Considered the closer of the future in 2002, when he was acquired with Jeremy Bonderman and Carlos Pena for Jeff Weaver, German was never able to put together the composure and control to pitch in the tough situations he was put in as a Tiger. In 2003, German pitched 45 innings and gave up 30 runs, while walking 45 hitters. Management worked with him on his control, but were never happy with the result. In 2005, German put together decent numbers, going 59 innings and putting together a 3.66 ERA. The Marlins claimed German to start the 2006 season, and He hasn’t been a full-time major leaguer since. In 2008, He put on a pretty good show in 17 innings of work with the Rangers. German still walked 15, but only gave up 5 earned runs. Since May, when German was granted free agency, the reliever has been with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago White Sox. 

Eugene Kingsale– The Tigers traded for Kingsale prior to the 2003 season, hoping that he could be a spark in the offense and bring a pretty good glove for the cheap price of farmhand catcher Mike Rivera. In his last season in the majors, Kingsale only played in 39 games, putting together a .208 average. Kingsale would try to catch on with other clubs, until 2005. The 6’3″ switch hitter didn’t dissapear from baseball though. He has been very active in International ball, for The Netherlands, his home country. Kingsale competed in the 2006 World Baseball Classic and 2008 Olympic games as an outfielder. He currently plays for the Neptunus Rotterdamn in the Dutch Hoofdklasse league.

Matt Anderson– The once flame throwing reliever, who made the jump from single A to the majors in one year, has struggled to find consistency. Since 2004, Anderson has jumped around from the Rockies, Mets, and White Sox the past few seasons. He is now a free agent looking for work.

Alex Sanchez– This speedster might be best remembered as one of the first suspended under the current steroid policy, but he was one of the bright spots of the 2003 season, hitting .289 with 44 stolen bases. After the 2005 season, Alex Sanchez started to fall from the major league map. A native of Cuba, Sanchez once went 11 years without contact with his family. He last played with the Long Island Ducks, an Independant league team in 2008. He hit .347 in 30 games with the club. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him back as a bench player someday in the major leagues.

Andres Torres– Yet another speedy outfielder, Torres has bounced around the majors since 2003. He put together a .220 average with Detroit, but then packed his bags for Texas. He has also signed with the White Sox, Cubs, Twins, and had another stint with the Tigers in 2007. He has become a good minor league that adds depth to a 40 man roster. Last season, he hit .306 with 29 stolen bases with AAA Iowa last season.

Adam Bernero– Bernero worked his way up through the Tigers system in the late nineties, debuting in 2000. In 2003, he started seventeen games, in which he went 1-12 with a 6.08 ERA. Bernero has jumped around the league, and after Tommy John surgery in 2007, bounced back with Pittsburgh’s AAA affiliate in 2008. Bernero is now a free agent, looking for work this off-season. 

Seth Greisinger– Technically Greisnger was not a part of the 2003 season, but was considered a key part of the future, after being drafted in the first round of the 1996 draft. Greisinger suffered several arm ligament issues for up to four years, before he got another shot in the Majors with the Atlanta Braves. Now Greisinger has found success in Japan. In 2008, he went 17-9 with a 3.06 ERA as a part of the Yomiuri Giants.  

It was a rough time in our history, which saw a lot of arms damaged, and careers ruined. It is nice to see some of these guys still finding some success.  So how bad was it? Here are some final thoughts about the 2003 season.

W/L: 43-119 

Scored 591 Runs/Allowed 928 Runs 

Pitching Age(Avg): 25.3

Hitting Age(Avg): 27.3

Team ERA: 5.30 

Team Average: .240