Detroit Tigers: The problem isn’t pace of play, it’s how they’re playing

The Detroit Tigers are in the midst of a losing streak and the MLB is complaining about the pace of play. The two issues seem to go hand in hand. 

It seems like the Detroit Tigers and the MLB are struggling with the same issue: strikeouts and home runs.

Strikeouts and home runs were topics of a recent article by Tom Verducci in Sports Illustrated.

To combat the changing speed of the game due to home runs and strikeouts, the MLB Commissioner keeps threatening to implement a pitch clock to speed up the pace of play. But, pace of play isn’t the problem. The problem runs so much deeper.

Verducci defined the problem this way:

"“The chesslike quality of the game has tilted toward checkers. One-third of all turns at bat now end without the ball in play, an all-time high: either a strikeout (at a record rate for a 10th straight year), a walk (the highest in eight years) or a home run (an all-time high), the so-called three true outcomes promulgated by the sabermetric community.”"

The pitch clock won’t make the game any more or less exciting. It will only speed up the time between pitches. What will make the game more exciting is more balls being put into play so that more things happen in a game.

Homeruns are beautiful, but in moderation

Sure, a home run is a thing of beauty. Who doesn’t love watching Miguel Cabrera and his glorious swing? (Especially since they are becoming rather rare events).

But, here’s what is even more beautiful: A grand slam. Why? Because three other players had to get on base before the home run was hit. What is missing from baseball is the effort it takes to get runs scored from the bases. That means that three other players had to hit the ball and run. It also meant that the defenders had to get involved, too. Here’s a gem from 2012:

Pitch clocks are not the issue

With the discussions about launch angles and exit velocity, a home-run-only game only involves two players: the pitcher and the hitter. There are nine men on the field for a reason and I want to see them all get involved in the game. A pitch clock won’t make that happen.

If you watched the Tigers play on Saturday night against the San Diego Padres, the Tigers flexed their warning-track power and it got them their eighth loss in a row. The game is more complicated than exit velocity and launch angle. There is nothing wrong with a hit-and-run play, a suicide squeeze, and an occasional bunt. In fact, a bunt discombobulated the entire Tigers defense a few nights ago in Seattle. Even though I’m not a fan of the Seattle Mariners, that was a brilliant move. Those don’t moments don’t happen if players are JUST swinging for the fences.

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Tigers who keep the game fun

Right now, the most interesting Tiger to watch is Jose Iglesias. Yes, he has a few home runs under his belt, but he rarely has the goal of hitting a ball out of the park. That guy just wants to get on base – which should be the goal of every BASEball player. In a game when every out counts, why waste them on hitting the ball to the warning track? The Tigers have become predictable in their attempts to just hit it out of the park – and then not do it. There is nothing that a pitch clock can do to change this.

The two other interesting players to watch are Justin Upton and Alex Avila. Both have the home run power, but they both can get on base and make things happen. They don’t need to hit home runs all of the time and it’s perfectly ok. Their strategies work which is why they are leading the team in so many categories. Imagine if the rest of the Tigers played like they did. Avila, Upton, and Iglesias don’t need pitch clocks – they are exciting to watch without any gimmicks.

Next: The Detroit Tigers front office releases K-Rod

The game needs to have more strategy on offense. The pitch clock won’t make this happen. The manager and general manager will, as well as players who will actually execute the strategy. The Tigers need more guys who play like Jose Iglesias.