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Detroit Tigers: Joba shocked, Tigers/fans need a break, prospects

By Matt Pelc

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The Detroit Tigers took two of three games against the Kansas City Royals over the weekend. As one team goes through the motions, the other prepares for the postseason. For the last decade its usually been Detroit going into October baseball while KC hit the golf course. Now its the exact opposite.

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This is something we have all accepted since roughly the middle of July, but for someone who used to be on the Tigers, and left before this point of acceptance, it is “shocking.”

Joba Chamberlain, who will undoubtedly not make the playoff roster with the Royals, did not play this weekend but expressed disbelief that the Tigers were where they are, including getting in a little dig at the fans who booed him so often, saying “it doesn’t suck being in first over here.”

Shut it Joba, you’re not going to the playoffs either.

Speaking of the booing. We talked about it a couple times in recent days with Victor Martinez mentioning it last week and Justin Verlander after Friday’s walk-off victory.

It has almost gotten to the point where the fans are now booing just to boo because it knows it is getting on the player’s nerves after the various media reports over the last week.

With our two reports, readers seemed divided. While some thought fans were “spoiled,” others thought the booing was well-deserved for a high-priced team that has horribly underachieved.

But as Matthew Mowery points out, it won’t be long until there will be no more baseball to boo in Detroit. Fans and players can go to their separate corners for the next seven months and hope for both sides are fresh, rejuvenated and ready for action in 2016.

Transitioning into 2016, the Tigers picked up a lot of prospects in their trading deadline deals. Who will make an impact isn’t certain yet, but while some prospect’s stock has risen in 2015, others have fallen back. John Moore takes a look.

"Joba Chamberlain shocked over Tigers’ decline: ‘It’s crazy’ – Katie Strang, ESPN“You just see the talent that they have, obviously [Verlander] is throwing the ball great and at any time they can beat you in a lot of ways — with speed, with power, defensively, obviously [second baseman Ian Kinsler] made great plays last night, so it’s not like one thing where you’re like, ‘What? How? Where? What are we doing?’ I can only imagine how frustrating it is,” Chamberlain said. “But like I said, it doesn’t suck being in first over here.”How does Chamberlain explain Detroit’s fall?“I mean that’s baseball, though. Sometimes when it’s going, it’s going. When it’s not, it’s not. It’s a game of streaks and a game of limiting damage in all aspects of wins, losses, runs and whatever capacity you try to,” Chamberlain said. “It’s crazy to see from the time I left they were only like two back and now …”"

Five points why maybe Tigers, fans just need a good, long break from each other – Matthew B. Mowery, Oakland Press

"You could see that when, for the better part of eight innings Friday night, a solid crowd of 32,926 — especially for a last-place team merely playing out the string in September — found little to cheer about for the better part of eight innings. Couldn’t even summon up the gumption to drown out a “Lets go Royals!” chant started by a pair of invading Kansas City fans.Then, in the ninth inning, with Justin Verlander going for a complete game, the crowd instantly remembered what it had loved so much about its long relationship, and got to its feet cheering. Until, that is, JV gave up a single to Eric Hosmer, and manager Brad Ausmus marched out of the dugout to pull him from the game, a decision he called “a no-brainer.” Instantly, it shifted. Boos rained down.They turned somewhat to cheers, as Verlander neared the foul line, but quickly returned to boos, when Ausmus was coming off — even with Verlander trying to wave down the crowd."

Detroit Tigers prospects that saw their stock rise or fall in 2015 – John Moore, TigsTown

"3B Zach ShepherdShepherd was a relative unknown in the Tigers system prior to the season. TigsTown ranked him the 36th prospect last off-season and by the mid-season he was ranked 6th. He posted a .245/.327/.339 as a 19 year-old playing for full-season West Michigan. There is a lot of positional uncertainty surrounding Shepherd as many think he won’t stick at third base and profiles as more of a corner outfielder long term. However he showed the potential for a 5 hit tool that could play in the Major Leagues.OF Michael GerberAnother relative unknown prior to his breakout with West Michigan this year, Gerber hit .292/.355/.468 with West Michigan. He showed a short, compact swing in my viewings this year, and he also showed some pretty good power at times. There is some positional uncertainty because he was used as a DH a lot, but it looks like he could become a solid fourth outfielder."

Next: 5 Tigers bullpen upgrades for 2016

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