Detroit Tigers: Looking at recent disappointing seasons to predict 2016

2010 Detroit Tigers

The 2010 Detroit Tigers made wholesale changes to try to bounce back from the spectacular choke job at the end of 2009. They let Placido Polanco leave and replaced him with a prospect, Scott Sizemore, who would be traded before the end of the season.

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Gone was fan favorite, centerfielder Curtis Granderson and starting pitcher Edwin Jackson, who had a great first half in 2009. In their place, the Tigers scored a young and raw Max Scherzer, a speedy centerfielder Austin Jackson, and bullpen arms Phil Coke and Daniel Schlereth.

The Tigers also signed now aging spark plug Johnny Damon to serve as a DH/OF.

It looked promising early on as the team got out to a 5-1 start, but inconsistently ruled the day in 2010 from that point on. Think of the 2010 Tigers as you would think of the Tigers from earlier this year. A team incapable of going on a long winning streak, but not really going on very long losing streaks either.

The only consistency of this teams was their inconsistency–in fact they are the only team in Tigers’ history to finish 81-81, and only the second team in franchise history to finish the season at .500 (77-77 in 1958).

With their old nemesis, the Minnesota Twins, running away with the division, the Tigers were going through the motions by the time August rolled around–even putting Damon on waivers, but he refused his claim of going back to the Boston Red Sox.

This team showed flashes, but were too young to make a serious run. It would all pay dividends a year later as these young players began to reach their peak and the Tigers won their first division title in 24 years. They would go on to win three more and usher in an era unmatched in Detroit Tigers’ franchise history.

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