AJ Hinch, Tigers' lackluster responses to miserable skid will enrage Detroit fans

The Tigers tend to shrug off losses even in the worst of times. Last year, when they were in the middle of losing a 15.5-game division lead over the Guardians, the prevailing sentiment throughout the team was, "You know, that's just the ups-and-downs of the season. We just have to keep our heads down."

It's infuriating.

Only Gleyber Torres was brave enough to actually call that Tigers skid what it was — and only after they'd eventually survived it. He put it simply: "We were playing really bad baseball."

The Tigers are currently playing really bad baseball. They've lost eight of their last 10, are 7-19 on the road, and are tied with the Royals for last place in the division. Oh, and they were just swept by perhaps the most embarrassing team in baseball.

Everyone went back to their usual stances after Thursday's 9-4 loss. From AJ Hinch: "We are getting beat up a little bit. We are wearing it and it's no fun. Obviously, we've had some really rough series. We haven't clicked on all cylinders. We are not healthy and we have a game tomorrow. The schedule is relentless when you are down, but you must respond and keep playing."

From Gage Workman: "That's baseball sometimes. The boys are grinding through at-bats. We couldn't string anything together after that [first inning]."

From Riley Greene: "It is what it is."

That's not what Tigers fans want to hear right now.

Tigers shrug off sweep by Mets as fans get more and more fed up

For fans, "it is what it is" might've been the worst thing Greene could say. He was specifically referencing Nolan McLean's dominance — and the Mets rookie has been excellent this year — but what about the guy the Tigers are facing next, Trey Yesavage, who has a 0.68 ERA through three starts? When the offense fails to come through again, are we just going to hear more of that? It is what it is?

The Tigers are taking all of their beatings lying down right now. They're letting the Mets, the cursed Mets, walk all over them and then complimenting New York's starting pitcher instead of introspecting.

And, sure, a lot of that might happen away from cameras and reporters, but what fans want to see out of this team is just a smidgen of fight. Some energy. Literally anything other than "that's just baseball."

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