Tigers fans should be embarrassed by their AJ Hinch trash talk during recent slide

Detroit Tigers manager AJ Hinch is well-known for being fiercely loyal to his guys. Whether that means allegedly getting into altercations in hotel bars defending his team's honor, or diplomatically putting a huge scandal to rest without throwing anyone under the bus, Hinch has shown a tendency to handle himself well publicly while protecting his players and getting fiery when needed.

Those qualities are exactly why some fans have begun to panic during the team's recent slide, which has seen the team limp into the All-Star break with four straight losses and put up a 13-14 record post-All-Star break as of August 15. After all, the veteran manager is fiercely loyal to his guys, and his confidence in his group's ability to turn it around has been considered naive in the face of what appears to be regression to the mean.

But Hinch is exactly right when he talks about the team needing to worry about themselves and their own performance. The Cleveland Guardians have made up ground, whittling down a lead that was once 14 games to just 6.5, but over a larger sample dating back to last year, Detroit has proven their true talent level higher than expected.

Tigers fans should feel embarrassed for doubting AJ Hinch's confidence

Hinch wants the Tigers to focus on themselves and what they need to do to get to their winning ways without worrying about their rivals. While some are ready to blast him and the upstart Tigers for not taking the threat the Guardians pose seriously, it's actually those folks who are misguided. The Tigers are one of the best teams in baseball over the last calendar year, with a .607 winning percentage that is tied with the Milwaukee Brewers for the best mark in the majors over that span.

For those who have been paying attention, Detroit didn't start becoming a formidable foe in the first half of 2025, and instead has been playing to the best record in baseball in what is essentially a full season's sample of games dating back to last August. For those of you counting at home, that performance has been better than a number of established contenders, including the reigning World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers. And let's not forget how the Tigers have a roster comprised of inferior talent compared to some of the best in the league.

The Tigers may not have had the impactful trade deadline that fans were hoping for, but this was already a very good roster with solid depth and few real holes. As a result, the Tigers should have earned some grace as they navigate a midseason blip because, as we can clearly see, regression to the mean is coming for them. And in this case, the mean is performing like one of the very best teams in the game.