If we had to narrow the Tigers’ dismal 2008 to one culprit it would be the pitching. While Detroit’s offense had many fits and starts throughout the season, the pitching was pretty much the same from March 31 to Sept. 28: awful.
Whether it was Dontrelle Willis‘ sudden inability to throw strikes or Justin Verlander‘s season of wild inconsistency or merely the bullpen’s tendency to do just about everything wrong, the pitching was Public Enemy No. 1 at Comerica Park and 13 other American League parks (not to mention parks across the N.L. West).
One final look at the Tigers pitching woes:
- Team ERA: 4.91 — 12th in A.L.; 27th in MLB
- Strikeouts: 991 — 11th / 25th
- Walks: 644 — 13th / 27th
- Blown Saves: 26
Oh, what the hay, let’s take a quick look at how the rotation fared:
- Verlander: 11-17, 4.84 ERA, one (and the Tigers’ only) complete game
- Armando Galarraga: 13-7, 3.73
- Kenny Rogers: 9-13, 5.70
- Nate Robertson: 7-11, 6.35
- Jeremy Bonderman: 3-4, 4.29
- Willis: 0-2, 9.38
Yep. Ugly.
But thankfully the 2008 season — and soon this list — is over and done with.
