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Spencer Torkelson and Riley Greene, who are ranked No. 4 and No. 7 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 list, are expected to make their debut in the major leagues in 2022. The Tigers had a strong showing in the 2021 All-Rookie second team with the inclusion of Akil Baddoo, Eric Haase, Casey Mize, and Tarik Skubal.
The Tigers have announced their willingness to spend on a few free agents during this offseason. With manager A.J. Hinch leading the rebuild, there is ample reason to consider this team as a strong contender for a breakout season in 2022.
Is it sufficient for them to secure a place in the MLB playoffs? It is currently too early to determine (or gamble, although all MLB betting options are available here). However, we can analyze the rebuilding strategies of two American League organizations that opted for a gradual approach to see if there is any similar precedent.
Detroit Tigers (present rebuild ongoing)
- The most recent rebuild peak in terms of height was the 2012 World Series defeat against San Francisco.
- The most recent successful season during the previous rebuilding phase occurred in 2016 (with a record of 86-75).
- Summary of the Valley: After two successful seasons with a total of 64 wins, the team experienced a disappointing season with only 47 wins. In 2020, their record was 23-35. However, they made a strong comeback in 2021, finishing in third place with a record of 77-85.
- Playoff appearances have yet to be determined for the upcoming years.
To start off, let us examine the journey of the Detroit Tigers and how they arrived at this point.
In the years spanning from 2011 to 2014, the boys of summer achieved an impressive feat by securing four consecutive AL Central titles. However, their fortunes took a drastic turn in 2015 when they faced a major setback. Despite their determination, their subsequent attempt to reach the playoffs in 2016 ended in disappointment, marking their final failed push.
That’s when everything went completely wrong.
After achieving back-to-back seasons with 64 wins, the team experienced a significant decline in 2019, barely surpassing the 2003 Tigers’ abysmal record (43-119). The 2003 Tigers held the unenviable title of being the worst American League team since the 1916 Philadelphia Athletics (36-117). However, as a silver lining, their poor performance granted them the opportunity to select Torkelson as the top pick in the 2020 MLB Draft.
In 2019, Green was secured at No. 5 after their impressive performance in the 2018 season. Just a year earlier, a stunning walk-off home run by Pablo Sandoval on the final day of the season propelled them to the top pick, which ultimately led to the Tigers selecting Mize.
The team’s record of 23-35 during the COVID-19 shortened season somewhat diminishes the fact that if it were a full 162-game season, their win percentage of .397 would have resulted in a 64-98 record. However, Hinch’s arrival completely transformed the team, igniting a potential improvement of 13 wins over a full season.
Not to mention, Detroit turned their season around after a disappointing 9-24 start, finishing strong with a record of 68-61.
By the way, speaking of Hinch…
Houston Astros
- The previous height of contention was during the 2005 World Series loss to the Chicago White Sox.
- The most recent season of victory within the previous period of competitiveness was in 2008, with a record of 86-75.
- Summary of the Valley: After experiencing two successful seasons with 70 wins each, there were three consecutive seasons where the team’s performance declined, resulting in 51-56 wins. However, they managed to secure a fourth-place finish in the highly competitive AL West division. The following season, they made a remarkable comeback, earning a playoff spot. Unfortunately, they fell short and missed the playoffs in the subsequent season. However, their determination paid off as they eventually reached the World Series.
- There was a 10-year gap between playoff appearances.
In 2015, the Houston Astros, who had gone a decade without making it to the playoffs, made a significant move by hiring a promising manager named A.J. Hinch.
In the same season, they made it to the postseason, marking a remarkable improvement of 16 wins compared to the previous year. After missing the postseason in 2016, they achieved the incredible feat of winning the World Series in 2017. Although they fell short in the World Series in 2019, they have consistently reached the ALCS in every subsequent season, including 2021.
Additional: Betting opportunities for the World Series and season-long MLB bets
Carlos Correa, the first overall pick in 2012, became a valuable asset for the team as he topped all MLB position players with a Wins Above Replacement (WAR) of 7.2 in 2021. The team’s second-overall pick in 2015, Alex Bregman, who was acquired as compensation for not signing their 2014 draft pick, excelled by leading the entire MLB in WAR with an impressive 9.0 and securing second place in the MVP voting in 2019. Additionally, the team’s selection of Kyle Tucker as the No. 5 pick in the same 2015 draft proved fruitful, as the 24-year-old outfielder showcased his talent by completing his second full season in the majors with an outstanding OPS of .917 and a WAR of 5.7.
Not bad.
In conclusion, apart from Hinch’s presence, the Tigers and Astros share a significant similarity in their capability to acquire top-tier talent through the draft, which has led to a strong farm system. With players like Torkelson, Mize, and Greene, both teams anticipate their contributions to propel them from a steadily improving team to a legitimate championship contender.
Chicago White Sox
- The previous contending window reached its peak with the 2005 World Series victory against Houston.
- The most recent successful season within the previous period of competing: 2012.
- Here’s a revised version: <br><br>Summary of the Valley: Following their World Series victory in 2005, the team made only one playoff appearance (losing in the 2008 ALDS) until 2020. Their decline began in 2013 with a disappointing 63-99 record, consistently finishing fourth every year until 2018. However, their performance hit rock-bottom in 2017 (67-95) and 2018 (62-100). They showed some improvement with 72 wins in 2019, followed by a solid 35-25 record in 2020. Finally, in 2021, they bounced back strongly with a remarkable 93-69 record.
- It has been a span of 12 years since the last playoff appearance.
The White Sox’s rebuilding process was quite disorderly. They endured a staggering 12-year drought without making it to the postseason, experiencing both highs and lows throughout. Although they didn’t suffer as severely as Detroit or Houston (being third overall picks in 2014 and 2019), they did highlight the consequences of prematurely pushing a team to compete.
In 2016, Chicago had a promising start with a record of 23-10. They were determined to secure a playoff berth, which would have been their first in eight years. To strengthen their rotation for the playoffs, the team made a trade, sending Fernando Tatis, a finalist for the 2020 MVP award, to San Diego in exchange for James Shields. Unfortunately, their season ended with a fourth-place finish, prompting the organization to reset once again.
The offseason was filled with excitement as they made significant moves. They engaged in a fire sale before the 2017 season, acquiring promising players such as Yoan Moncada, Eloy Jimenez, and pitchers Lucas Giolito, Michael Kopech, and Dylan Cease. Additionally, they secured the No. 1 international prospect, Luis Robert, and selected Nick Madrigal as the third overall draft pick. These additions bolstered their existing core of Tim Anderson, Jose Abreu, and Carlos Rodon.
In 2017, the Tigers began trading their talented players for promising prospects, as they aimed to build a solid foundation for the future. This strategic move brought in notable prospects like Jeimer Candelario, Isaac Paredes, Jake Rogers, Alex Lange, and Daz Cameron, who all have the potential to contribute significantly to the Tigers’ upcoming competitive team.
Despite the Tigers’ commendable efforts in bolstering their rebuilding process through talent acquired in previous trades, they find themselves trailing behind Chicago in terms of progress.
The main cause for this is that the Tigers’ farm system has been drained due to years of competing. None of the Andersons, Abreus, or Rodons from the challenging times remain. Only Nicholas Castellanos could have potentially fit into such a position. Furthermore, the Tigers had to part ways with as many individuals as possible in order to rebuild the farm.
In conclusion, the Tigers’ progress closely mirrors that of the White Sox, albeit with a two-year lag. Both teams experienced two seasons with win totals in the 60s, followed by a step forward to achieve win totals in the 70s. If this trend continues, it suggests that the Tigers could be contending for the playoffs in 2022, although the White Sox may present a challenge.
Detroit Tigers (2006)
- The height of the previous competing window was achieved during the 1984 World Series triumph against San Diego.
- The most recent successful season within the previous period of contention was in 1993.
- Summary of the Valley: After enduring a decade of consecutive losing seasons, the Valley finally hit rock bottom in 2003 with a dismal record of 43-119. However, they managed to bounce back and achieve two seasons with win totals in the 70s. Their journey also included reaching the World Series as runners-up.
- The gap between playoff appearances amounts to 19 years.
Now let’s discuss the 2006 Tigers, the final team on our list.
Following a decline in 2003, the Tigers experienced two consecutive seasons with 72 and 71 wins. However, they defied the odds in 2006 by reaching the World Series through an unlikely victory in the ALCS, thanks to Magglio Ordonez’s game-winning home run off Oakland’s Huston Street.
The 2022 Tigers will be as many years away from their 47-win season in 2022 as the 2006 Tigers were from their 43-119 season.
Are you a believer in magic?
Take a moment to imagine: The Tigers’ resurgence in 2006 breathed fresh life into the baseball scene in Detroit. Prior to that, they had not experienced a postseason since 1987.
In the following years, they achieved four consecutive division titles, participated in the World Series, and made another journey to the ALCS. In a final effort to succeed, they formed a formidable pitching staff comprising of four Cy Young winners (a count that might increase if Robbie Ray secures the award this year). Their lineup was spearheaded by Miguel Cabrera, who became baseball’s first Triple Crown winner since 1967.
The 2014 postseason was marked by an escalating intensity. Despite deploying their star pitchers Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, and David Price against the Baltimore Orioles, the Detroit Tigers failed to secure a single victory. Adding to their disappointment, the division rivals, the Kansas City Royals, not only clinched the AL pennant that year but also emerged as the champions of the 2015 World Series.
Franchise stars and legends were gradually traded away, each finding success in new teams. Verlander, together with Hinch, secured a championship ring in 2017 while playing for Houston. Price, Rick Porcello, J.D. Martinez, and Ian Kinsler achieved victory with Boston in 2018. As for Scherzer and Anibal Sanchez, they joined the Washington Nationals and triumphed in 2019.
Since then, the Tigers have not participated in a playoff game. The year that the last Tigers player to win the Cy Young Award received his championship ring marked a low point for the team that was believed to be unattainable again.
The tragedy is both cruel and twisted.
Subsequently, Hinch emerged: The prominent figure of one of the most astonishing scandals in the sport’s past made a comeback from his downfall. Both he and the team he now leads have much to demonstrate and redeem.
What steps can a man take to seek redemption for such an act? How can the Tigers turn that pain into something meaningful?
This time, we will redo everything on the identical timeline and ensure completion of the task.
In conclusion, it can be inferred that the Tigers have a good chance of winning the AL Central in 2022. It would be interesting to check the futures odds for confirmation. Additionally, betting on the World Series futures could be an enjoyable option. Considering that the Tigers only need to surpass a team led by Tony La Russa to secure a spot in the postseason, there is a possibility of getting favorable odds. As we all know, sports can be unpredictable, and anything is possible.
