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The 2000s Detroit Tiger Almanac displays a team that seems to be going nowhere until...
   
...the big surprise of 2006. The almanac for the 2000s is pretty depressing... a respectable team which opened Comerica Park in 2000, but getting worse and worse every year... the disaster of 2003 seemed to wake up ownership and things began to happen... As the new millennium opened, Tiger fans were ALREADY sick of losing- 6 straight years- and little did we know, there was a WHOLLLE lot more coming... sure, we had the brand spanking new Comerica Park, but that novelty would wear off in a hurry. No one was turning out, no matter where, to watch bad-wretched-HORRIBLE baseball. Check out the year-by-year summaries below! We'll do some of the more interesting seasons (for better or worse) in detail later! - STAY TUNED!
| Year | Finish | W | L | Pct | GB | Manager | Attendance | |
| 2000 | Third | 79 | 83 | 488 | 16 | Phil Garner | 2,438,617 | |
| 2001 | Fourth | 66 | 96 | 407 | 25 | Phil Garner | 1,921,305 | |
| 2002 | Fifth | 55 | 106 | 342 | 39 | Garner, Pujols | 1,503,623 | |
| 2003 | Fifth | 43 | 119 | 265 | 47 | Alan Trammell | 1,368,245 | |
| 2004 | Fourth | 72 | 90 | 444 | 20 | Alan Trammell | 1,917,004 | |
| 2005 | Fourth | 71 | 91 | 438 | 28 | Alan Trammell | 2,024,431 | |
| 2006 | Second | 95 | 67 | 586 | 1 | Jim Leyland | 2,595,937 | |
| 2007 | Second | 88 | 74 | 543 | 8 | Jim Leyland | 3,047,124 | |
| 2000s | | 569 | 726 | 439 | 184 | | 16,816,286 | |
| Avg | | 71 | 91 | 438 | 23 | | 2,102,036 |
The Tigers looked to Cleveland- who EVER looks to Cleveland?- and, after years of lowballing the payroll, thought they could sign a free agent or two, have a little luck in the farm system and PRESTO! ... a contending team in a brand new ballpark. But.......... it DID NOT work out that way, did it? The farm system had not produced for years and the free agent gambles did not pay off or were injury victims - poor Dean Palmer - so we were left in baseball hell.
 2000(79-83)
Todd Jones saves 42 and Jeff Weaver wins 11
Bobby Higginson has 30 home runs and over 100 RBIs... even bats .300 and gets a HUGE contract, but this is his last big year
The big trade for Juan Gonzalez is already looking bad. A proven 40 home run guy, he hits only 22 and doesn't appear to be very happy in Detroit
The Almanac says:
Big gamble- big trade... injury prone Justin Thompson, Francisco Cordero and others for Gonzalez. It doesn't work out very well... but not a horrible year... after starting 5-17, the Tigers still win 79 games under first year Manager Phil Garner.
2001(66-96)Tony Clark makes the All-Star team but only hits 16 home runs in his last year in Detroit
Attendance drops below 2 million... a huge drop of 500,000
Deivi Cruz continues to decline and leaves after the season as a free agent
The Almanac says:
Tigers end April at 6-14, but actually make it to 20-20 after 40 games... slow decline after that. Dean Palmer's injury streak starts and he's never really productive again... you know you're in trouble when a 35 year old knuckleballer, Steve Sparks, is voted "Tiger of the Year"
2002(55-106)Damion Easley's skills have deteriorated... he's gone after this year, but his contract isn't
Robert Fick is the only All-Star with 17 home runs and a .270 average
Mike Maroth shows some promise as a rookie, but things'll get a lot tougher...
The Almanac says:
After an 0-6 start, Phil Garner leaves and Luis Pujols of all people takes over...Jeff Weaver is sent off in exchange for the frustrating Carlos Pena and Jeremy Bonderman... a good move for the future, but if you think we've bottomed out, you ain't seen- ah forget it.
2003(43-119)Poor Mike Maroth... he doesn't pitch THAT badly, but becomes the first 20 game loser in many years
Jeremy Bonderman is spared the 20 game loss distinction by being pulled in the last week of the season- Imagine TWO on one staff?
Dimitri Young is the only All-Star- a DH with 29 home runs
The Almanac says:
The great Alan Trammell, brought back to bring some respectability to the Old English D, is given a team that just can't compete... only a 2 game winning streak at the end of the year prevents them from setting a MAJOR LEAGUE RECORD for losses. We will eventually cover this season in detail- I hope my stomach can take it....
2004(72-90)Pudge Rodriguez makes the All-Star team... no surprise there... hits a robust .334
Carlos Guillen shows he's the real-deal! Hits .318 with power and almost 100 RBIs... we just love this guy!
Maroth and Bonderman pitch better, but they get much better support... both go 11-13
The Almanac says:
The disgrace of 2003 really shakes up some people... Dave Dombrowski makes major moves... free agents Pudge Rodriguez and Fernando Vina are signed... Carlos Guillen is stolen from Seattle ... Tigers win their first 5 and stay within 10 games of .500 for most of the season... attendance increases over half a million... are things finally turning around?
2005(71-91) | Carlos Guillen | Placido Polanco is picked up in June... hits .338, solidifies the infield and signs a long-term deal... we love this guy
Magglio Ordonez is dogged by injuries, but still hits over .300
Justin Verlander gets a couple of starts... watch out!
The Almanac says:
Some more major acquisitions were made, especially the steal of Placido Polanco from the Phillies... Magglio Ordonez is signed as a free-agent and the team hangs around .500 for most of the year. A late season collapse costs Alan Trammell his job. | |
2006(95-67)2006 is a magical year... it deserves its own detailed write-up... and I'm just the guy to do it! ... as soon as I get time! In the meantime, here's a look at the Tigers' 10th World Series
2007(88-74)Magglio Ordonez has a monster year... leads the league in batting at .363, drives in 139 runs and smacks 28 home runs. Most years these would be MVP numbers.
Placido Polanco hits .341 and sets fielding records at 2nd base- what a pickup!
Justin Verlander keeps getting better- hurls a no-hitter against Milwaukee and leads the staff with 18 wins.
Curtis Granderson makes unbelievable plays in center field, smacks 23 home runs and 23 triples while batting .302.
The Almanac says:
This team seemed to have all the parts, but injuries really took a toll... Kenny Rogers spent most of the season on the DL, Gary Sheffield was hot while he was healthy, which was far too seldom... Zumaya and Rodney crippled the bullpen with their injuries. Nevetheless, the Tigers stayed in playoff contention until the final week and packed over three million fans into Comerica Park!
Go back to the GNARLY '90s!
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