Yuck

The Tigers are doing their best to keep things interesting down the stretch. For those still on the playoff bandwagon, there's plenty of time to jump off. They've now lost 6 of 8, giving up an average of 6.37 runs during that span. Worse still, Jarrod Washburn may be done for the season. For some, that may be a welcome relief. He's been nothing short of a disaster since arriving from Seattle. That would leave the Tigers with three starters - Verlander, Jackson, Porcello. The rest of the starters are either on the DL or should be (Robertson, Washburn, Galarraga, Willis).

Recent call-up Eddie Bonine will get the start tonight. Can the Tigers go with four starters the rest of the way? I don't know if they have any other options. Trotting out Washburn or Galarraga is a guaranteed loss. Minnesota must be licking their chops. They've got the Tigers at home for three games over the weekend. And then four more against the Tigers at the end of the month. They can easily overtake our beloved Tigers, especially if the Tiger pitching doesn't improve... not that the hitting's any better. The team has had dead bats all season, so the weak hitting is expected at this point. Four hits against a last place team? That's your 2009 Detroit Tigers.

I will concede that the Tigers have risen to the occasion when faced with adversity earlier in the season. They somehow have done just enough to survive. Yet, when they're bitch-slapped by the Royals four straight times, how do they inspire confidence? From this point on, each game is a playoff game.