Tigers 2016: There Was a Lot of Good to the Season

The Tigers missed the post season for the second straight season, despite a nearly $200 million dollar payroll.  A lot of that payroll went to veterans Justin Verlander and Miguel Cabrera.  Both earned every penny.  Cabrera just earned another player of the month honor for a torrid September. Verlander was solid, going 16-9 with a 3.04 ERA.

"A lot of hard work for naught," Verlander said. "You can't say a wasted year because we battled and we gave it everything we had. ... Still, all the hard work in the offseason, all the hard work during the season, and then it comes to an end on the last day. It's tough."

There were lots of bright spots for the Tigers.  Veterans Ian Kinsler and Victor Martinez had solid seasons, as did younger players like J.D. Martinez and Nick Castellanos.   Cameron Maybin hit.315 and provided speed in the outfield and on the bases.

A big bright spot was the pitching of rookie Michael Fulmer, and youngsters Daniel Norris and Matt Boyd showed some real promise down the stretch.

That’s the good.  Tomorrow, I’ll look at the bad, and lay the blame for a failed season.