Yes, this feels different.
No question about it.
Everything about the Detroit Tigers seems newer and younger, fresher and more athletic.
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch calls it “a new identity” after the trade deadline.
“We're not the same as we were,” he said before the Tigers beat the Cleveland Guardians, 6-4, in Comerica Park on Tuesday, Aug. 11.
No, they are not, and this was a victory that showcased all that newness. The Tigers were running the bases (a double steal!), playing great defense and – here comes the big news – they beat the Guardians in Comerica Park. Yes, that’s incredibly different, considering Cleveland had won 12 of their last 13 in Detroit, including seven straight (not counting the postseason).
You know what else is new? The Tigers
have just about climbed out of that hole they dug in May. After winning eight of their last 10 games, the Tigers (59-60) are now one win from .500. They have climbed to second place in the American League Central, just 2½ games behind the Chicago White Sox, who will arrive later this week.
The goal is no longer just getting into the playoffs via the wild card. It’s winning the Central. And it sure is possible for a team that is racking up wins, winning series, brushing off the pressure and playing an exciting brand of baseball.
“It’s a ball when you are playing as a team and playing for everyone in this clubhouse,” said Kevin McGonigle, the rookie who drove in three runs and scored one himself. “It’s really special.”
You know what else was special? How McGonigle drove in Max Clark, his close friend, who made his Comerica Park debut with youthful exuberance.
“It was awesome from start to finish,” Clark said, beaming a bright smile. “Crowd was into it. I was into it. Beautiful night, too. On top of that, you really can't draw it up any better. And then, of course, beating a rival and a division rival, that was huge. It was a good night across the board. Pitching was great, offense was timely, and boys ran the base as well.”
Yep, that sums it up.
So, what the heck is going on?
How do you explain how they keep winning? After trading Tarik Skubal, Casey Mize and Jake Rogers?
It’s pretty simple, actually.
They are getting great starting pitching – Drew Anderson pitched four innings and gave up just one run.
They are playing great defense – on this night, McGonigle made a couple of great plays at third, Javier Báez made another one of his ridiculous snap-tags to cut down an attempted stolen base, Zach McKinstry had a fantastic running catch in the gap and Ben Malgeri had a tremendous catch running in foul territory.
They are getting clutch hitting – Torkelson and McGonigle both had critical doubles.
And they are getting enough pitching out of the pen – OK, even if Kenley Jansen made you hold your breath in the ninth.
“We're trying to win the Central and try to get into the playoffs, and every series and every game matters as we get closer to the finish line,” Hinch said. “So emotionally, I think there was a definitely a peak (at the trade deadline), but we're pretty good at resetting … being able to reset after losses, being able to reset after bad stretches, being able to reset after emotional wins, being able to reset after a roster transaction. I mean that has been a consistent thing that I've seen from my team.”
So, even though there have been changes, the DNA is still the same.
They just reset and move on.
Adding some key players
Yes, this team has lost players.
But Hinch is quick to point out something else.
“We also had some additions,” he said. “It's been incredible to watch Max Clark burst onto the scene, play incredible defense, contribute on offense. Watching his speed is a new element for this team. The youthfulness that comes with a debut, I think that's been incredible.”
But that’s just the start.
“I think (Eduardo) Valencia has sort of been undersold for what he's done in his brief time while he's been here,” Hinch said. “The return of Jackson Jobe, the emergence of Troy Melton. I mean, all those things are part of the new identity of a team when you when you lose some of the personalities and some of the accomplishments around the deadline.”
Now, think of it this way.
The Tigers finished this game with an outfield that consisted of Malgeri in left, Clark in center and James Outman in right.
I mean, who would have guessed that to start the season?
And yet, they keep winning.
But are they satisfied?
Of course not.
“We gotta get better – I have to get better,” Jansen said. “I have to be better. Everybody in the 'pen has to be better.”
So even though this team keeps climbing, keeps winning, keeps resetting, this is not the finish line.
In some ways, it’s just the beginning for this team with a new identity.
Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com. Follow him on X @seideljeff.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tigers' hot streak is just the beginning of their new identity
