Detroit Tigers’ bullpen woes loom in ALDS Game One loss

When Max Scherzer walked off the mound  following the recording of the first out in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Baltimore Orioles led the Detroit Tigers by a score of 4-3.  By the time Baltimore reliever Tommy Hunter came out of the pen in the top of the ninth inning to finish out the game, the Orioles had added eight more tallies, and led 12-3.

In the span of just two-thirds of an inning between the recording of the first out in the bottom of the eighth inning and the top of the ninth, the Detroit bullpen allowed six earned runs, five hits and issued a pair of walks.

It has been no secret for the last few seasons, the bullpen for Detroit has been their Achilles’ heel. Now, after one game in the 2014 Division Series, it’s clear that they still have a square peg in a round hole.

Joba Chamberlain, who was acquired in the offseason, signing a one-year, $2.5 million deal, was the first man out of the Detroit pen Thursday night, and his work was short – to say the least. He threw just six pitches, surrendering two runs – one earned – on a base hit, which came in the form of an RBI single by Nelson Cruz. That was enough for first-year manager Brad Ausmus, and he quickly turned to Joakim Soria with his team now trailing 6-3 on the road.

Soria, who was also acquired midseason to shore up the relief corps down the stretch, was even worse. Recording just one out, he was hit for four earned runs on three hits and a walk. The right-hander enters Friday’s contest sporting an unsightly 108.00 ERA. The third reliever of the inning, left-hander Phil Coke, came in to face a pair of left-handers – Nick Markakis and Alejandro De Aza. The southpaw promptly walked Markakis before serving up a two-run double to De Aza – his second two-bagger of the contest.

It has been no secret for the last few seasons, the bullpen for Detroit has been their Achilles’ heel.  This was especially true following the last year’s American League Championship Series, which saw the Tigers bullpen squander lead after lead that was given to them. Now, after one game in the 2014 Division Series, it’s clear that they still have a square peg in a round hole.

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Tigers’ GM Dave Dombrowski and his front office team had the entire offseason and the trade deadline to fully address the needs of the bullpen and while, yes, moves were made such as bringing in Soria and former closer Joe Nathan, the solution still seems far way.  The idea of using disgraced Baltimore Orioles closer Jim Johnson at the back end of ball games was even briefly flirted with this year.

While it was only one game, it was definitely not the start that Ausmus was looking for from his pen.  It may be that the Tigers’ skipper could have to shake things up for Game Two and definitely before Game Three as Baltimore will likely look to continue an instinctive offensive prowess fully demonstrated in the latter half of the game.

For now, the pen will most likely be on a short leash, but the problem that the Tigers had hoped to avoid of going from starter to bullpen is still persistent. It is one of the few things that is holding this team back and depending on the way this series and the rest of the postseason may unfold, may ultimately lead them back to the drawing board.