One is not the loneliest for the Detroit Tigers

23

That distinction now belongs to the number “22” as in the number of times the Detroit Tigers have been shutout this season.

When you see the list of teams who have been shutout since the DH started in the AL in 1973, they all have one thing in common. It was within the first 10 years of when the DH rule was established. So when the Detroit Tigers were shutout for the 22nd time this season in last night’s 7-0 loss to the Twins, it made history, of course, for establishing the record.

There is a lot that stands out about this record.  Among the teams on the list, except for the 1981 Blue Jays, the 2022 Tigers have the largest discrepancy compared to the AL average. In 2022, it’s been at a .395 clip. Detroit’s slugging % is just .345.

Here’s the rest of the list:

1973 Yankees: AL average-.381 New York-.378

1975 Tigers: AL average-.379: Detroit-.366

1976 White Sox: AL average-.361 Chicago-.349

For the record books:

Query Results Table
RkSeasonTeamLgHRGPWLWL%Bat#PAABRH1B2B3BHRRBISBCSBBSOBAOBPSLGOPSOPS+TBGIDPHBPSHSFIBBLOBR/Gm
11976CHWAL731616497.398276174553258614101082209467353812053471739.255.314.349.6639419301043479554311993.6
Provided by Stathead.com: View Stathead Tool Used
Generated 10/1/2022.
Query Results Table
RkSeasonTeamLgHRGPWLWL%Bat#PAABRH1B2B3BHRRBISBCSBBSOBAOBPSLGOPSOPS+TBGIDPHBPSHSFIBBLOBR/Gm
11973NYYAL1311628082.494236064549264114351075212171316164743489680.261.322.378.70010120741422227343411334.0
Provided by Stathead.com: View Stathead Tool Used
Generated 10/1/2022.
Query Results Table
RkSeasonTeamLgHRGPWLWL%Bat#PAABRH1B2B3BHRRBISBCSBBSOBAOBPSLGOPSOPS+TBGIDPHBPSHSFIBBLOBR/Gm
11981TORAL611063769.349253887352132979757613723613146657284556.226.286.330.61774116372204418236583.1
Provided by Stathead.com: View Stathead Tool Used
Generated 10/1/2022.
Query Results Table
RkSeasonTeamLgHRGPWLWL%Bat#PAABRH1B2B3BHRRBISBCSBBSOBAOBPSLGOPSOPS+TBGIDPHBPSHSFIBBLOBR/Gm
11975DETAL12515957102.358235853536657013381003171391255466357383872.249.301.366.6668619621202837382610293.6
Provided by Stathead.com: View Stathead Tool Used
Generated 10/1/2022.
Query Results Table
RkSeasonTeamLgHRGPWLWL%Bat#PAABRH1B2B3BHRRBISBCSBBSOBAOBPSLGOPSOPS+TBGIDPHBPSHSFIBBLOBR/Gm
12022DETAL1021566393.404225647517552911948352302710250543223641362.231.286.345.63183178410756104289783.4
Provided by Stathead.com: View Stathead Tool Used
Generated 10/1/2022.

Detroit Tigers lack of power

It’s pretty clear Detroit lacks power. Unless Javier Baez goes on a home run tear, this will mark the 5th time since the DH era began, no Detroit Tigers player will hit 20 home runs. 2019, 1976, 1974 and 1973 were the other seasons.

Here’s the list of Tigers’ teams who have at least one or more players who hit 20 home runs.

Query Results Table
RkLgSeasonCount
Player List
1AL19866Darnell Coles, Darrell Evans, Kirk Gibson, Lance Parrish, Alan Trammell, Lou Whitaker
2AL20165Miguel Cabrera, Ian Kinsler, J.D. Martinez, Victor Martinez, Justin Upton
3AL19975Tony Clark, Damion Easley, Travis Fryman, Bobby Higginson, Melvin Nieves
4AL19965Tony Clark, Cecil Fielder, Travis Fryman, Bobby Higginson, Melvin Nieves
5AL19915Rob Deer, Cecil Fielder, Travis Fryman, Mickey Tettleton, Lou Whitaker
6AL19875Darrell Evans, Kirk Gibson, Chet Lemon, Matt Nokes, Alan Trammell
7AL20084Miguel Cabrera, Curtis Granderson, Magglio Ordóñez, Marcus Thames
8AL20074Curtis Granderson, Carlos Guillén, Magglio Ordóñez, Gary Sheffield
9AL20064Brandon Inge, Craig Monroe, Magglio Ordóñez, Marcus Thames
10AL19984Tony Clark, Damion Easley, Luis Gonzalez, Bobby Higginson
11AL19924Rob Deer, Cecil Fielder, Travis Fryman, Mickey Tettleton
12AL19854Darrell Evans, Kirk Gibson, Lance Parrish, Lou Whitaker
13AL20213Robbie Grossman, Eric Haase, Jonathan Schoop
14AL20173Nick Castellanos, Ian Kinsler, Justin Upton
15AL20143Miguel Cabrera, J.D. Martinez, Victor Martinez
16AL20093Miguel Cabrera, Curtis Granderson, Brandon Inge
17AL20003Juan González, Bobby Higginson, Dean Palmer
18AL19993Tony Clark, Damion Easley, Dean Palmer
19AL19933Cecil Fielder, Travis Fryman, Mickey Tettleton
20AL19843Kirk Gibson, Chet Lemon, Lance Parrish
21AL19833Larry Herndon, Chet Lemon, Lance Parrish
22AL19793Steve Kemp, Champ Summers, Jason Thompson
23AL19773Ben Oglivie, Rusty Staub, Jason Thompson
24AL20132Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder
25AL20122Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder
26AL20112Miguel Cabrera, Jhonny Peralta
27AL20052Craig Monroe, Dmitri Young
28AL20042Carlos Guillén, Carlos Peña
29AL20032Craig Monroe, Dmitri Young
30AL19952Chad Curtis, Cecil Fielder
31AL19942Cecil Fielder, Kirk Gibson
32AL19822Larry Herndon, Lance Parrish
33AL19802Steve Kemp, Lance Parrish
34AL19782Rusty Staub, Jason Thompson
35AL20181Nick Castellanos
36AL20151J.D. Martinez
37AL20101Miguel Cabrera
38AL19901Cecil Fielder
39AL19891Lou Whitaker
40AL19881Darrell Evans
41AL19751Willie Horton
Provided by Stathead.com: View Stathead Tool Used
Generated 10/1/2022.

It is pretty clear what Detroit will need next year. No, not move in the fences. To bring back the power.