What should have been a year to build upon last season’s postseason success went completely off the rails, along with the hopes and dreams of Detroit fans. Leadership starts at the top, and Chris Ilitch has failed as the owner of this team.
It’s shameful to see his father’s legacy being trampled by decisions that seem more focused on saving money than building a winning ball club. Fans fill the stadium, buy the merch, and support this team through thick and thin, yet this is the return they get? It’s inexcusable.
Detroit is a major sports market on the rise again, collegiate or professional, we’ve got it all. But the Tigers continue to lag behind, and the fan base is running out of patience. It’s exhausting!
Scott Harris didn’t help matters earlier this summer when he told fans he was “building for the future.” That kind of line doesn’t fly in this town. Detroit fans live for today! They show up, they spend their money, and they expect the same commitment from ownership. They literally went from hot to not after the all-star game! Let’s not forget the lack of bats at the trade deadline! How can the players stay motivated by this kind of leadership?
And while we’re talking accountability, how did A.J. Hinch not pinch hit in this game? He’s done it all season long. The inconsistency is mind-blowing. This isn’t the time to play it safe or second-guess yourself, especially with the season hanging in the balance. With the exception of Kerry Carpenter, where was the urgency? Where was the spark? Fans see it. They notice when a manager stops managing to win.
And one has to wonder, where are the women in the Ilitch family? Sheila Ford Hamp took over the Lions, and people questioned it at first. Not anymore. She did what many thought was impossible. She turned the franchise around and reignited the city’s pride. We’re not going back! The Ilitch women could take a page from that playbook. Detroit needs leadership that listens, cares, and acts.
Chris Ilitch is failing the legacy of this team in real time. Tarik Skubal has been nothing short of incredible, a Cy Young winner who just might repeat. So how do you not lock down your ace? Moves like that tell the fans everything they need to know.
Detroit deserves better. The Tigers deserve better.