I Am Not Alone

Apparently, I wasn't the only one upset after Thursday afternoon's horrible loss to Cleveland. A couple of players were quoted in today's newspapers as not really pleased with the Tigers current state of affairs. The guys wearing the Old English D are basically calling for change as I did about twenty-four hours ago.

Looking at Crystal Evola's article in today's Oakland Press we find back-up catcher Vance Wilson sharing his concern. Wilson said that "we should be a little embarrassed about the overall season". The veteran backstop suggested everyone in the organization can take a share of the blame for the dismal campaign.

Wilson's most painful statement came when asked about the team's repeated mistakes.

"To me, that's the players' lack of preparation", Wilson said. "We can continue to roll in it or get positive and fix it. Hopefully, that's what we're doing and working toward."

Wilson wasn't alone in his less than complimentary analysis. Magglio Ordonez had some interesting things to say to the Detroit Free Press' John Lowe. Ordonez flatly announced "I think we stink". Things didn't get better from there. These two sentences from Lowe's piece speak volumes.

"You have to get used to winning," Ordonez said. "Winning is a habit. Losing is a habit."

"We need to change our attitude," Ordonez said. "We should be over .500."

It sounds to me like their is an attitude problem in the Tigers' clubhouse. Maggs (Mags?) and Wilson were appear to say what I did yesterday-change does appear to be in order at Comerica Park.

If you are Alan Trammell neither player did much to help your cause here. A lack of preparation? That sounds like a manager's job to me. So, too, does changing the attitude of the ballclub.

If there is indeed a losing mentality around the Tigers dugout, I would expect Dave Dombrowski to find it and flush it out as he did with the ballclub when he first arrived. A number of players who were more concerned about things other than winning found themselves in another city as soon as it was possible, no matter what us in Tigertown felt about the guys being sent away.

I would hope Dombrowski would do the same, again. If Pudge Rodriguez is part of the problem and not part of the solution, he must go. As much as it pains me to say it, if Trammell must go, then he, too, must be shown the door.

I'd prefer a promotion for a Tiger legend, but if Tram can't muster enough respect to get the players to prepare and there is a losing attitude around the team, Trammell has to be held accountable. That goes with the job.

It's becoming more and more clear that there may need to be some substantial changes in this team before Opening Day 2006. I may not be the only one who thinks so.