Taking A Look At The Tigers 10 Days In The Season

As of this writing (morning of April 18th), the Detroit Tigers are 4-5 on the 2022 season after taking two out of three from the Kansas City Royals (it was supposed to be four, but Sunday's game was rained out).

And even though we're only nine games into a 162 game schedule, a lot has happened to Detroit's Major League Baseball team in the first ten days of the long season.

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And a lot of it has to do with....INJURIES!!!!!  Let's start with the rapidly depleting pitching staff.

STARTING PITCHING INJURIES

The starting staff was already down a man at the start of the season because Spencer Turnbull is probably out for the year as he recovers from Tommy John surgery.  Now Casey Mize is on the injured list with an elbow injury, and Matt Manning was removed from his last start after two innings due to shoulder discomfort.

Add in the ineffectiveness of free agent acquisition Eduardo Rodriguez (so far, at least), and they have a potential major problem on their hands.

BULLPEN INJURIES

Like the starting staff, they started the season a man down with set-up man Jose Cisnero on the 60-Day Injured List due to a shoulder injury.  Late signee Andrew Chafin has started the season on the IL, as has Kyle Funkhouser.  Add in the issues with Wily Peralta and Michael Pineda, and you've got another problem, potentially.

POSITION PLAYER INJURIES

Catcher Jake Rogers is out for most of the year due to Tommy John surgery.  Outfielder Derek Hill is starting the year on the IL.  But the bigger deal is shortstop Javier Baez (pictured above) being put on the IL due to a thumb injury suffered on Opening Day.  He was off to a great start this season before being put on the IL.  Outfielder Robbie Grossman has nursed an injury, but hasn't been put on the IL yet.  And let's not forget about oufielder Riley Greene, who's out until at least Memorial Day due to a broken foot.  He would've made the team out of spring training if not for the injury.

ON THE OTHER HAND...

Let's end this article on a positive note.  Javier Baez has looked good so far.  So has Austin Meadows.  Miguel Cabrera is five hits away from 3,000 (he'll likely get that during this week's homestand).  And Spencer Torkelson looks really good.  The home run he hit against Kansas City last Friday night just landed five minutes ago.

There's a long way to go.  But it is alarming that so many guys are hurt this early in the season.

Are you as alarmed as I am?  Let us know what you think!!!