The meta-narrative for you and Paul. In the Whitaker/Tranmell/Lemon era, the Tigers’ pitchers consistently had ERAs that were below, often WELL below their FIPs (eg 1984; 3.74 FIP, 3.49 ERA). They also usually had excellent

Posted on September 2, 2026 at 03:08:58 PM by brick

defensive metrics.

To me, regardless of specific Joe Falls articles or the horrifying “Big Game Jack” Mitch Albom treacle*, that strongly suggests an environment where absent overwhelming plaudits about their defense, the pitchers could be getting credit for the defense.

*Not even his worst effort. Albom’s “you should root for Alan Trammell because he’s underpaid and doesn’t complain about it” article might be the worst baseball article of the last 50 years.

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Crossing the streams, I think the 1984 Tigers were similar to the 2004 Pistons in that they were teams that had a whole bunch of minor stars and no real superstar - By Paul September 2, 2026 at 02:17:24 PM
- Alan Trammell was 4th in league WAR, Chet Lemon was 7th, and Willie Hernandez had one of the best seasons for a closer in the history of the game to that point. Like the Pistons, tho, I don’t think their true greatness was recognized until the analytics-era** - By Brad September 2, 2026 at 02:41:34 PM
  - 4th in bWAR despite missing 20 games. The thing I’m going to harp on is that it’s not just WAR. In 1984 Trammell hit .314/.382/.468 - By brick September 2, 2026 at 02:49:00 PM
    - His getting robbed of the 87 MVP by George Bell made a big difference I think* - By Rich September 2, 2026 at 02:54:17 PM
      - Ev’s hot take: Wade Boggs should’ve been MVP that year. Not trammell or bell.* - By Ev September 2, 2026 at 03:21:19 PM
      - Agree* - By brick September 2, 2026 at 02:59:16 PM
        
        Man, he hit .343!! 953 OPS to 957 for Bell while playing SS. - By Rich September 2, 2026 at 03:03:26 PM
        
        NL vote that year was bad too, though Dawson was a very sympathetic figure - By brick September 2, 2026 at 03:18:08 PM
- Trammell was a superstar and should’ve been considered one at the time - By brick September 2, 2026 at 02:21:48 PM
  - Unfortunately Tram decided to have his best season the same year Cal Ripken had one of the top-5 seasons of all time for a shortstop* - By Brad September 2, 2026 at 02:44:32 PM
    - Ripken OPS+ 112, Trammell 110. GG 4-2 Tram. Ripken first ballot, Trammell had to wait for old timers - By Rich September 2, 2026 at 02:59:26 PM
      - The meta-narrative for you and Paul. In the Whitaker/Tranmell/Lemon era, the Tigers’ pitchers consistently had ERAs that were below, often WELL below their FIPs (eg 1984; 3.74 FIP, 3.49 ERA). They also usually had excellent - By brick September 2, 2026 at 03:08:58 PM
        
        No doubt the Tiger D was strong up the middle. Not great on the edges though but middle matters more - By Rich September 2, 2026 at 03:19:37 PM

The Victors

The meta-narrative for you and Paul. In the Whitaker/Tranmell/Lemon era, the Tigers’ pitchers consistently had ERAs that were below, often WELL below their FIPs (eg 1984; 3.74 FIP, 3.49 ERA). They also usually had excellent