Tag: slump

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Detroit Tigers fighting through early season slump

Embed from Getty Images The 2019 Detroit Tigers have cold bats to start the season. There have been only 3 batters who have been the only offensive bright spots so far. Is it time to panic? No, still it is unsettling to begin the season in this fashion.

The Detroit Tigers currently have an OPS of .457, along with 23-164 that adds up to a .140 batting team average. 59 strikeouts with only 21 walks. Those are woeful numbers to be sure. This is a Detroit team that should hit better than they currently are.

Jeimer Candelario, Nicholas Castellanos and Niko Goodrum have been the only consistent hitters. The trio is a combined 15-57, .263. While the rest of the Detroit Batters are 8-107 .075. Yikes! That must improve, and it should as the weather gets warmer.

The most glaring issue is the Tigers lineup has produced only 8 extra base hits and 1 home run provided by Christin Stewart opening day. For a team that has power hitters, they have yet to get going.

Candelario and Stewart have had very good minor league success. That suggests they will get going at some point. Right now things are iffy in Motown. It is hard to see the team in a season long slump given the hitters they have. Perhaps it is a good thing the slump is now rather than later. Detroit is expected to call Daz Cameron up at some point. For a rookie, the veterans need to hit so he will get good pitches to see and hit.

It is early, the season is only a week old. For a team that was not going to win a bunch of games the focus was getting the young players to begin to produce at the major league level.

The Tigers pitching has been solid. It is the hitting that is causing problems right now. The good news is there are 156 game remaining on the season. Time to right the ship. Hopefully before the season slips away.

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Detroit Pistons head coach steadying the team during recent funk

Embed from Getty Images Dwane Casey has been the calm the Detroit Pistons have needed as the team is currently going through a rough patch. Showing why he is an NBA coach of the year.

 

The old saying is everyone is happy when things are going good. Which is why it is interesting that the Pistons players and coaches are happy during a December slump.  Players and coaches are not freaking out.

 

Dwane Casey said he refuses to cuss out a player because it would be counterproductive. Instead Casey has been working one on one with players who have hit an in season slump. That is the mark of a good coach.

 

While other teams coaches have been seen screaming at players. Casey meets them on the sidelines crouches down in front of them and talks to them followed by a hair ruffle or pat on the shoulder. Part of what has endeared him to his players.

 

His calming influence has been welcomed from Detroit basketball players since day one of training camp. Despite shooting woes and bad fouls the Pistons are still in good shape to make a bottom seeding in the NBA playoffs.

 

It is true the Pistons have things they need to clean up. As do many teams. The ace-in-the-hole is indeed Dwane Casey who has successfully maneuvered teams in similar positions the Pistons are in right now.

 

This is why he was brought to the Motor City. There is little doubt that Casey can not work his magic and get the Pistons back on track.

 

Sometimes it is coaching and sometimes it is letting players play through slumps. There is no magic potion or formula. It is a player by player need. Casey has a good beat on his team and the players absolutely love the coach.

 

Fans just need to trust the process. It is better to hit a December slump rather that late February-March slump. It is not about how you start or what happens/happened in the middle. But it is about how you finish. Dwane Casey understands this.