2014 Detroit Tigers season

The 2014 Detroit Tigers season was the team's 114th season. This was the team's first year under a mostly new coaching staff led by rookie Manager Brad Ausmus. On September 28, the last day of the regular season, the Tigers clinched the American League Central title with a 3–0 win over the Minnesota Twins. The Tigers finished one game ahead of the Kansas City Royals, with a 90–72 record. It was their fourth consecutive American League Central title. They became the first AL Central team to win four consecutive titles since the Cleveland Indians won five straight from 1995 to 1999, and the first Tigers team to ever make four consecutive postseason appearances.[1] Despite all of this, the Tigers' season ended on October 5 when they were swept by the Baltimore Orioles in the American League Division Series.[2] This snapped Detroit's streak of three consecutive American League Championship Series appearances.

2014 Detroit Tigers
American League Central Champions
Major League affiliations
Location
Results
Record90–72 (.556)
Divisional place1st
Other information
Owner(s)Mike Ilitch
General manager(s)Dave Dombrowski
Manager(s)Brad Ausmus
Local televisionFox Sports Detroit
(Mario Impemba, Rod Allen)
Local radioDetroit Tigers Radio Network
(Dan Dickerson, Jim Price)
StatsESPN.com
BB-reference
< Previous season     Next season >

Roster moves

Coaching staff

  • On October 21, Jim Leyland stepped down from his managerial position after eight years with Detroit.[3] He later confirmed that he joined the Tigers front office as a special assistant to team president/GM/CEO Dave Dombrowski.[4]
  • On November 3, the Tigers announced Brad Ausmus was named Leyland's successor, and signed to a three-year contract with a club option for 2017.[5]
  • On November 3, the Tigers announced bench coach Gene Lamont will return in the same role for the 2014 season.[6]
  • Hitting coach Lloyd McClendon did not return for 2014, as he was named the new manager of the Seattle Mariners on November 5.[7] The Mariners later hired former Tigers bullpen coach Mike Rojas.[8]
  • On November 6, the Tigers announced Jeff Jones would return as pitching coach. They also announced the hiring of Dave Clark as third-base coach and outfield instructor.[9]
  • On November 17, the Tigers announced the hiring of Wally Joyner as hitting coach, Mick Billmeyer as bullpen coach, and Matt Martin was named to the newly created post of defensive coordinator.[10]
  • On November 18, the Tigers announced the hiring of Omar Vizquel as the first-base, infield and baserunning coach.[10]
  • On November 25, the Tigers announced the hiring of Darnell Coles as assistant hitting coach, rounding out their 2014 coaching staff.[11]

Signings

  • On November 21, the Tigers avoided arbitration with relief pitcher Phil Coke with a one-year contract.[12]
  • On December 2, the Tigers avoided arbitration with utility player Don Kelly with a one-year contract.[13]
  • On December 4, the Tigers signed closer Joe Nathan to a two-year, $20 million contract, with a club option for 2016.[14]
  • On December 11, the Tigers signed outfielder Rajai Davis to a two-year, $10 million contract.[15]
  • On December 13, the Tigers signed pitcher Joba Chamberlain to a one-year contract worth $2.5 million plus incentives.[16]
  • On January 8, the Tigers re-signed shortstop José Iglesias to a one-year, $1.65 million contract.[17]
  • On January 17, the Tigers avoided arbitration when they reached one-year deals with pitchers Al Alburquerque, Rick Porcello and Max Scherzer, and outfielders Andy Dirks and Austin Jackson. Scherzer, the reigning AL Cy Young winner, received a $15.525 million salary for 2014.[18]
  • On January 31, the Tigers avoided arbitration with catcher Alex Avila, agreeing on a one-year contract worth $4.15 million with a club option for 2015.[19]
  • On February 24, the Tigers reached one-year deals with third baseman Nick Castellanos, outfielder Steven Moya, and pitchers Drew Smyly, Kyle Lobstein, José Ortega, Luke Putkonen and Evan Reed.[20]
  • On March 1, the Tigers rounded out their 40-man roster by signing one-year deals with pitchers José Álvarez, Ian Krol, Melvin Mercedes, and Bruce Rondón; catcher Bryan Holaday, second basemen Steve Lombardozzi, Jr. and Hernán Pérez, and third baseman Francisco Martínez.[21]
  • On March 24, the Tigers signed outfielder J. D. Martinez to a minor league contract.[22]
  • On March 28, the Tigers signed Miguel Cabrera to an eight-year, $248 million contract extension. Combined with the $44 million the Tigers owed on the remaining two years of Cabrera's current contract, the total ten-year commitment is worth $292 million, and will keep Cabrera under contract until at least 2023.[23]
  • On March 29, the Tigers purchased the contract of outfielder Tyler Collins from AA Erie.[24]
  • On May 2, the Tigers signed relief pitcher Joel Hanrahan to a one-year, $1 million contract, plus incentives.[25]
  • On August 5, the Tigers signed relief pitcher Jim Johnson to a minor-league contract.[26]

Releases

Trades

Season highlights

Individual accomplishments

Pitching

  • On May 5, Max Scherzer became the first pitcher in franchise history to start a season with seven or more strikeouts in his first seven starts, and the first American League pitcher to do so since Mike Mussina in 2003.[40]
  • On June 12, Max Scherzer ended a drought of 178 career starts without a complete game when he pitched a complete game shutout in a three-hit 4–0 win over the Chicago White Sox. This was the longest stretch any major league starter had gone without a complete game since 1900.[41]
  • On July 1, Rick Porcello became the first Tiger to pitch back-to-back shutouts since Jack Morris in 1986. Following a 6–0 shutout win over the Texas Rangers on June 26, he shut out the Oakland Athletics 3–0 in his next start. In the latter game, Porcello became the first Major League pitcher to throw a shutout without a walk or a strikeout since Jeff Ballard on August 21, 1989, and the first Tiger pitcher to do so since Dizzy Trout in 1944.[42]
  • On July 26, Drew Smyly became the first Detroit Tigers left-hander to strike out at least 11 batters in a game since David Wells on June 4, 1993.[43]
  • On August 14, Max Scherzer recorded a season-high 14 strikeouts in a 5–2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.[44] Coincidentally, Max's career high of 15 strikeouts in a game also came at the expense of the Pirates, on May 20, 2012.[45]
  • On August 20, Rick Porcello recorded his third complete game shutout of the season in a three-hit 6–0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. Porcello ties Henderson Álvarez for the major league lead in shutouts. Porcello's three complete game shutouts are the most by a Tiger pitcher in a single season since Jeff Weaver threw three in 2002.[46]
  • On August 21, David Price allowed one hit and one unearned run, in a complete game 1–0 loss against his former team, the Tampa Bay Rays. Price is the first pitcher in the major leagues to lose a complete game, one-hitter or better, with no earned runs since Andy Hawkins lost a no-hitter for the New York Yankees on July 1, 1990. It was the first time since 1914 that a pitcher has lost a complete game, one-hit, no walk start without allowing an earned run.[47]
  • On August 24, Max Scherzer became the American League's first 15-game winner this season after the Tigers defeated the Minnesota Twins 13–4.[48]
  • On September 28, in the AL Central division-clinching game, David Price struck out eight Minnesota Twins batters to overtake the Cleveland Indians' Corey Kluber for the most strikeouts in the major leagues. Price finished with 271 strikeouts to Kluber's 269.[49]

Hitting

  • On May 13, Víctor Martínez became the second Detroit Tigers player to hit a home run completely out of Oriole Park at Camden Yards and onto Eutaw Street, following Mickey Tettleton in 1992.[50]
  • On June 7, Nick Castellanos had his third consecutive three-hit game, making him the fifth rookie in Tigers history to do so, and the first since Ricky Peters in 1980.[51]
  • On June 14, Eugenio Suárez fell a single shy of the cycle, hitting a solo home run, double, and triple, to help the Tigers defeat the Minnesota Twins, 12–9.[52]
  • On June 30, Rajai Davis hit a walk-off grand slam to defeat the Oakland Athletics 5–4, the day the Tigers celebrated the 30th anniversary of the 1984 World Series winning team. It was the first walk-off grand slam by a Tiger since Carlos Peña on June 27, 2004, the day the Tigers celebrated the 20th anniversary of their 1984 title-winning team. The last Tigers walk-off grand slam before that was 10 years earlier, on June 21, 1994, by Lou Whitaker.[53]
  • Austin Jackson finished the month of July with 15 multi-hit games, the second most in franchise history in the month of July, behind only Ron LeFlore with 16 in 1977.[54]
  • On October 2, during Game 1 of the ALDS against the Baltimore Orioles, Ian Kinsler saw 37 pitches in four plate appearances, tying him with Bobby Abreu for fourth most in a postseason game since the statistic began being kept in 1988. Kinsler broke the record for most pitches seen in a playoff game in four or fewer plate appearances, previously held by Manny Ramirez, seeing 31 in Game 3 of the 2007 ALDS. Kinsler averaged 9.25 pitches per plate appearance, breaking the old mark of 7.75 that was also set by Ramirez in Game 3 of the 2007 ALDS.[55]
  • On October 3, during Game 2 of the ALDS against the Baltimore Orioles, J. D. Martinez became the first player in Tigers history to homer in each of his first two career postseason games, the 16th player in Major League history, and the first overall since Arizona's Paul Goldschmidt in 2011.[56]
  • Designated hitter Víctor Martínez won the American League's Silver Slugger Award at DH, with a .335 batting average (second in the AL to Houston's José Altuve), 32 home runs, .974 OPS (which led all of baseball), and his .409 on-base percentage (which led the AL).[57] Martínez was also named a finalist for the American League Most Valuable Player award, finishing second to Mike Trout.[58]

Defensive

Team accomplishments

  • On August 2, the Tigers scored at least one run in every inning of the game in an 11–5 win over the Colorado Rockies. They became the first team to accomplish this feat since the New York Yankees did so against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 29, 2006, and the first Tigers team to do so since 1912.[60]
  • On August 10, the Tigers were defeated by the Toronto Blue Jays 6–5 in a 19 inning game that took six hours and 37 minutes. It was the first 19 inning game for the Tigers since April 27, 1984. The game was the second longest Tigers game in duration since a 22-inning, seven-hour game on June 24, 1962. It tied for the fourth longest game innings-wise in franchise history.[61][62]
  • On August 24, the Tigers tied the franchise record for the most hits in a four-game series with 60 hits against the Minnesota Twins. The last time the Tigers had 60 hits in a four-game series was against the Chicago White Sox in 1956.[48]
  • The Tigers spent 162 calendar days atop of the American League Central, the most days in first place by any team in the majors during the 2014 season.[63]
  • On October 2, during Game 1 of the ALDS against the Baltimore Orioles, Víctor Martínez and J. D. Martinez hit back-to-back home runs in the second inning. During Game 2 of the ALDS, J. D. Martinez and Nick Castellanos hit back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning. The Tigers became the fourth team in postseason history to hit back-to-back home runs in consecutive postseason games, following the Tampa Bay Rays during the 2008 ALCS, the Florida Marlins during the 2003 NLCS, and the New York Yankees during the 1995 ALDS.[64] Detroit is the first team in history to open the postseason with back-to-back home runs in consecutive games.[65]

All-Stars

The Tigers sent three players to the 2014 All-Star Game. First baseman Miguel Cabrera was voted in as the starter at first base in the fan voting, while designated hitter Víctor Martínez and pitcher Max Scherzer were selected as reserves in the player voting.[66] Martínez did not participate in the All-Star game due to right side soreness, so his teammate, second baseman Ian Kinsler, took his place on the American League roster.[67] The Tigers had a chance to send a fourth player to the All-Star Game this season, as pitcher Rick Porcello was one of the five finalists for the AL in the All-Star Final Vote, but he was beaten out by Chris Sale of the Chicago White Sox.[68]

Scherzer became the winning pitcher of the game, the first Tiger to do so since Jim Bunning in 1957,[69] while Cabrera became the first Tiger to hit a home run in the All Star Game since Lou Whitaker did so in 1986.[70]

Standings

American League Central

AL Central W L Pct. GB Home Road
Detroit Tigers 9072 0.556 45–36 45–36
Kansas City Royals 8973 0.549 1 42–39 47–34
Cleveland Indians 8577 0.525 5 48–33 37–44
Chicago White Sox 7389 0.451 17 40–41 33–48
Minnesota Twins 7092 0.432 20 35–46 35–46

Game Log

Regular season

Legend
Tigers win Tigers loss Game postponed

Postseason

American League Division Series

Detailed Records

Roster

2014 Detroit Tigers
Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

  •  9 Nick Castellanos
  • 28 Álex González

Outfielders

Manager

Coaches

Player stats

Batting

Note: G = Games played; AB = At Bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; AVG = Batting average; SB = Stolen bases

Player G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI AVG SB
Alex Avila 12439044852201147.2180
Miguel Cabrera 15961110119152125109.3131
Ezequiel Carrera 456912184102.2617
Nick Castellanos 148533501383141166.2592
Tyler Collins 1824360014.2500
Rajai Davis 13446164130272851.28236
Álex González 930450102.1670
Bryan Holaday 62156143651015.2311
Torii Hunter 142549711573321783.2864
Austin Jackson+ 10037452102255433.2739
Don Kelly 9516324405107.2456
Ian Kinsler 1616841001884041792.27515
J. D. Martinez 123441571393032376.3156
Víctor Martínez 1515618718833032103.3353
James McCann 912231000.2501
Steven Moya 118230000.3750
Hernán Pérez 85110000.200
Andrew Romine 94251305760212.22712
Eugenio Suárez 85244335991423.2423
Danny Worth 2042571005.1670

+Totals with Tigers only.

Pitching

Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts

Starters

Player W L ERA G GS SV IP R ER BB K
Rick Porcello15133.4332310204⅔897841129
David Price+443.591111077⅔32311582
Aníbal Sánchez853.4322210126554830102
Max Scherzer1853.1533330220⅓807763252
Drew Smyly+693.9321180105⅓48463189
Justin Verlander15124.543232020611410465159

+Totals with Tigers only.

Bullpen

Player W L ERA G GS SV IP R ER BB K
Al Alburquerque312.51720157⅓16162163
Joba Chamberlain253.5769026326252459
Phil Coke523.88620158282520
Buck Farmer0111.574209⅓1212511
Blaine Hardy212.5438003912112031
Jim Johnson106.9216001313101214
Corey Knebel+006.238008⅔76311
Ian Krol004.96450132⅔23181328
Kyle Lobstein124.3576039⅓201914
Pat McCoy003.86140014661311
Melvin Mercedes000.0010020002
Justin Miller105.1180012⅓9725
Joe Nathan544.81620355832312954
José Ortega0127.001001⅓4441
Luke Putkonen0027.002002⅔8821
Robbie Ray148.1696028⅔262611
Evan Reed014.18320032⅓191512
Kyle Ryan202.6161010⅓3324
Chad Smith005.40100011⅔7739
Joakim Soria114.91130111762
Drew VerHagen015.4011053334
Kevin Whelan0013.501001⅓2221

+Totals with Tigers only.

Farm system

Level Team League Manager
AAA Toledo Mud Hens International League Larry Parrish
AA Erie SeaWolves Eastern League Lance Parrish
A Lakeland Flying Tigers Florida State League Dave Huppert and Bill Dancy
A West Michigan Whitecaps Midwest League Andrew Graham
A-Short Season Connecticut Tigers New York–Penn League Mike Rabelo
Rookie GCL Tigers Gulf Coast League Basilio Cabrera

[71]

References

  1. Detroit Tigers achieve rare feat with fourth straight division title, took wild ride to get there MLive.com, September 28, 2014
  2. Tigers' rally falls short, season ends with ALDS sweep MLB.com, October 5, 2014
  3. Leyland steps down after eight years with Tigers MLB.com, October 21, 2013
  4. Jim Leyland says he will be 'special assistant' to Dave Dombrowski, Detroit Tigers Detroit Free Press, January 8, 2014
  5. Tigers tab Ausmus as club's next skipper MLB.com, November 3, 2013
  6. Lamont full circle as Ausmus' bench coach MLB.com, November 3, 2013
  7. Mariners name McClendon next skipper MLB.com, November 5, 2013
  8. Former Tigers coaches Mike Rojas, Andy Van Slyke added to Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon's staff MLive.com, November 25, 2013
  9. Ausmus retains Jones, adds Clark to coaching staff Archived November 10, 2013, at the Wayback Machine MLB.com, November 6, 2013
  10. Omar Vizquel to be Part of Tigers Coaching Staff Archived December 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine MLB.com, November 18, 2013
  11. Tigers name Coles assistant hitting coach MLB.com, November 25, 2013
  12. Tigers reach one-year contract with Coke MLB.com, November 21, 2013
  13. Tigers retain Kelly with $1M deal before deadline MLB.com, December 2, 2013
  14. Tigers, Nathan announce two-year pact Archived December 16, 2013, at the Wayback Machine MLB.com, December 4, 2013
  15. Tigers finalize two-year deal with outfielder Davis MLB.com, December 10, 2013
  16. Tigers, Chamberlain agree to terms on one-year deal MLB.com, December 13, 2013
  17. Iglesias, Tigers agree to one-year deal MLB.com, January 8, 2014
  18. Tigers sign Max Scherzer for 2014, avoid arbitration cbssports.com, January 17, 2014.
  19. Tigers' deal with Avila clears arbitration slate MLB.com, January 31, 2014
  20. Detroit finalizes one-year deals with Smyly, six others MLB.com, February 24, 2014
  21. Tigers sign Lombardozzi, seven others to deals MLB.com, March 1, 2014
  22. Tigers sign Martinez to Minors deal, add outfield depth Archived March 25, 2014, at the Wayback Machine MLB.com, March 24, 2014
  23. Miggy, Tigers agree on record extension MLB.com, March 84, 2014
  24. Last set of moves brings roster to 25 Archived March 30, 2014, at the Wayback Machine MLB.com, March 29, 2014
  25. Hanrahan signs one-year deal with Tigers MLB.com, May 2, 2014
  26. Tigers ink reliever Johnson in hopes he regains form MLB.com, August 5, 2014
  27. Tigers inform backup Pena he won't return for 2014 MLB.com, October 30, 2013
  28. Jose Veras becomes free agent after Tigers decline option MLB.com, November 1, 2013
  29. Cardinals agree to contract with free agent infielder Jhonny Peralta cbssports.com, November 24, 2013.
  30. Benoit not likely to return to Tigers as setup man MLB.com, December 4, 2013
  31. Royals announce $30.25M, 4-year deal for 2B Omar Infante foxsports.com, December 16, 2013.
  32. Former Tigers infielder Ramon Santiago, Cincinnati Reds agree to minor league deal with camp invite MLive.com, January 30, 2014.
  33. Tigers release Gonzalez, call up Worth MLB.com, April 20, 2014
  34. Kinsler joins Tigers as Fielder dealt to Texas MLB.com, November 21, 2013
  35. Tigers send Fister to Nats for three players Archived December 6, 2013, at the Wayback Machine MLB.com, December 2, 2013
  36. Tigers acquire Romine from Halos for Alvarez MLB.com, March 21, 2014
  37. Tigers get shortstop Gonzalez from Orioles MLB.com, March 24, 2014
  38. "Tigers land All-Star reliever Soria from Rangers". MLB.com. July 23, 2014. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  39. Tigers land biggest Deadline prize in Price MLB.com, July 31, 2014
  40. Detroit 2, Houston 0: Max Scherzer pitches eight shutout innings in Tigers' win freep.com, May 5, 2014
  41. "Scherzer goes the distance for first time to beat Sale". MLB.com. June 12, 2014. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  42. Porcello extends scoreless streak with shutout of A's MLB.com, July 1, 2014
  43. Smyly bends in sixth inning of 11-K effort MLB.com, July 26, 2014
  44. Scherzer dominates with season-high 14 strikeouts MLB.com, August 14, 2014
  45. "Scherzer Detroit Tigers' Max Scherzer fans 15 batters, falls one strikeout shy of team record in 4-3 win". MLive.com. May 20, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  46. Tigers 6, Rays 0: Victor Martinez crushes grand slam, Rick Porcello tosses three-hit shutout in Tampa MLive.com, August 20, 2014
  47. Tigers squander Price's stellar return vs. Rays MLB.com, August 21, 2014
  48. Offense erupts as Scherzer collects 15th win MLB.com, August 24, 2014
  49. Trister, Noah (September 28, 2014). "Tigers win AL Central with 3-0 victory over Twins". cbssports.com. Retrieved September 29, 2014.
  50. Miggy hits ninth-inning blast to rally Tigers MLB.com, May 13, 2014
  51. Rookie shortstop Suarez says he's ready to help Tigers MLB.com, June 7, 2014
  52. Tigers top Twins with season-high 12 runs MLB.com, June 14, 2014
  53. Davis belts walk-off grand slam to lift Tigers over A's MLB.com, June 30, 2014
  54. Austin Jackson gets emotional send-off as Tigers lose USAToday.com, July 31, 2014
  55. Did You Know? Tigers-Orioles ALDS Game 1 Archived October 5, 2014, at the Wayback Machine MLB.com, October 2, 2014
  56. Tigers go back-to-back in second straight game MLB.com, October 3, 2014
  57. Top of talented DH class, V-Mart wins Silver Slugger MLB.com, November 6, 2014
  58. Axisa, Mike (November 4, 2014). "BBWAA announces finalists for 2014's major awards". CBS Sports. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  59. Kinsler named Defensive Player of the Year at second base MLB.com, November 5, 2014
  60. Tigers score in every inning to rout Rockies MLB.com, August 2, 2014
  61. Tigers drop 19-inning heartbreaker in series finale MLB.com, August 10, 2014
  62. Blue Jays 6, Tigers 5: Detroit suffers walk-off loss in 19-inning marathon; AL Central lead dwindles MLive.com, August 10, 2014
  63. "2014 Detroit Tigers". BaseballReference.com. Retrieved October 2, 2014.
  64. Orioles Ride 4-Run Eighth Past Tigers ESPN.com, October 3, 2014
  65. Did You Know? Tigers-Orioles ALDS Game 2 MLB.com, October 3, 2014
  66. Miggy leads trio of All-Star Tigers headed to Minny MLB.com, July 7, 2014
  67. Kinsler takes V-Mart's spot on ASG roster MLB.com, July 11, 2014
  68. Porcello falls short in Final Vote ballot MLB.com, July 10, 2014
  69. Scherzer earns rare Midsummer Classic win MLB.com, July 16, 2014
  70. Cabrera launches first All-Star Game homer MLB.com, July 16, 2014
  71. Leventhal, Josh, ed. (2014). Baseball America 2015 Almanac. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America. ISBN 978-1-932391-54-1.
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