The Detroit Tigers were expected to be running away with the AL Central by now. Most experts had them clinching the division by the All Star Break. I'll admit that I expected them to dominate the AL as well. So, what is wrong with the 2008 Tigers? Granted, their star-studded lineup hasn't quite lived up to expectations, but neither has their pitching. When the hitting and pitching goes south, so does the team's chances of making the playoffs.

But there is hope for the Tigers. There are two moves the Tigers can make to improve. There are two moves they can make to to salvage the season. Fire pitching coach Chuck Hernandez and hitting coach Lloyd McClendon...and do it fast!

The Tigers pitching staff has been a travesty this season. Of course there has to be blame on the pitchers, but what exactly has Hernandez done since becoming the Tigers pitching coach in 2006?

The Tigers pitchers have regressed under Hernandez' "guidance". Just look at the numbers: Jeremy Bonderman had a breakout year in 2006. Was it because of Hernandez or the previous pitching coach? Since that season, Bonderman has gone downhill fast with an ERA near 5.00. After a stellar 2005 and 2006, Justin Verlander has a 1-6 record with an ERA of 6.43. After his latest debacle, it was reported that Verlander was tinkering with his mechanics. Did it really need to take this long for Hernandez to realize that something was wrong with Verlander? Nate Robertson is another pitcher whose regressed over the past few seasons. And even when a slumping Dontrelle Willis arrived from the Marlins, Hernandez was unable to turn him around and help Willis find his winning form. And with the rash of injuries to the Tigers young guns (Zumaya and Rodney), you have to wonder if Hernandez played in a role in their injuries. Would the Tigers be a better pitching team with Dave Duncan or Leo Mazzone tutoring the staff? I have to believe the answer to that question is yes.

As for Lloyd McClendon, well...what can I say? I'm always amazed how a guy who was a career .244 hitter with 35 homeruns is worthy of becoming a hitting coach. If he couldn't help himself as a hitter, how in the world can he be expected to help others? With that said, what has he done to improve the Tigers hitters? Jim Leyland was upset with his team's lack of hitting, so he cut Jacque Jones and moved Sheffield to LF. Well, it's going to take more than that for the Tigers to break out of their collective hitting slump, and it starts with replacing McClendon. The Pirates made a mistake by sticking with McClendon for too long as their manager, and Leyland shouldn't make the same mistake. McClendon is not helping this team. It's important to note that after McClendon was axed by the Pirates, no team called. Leyland hired McClendon in part because of his own ties with McClendon while both were at Pittsburgh. And when Leyland did hire him to join his staff, he was appointed bullpen coach. Why Leyland felt he was qualified to become the team's hitting coach in the first place is beyond my comprehension. Leyland needs to put his friendship and loyalty aside, and make a change now before his team falls further out of contention.

The players must look at themselves and take the majority of the blame for the Tigers struggles, but good coaches can help players avoid prolonged slumps. This team is still capable of putting up runs, regardless of their inept hitting coach, but pitching is what wins and loses games. If the Tigers need to make one change, it is axing Hernandez first and foremost. Just as McClendon had an unsuccessful major league career, so too did Hernandez who pitched parts of just five seasons in the majors. It's time for a change to be made in Detroit. Jim Leyland is loyal to a fault with his coaches, so chances are that both Hernandez and McClendon will keep their jobs through the year. For Tiger fans, let's just hope that his loyalty doesn't cost them the playoffs.

Court Adjourned!