2008 Detroit Tigers season


The Detroit Tigers 2008 season was the team's 108th season in Major League Baseball's American League. After being picked by many to win the AL Central Division and the World Series, the Tigers started the season a disappointing 0–7 after being swept by the Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox. Their first victory of the season came against the Boston Red Sox. The Tigers did not reach a.500 winning record until their 80th game of the season.
Although they were eliminated from the pennant race by the season's final day, they nonetheless had to play a makeup game against the White Sox, which Detroit had lost 8–2. The Tigers finished the season in last place in the AL Central, trailing the White Sox by 14.5 games.
Despite the disappointing performance, the Tigers drew a franchise-record home attendance of 3,202,645 for the season. The team ranked third in the American League and eighth in Major League Baseball for home attendance in 2008.

Offseason

The Tigers started the offseason by trading prospects Jair Jurrjens and Gorkys Hernández to the Atlanta Braves for shortstop Édgar Rentería. Rentería took over the everyday shortstop job with Carlos Guillén moving to first base.
Reliever Joel Zumaya underwent surgery on October 31, 2007 for an AC joint reconstruction and was expected to miss half the 2008 season.
The Tigers continued their offseason trading by acquiring Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis from the Florida Marlins in exchange for highly touted prospects Cameron Maybin and Andrew Miller, along with Mike Rabelo, Eulogio De La Cruz, Burke Badenhop and Dallas Trahern. Willis would sign a three-year, 29-million dollar contract extension, while Cabrera would receive an eight-year, 152.3-million dollar deal, the biggest contract in Tigers history.
During the offseason, the Tigers traded Omar Infante to the Chicago Cubs for Jacque Jones. They re-signed Todd Jones, and Kenny Rogers to one-year contracts. The Tigers also signed free agent Francisco Cruceta from the Texas Rangers organization to a one-year contract. Cruceta and Jacque Jones were eventually released during the season, and Todd Jones retired at the end of the season. The Tigers declined the option to sign Édgar Rentería at the end of the season.

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Player stats

Batting

Note: Pos. = Position; G = Games played; AB = At Bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting Average; HR = Home Runs; RBI = Runs Batted In
PlayerPos.GABHAvg.HRRBI
Dusty RyanC154414.31827
Magglio OrdóñezRF146561178.31721103
Plácido Polanco2B141580178.307858
Mike Hessman3B12278.29657
Iván Rodríguez *C8230289.295532
Miguel Cabrera1B, 3B160616180.29237127
Carlos Guillén3B, 1B, LF113420120.2861054
Clete ThomasLF, CF, RF4011633.28419
Ramón SantiagoSS, 2B, 3B5812435.282418
Curtis GrandersonCF141553155.2802266
Édgar RenteríaSS138503136.2701055
Michael Hollimon2B, SS11236.26112
Jeff LarishDH, 1B, 3B4210427.260216
Matt JoyceLF, RF9224261.2521233
Marcus ThamesLF, DH, 1B10331676.2412556
Ryan RaburnLF, RF, 2B, 3B, CF9218243.236420
Gary SheffieldDH, LF11441894.2251957
Brent ClevlenLF, CF, RF11245.20801
Brandon IngeC, 3B, CF, LF11334771.2051151
Jacque Jones *LF247913.16515
Dane SardinhaC17447.15903

Note: Pitchers' batting statistics not included

Starting pitchers

Relief pitchers

* Statistics only include games with Tigers

Roster

Farm system