The Spot Starters

Covering the ups and downs of the Detroit Tigers.

Archives for the ‘Sparky Anderson’ Category

Team 94: The 1995 Tigers

By Blake VandeBunte • Nov 11th, 2009 • Category: CJ Nitkowski, David Wells, Lou Whitaker, Mike Henneman, Phil Nevin, Sparky Anderson, Top 109 Tigers

Year: 1995
Record: 60-84 (late start due to 1994 strike)
Win %: .417
Win % Change: -44
Run Differential: -190
Pythagorean Record: 55-89
AL Finish: 12th of 14
Manager: Sparky Anderson
Best Transaction: Traded Mike Henneman to the Houston Astros for Phil Nevin.  Henneman was lights-out for the Tigers during the first half of the 1995 season.  He had a 1.53 ERA August [...]


Team 103: The 1989 Tigers

By Blake VandeBunte • Nov 2nd, 2009 • Category: Alan Trammell, Charles Hudson, Dave Bergman, Frank Tanana, Greg Gohr, John Doherty, Lou Whitaker, Mike Henneman, Sparky Anderson, Top 109 Teams, Willie Hernandez

Year: 1989
Record: 59-103
Win %: .364
Win % Change: -179
Run Differential: -199
Pythagorean Record: 61-101
AL Finish: 14th of 14
Manager: Sparky Anderson
Best Transaction: The re-signing of Dave Bergman.  Seriously.  No slight disrespect intended here for Bergman, but if re-signing a guy like Bergman is your best transaction, then you are in serious trouble.  The Tigers didn’t make a meaningful [...]


Team 107: The 1996 Tigers

By Blake VandeBunte • Oct 29th, 2009 • Category: Bobby Higginson, Buddy Bell, Cecil Fiedler, Curtis Pride, Damion Easley, Justin Thompson, Omar Olivares, Sparky Anderson, Top 109 Teams

Year: 1996
Record: 53-109 (2nd most losses in franchise history)
Win %: .327
Win % Change: -90 from the year before
Run Differential: -320
Pythagorean Record: 56-106
AL Finish: 14th of 14 teams
Manager: Buddy Bell
Best Transaction: This one is arguably Randy Smith’s best move as GM of the Tigers, he sent pitcher Greg Gohr to the Angels for Damion Easley.  Gohr [...]


Get Well Soon Sparky

By Blake VandeBunte • Feb 25th, 2008 • Category: Sparky Anderson

Dusty Baker, the new manager of the Reds invited a former Reds manager to spring training.  Sparky Anderson who lead both the Reds and the Tigers to World Series wins is too weak to make it to spring training.  Sparky, 74,  recently spent nearly two weeks in the hospital and is trying to take it [...]