Looking for a 10 spot

When the Tigers scored 9 runs against Colorado on Saturday, I started thinking “When was the last time the Tigers scored 10 runs in a game?” I know they haven’t done it this year, so I checked last year. Lo and behold, on July 23, 2002 the Tigers beat Kansas City 10-1. Including Sunday’s 5-4 loss, that is 129 games since their last 10-run output. I then looked back a little farther, and that July 23 game was the only time they reached 10 runs in all 2002. Their previous 10 run outburst was a 12-6 win in Boston on September 23, 2001. In their last 241 games, the Tigers have scored 10 runs exactly once.

Now what does this streak perfect not-10’s mean? Probably nothing. I don’t know of any baseball people who look at 10 run games as a barometer of success (although scoring 10 runs in a game does give you a pretty good chance to win). This is just the product of a baseball fan who is a geek, that has access to information, and that is tired of harping on the fact that the Tigers give away too many outs bunting and caught stealing.