Detroit — The thing about maintaining the status quo, particularly in professional sports with all the dynamic, ever-changing, ever-evolving variables, is that it’s just about impossible to do.
Which is why the notion that the Tigers will intrinsically be a better team in 2017, without making significant roster changes, borders on delusion.
Yes, the Tigers managed to stay in the playoff hunt until the last day of the season despite crippling long-term injuries to key players, despite having their complete starting nine for just 14 games. But that doesn’t guarantee anything — not good health nor more wins — for 2017.