Eight years ago, the Detroit Tigers were a last-place team. They finished the season at 74-88, 14 1/2 games behind the first-place White Sox. The only position player remaining from that team is Miguel Cabrera, who was 25 years old at the time, "struggling" to adjust to the American League and posting his worst season to date. The only pitcher remaining from that team is Justin Verlander, who was also 25, and also posted the worst season of his career.
The 2008 season was the last time that the Tigers only sent one man to the All Star game -- Carlos Guillen, their slugging third baseman (remember that?