Even far superior teams to the Detroit Tigers in player acquisition and development over the past decade needed a big break now and again. A solid prospect who turns out to be a star. A fringe prospect that breaks out into a good starting pitcher or everyday position player. Of course those teams more often make their own breaks by tuning up players and consistently producing homegrown talent for keeps or for trade despite picking late in the draft every year.
Over the long and painful process of trying to build up a team from their own system, the Detroit Tigers haven’t had too many of those big wins.