The Tigers' postseason came to an early conclusion Sunday, as the Baltimore Orioles capped off a sweep of the ALDS with a 2-1 victory.
The defeat brought an abrupt end to a roller-coaster season in Detroit. There was early success in the form of a 27-12 record, which was followed by a 9-20 plunge.
That's the way the 2014 season went for the Tigers, who until the very end were able to get things back on track before their situation got too dire.
But there was no time to recover against the Orioles.
The Tigers' bullpen suffered an eight-run, eighth-inning surge in a 12-3 Game 1 loss and was unable to protect a three-run lead through the final two innings of a 7-6 loss in Game 2.
As a result, Detroit's relievers shouldered most of the blame for the losses that all but ended the Tigers' season.
So we took a few days to mourn and then began looking forward to next season. We started strategizing about what should be done in the offseason to fix the Tigers, who will have to wait until next year to try again for their first World Series title since 1984.
We took one last look at Max Scherzer, Torii Hunter and Victor Martinez, and wondered if this will be the last time we see them in a Tigers uniform.
Many questions loom as the Tigers approach the offseason: Which of the seven players to hit free agency will return to Detroit next year, and which favorites will depart for other teams? How can the Tigers add further depth to the bench? How can the problems that spelled their undoing this year be corrected in time for next year?
And from the angry mob comes the biggest question of all: What should be done to fix the bullpen?
One option is to clean house, but if that's the chosen path, there needs to be a new approach. Detroit's bullpen has seen its share of overhauls in the past, and at this point, it's a problem too big to just throw money at. A battery of new relievers must be brought on with the assumption that half might not be effective at any given point in the season.
In other words, start with a couple of great ones and then get a few more to back them up. The bullpen is a notoriously volatile place.
Andrew Miller could be someone the Tigers take another look at, with the Orioles' lefty reliever headed for free agency. The Tigers were "close" to trading for Miller just before the trade deadline, and ironically, Miller's postseason performance with the Orioles thus far has been dominant.
It's also going to be crucial that the "roles" of the bullpen staff are shed in order to move forward. For example, manager Brad Ausmus had a habit over the course of the season of using Joba Chamberlain as an eighth-inning set-up man and Joe Nathan as closer. Ausmus must be unafraid to deviate from these roles and willing to put the best pitcher on the mound in any inning of any game.
The good news? It's never too late for a fresh start. The Tigers have things to work on, but a great base to build on.
Many changes will be needed across the team to put the Tigers in an optimal position for next year. Addressing the bullpen will likely be at the top of that offseason list.
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