Okay Tigers, I hate to give you an ultimatum, but it’s time to shit or get off the pot.  You’ve toyed with us all year showing signs of brilliance only to fall flat on your face the very next day.  You’ve been aptly described as the most disappointing ball club of 2012.  Your sub-.500 record through three months is testament to your excruciating underachievement.  Your inconsistency is driving all of us fans crazy and it simply has to turn around… NOW.

Speaking of the fans, Tigers fans have shown up in record numbers all season long hoping to see the promised juggernaut that was supposed to steamroll through the AL Central but have been rewarded with your uninspiring 17-18 home record.  Hell, we even showed up in record numbers on the road, setting a new standard for a three-game weekday series at Wrigley Field while completely drowning out Cubs fans.  But we’re almost at the halfway point and you’re 39-40, third in the division.

The stars haven’t been the issue.  Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder, and Justin Verlander have lived up to lofty expectations, earning All-Star apperances. And emerging star Austin Jackson and even Quintin Berry have done their parts.

I’m looking at you Ryan Rayburn (.182 AVG, 1 HR, 9 RBI), and you Brennan Boesch (.232 AVG, 7 HR, 27 RBI), and you Jhonny Peralta (.260 AVG, 4 HR, 24 RBI) to step it up. This is your week to sink or swim.  More importantly, Doug Fister (1-5, 3.91 ERA, 1.34 WHIP),  Max Scherzer (7-5, 4.98 ERA, 1.43 WHIP), and Rick Porcello (6-5, 4.35 ERA, 1.49 WHIP) all have to show more consistency if this season is going to avoid the inevitable comparisons to the disastrous 2008 season.

Taking a series from the Rays this past weekend is certainly a positive sign, but you’ve done this to us before, flirting with .500 and giving us hope you’ve actually figured it out only to shit the bed again.  The good news is you’re only three games out in a mediocre division and the opportunity to turn things around is staring you right in the face.  Tonight starts a string of seven home games going into All-Star break against the Twins and Royals who are a combined 19 games below .500.  Anything below 5 wins between these two series is simply unacceptable and would signal the beginning of the end to the 2012 season in my mind.

One good week could be all you need to take your rightful place atop the AL Central and be your launching pad to another deep playoff run.  But one bad week could mean this is the beginning of the end.