Their big free-agency catch is on the disabled list, five regulars are batting .230 or less, the ace of the pitching staff has only one victory, and the pitchers' cumulative ERA is 4.85.
Nonetheless, the Detroit Tigers (9-10) are just one game below .500, and the teams they figure to battle for the A.L. Central Division championship, the White Sox and Twins, are below them in the standings.
Manager Jim Leyland's crew must be living right.
The Tigers have been home for only six of their first 19 games.
The schedule swings in their favor in the next week, as the struggling White Sox and the struggling Mariners visit Comerica Park for consecutive series.
It's time for the Tigers to put a streak together.
Is that in their DNA?
Victor Martinez, signed in the offseason to provide batting punch alongside Miguel Cabrera, is on the DL.
Austin Jackson, Brandon Inge and Magglio Ordonez (who has had a nagging Achilles' injury) are among the team's slumbering hitters.
Justin Verlander, who in spring training seemed so focused on having a brilliant season, is 1-2.
Detroit was 4.5 games behind surprising Cleveland in the Central Division, before the Indians and the equally surprising Royals played one another Thursday.
It's time for the Tigers to make a move in the division race.
They've got an opportunity to put some distance between themselves and the White Sox.
Let's see if they take advantage of that chance.