From the depths of woe

By the end of this season, the Detroit Tigers will have likely slid past the 1969 New York Mets and set the modern record for futility in baseball at somewhere near 120 and 124 losses. The Tigers season was scheduled peacefully to come to an end on Sunday against Minnesota-two teams headed in remarkably different directions. The Twins likely will have secured the AL Central Division during the series against the Motor City Kitties while the Tigers plumbed unknown depths of fruitlessness. The Twins remain upward bound, just a season removed from Commissioner Bud Selig's threat to eliminate the team through contraction. Just last season, the Twins won the Central even as Mr. Selig and the team's ownership worked hard-and failed-to dissolve the team. Detroit, on the other hand, hasn't been to the playoffs since 1987 and has suffered through 10 straight losing seasons. But none as bad as this year. Manager Alan Trammel can remember better times. He was part of the Tigers' 1984 World Series team.