Detroit Tigers vs. Kansas City Royals - September 8

The Detroit Tigers are on track to win about as many games as many expected them to this season. But that's not good enough for designated hitter Victor Martinez.

(Mike Mulholland | MLive Media Group)

DETROIT -- The Detroit Tigers have not clinched the Central Division. They won't be able to accomplish that task until the final series of the season, if they do it at all. The fact that they have not won more games to this point doesn't sit well with many Tigers fans.

It doesn't sit well with Victor Martinez, either.

Victor Martinez

It was suggested to Martinez on Wednesday morning that the Tigers were about where most people thought they would be in terms of victories but that the season has been strange in terms of how the Tigers have gotten to this point. Martinez ignored the second part of that suggestion and focused fully on the first part.

"We should be way better than where we're at right now," Martinez told MLive.com. "But I've been around in the game for a little bit and that just shows you how baseball can be. That's why you don't take anything for granted. The game takes 27 outs, nine innings, and that's why you have to make sure to play the game the right way and just capitalize when you get your opportunities."

Prior to the season, Bovada pegged the over-under for Tigers victories at 89.5. The Tigers, who won 93 games last season, are on pace to win 89 or 90 (89.8 to be specific) this season. (For the record, Bovada had the over-under for the Kansas City Royals pegged at 79.5. The Royals have won 86 games so far, and trail the Tigers by one game in the division race.)

Martinez is known for being an intense competitor. He was asked whether his feeling about this season has been a common one for him throughout his career because he's a perfectionist or whether it truly is specific to this year's team.

He didn't hedge.

"The team that we have -- and this is my opinion, this is me," he said, "we should have more wins than we have right now."

Martinez has certainly carried his share of the load. He is hitting .335 with 31 home runs and 100 RBIs and is certain to appear on plenty of American League Most Valuable Player ballots.

The Tigers are 87-70 with five games to play. The Tigers could clinch a wild card spot as early as tonight, but the division title is still up for grabs.

Prior to the discussion about this season, Martinez was asked to assess how Brad Ausmus has done in his first season as manager. Martinez made it clear who he feels is responsible for wins and losses.

"He's been doing a great job," Martinez said of Ausmus. "I always say, people can say whatever they want about a manager. I always say, it's on us. We're the ones who go out there and play. That's the bottom line. …

"We're the ones that go out there and play. If we play crappy baseball, how the hell are we going to win?"

-- Download the Detroit Tigers on MLive app for iPhone and Android.

-- Like MLive's Detroit Tigers Facebook page.