Seidel: Tigers' Cabrera needs to step up after games, too

The frustration started to boil in the Detroit Tigers' clubhouse Sunday afternoon.

The Tigers are frustrated from a three-game losing streak and frustrated by not scoring runs and frustrated that they keep wasting opportunities.

Miguel Cabrera was particularly testy Sunday afternoon, refusing to talk to reporters after the Tigers' 4-2 loss to the Texas Rangers at Comerica Park.

As great as Cabrera is on the field, he has a horrible habit of hiding in silence after a tough loss, forcing other players to talk.

Cabrera is a future Hall of Famer. He is the best hitter in baseball, and he's on an amazing hot streak. But, unfortunately, he is not one to stand up and be accountable after a game. Leaders stand up and talk. But time after time, Cabrera refuses.

So Sunday, that duty fell to Victor Martinez.

"A loss is a loss, man," Martinez said, his face full of frustration. "I'm not going to lie to you. It's frustrating. What else can you do?"

Piece of concrete falls in Comerica Park concourse

The Tigers are stuck in quicksand. After winning three games, generating some (false) hope, they have lost three straight, making it all disappear.

And this, too, is a recurring theme.

The Tigers have all kinds of offense, but they just can't get the big hit at a crucial time.

Something is missing.

"It just sucks that the days where we get good pitching, we can't manufacture some runs," Nick Castellanos said. "I wish I had an explanation for it, but I don't."

Nobody seems to be able to explain it.

But everybody is clearly frustrated.

"I missed my pitch," Rajai Davis said. "I wasn't able to help us win today."

The fact that the Tigers are so frustrated shows this team still has some life, that it still has some fight. And that might be surprising, to some, three weeks after the Tigers traded away David Price, Yoenis Cespedes and Joakim Soria.

Trying to win and compete without your ace, your closer and a big bat is like taking a knife to a gunfight.

But still, these Tigers are still trying, and you have to give them credit for that.

On Sunday, the Tigers started Matt Boyd, who was acquired in the Price deal with Toronto. In six innings, Boyd allowed three runs on five hits. "He did a good job," catcher James McCann said. "He gave us a chance to win."

So in the midst of the frustration, there are plenty of positive signs for this confusing team.

Bruce Rondon pitched a scoreless ninth; and McCann was simply amazing behind the plate, throwing out a runner from his knees; and Tyler Collins has quietly hit in seven of his last nine games; and Ian Kinsler has a six-game hitting streak and he showed great hustle getting from first to third; and Castellanos is starting to look relaxed and confident at third base; and Drew Ver-

Hagen took another step in developing into a relief pitcher, pitching on back to back days; and Cabrera has been outstanding — at least on the field.

Cabrera has an eight-game hitting streak that includes eight runs scored, seven doubles and five RBIs. He is remarkable.

Add all of those things together and you would think the Tigers would have won.

But still, the Tigers lost. Because they couldn't get the big hit, in the big moment.

"Sometimes there's no reason," manager Brad Ausmus said. "It's just the way it is."

And so, the frustration is building and the losses keep piling up and the players shake their heads in confusion, as this team keeps searching for answers.

It's just the way it is.

Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @seideljeff. Download our Tigers Xtra app for free on Apple and Android devices!