Looking at the 2003 Tigers I'm very glad to not have been a fan of them that year. That's a feat. 5 players at less than .5 over, 18 listed at 0.0 and 7 less than .5 under. 30 players basically replacement level for them that year. Phenomenal. Seeing Kingsale and Bocachica combined for 162 PA...in the Below replacement zone. How about that great 2008 Mariners squad? 6 players less than .5 over, 21 listed at 0.0 and 8 less than .5 under, 35 in total. Seeing 21 0.0's in a row on one team is kind of breathtaking. And I watched (less and less of) that garbage. 2017 was much more enjoyable.
There's sometimes talk of fighting spirit and what it means for a teams win total over a long season. Look at those Tigers last 6 games and especially the second to last one. An 8 run comeback that ensured they wouldn't take the modern record for losses from the '62 Mets. This seems to me a good example A of the argument against attitude trumping talent.
I didn't look at the 62 Mets or 1899 Spiders individual WAR totals, remembering 2008 has taken a toll...
For me it is only the rotation that I'm seriously worried about the talent and depth. A bit with the pen but it seems closer and help seems closer. Starting 8 fielders are already a couple tweaks away from being a solid and deep group. I guess the same is true of the rotation even but with much bigger (cost) tweaks. I'm not buying in to a 1 offseason wolf pack switch. I guess if anyone can do it, it could happen in Dipoto's trade show. There are many starting candidates that I'll admit I know less about than I often do this time of year. It has me less confident anyway.