Editing Detroit Tigers (section)

===Randy Smith era (1996–2002)===
From 1994 to 2005, the Tigers did not post a winning record, the longest sub-.500 stretch in franchise history.<ref name=Fangraphs/><ref name=Leyland/><ref name="Tigers HC">{{cite web|first=Dom|last=Amore|title=RESTORING THE ROAR|url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-2006-06-01-0606010068-story.html|website=Hartford Courant|date=June 1, 2006|access-date=October 26, 2018|archive-date=October 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181027021725/http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-2006-06-01-0606010068-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1996, the Tigers lost a then-team record 109 games, under new general manager [[Randy Smith (baseball)|Randy Smith]].<ref name="Tigers HC"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Tigers name Randy Smith as GM|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1995/10/30/Tigers-name-Randy-Smith-as-GM/1813815029200/|website=UPI.com|date=October 30, 1995|access-date=October 8, 2018|archive-date=October 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008214100/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1995/10/30/Tigers-name-Randy-Smith-as-GM/1813815029200/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Blake|last=VandeBunte|title=Team 107: The 1996 Tigers|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/280786-team-107-the-1996-tigers|website=Bleacher Report|date=October 29, 2009|access-date=October 8, 2018|archive-date=October 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009013309/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/280786-team-107-the-1996-tigers|url-status=live}}</ref> The only team in the majors to have a longer stretch without a winning season during this time were the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]], who did not have a winning record in the years spanning 1993 to 2012.<ref>{{cite web|first=Dayn|last=Perry|title=Regrets, I've had a few: A tour of the Pirates' 20-year drought|url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/regrets-ive-had-a-few-a-tour-of-the-pirates-20-year-drought/|website=CBS Sports|date=September 9, 2013|access-date=October 8, 2018|archive-date=March 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240301063555/https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/regrets-ive-had-a-few-a-tour-of-the-pirates-20-year-drought/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Tigers' best record over this span was 79–83, recorded in 1997 and 2000.<ref name="Tigers HC"/>

In 1998, the Tigers moved from the AL East, where they had been since the divisions were created in 1969, to the AL Central as part of a realignment necessitated by the addition of the expansion [[Tampa Bay Devil Rays]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Murray|last=Chass|title=Owners' Vote Allows One Team to Move to National League|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/16/sports/baseball-owners-vote-allows-one-team-to-move-to-national-league.html|website=The New York Times|date=October 16, 1997|access-date=October 8, 2018|archive-date=October 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008214226/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/16/sports/baseball-owners-vote-allows-one-team-to-move-to-national-league.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Murray|last=Chass|title=Brewers Cleared to Shift to N.L. Central in '98|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/06/sports/baseball-brewers-cleared-to-shift-to-nl-central-in-98.html|website=The New York Times|date=November 6, 1997|access-date=October 8, 2018|archive-date=October 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008215741/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/06/sports/baseball-brewers-cleared-to-shift-to-nl-central-in-98.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Phil|last=Rogers|title=Tigers Can't Wait to Leave AL East|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1998-02-08-9802080186-story.html|website=Chicago Tribune|date=February 8, 1998|access-date=October 8, 2018|archive-date=October 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009013124/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1998-02-08-9802080186-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:ComericaParkWEntrance.jpg|thumb|The entrance sign of Comerica Park]]
In 2000, the team left [[Tiger Stadium (Detroit)|Tiger Stadium]] in favor of [[Comerica Park]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Tigers Win In New Stadium|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tigers-win-in-new-stadium/|website=CBS News|date=April 11, 2000|access-date=October 8, 2018|archive-date=October 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009052707/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tigers-win-in-new-stadium/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Soon after it opened, Comerica Park drew criticism for its deep dimensions, which made it difficult to hit home runs; the distance to left-center field (395&nbsp;ft), in particular, was seen as unfair to hitters. This led to the nickname "Comerica National Park."<ref>{{cite web|first=Jason|last=Beck|title=Comerica Park fair to hitters, pitchers|url=http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050613&content_id=1087996&vkey=allstar2005&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|website=Tigers.com|date=June 13, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081212174407/http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050613&content_id=1087996&vkey=allstar2005&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|archive-date=December 12, 2008|access-date=October 8, 2018}}</ref> The team made a successful bid to bring in slugger [[Juan González (baseball)|Juan González]] from the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] for the inaugural season at Comerica Park.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rangers trade Gonzalez to Tigers in blockbuster|url=http://a.espncdn.com/mlb/news/1999/1102/147969.html|website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=November 4, 1999|access-date=October 8, 2018|archive-date=October 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009013401/http://a.espncdn.com/mlb/news/1999/1102/147969.html|url-status=live}}</ref> After four consecutive seasons of no fewer than 39 home runs, González only hit 22 homers in 2000. He cited Comerica Park's dimensions as a major reason why he turned down a multiyear contract extension.<ref>{{cite web|first=Alfredo R.|last=Berríos|title=Former Texas Rangers slugger Juan Gonzalez eases into new baseball life in his native Puerto Rico|url=https://www.espn.com/dallas/mlb/columns/story?id=5161715|website=ESPN.com|date=May 7, 2010|access-date=October 8, 2018|archive-date=May 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513111645/http://espn.go.com/dallas/mlb/columns/story?id=5161715|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2003, the franchise largely quieted the criticism by moving in the left-center fence to {{convert|370|ft|m}}, taking the flagpole in that area out of play, a feature carried over from Tiger Stadium.<ref>{{cite web|first=John|last=Niyo|title=Comerica getting a new dimension|url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al/tigers/2003-03-01-comerica-new-fence_x.htm|website=USA Today|agency=The Detroit News|date=March 1, 2003|access-date=October 8, 2018|archive-date=August 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803121358/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al/tigers/2003-03-01-comerica-new-fence_x.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2005, the team moved the bullpens to the vacant area beyond the left field fence and filled the previous location with seats.<ref>{{cite web|first=Jason|last=Beck|title=Comerica Park to see alterations|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/print.jsp?ymd=20050114&content_id=931277&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb&fext=.jsp|website=MLB.com|date=January 14, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012044411/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/print.jsp?ymd=20050114&content_id=931277&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb&fext=.jsp|archive-date=October 12, 2017|access-date=October 8, 2018}}</ref>

In late 2001, [[Dave Dombrowski]], former general manager of the [[1997 World Series]] champion [[1997 Florida Marlins season|Florida Marlins]], was hired as team president.<ref>{{cite web|first=Larry|last=Lage|title=Source: Tigers to Hire Dombrowski|url=https://apnews.com/9adabe76b628b46bbabc002d3fc60bbc|website=Associated Press|date=November 4, 2001|access-date=October 8, 2001|archive-date=October 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009013201/https://apnews.com/9adabe76b628b46bbabc002d3fc60bbc|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2002, the [[2002 Detroit Tigers season|Tigers]] started the [[2002 Major League Baseball season|season]] 0–6, prompting Dombrowski to fire the unpopular Smith, as well as manager [[Phil Garner]]. Dombrowski then took over as general manager and named bench coach [[Luis Pujols]] to finish the season as interim manager.<ref>{{cite web|first=Murray|last=Chass|title=BASEBALL; Tigers Dismiss Garner And Smith|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/09/sports/baseball-tigers-dismiss-garner-and-smith.html|website=The New York Times|date=April 9, 2002|access-date=October 8, 2018|archive-date=October 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008215850/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/09/sports/baseball-tigers-dismiss-garner-and-smith.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Tigers clean house, fire manager Garner, GM Smith|url=http://static.espn.go.com/mlb/news/2002/0408/1364856.html|website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=April 9, 2002|access-date=October 8, 2018|archive-date=February 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224132250/http://static.espn.go.com/mlb/news/2002/0408/1364856.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The team finished 55–106. After the season was over, Pujols was let go.<ref>{{cite web|first=Larry|last=Lage|title=Tigers fire Pujols as manager|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al/tigers/2002-09-30-pujols-fired_x.htm|website=USA Today|agency=Associated Press|date=September 30, 2002|access-date=October 8, 2018|archive-date=October 4, 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021004153005/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al/tigers/2002-09-30-pujols-fired_x.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>