OT: Most difficult positions in Detroit Sports
Growing up in the 90s outside Ann Arbor, I heard a lot on the radio about how the two most difficult positions in Detroit sports were Lions QB and Red Wings goalie. In retrospect, this may have been more about the mediocre results from both at the time (the Peete/Kramer/Ware triumvirate to Scott Mitchell to Charlie Batch and Tim Cheveldae/young Chris Osgood era) than the actual pressure exerted on the position.
Now, from 30,000 feet it looks like these positions don't seem to get that same level of pressure. Matthew Stafford, no matter where one ranks him in the pantheon of current NFL quarterbacks, certainly seems to have stabilized the position here in a fashion not seen since Layne. And given where the Red Wings are as a franchise, they're not a goalie away.
I'm wondering what you think those positions are now.
The only position that seems to jump out is Tigers bullpen, though not necessarily closer. Though he blows up occasionally, KRod is usually good enough to get the job done. This is less true of the set up guys. Bruce Rondon himself, and the front office's belief in him dating back to 2012, may have actively hindered multiple Tiger seasons.
The Lions are a topic of discussion all year long and have a much larger fanbase.
This is a tough question. While I agree that being a Wings goalie, Lions QB, Tigers closer, and Pistons PG all top the list the real question comes down to money and expectations from the fanbase.
Michigan is a blue coller state with a lot of hard working people. The vast majority of those people have put food on the table by working for the automotive industry. Those blue coller types dont shy away from giving opinions when highly paid athletes don't pull their weight no matter the position
The more money you make the bigger target no matter the position.