The last time Barack Obama stepped foot in Michigan the Detroit Tigers were 52-34, coming off the 2007 All Star Break and riding a five game winning streak.

They had the number one offense in all of baseball, were crushing teams in the American League and seemed an early lock on a second consecutive post season appearance.

That night, as Obama picked up a handful of checks in Grand Rapids the Tigers lost a game and their mojo before spiraling out of control and missing the playoffs. The worm turned, so to speak. Since that fateful evening the Detroit Tigers are a combined 37 and 45.

Analysts at the time wondered what happened to a team that had set the world on fire with their hitting prowess the months before “the break.” It was the layoff, some posited. Others suggested the long road trip following a West Coast All Star Game featuring a lineup stacked with Bengals was to blame. Still others blamed the slide on injuries or high expectations.

But could it have been something else? Could it have been the jinx of the world’s most famous Chicagoan? Did he slip into the Great Lakes State, leave us with a bit of bad karma and sneak away before we knew what hit us? He sure doesn’t seem too eager to come back, does he?

First came fall. No Obama. Then came winter. No Obama. Then came spring. Still no Obama. But the Tigers are back and they’ve started 0 and 6. They’re the only winless team in the major leagues, have the lowest batting average, the fewest runs scored and are in last place in the toughest division in baseball. Oh, and they were just swept by that team from the South side.

A connection? I sure hope not. If the success of this generation of Bless You Boys is contingent on the affection of the fickle Senator from Illinois we might just go 0-162. The man doesn’t seem particularly inclined to come back and visit. Besides, he’s a White Sox fan.

Oh, and just in case you weren’t counting, I was. It’s been 270 days now since the Democrats’ likely nominee bothered to tread Michigan soil. And the beat goes on…