The Detroit Tigers' dominance over the American League’s Central Division officially came to an end Tuesday night, as the club was eliminated from contention for another division title. Given the way this season has been going, that’s not exactly a surprise, but it highlighted just how dramatic of a downturn this team has taken in the matter of a year.

After four straight division titles, the Tigers (66-78) are now poised to miss the postseason altogether. The club is no longer playing meaningful baseball games, and hasn’t been for some time.

It’s a strange feeling for the players and for the fans, too. And maybe here is a lesson to be learned for the latter from this rapid decline. At least that’s what veteran Victor Martinez indicated in a recent interview with The Detroit News.

"This is definitely a season that will teach a lesson to a lot of people," Martinez told the News. "Starting with this clubhouse, a lot of players and a lot of people in the front office. And, believe it or not, it will teach a lesson to the fans, too."

Apparently, Martinez, who has admitted to having the toughest year of his professional career, is still smarting from the way fans treated the Tigers last fall, when the club was booed upon returning to Comerica Park while down 0-2 in their divisional series against the Baltimore Orioles. The Tigers were subsequently swept.

"Last year was tough. We came home down 2-0 and the fans were really hard. Now they won't be angry. There's no October baseball. That's why I say this season will be a lesson to a lot of people,” Martinez told The News.

Those comments, especially coming from one of the respected leaders in the Tigers’ clubhouse, raised some eyebrows. He doesn’t seem to be alone in those sentiments, however.

Third baseman Nick Castellanos, in a radio interview with Detroit’s 105.1’s Matt Dery, said others shared Martinez’s frustration.

“I know that a lot of players have vocalized that they believe the fans took winning the division for granted. Everyone at the beginning of the season talks World Series, World Series, World Series, but no one talks about winning the division. Well, you have to win the division, which is extremely difficult, in order to even set yourself up for the ALCS, to set yourself up for the World Series,” Castellanos said. “So there are a lot of steps in professional baseball you have to get before you get to World Series that should not be taken for granted, ya know? “

That accomplishment might not have been recognized by the fans, but it was appreciated within the organization.

“Players in the clubhouse know how difficult it is to get to the postseason and you do it for the fourth year in a row, and instead of having this huge ocean of fans behind you pulling, for your team, they’re booing because they’re frustrated because were down two games,” Castellanos said.

Castellanos said he is not one to hold a grudge and that he embraces Tigers fans’ passion (“The fans have always been extremely supportive of me. I personally really enjoy the Detroit fans”) but also knows that there are other players that haven’t forgotten quite how much that stung last year.

“I think with some of the veteran guys, that one postseason game last year hit home with them,” he said.