2012 and the 40 Game Mark

Here again we sit at the 40 game mark.

Verlander tips hat after
finishing almost no-hittter against
Pittsburgh on May 18

This time the year is 2012, and the Tiger's roster has all of baseball expecting the Detroiters to be the AL Central Champs – and to at least advance well into the playoffs.

So all of Tigers Nation has been on pins and needles waiting for this lineup of hitters that can actually switch from left to right handed hitter every batter – we have all been waiting for this lineup to explode.

The opening series looked promising – as just such explosions went off against Boston – Cabrera and Fielder showing what an amazing powerhouse combo they could be.

Justin Verlander came out of the off season with the same kind of control and domination he showed last year.

"Great, so how are the boys doing then?" Might ask the recently recovered survivor stranded on a dessert island.

Well, right now the Tigers are …. Drum roll please … wait – let me double check baseball-refernce.com quick to make sure …

from baseball-reference.com (C) 2012

Third place? Four games back of Cleveland?

A game under .500?

The whole of Tigers Nation is wondering what used car salesmen sold this fan base on the hype of this team.

And this year, I have listened, read, and participated in far too many conversations revolving around firing the pitching coach, the hitting coach and the manager.

Fans are pissed off.

Just to rub a bit more salt in the wound, the Tiger's released long time fan favorite / superhero Brandon Inge as he was hitting below .200 and was not doing very well fielding at second base – only to see Inge picked up by AL West rival Oakland and have a career week and be in the running for MLB player of the week – a week that included games against a west coast traveling Tiger's squad.

But now Inge is on the DL – in Oakland – and all are left to wonder if that was but one last gasp of dying career before what appears to be inevitable – but so often postponed by the will power of Inge.

Yes, I agree, that was a paragraph too many about Brandon Inge.

Justin Verlander's pitching has been stellar – but a hitting slump disallowed Verlander to win giving up only two or three runs – and a failing bullpen has pulled the wins out from under Justin's feet. He sits right now at 5 – 1, but that record should be oh so much better.

Two nights ago, Verlander carried a bid for a no-hitter into the ninth – effortlessly blasting 100 mph fastballs and nasty breaking other stuff past a formidable Pittsburgh Pirates lineup – only to have it broken up by a "get-a-barrel-of-the-bat" stab at a low curve resulting in a bloop single hit up the middle by Josh Harrison with only two more outs until perfection.

And the fans reaction after that game?

Leyland should be fired for playing Jhonny Peralta at short stop because Peralta did not dive for the ball.

Check out this teams batting average at the 40 game mark:

Strong hitting from Jackson Dirks, Cabrera, and Fielder show a strong front four players at the top of the line up. But Dirks has been batting in the two-hole only recently – Boesch held that spot in the order for the first thirty games.

The numbers look good, and once in a while the front of this lineup does explode. But overall this Tiger's gunpowder seems to be wet – and finding dry patches to spark appears to randon at best.

Aside from Verlander – there hasn't really been anything stellar to point to. Jose Valverde who went perfect in 2011 in save situations – has been nowhere near perfect in 2012 – losing his first save opportunity for Verlander in game one of 2012 – the celebrated home opening day in Detroit.

Fisters been hurt. Porcello and Smyly (a rookie with great promise up from Toledo) have held their frustrating own at .500 – and the rest – basically throwing batting practice with umpires on the field.

And that's how we sit at 4 games back in the AL Cenral – one game under .500 after the first 40 games of the 2012 season.

Does it look like things will turn around? Well Verlander's almost no-no the other night certainly gave promise – but there is little real signs that anything else will change.

Basically – this team is playing well below potential now. The whole team. And that has led to fans screaming for Manager Jim Leyland's head. That and some questionable decisions. It's hard to read the papers and sports news sites – or listen to the radio.

Tiger fans are livid.

I think things will find their level – and the Tigers will get hot for twice the streak they are slumping. I do think they will pull out of this and nobody need be fired – although I think it's time to send Ryan Raburn someplace like Toledo.

But I do think the Tigers will survive this period.

But I appear to be in the minority. We don't need a scapegoat.

We just need these guys to follow Verlander's and Cabrera's and Fielders example – and start delivering what they owe this team, and these fans.

Fielder Only Makes Tigers Stronger - Way Stronger

You’ve already heard that Prince Fielder – National League All Star, MVP contender, Home Run contender and son of Tiger great Cecil Fielder – has been signed to a 9 year 214 million dollar contract to play 1^st base for our Detroit Tigers.

But we already have a first baseman. He’s great. His name is Miguel Cabrera and he was the American League All Star, MVP Contending, slugging contender?

We built this team around Cabrera!

Yep, well now we have two.

Well, which one is better?

Good question – that call can go either way! But that question does not matter.

They are both great.

They are both practically in the Hall Of Fame already, along with Justin Verlander.

Yeah? But they both play first base?

This has been the talk all around Tiger country for the last five days.

Skip Jim Leyland has already stated that the thinking is to move Cabrera back over to 3^rd. He’s already talked to Brandon Inge – the .240 career hitting three bagger who hangs on by the skin of his teeth by the excellent defense he provides at third base – the player that only the week before at a fan gathering stated to the media “I love Don Kelly (then thought to be Brandon’s 3^rd base competition – but I’m playing to be at third everyday”.

Cabrera was put at third in 2008 when he first signed with the Tigers. Carlos Guillen played first. The move was a travesty that resulted in the boys of the Old English D starting the 2008 season 0 – 7.

But that was 2008. Cabrera has changed as a ball player. He plays a pretty solid first. He has shown that he can make those instant reflex snags of line drives hit to either side of him. He works hard and I think now, four years later, if Miguel is willing, a shot at third is worth a try.

Both Cabrera and Fielder do not want to DH yet. They’re both too young at 27 and 28. They both have another decade at least remaining in the major league drives to hall of fame first ballot status. And the Tigers have other DH potentials.

And Victor Martinez – who’s winter ball injury in Venzuela made this deal for Fielder possible – is a really good DH. The hope is that at the end of the season – in the drive through August or September – V-Mart might be able to return to this line up.

That’s why you don’t want Fielder or Cabrera as your designated hitter.

But the truth will bear itself out as the season progresses. Who knows what will really happen?

There’s some other upsides to this season starting in a couple of weeks in Lakeland:

Austin Jackson will respond to his dreadful post season performance with stellar defense and resume the role of leadoff hitter with a high on base percentage – proving his sophomore slump of 2011 is behind him.

Delmon Young, late season acquisition, could likely be our designated hitter.

Brennan Boesch will quietly have a stellar year benefiting from being pitched to because Cabrera and Fielder hitting behind them force pitchers to throw to him. Look for Boesch starting in right field.

Our pitching continues to be dominant from Verlander, Scherzer, and Fister. These guys deserve dozens of pages of their own. Justin Verlander is the reigning Cy-Young and American League MVP. Let’s hope he keeps it going in 2012.

Jose “Papa Grande” Valverde – the dominant closer who did not blow a single save in 2011 will return to shut down opposing offenses in the ninth.

And Alex Avila – who really stepped up into elite catcher status in 2011 will return behind the plate. The Tiger’s Iron Horse can’t catch every game again this year – the wear and tear really showed in the post-season. Alex has the opportunity to surpass Bill Freehan as the Tigers most powerful and most beloved catcher in team history.

Jhonny Peralta is a wily veteran at short – hit .295 last year – but when adding his range at short to Cabrera’s potential range at third – and the defense on the left side of the infield diminishes.

As well, there still is no solid answer to who plays second. Ryan Raburn and Don Kelly’s names have been tossed out there. The edge likely goes to Raburn’s bat in the lineup. But either would suffice. Neither are really the nimble athlete’s one wants covering up the middle or behind Fielder at first – who’s range is less than that of Cabrera’s.

So the infield becomes an opportunity for small ball minded teams to find holes larger than most.

But does that concern outweigh the benefits of the power of this team?

Brandon Inge isn’t very happy though.

2012 will be an exciting season for our Detroiters. The opening weeks of the 2012 season will be very telling. A slow start can be overcome, but not an 0 – 7 start like the one of 2008.