A Look Ahead At The 2011 Tigers

Here we sit at the holiday season, halfway through the 2010 – 2011 offseason, and the Tigers have made some roster changes.

Myself, there is absolutely nothing I would rather talk about at Christmas time than Tigers baseball.

And this, I think, is the perfect time to take a look at what the Tigers have done in the off season so far, and what else does this organization need to do.

Here is a quick recap so far of what’s happened so far.

Jhonny Peralta has been re-signed to two years for $11.25M to play shortstop.

Brandon Inge has also been re-signed for $11M for two years to play third.

A big name in the offseason market, Victor Martinez of Boston was signed to four years for $50M mainly for his bat, with the possibility we are told to catch maybe once a week. The starting catching position so far falls to Alex Avila.

Joaquin Benoit has been signed from Tampa Bay for 3 years at $16.5M To strengthen our bullpen.

And Magglio Ordonez has been resigned for a year at $10M to play right field.

So far, that’s it.

Is more to come, I hope so.

If not, is this enough to lift the caliber of the Tigers roster to get past the dreaded Minnesota Twins and those despicable Chicago White Sox?

Well, before we go comparing the Tigers to their American League Central rivals, let’s see if this new version of the Tigers will be better than last year’s version.

I would project our starting players for 2011 to be:

• Alex Avila catches
• Victor Martinez will DH
• Miguel Cabrera at first
• Carlos Guillen at second
• Jhonny Peralta at short
• Brandon Inge at third
• Maglio Ordonez in right
• Austin Jackson in center
• Ryan Raburn in left field

Avila in my book is not yet ready to be an everyday catcher. I don’t think he frames a pitch well enough for him to work every day with your starting rotation. And Avila hit .228 in 2010.

Avila is a weakness. And I am disappointed that the thought is to start Victor Martinez behind the plate one in five games – albeit the years reek havoc on a veteran catchers body, most notably his knees. But then Martinez is ranked as an average defensive catcher at best.

So catcher is still a defensive weakness with no improvement at the plate.

The DH however is now strengthened – if indeed Martinez is okay with not being on the field and only hitting. The designated hitters role is a hard one for some players to adapt to as they are sitting down most of the game.

Miguel Cabrera at first – if he continues his drive towards the kind of power numbers and his bid for American League most valuable player – the first base remains the same both offensively and defensively – which translates to very very stong.

Carlos Guillen is a very good second baseman. Some will argue this point, but Guillen (.273) is one of our old core rocks of Gibraltar – second only to former second baseman Placido Polanco – whom we will continue to miss wearing the old English D.

But Guillen is prone to injury. It seems you can only get a month or so out of Carlos. So to be realistic about second base, you currently have to look at either Scott Sizemore (.224) or Will Rhymes (.304).

I could fill ten pages talking about the options for the Tigers second base spot, but I will simply say that for the 54 games I saw of Rhymes last year, I really liked him. He is a smart player who gets on base and he has this knack of making things happen. But some will argue that Rhymes – a veteran minor leaguer would be exposed over a full season, and that Sizemore will have a better year with a fully healed ankle – but if Carlos goes down this year, I would prefer to see Rhymes have the chance at second over Sizemore. Spring training will have to bear this out. I don’t see any better available second basemen on the free agency this year to warrant getting somebody else.

So I see perhaps a slight improvement at second between Guillen and Rhymes over Sizemore – but that might be unfair. Health is the factor in 2011 to determine who is there. Likely the majority of the year will go to Scott Sizemore. No improvement there.

Jhonny Perraulta at shortstop means another year of adequate defense and .253 hitter in the bottom third of the lineup. No improvement.

Brandon Inge at third. Inge is a Detroit enigma. You love him or hate him. I love his defense. And while his average is sub-par at .247 – he did finish 2010 higher than his .237 career numbers. Sometimes Inge steps up to the task – but watching Inge watch strike three go by with a man on third is maddening. The Tigers make no great improvement here.

Magglio Ordonez in right field broke his ankle just before the All Star break in 2010. To that point the Tigers were in first place, and Mags was hitting .303. When Mags went to the DL, the Tigers offense went in the proverbial toilet. The team crashed to a horrendous losing streak following the All Star break. So in my opinion, Magglio means more to the Tigers than just his strong offense and adequate outfield play. Magglio – I believe – is the leader of this team in his own quiet unassuming way. Signing Mags for only one year seems like a start financial move by the front office – albeit an expensive one – but I think Magglio gives this team a confidence that they lack when he is not.

Maggs coming back – and staying healthy improves this Tigers offense significantly – and hopefully with Ordonez and Martinez before and after Cabrera – this front five in the lineup will prove to be a powerful offensive weapon able to create more big innings and increase run production significantly.

Austin Jackson will return in center field.

Detroit loved Curtis Granderson , but last year – rookie Austin Jackson moved in and stole Tiger fans hearts making the same dazzling plays we were used to seeing from Granderson – and hit an impressive .293 – fifty points higher than Grandy in the damned Yankee pinstripes hit.

Centerfield remains strong offensively and defensively for 2010.

And then there is left field. This position has more options than any other on the team. The Tigers seem to have a roster packed full of left fielders. Ryan Raburn and Brennan Boesch are the two primary contenders for left field.

Everyone remembers how Brennan Boesch tore the cover off the ball for the first half of 2010 – hitting and incredible .347 with an on base percentage of .397. Boesch was the talk of the league.

But Boesch fizzled in the second half – along with the rest of the Tigers – but in much more dramatic fashion – hitting only .163. It was as if during the all star break that Brennan starting believing what everyone was saying about him – and nose dived.

But Ryan Raburn played steady in 2010 – and while the rest of the team was in full slump mode – Raburn kept improving finishing the year with an abover average .280. His past demonstrations of weak outfield defense were replaced by some really nice catches and throwing improvements.

So if Raburn is the Tigers 2011 left fielder – there is improvement as Raburn continues to improve.

But left field is a fickle position for Tigers management – it seems to be the place to try out the new kid up from Toledo with a hot bat. As well, if a big name outfielder in free agency with a strong bat should come to Detroit – only left field is considered to be open.

So the Tigers have only gotten weaker in Centerfield, and have gotten stronger in the bullpen, at the DH role, and perhaps second base.

But clearly one more big deal is needed.

And clearly catcher is the biggest weakness for the 2011 Tigers roster.

There is nobody out there to go get. And you already paid a steep price for Martinez.

While I am certain the Tigers have one more trade to make – it won’t be a catcher.

With Adam Dunn going to the White Sox – a player every Tiger fan was begging the Tigers to go after and sign, and the Minnesota Twins being a team that would be strong contenders if they signed women softball players – the battle for the 2011 American League Central again seems to be tipped towards the White Sox and Twins – but again it will be close.

That’s why the play all 162 games every season.

But is there enough happening yet for Tiger fans to get excited about? Not yet.

But that being said, remember 2008, when the Tigers were picked in November of 2007 to win the World Series after signing Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis.

They finished at the bottom of the lowly AL Central.

So this speculation means nothing. And 2011 looks like it can shape up to be another exciting Tigers baseball season.

Jeter Dreaming

I would like to take a moment to dream.



Derek Jeter turns two as
Carlos Guillen slides into second.
Photo Credit : Detroit News


To fantasize about the impossible coming to be real.

Imagine Tiger fans, if the Tigers actually signed a 3 year deal with Derek Jeter.

How would that change the face of the Tigers?

The Tigers did not option Jhonny Peralta for 2011. Shortstop is an open position.

And it’s likely that the Tigers will say goodbye to Maglio Ordonez in right field that will free up some 9 million dollars in payroll.

And we said goodbye to another former Yankee Johnny Damon.

But Jeter is likely worth some 25 million a year.

And he wil be 37 years old in 2011.

And he is coming off a less than stellar year in 2010 – by Derek Jeter standards.

A career .314 hitter who slumped to .274 last year has a face known to baseball around the world.

And the Tigers already have proven future hall of famer Miguel Cabrera playing first base.

What would this mean?

It would mean a strong left side of the infield with Brandon Inge and Derek Jeter on the left side.

It would mean a solid base hitter in the 2 or 3 slot of the lineup before Cabrera.

It would probably average at least one more run per game.

It would mean a solid clubhouse presence – a man you know will have a future in baseball past his playing days – managing or in a front office position.

It would mean a larger impact to the Tigers’ recruiting efforts than even Ivan (Pudge) Rodriguez had when he joined in 2004, drawing names like Polanco, Ordonez, and Guillen, the past core of a competitive Tigers roster.

The impact would be significant.

But is it worth $60 – $75 million over three years?

Yes.

The upside is so much greater than the down side.

Derek Jeter does have some Michigan roots.

He went to Central High School in Kalamazoo. He is in their hall of fame.

Now I am not clueless here.

I realize that prying Jeter out of the clasp of the Yankees organization is a pipe dream. Why would he want to leave his Manhatten apartment in the Trump Towers to come to Detroit?

How could the Tigers possibly pull this off?

I don’t think they can.

But maybe, just maybe.

We can dream can’t we?

What do the Tigers really need for 2011? Besides a shortstop?

A left and right fielder to surround Austin Jackson.

A catcher. We need a dependable receiver who can frame the pitch and throw out a stealing base runner. Who can hit hotter than .220.

And we need a second baseman. A guy who is ready now. Although if Scott Sizemore’s ankle heals over spring – maybe he is the guy of the future? But who wouldn’t want to come to Detroit to play second beside Jeter?

Imagine Jeter at shortstop.

That’s a game-changer. An impact player.

Imagine how other players would look differently at Detroit with a Jeter – Cabrera combination – on defense and at the plate.

To me, this is a litmus test for Dave Dombrowski, the Tigers General Manager – to see if he sees what I see in the potential gain. And even more so to Mr. Illitch – to see what he is willing to put this Tigers team over the edge of competiveness.

I know some of you think I am nuts for this idea. This pipe dream. And all of you who will comment to say “this will never happen” – you’re most likely dead right.

But let’s see if the Tigers pursue Derek Jeter.

To me – this would say more than if they actually got him.

We’ll find out tonight after midnight.

We’ll Get ‘Em Next Year – But This Year’s Still Fun

Brenan Boesch and Miguel Cabrera celebrate

Here we sit on September 7, and the Tigers are 13 games back of the Minnesota Twins for the lead of the AL Central.

9.5 games behind the Chicago White Sox for second place in the division.

10.5 games ahead of Kansas City and 11 games ahead of Cleveland.

There are 24 games left to play in the 2010 regular season.

The season is pretty much done for the Detroiters of 2010. But all the games still have to be played.

This is not the position I predicted the Tigers to be in at this point of time.

They were supposed to be in contention. That was my 2010 prediction. And if a couple of things would have happened differently – they could have been.

I did predict Verlander and Cabrera would have great seasons. They have.

And I did predict a great year by Austin Jackson – but cautioned against hoping for Rookie of the year acclaims – but he seems to be on pace to achieve the award.

And once Max Scherzer returned from the Triple A Mudhens after getting some pitching instruction – returned as a starting pitcher that has almost rivaled Verlander for the treasured title of Ace.

I didn't predict Scherzer's turnaround.

In fact, I predicted Guillen and Laird would be gone – traded away to acquire some strengths. But they weren't. Guillen was on the DL more often than not – and aside from a great arm to throw out stealers at second – Laird has done little to increase his perceived value to other teams.

And rookie second baseman Scott Sizemore was just not up to the task of playing in the bigs with his busted ankle still healing. He headed back down to the minors in June but will be called back up for September play.

Guillen stepped up to play a pretty darn good second base … until he was injured and on the DL a month later … again. He will be out the remainder of 2010 – and unlikely to return in 2011.

Losing Maglio Ordonez for the season – and most likely the end of his career as a Detroiter – was indeed a difficult pill to swallow as Maglio was playing up to his potential in the early days of 2010.

Inge has held his third bag defensively well – recuperating knees and a newly healing injured wrist that left sidelined for several weeks.

And I had no idea Brenan Boesch existed – let alone explode onto the scene as he did in the first half of the season with no signs of being found out by the opposition. But the return to play after the All Star break saw Boesch's streak end with a screeching halt of a NASCAR driver slamming into a wall.

And the Tigers hit that wall with him – losing first to the Indians in Cleveland – 4 in a row.

And the slide continued for three series until 10 days later the Tigers were 8 games back.

And where I thought Mr. Illitch's patience would be exhausted by another weak second half performance – the Tigers stayed put with Jim Leyland – and Dave Dombrowski. In a public statement made in the opening days of August – it was announced that Mr. Illitch was committed to Leyland and Dombrowski through 2011.

So I blew that call too.

There are some nice things to say about the Tiger Rookies this year. You know about Jackson. But rookie Will Rhymes has stepped up to play a pretty decent second. Seemingly a guy who makes things happen – much like a Roberto Alomar … but not quite the skill or instinct of the great second baseman now sadly only renowned for spitting in an umpire's face.

At this point Rhymes is rivaling Inge for fan favorite … and sports talk radio hosts most least favorite player to talk about.

I like Rhymes a lot. He is fun to watch – and comes through for you more often than not.

The Tigers have lost more than their share of one run games. 23 to be exact so far. They have won 15.

The question is "why did the Tigers of 2010 drop after the All Star Break?"

They are losing the close games - usually with men on base. 12^th worst in the American League. Worst in the Central Division.

This has been the main point of failure for the Tigers. The inability to win those close games.

Closer Jose (Papa Grande) Valverde was outstanding in the first half, blowing only one save opportunity before the All Star break. But after the All Star break – Valverde faltered and Coke, Perry, Schlereth, and Weinhardt all took turns blowing a total of 12 save situations.

They just couldn't finish.

The inability to close out save situations accounts for a good majority of games lost by one or more runs.

And in those closing at bats in those 1 run losses – more often than not a runner was left on base.

But that being said – these tigers have come back to win in 33 games, with their largest comeback made up a deficit of 6 runs.

But when behind in the ninth inning have only came back 5 times to win.

Those are the numbers. The fact is that this year, more than recent memory, fan confidence in the Tiger's pulling out a victory is higher than before. Even higher than in 2006.

Rhymes, Raburn, and Jackson

And the Tigers are still fun to watch – exciting – with faces like Jackson, Boesch and Rhymes stepping up from the minors – and Austin Jackson chasing down everything in center field.

The Tigers are fun again.

That's the bottom line. Fans are in love with this new young face of Jackson, Boesch, Casper Wells, Will Rhymes. They are hoping these are the faces of the future. But the pundits will tell you that it is unlikely fans will ever see any of these faces – except Austin Jackson. It's agreed now that he is an upgrade from Curtis Granderson.

Who would have thunk it?

So now – as we watch the remaining 23 games of the season (our boys of the old English D are beating the White Sox 6 – 1 as I write this … wait … Inge just hit a three run dinger to make it 9 -1 in the bottom of the eighth) – we can at least enjoy this new found fun baseball to watch.

Even if it doesn't really mean anything to this post season.

We'll get 'em next year.

2010 Prediction – Tigers Win American League Central – Seriously

The Tigers Opening Day is upon us. Although the season officially kicked off last night with a great dual between the Yankees and the Red Sox.

Today the Tiger's open against Kansas City – in Kansas City.

I think anyone tossing out predictions of the outcome of 162 games played is tossing a dart at a distant board on a windy day. But for all those darts tossed so far, the Tigers have been picked to come in second or third.

But here is where I think our Tigers will come out in the end:

1. Detroit Tigers
2. Minnesota Twins
3. Chicago White Sox
4. Kansas City Royals
5. Cleveland Indians

The Tigers? In first? What are you … some hometown homer slappy? Looking through rose colored glasses? Haven't you taken anything that has transpired over the off season, or the end of 2009 seriously? What are you thinking?

I know what it sounds like, But there is some rationale behind my seemingly over-optimistic prediction.

The Tigers are still a contending team in baseball. While both Minnesota and Chicago have upgraded in the offseason, the White Sox are still a bunch of players on a roster – not a team – the only outcome possible when managed by Ozzie Guillen.

And Minnesota upgraded by adding Thome to the power duo of Mauer and Morneau, and playing under Ron Gardenhire. But they can no longer hide under their "dome from hell" home field advantage.

I hated that dome.

And they have lost Nathan as their closer. But the importance may be overstated by some.

Believe it or not, the Tigers are deeper than both the Twins and the White Sox. The problem is that we are so familiar with most of this team – we under estimate them – and we under value them.

So that re-levels the field to me.

Therefore – here are my three main reasons why the Tigers will win the ALCS in 2010:

Reason 3 – Defense and New Acquisitions 

The Tigers no longer have Granderson and Polanco – now it's Austin Jackson in center field and Scott Sizemore at second. Johnny Damon will take over left – leaving Carlos Guillen in a spot he will not be happy with. See some platooning in left between Damon and Guillen with Damon winning the position before the forty game mark elapses.

We may see Carlos leave the Tigers in midseason and money spent on a designated hitter.

Austin Jackson has been the talk of the grapefruit league. Deservedly so showing both power and placement hitting skills and a good defensive ability in center. Look for numbers for Jackson at the .280 mark – a great start from a rookie. There are some picking Jackson to be the rookie of the year – but let's not go saying things like that just yet.

As Sizemore's ankle continues to get stronger – look for his range to increase at second. As well, look for his bat to level off at the .260 mark. A reasonable expectation I think.

Defensively the Tigers will surprise everyone to not be markedly weaker up the middle. Look for Adam Everett to get more comfortable at short to make up for his failings at the plate. I have a hunch that the Everett – Sizemore combo will be better than expected as the two grow together.

With Inge at third and Cabera at first – both battling challenges of different natures from the past seasons – look for strength at both corners. But don't expect Inge to finish better than .240 at the plate. He has shown us fool's gold in his hitting in the past – just hope he remains able to play with those knees and can get a bat on the ball in RISP situations. If he learns not to think long-ball, Brandon will have a good year.

Cabrera will have an amazing year this year. He is humbled by the outcome of last season – and the Tiger Woods like embarrassment it entailed – albeit his challenge is of a different nature. Cabrera will have a strong shot at the AL MVP and hit .335 for the season.

Also look for Maglio Ordonez to hit around .310 this year – with power and with placement. Mags will step it up this year at the plate. But he will not surprise anyone with his defensive play in right.

Gerald Laird is a very good defensive catcher – but look for Laird to be replaced by Avila in the mid season as his trade value forces the Tigers hand to make a move for either a starting pitcher or a designated hitter during he all star break or shortly after. This will force Avila's hand to change the way he receives pitches – he must present a better target for his pitchers and frame the results better for catchers – or he will never become a quality catcher in the Major Leagues.

The top half of the Tigers lineup is chalk full of hitting potential – Jackson, Damon, Ordonez, Cabrera, and Guillen. But the second half is weaker with Inge, Sizemore, Laird, and Everett. For this reason alone – see this team play a lot more small ball strategy with that bottom half of the order – creating means by which they can get men on. If the second half of the order can hold on in an inning to get back to the top of the order and into the meat – this team will score runs. But that is a big if.

Luckily – great pitching beats great hitting …

Reason 2 – Pitching

The Tigers main advantage over the rest of the ALC is their pitching. Lets take a look and see what we really have here.

Justin Verlander has established himself as an elite American League pitcher. He enters ballgames now – well entrenched in the heads of opposing batters. This is Verlander's year to break the twenty wins mark. As well, his ability and desire to go deep into a game only makes him better – and gives our bullpen a chance to rest – allowing Leyland more options for the next game.

Rick Porcello has established himself in his rookie season as a new Verlander. Perhaps not how Rick want's to be perceived. But the young man's control, poise and toolset of pitches appear to be those attributes of a seasoned veteran. Many expect Porcello to suffer from the dreaded sophomore slump – but I have a feeling he is too strong willed for that to happen. Look at Porcello to win 17 games this year.

Max Scherzer comes to Detroit from Arizona this year after finishing last year with a 9 wins 11 losses record – a .412 ERA, and a 1.32 WHIP. These are not inspiring numbers. And this will be his first year in the American League. To me, Matt Scherzer is an unknown still. But this will be his third year in the bigs – and we may see those numbers improve. Look for a 10 wins season from Scherzer. Anything better would be outstanding.

Jeremy Bonderman is back this year – after prolonged injuries have prevented him from truly pitching the way we all know he is capable of. The former Ace of the Tigers is anxious to show he still is a pitcher to deal with, and wants to reassert himself as a dominant force in the American League. The question is "can he stay healthy?" No past numbers from previous years have any bearing on predicting the 2010 season for Jeremy. But I am predicting a comeback year for the bulldog. Look for 14 wins for Jeremy this year.

Dontrelle Willis is the second biggest question mark in my mind after Max Scherzer. Nobody that I know of has ever recovered from the mental aspects of loss of confidence in themselves as what Dontrelle has battled these last two seasons. The outlook is not good that he will be the first. But if he should, then I would give Dontrelle 9 wins this year. But honestly, I don't see Dontrelle on this roster by Memorial Day weekend. But I wish him all the good fortune in the world.

The Bullpan – expect Phil Coke to move into the starting rotation shortly in the start of this year to replace the struggling Dontrelle Willis. That being said - Eddie Bonine, Ryan Perry, and Fu-Te Nu are quality middle relievers. Bobby Seay will hopefully recover from a torn rotator cup to help in this support role – but look for Seay to be less effective – if he should be able to recover.

Look for Joel Zumaya to finally grow up this year as well, extending his pitches to include a slider and changeup. If he can keep his mind off the speed gun – and throw pitches instead of heat – Zoom-by-ya holds a good shot at helping the Tigers get through the last two or three innings.

Closer Jose Valverde is an exciting addition to this roster – and to this date I think an underestimated reason I expect success from the Tigers in 2010. With a lead in the ninth, expect Valverde to get the job done convincingly. If not, then expect a battle between Valverde and Zumaya for that closing spot. It's hard to believe that Fernando Rodney blew only one save opportunity for the Tigers in 2009 – and I think that was a key reason for their success up until the end. Look at Valverde to continue that closing successs – but without the thrills we are used to from Rodney and Jones of days gone by.

Stong successes by Verlander and Porcello, along with a comeback year by Bonderman and a convincing closer in Valverde will make this the pitching staff to beat and keep the Tigers strongly in contention in the American League Central. Good pitching beats good hitting damned near every time. But the key is how the Tigers hit to support the good pitching.

Reason 1 – The end of the 2009 season.

Since 2006 – the Tigers have ended the season poorly. Droughts and doldrums coming since the first weeks of August, and lasting through the end of September.

In 2006, they let a ten game lead slip away in the final games by losing three in a row to basement dwelling Kansas City. The Twins snuck in as ALC division champs. But the ALC had the wildcard spot – as it was the strongest division in the American League. Of course the Tigers made it that year to the World Series after defeating the Yankees and Oakland A's in the playoffs – only to return to their slump during the World Series against St. Louis.

The slump repeated itself in 2007 – the Tigers this time some four games back behind the White Sox and Twins.

In 2008 – the boys slumped right out of the gate – losing their first seven games in a row – and they never recovered.

In 2009 – one of the hardest seasons to watch – a repeat of the 2006 slump verbatim – with no wild card spot safety net to catch them - the second half slump allowed the Tigers to be overtaken by the Twins after losing three of their last four games to the Twins and White Sox – only to lose in a one game playoff against the Twins in Minnesota's dome from hell.

Last year hurt more than 2006. More than 2007, Even more than finishing in the basement in 2008 after being picked by many to win the World Series that year.

2010 will be different. That memory of last year is fresh in these guys minds. Fresh in Manager Jim Leyland's mind – and a deep scar in Dave Dombrowski and Mike Ilitch's heart.

That's why this offseason saw star players Granderson and Polanco leave to the Yankees and Phillies.

Change was needed. And a message was sent to this squad that no one is safe.

Especially Willis, Guillen and Laird.

This year, I expect there to be no second-half-slump. Should one arise, I think we will all be saying goodbye to our beloved skip Leyland this August.

It just won't be tolerated.

The Starting Lineup To Start 2010

It looks like Jim Leyland has pretty much solidified his starting lineup to open the 2010 season:

1. Austin Jackson, CF
2. Johnny Damon, LF
3. Magglio Ordonez, RF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Carlos Guillen, DH
6. Brandon Inge, 3B
7. Gerald Laird, C
8. Scott Sizemore, 2B
9. Adam Everett, SS

 In my opinion, there are no real surprises here.

Just sighs of relief.

Relieved that Austin Jackson appears poised to pan out as a solid center fielder with the potential to get on base more often than Curtis Granderson did. I'm already warming up to the nickname "A-Jax". That's a keeper.

This means more ducks on the pond for Damon, Ordonez, and Cabrera.

And if Damon does happen to be hampered by the larger outfield at Comerica – he has just as good a shot at his hits dropping in and being on base right after Jackson.

And if Maglio continues where he left off in the latter days of 2009, and Cabrera steps up his clutch hitting with runners in scoring position – we have a strong front loaded offense.

Toss in Carlos Guillen for good measure.

But that line up once we get past Guillen and down to Inge, well, it goes pretty limp.

Don't get me wrong. Inge has been known to step it up a notch in clutch situations. But a career .240 average always finds it's level.

The one potentially bright spot could be Sizemore. After all, he is still an unknown. A rookie. And who knows. We may look back one day to this line up and remark "Can you believe Sizmore started the season hitting eighth?".

Or not. Time and Scott Sizemore will have to play this one out.

Defensively I think we are not as weak up the middle as we thought we thought earlier that we would be.

Laird is an excellent catcher. Hate his bat all you want, but this guy is good at the plate, a very good receiver who can holds runners, and getting them when they go.

Everett at shortstop is not a weakness defensively. And again we have to wait and see how Sizemore matures in the two bag spot.

But Austin Jackson has impressed defensively in Lakeland. Perhaps not a Granderson … yet. But who's to say he won't be someday ... now that we have seen him.

Again time will tell.

Piching - it looks like the rotation is pretty much set too – except for that fifth spot.

1. Verlander
2. Porcello
3. Scherzer
4. Bonderman
5. Willis or Robertson

I caught a little heat from people last week about my putting Willis in the fifth spot of that rotation. Justifiably so. Both Willis and Robertson had good springs - but Robertson defintely has the edge when it comes to holding it together when the pitches count for something.



The wise old  manager sage in Jim Leyland seems to know how to milk a bull pen for all it's worth.

But what is that bullpen worth now?

Seay is out with a torn Rotator Cup. Miner also starts the season on the DL.

Zumaya can give you an inning, maybe two?  Fu Te Ne is pretty reliable. And the loser of the Willis / Robertson battle.

The Skip might need to keep his stool and bucket set up to massage the utters of this bullpen.

And now we have Valverde to close. This year our closer should be a welcome treat. Hopefully the ninth innings with a lead will not be the rollercoaster thrill ride of recent years under Jones and Rodney.

So as the boys of the old English D arrive back up North to open (Kansas City is still north of Lakeland) to open the 2010 campaign for the AL Central division – once again I feel comfortable with our offense, our defense and our starting pitching.

But the bottom of our order is weaker, and our bullpen is again in question.

There is a good side to this. We open against the Royals. And then we open at home against the Indians.

So we have a pretty good shot at starting the season on a winning roll.

But I don't want to invoke the hex of the 2008 seven game losing streak to open the year.

So lets just say it looks pretty good ... for now. Maybe a little weaker – but maybe not.

It's up to the Rookies Jackson and Sizemore and the bullpen.

976ST8W25U3A

Spring Training Season Ticket Sales Snow Jobs

originally published on February 25, 2010

I took a couple minutes at lunch today to read my personal email.

There in my inbox was another email from the Tigers enticing me to purchase season tickets. There were some really affordable deals for small packages of fifteen games in not so bad locations.

I am not a rich man. My money is wrapped up in my little girls needs, the roof over our head, the wheels we drive to get us from point A to point B, and the food that goes on our table.

Not much left over for Tiger season tickets.

But I like to dream.

Just for fun I took a look to see what it would cost to sit in my favorite Tiger Den seats – the ones with two chairs and a table – like sitting on your own private patio watching the game from behind home plate. We like to get Tiger Den seats once a year as a special treat when the Yankees or Red Sox come in. Last year we were there for the final game of the season against the rotten White Sox – the game after the Miggy ordeal, and the day before the single game playoff in Minnesota.

I choked on my quasidia when I saw the eight thousand dollar price tag for a full season.

I couldn't get eight thousand dollars for my Jeep on a trade in.

The next email in my inbox was a list of the latest Tiger news coming out of Lakeland Florida.

"Zumaya Looking Great – Throwing Hard" read one headline.

"Cabrera Wowed By Healthy Bonderman" read another.

"Leyland Says Turner Could Be Special" read the third.

"Rayburn and Kelly Could Be Tigers Next Supermen" read the last one in the list.

I spewed the pop in my mouth all over my monitor on the last one.

It's spring training rhetoric rising up from Lakeland like the warm air of Florida rising up across the states between to the arctic temperatures of Comerica Park.

Hot air in deed.

Season tickets have to be sold. Eight grand for two seats in the Tiger Den for a season I would imagine is a hard sell.

But it gets a lot easier if Zumaya – the rock star of bullpens can resume his voo-doo-child anthem old form – lighting up radar gun numbers over 100 mph..

And easier still if Bonderman – who almost all Tiger fans have written off – can return to the form he had in 2006 when he still held the title of Ace over Verlander.

And my goodness, let me get out my checkbook right now if young rookie Turner is being seen as a new Porcello or Verlander too.

But then – the Tigers Marketing team had to take it a hair too far – proclaiming Rayburn and Kelly to have the potential to be rising supermen.

Supermen?

If Rayburn and Kelly can rise to be supermen – then what in the world would you classify Cabrera and Verlander as?

"Why Super-duper men of course" – would respond the Tigers marketing team.

This is a hard time of year for the normal working stiffs like me. It's Spring Training time in Lakeland, and it's been a long winter that our current snow flurries gives no hint of ending.

I for one am dying for the return of Tigers baseball.

And any news I can get of how spring training is going is like gold.

I am was in the minority earlier this off season in thinking the Tigers have a good shot at contending if not taking the AL Central this year. Signing Johnny Damon has made a lot of others jump on board my little bandwagon.

It's the AL Central. Hell, Cleveland has a shot.

Okay, not really.

I firmly believe Ordonez will not be in the same fog he was for the first three quarters of last season.

I firmly believe that Cabrera will take his game to the next level this year, having already developed into a skilled and proficient first baseman (which I didn't think possible a year ago), he will up his slugging average and will become a clutch player that he wasn't last season.

I am anxious and optimistic to see Austin Jackson assume centerfield – now that I am over my bitterness for losing Granderson to those rotten Yankees. And Johnny Damon in left field is an upgrade from Carlos Guillen – although I feel like a heel for saying so.

They have been waiting for Sizemore to come up from the minors to assume second base for over a year now – although I know he will completely fill the empty cleats that Polanco left behind.

And I am confident that Verlander and Porcello will step right back into the groove they left off in last year.

Watch this to be Porcello's breakout year. The dreaded "sophomore slump" will not infect Porcello this year.

Okay, I said it.

Adding a quality closer in Valverde is one of the most positive moves I have seen this year. Although I admit I was puzzled – hell I was frustrated to be honest – as to why that deal was made after failing to sign Polanco and trading Granderson.

I think we have tons of positive news to look forward to this season – coming out of Lakeland and carrying over into the first months of Spring and Summer.

And I think Season Ticket sales are going to do well, growing as the year goes on.

But telling me Rayburn and Kelly are rising superstars?

They both have decent bats – but they both are prone to fielding errors.

I'm glad we have both available for those situations when we can call upon them.

But don't try to snow me a week into Lakeland workouts declaring these two as potential "supermen".
I have enough snow already.

Johnny Damon … Uh … Welcome to Detroit

originally published on February 20, 2010

Johnny Damon signed a deal this afternoon with the Detroit Tigers.

Eight million dollars for one year – with no second year option – and pending a physical that he is to take tomorrow.

As you might surmise from my first post here, I was not exactly jumping up and down – urging Dave Dombrowski to make this deal.

I was against it.

As I stated before – we already have senior players with big names who have just passed their apex in the major league baseball career curve.

And we just got rid of a couple not long ago.

Remember Pudge and Sheff?

But now we have him.

We have a left fielder with a .282 bat. No arm but he can hit from the left side of the plate. He can lead off.

Apparently we also got a guy who is good in a dugout and great in a locker room for keeping his team on target.

Let's remember – Johnny will be getting a World Series ring shortly.

But that's about it.

Brandon Inge and Adam Everett will have to spend extra practice time determining who will run halfway out to left field to take Johnny's throw to the cut-off man.

So what happens now to Carlos Guillen? He was promised to be an everyday player this year. How can that happen now?

Does Guillen DH?

Does Guillen go elsewhere now?

It's not so bad really for Guillen, he wanted to play left field about as much as Inge wanted to catch in 2008.

And that year the Tigers landed in the basement of the AL Central. So any change is good for Carlos Guillen – and the Tigers.

I'd be putting Carlos at second base.

So now that we have Damon, we have a guy with a good chance for getting men on base – for Mags, Miggy and Carlos if he finds a spot or settles for DH.

I'm not so sure that this is the final setting of the Tigers roster.

Brandon Inge is still recovering from double knee surgery. And there's no guarantee that Mud Hen call-up

Scott Sizemore is supposedly not ready to play yet

The boys are now in Lakeland. Or they are on their way.

Johnny Damon sounds like he'll be heading down shortly – after passing his physical – and a locker has been waiting for him for a week or so.

So there is no more reason to root against the Tigers signing Johnny Damon.

They did it. Albeit only for a year. Albeit it for no second year option.

He will be a lame duck left fielder. Is there such a thing?

No doubt if he proves us all wrong – a second and likely third year deal would be offered on a silver platter.

That's the Illitch style.

So there's no upside for rooting against Johnny. He'll be wearing the English D. After the Boston B and the New York NY.

What's the harm in Johnny Damon succeeding in Detroit.

So I'm not rooting against him. No way.

Welcome to Detroit Johnny. And wear the old English D with pride. That's all we ask.

Tigers Offseason – What The Hell’s Going On?

originally published on headstuffing on February 12, 2010This has been a very confusing off season to say the least.
And it started that day in late September 2009 when once beloved Maglio Ordonez achieved enough at bats to trigger the option on a huge contract bonus of thirty three million of Tiger owner Mike Ilitch's hard earned dollars for the 2010 season.After a lackluster three quarters of the 2009 season.

And even though Mags finished 2009 with a flourish, the Tigers finished 2009 with a flop.I still shiver when I think of those last two games of the regular season. So I won't relive them for you. You remember them too.

Or that single game playoff against the Minnesota Twinkies in the dome from hell.Have they torn that damn thing down yet?

And then the dominos – the repercussions of Mags contract option – started the dominos toppling.We bid farewell to Placido Polanco as the stalwart and steadfast rock of the infield and master of the clutch hit was refused arbitration and allowed to move on to Philadelphia.

And if that weren't unthinkable enough – Curtis Granderson – beloved star center fielder and all-around-good-guy destined to be the face of the franchise – is traded to the Yankees.A kick in the groin to Tiger fans.

"The money just wasn't there to keep those guys", we are told.Two new young minor leaguers are received for Granderson – Austin Jackson – a centerfielder that the Sporting News projected to be the rookie of the year in 2010, and Max Scherzer – a reasonable pitcher at best.

Scott Sizemore was decided to be brought up from AAA Toledo – only to break a bone in his ankle in an Arizona fall league game. He is still slated as I know it to be Placido's second base placebo replacement."Okay", we all thought, "This Mags contract option is costing us our big names and most beloved players … but we can carry on – there's no money and the team is moving into a younger state of mind."

That's when they signed Jose Valverde – a quality closer (to fill the vacancy of rollercoaster Tiger closer Fernando Rodney – who was also not offered arbitration) from Houston – for fourteen million dollars.I thought Ilitch was pinching pennies this year?

I thought that's why we lost Granderson … and Polanco?What the ….

Now, as I write this, the rumor mill is spewing the sour news that the Tigers are on the verge of signing Johnny "Curtis Granderson took my job" Damon to a two year fourteen million dollar contract also.What is it with two years and fourteen million dollars contracts?

This leaves us to question why then did we lose Granderson and Polanco?It couldn't have been the money?

It must have been a determination to go in a different direction. Not necessarily a young direction. Just in a direction without Granderson and Polanco?Yet still we have Carlos Guillen in left? He doesn't want to play left field any more than Inge wanted to catch?

And we still have Brandon Inge – easily tied with Granderson and ace Justin Verlander as the most favourite Tigers.And we still have Mags – without his head of curls – that once lopped off – reduced him to a mere shadow of his former power-hitting self – and the root of what we all thought the problem was.

We kept the weakest links on the roster – and we got rid of our stability leaders?Oh, I know – only the good players have trade value. But we got nothing for Placido, and we got unproven hopes in Austin Jackson for Curtis?

It just doesn't make sense. Not from the outside. Not from where I sit.But the good news is that the Tigers are still in the American League Central Division. The weakest division in all of Major League Baseball.

So the Tigers still have a shot.An outsider shot … but a shot.

No matter my confusion, or disappointment, or frustration in trying to understand the void in rationale of this offseason, I will still root for those who wear the old English D. I will still listen to and watch every pitch on the radio or TV. I will still pump my fist when we win a close one, or utter profanities should we fail to pull one out in the bottom of the ninth with two men on and no outs.Just like last year … when we led the AL Central from May 10^th to the single game playoff in that disgusting dome.

We still have a shot.And remember … we weren't supposed to be any good at all in 2006.

And for certain … the Tigers aren't supposed to be any good in 2010.So we got a pretty good shot.

Albeit an outside one.

Could it be? The Detroit Tigers Are Six Games Up?

originally published on headstuffing on September 6, 2009

Could it be?

I seem to have to keep looking at my newspaper this morning.

The sports section. The Major League Baseball standings tucked in the top left corner of the second page of the sports section.

There, in black and white – with the authority of an official news organization behind – sits the standings of the American League Central.

My beloved Detroit Tigers are leading the American League Central division by six games.

Holy mackerel

I have watched every game on television or listened to every game on the radio. So I don't know why I am in such a state of disbelief. Joyous disbelief, but disbelief all the same.

Pat Caputo is on the radio again this morning urging people to finally believe in this team. With a team leading their division by six with twenty seven left to play. The magic number now set to twenty games – combinations of Tigers Wins – or losses of Minnesota and Chicago. Pat can't understand why Tiger fans have been hesitant to believe the Tigers will win the American League pennant and have a spot in the 2009 playoffs.

Well, to start with, the Tigers were supposed to be a poor team this year – chosen by the pundits of national sports to finish near the bottom of the division. But we Tiger fans knew the boys wearing the old English D were not as bad as they appeared to be last year – when they did finish in the basement after being picked by those same national media pundits to win the World Series.

We knew our starting pitching rotation would not stink this year like they did last year. We knew guys like Polanco, Inge, Guillen, and Thames would step up to fill the shoes of game-by-game heros when our superstars like Cabrera, Ordonez, Granderson, and Verlander faltered. And we knew that the Tigers farm system was deep enough to supply great temporary support by sending up newcomers like Raburn, Thomas, and Avila would step into roles and play significant parts – before we even knew their names.

But the problem was the Tigers couldn't win on the road.

Their road record was atrocious until the last two away game series. They hadn't won a road series since May, until taking the Angels in Anaheim last week and know their current series with the Tampa Bay Rays this weekend. The final game of that series about to start in a few minutes.

But while the Tigers played poorly on the road, the Minnesota Twins and Chicago White Sox played worse.

Nobody beats Tampa Bay at Tropicana field.

But the Tigers have. And came from behind to do so.

The bats that were quiet are now awake.

The players that were slumping in clutch situations are now getting key hits. The pitching – when failing – has received enough run support to surpass the opposition. The defense has been tighter – and the Tigers Catchers – Laird and Avila – have been surpising in their ability to handcuff base runners by throwing laser accurate ropes to second – to the perfect spots where the runners slide into waiting gloves of Polanco, Everette, and Santiago.

A new confidence has arisen from the Tigers when they sit in the visiting dugouts.

If they score first they taunt the opposition to catch them if they can. If they fall behind in the course of a game, they charge back with determination and conviction to take the lead in the eighth or ninth innings.

And Tigers closer Fernando Rodney gives you tingles of fear comparable to a bungee jump made at a county fair – walking men or giving up hits to allow the tying run coming to the plate – only to get the poor bastard to swing at strike three and get out of the self-imposed jam. Rodney has scared us to death with every save opportunity appearance – but the statics show that in thirty something such opportunities – he has only let one slip through his split fingers.

But I am superstitious when it comes to baseball. I believe in jinxes.

And so that is why I still hesitate to declare decisively as Pat Caputo insists – that the Tigers will win the AL Central division.

Six game leads seem like a lot. Especially in September.

But there is a very scary road trip coming up – to visit both Minnesota and Chicago – at fields they don't typically do well in … so I reserve my right to hedge my complete and utter faith in the Tigers winning the pennant. Six games can dwindle quickly – especially if Minnesota and Chicago get hot too.

So I am still nervous. That's what makes a true pennant race like this one so exciting. I am hopeful – and trying desperately to be faithful. But I don't yet know for sure where things will sit when the fat lady sings in the first week of October.

I do know this. I will be at that final regular season game in October – against the White Sox. And whether it is a game of formality to simply cheer the Tigers into the post season – or whether it comes down to that final game to win our way into the post season – I don't know.

But it will be a great day that day.

Perhaps I will venture up to the press box to track down Caputo – and shake his hand – and share with him how truly great this season has been – pretending to be a pizza delivery guy – or a writer for the Schwartzville Times – Gazette – and simply point a thumbs up at him as he keys in his thoughts on the season.

Who knows.

But it has been a terrific ride that I hope continues strong for another twenty seven game days.

And I can honestly state that I am now a true believer – with only the fear that I am jinxing my beloved Detroit Tigers.

Could it be?

Yes it could.

How Will The Detroit Tigers Do In the Second Half of 2009

originally published on headstuffing on July 13, 2009

It's the All Star break.

The halfway point. The 2009 Major League Baseball season is half over.

And this year – 2009 – just like 2006 and 2007 – my beloved Detroit Tigers are in first place. They a three and a half game lead over the Chicago White Sox, and a four game lead over the Minnesota Twins.

So for this brief break in the season play, it's nice to sit and cherish the moment – but not for too long, both Chicago and Minnesota could pass by the Tigers in a single week.

The Tigers have the schedule on their side for the second half of 2009, but unless the bullpen gets it done, and the bats wake up more often, it will be a very close race right up to the final game in October.

And baseball is a funny game. Any team can win on any given day.

The Tigers as a Team

Q: The Tigers are winning the American League Central, how good are they really doing?

It is true that the American League Central Division is the weakest division in baseball. The Tigers win / loss average right now is .552. If they were in the American League East, they would be in third place behind Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees. In the American League West they would be behind the L.A. Angels (of Anaheim) and tied in second place with the Texas Rangers.

So in the American League, the Tigers are tied with Texas as the fourth best team. If they were in the National League, they would be the fourth best team in the National League.

In all of the Major Leagues, the Tigers would be tied for seventh place – again with the Texas Rangers.

The good news is that if they hold on and win the Central Division, they go to the playoffs – and anything can happen in the playoffs.

The bad news is that if they slip even to second place – surpassed by with Chicago or Minnesota – they will likely be out of play offs – because most likely the wild card team will be from the AL Easter division – and New York and Tampa Bay are fighting it out for that spot at the moment.

So – the Tigers are first in the AL Central – but tied for fourth in the American league, and tied for seventh overall in the Major Leagues.

Q: Is that good?

Considering four teams from the American League, and four teams from the National League – eight teams in total – go to the playoffs – so far the Tigers are making the cut. But they are on the outer edge.

Q: Well, are the Tigers any good?

One of the Tiger's most famous managers, Sparky Anderson, used to say he couldn't judge how good his ball team was until they had played forty games. Give a season consists of one hundred and sixty two games, that's nearly the whole first quarter of the season. But here we sit at the half way point. The Tigers of played eighty seven – six games past the halfway mark.

So the second half of the season is actually already under way, and the Tigers have won five of those six games. But those games were played against Kansas City and Cleveland, the two bottom feeders of the AL Central.

So at the halfway mark, I still cannot tell if my Detroit Tigers, leaders of the American League Central, are any good.

Q: How the Tigers stack up against their American League Rivals?

To me, the proof of how good the Tigers have been is how they have played against the four teams ahead of them in the American League. The Red Sox, Yankees, Angels, and the Rangers (whom they are tied with). How did the Tigers fare against these teams?

• The Tigers were swept by Boston Red Sox – losing all three games. So that's not good.
  
• The Tigers won one game and lost to to the Yankees – so that's not so good either.
  
• The Tigers won three against the Angels (of Anaheim) and lost three – so that's not good or bad.
  
• The Tigers have won all six games they played against the Rangers – two sweeps. So that is very good. I would say that even though their record shows them tied with the Rangers, the Tigers can beat them.
  

So it sounds like the Tigers are clearly the fourth best team in the American League.

But what about against those other teams in their Division? The Chicago White Sox and the Minnesota Twins? It's more important that they can beat those guys, right?

Well, kind of. Let's see.

Detroit has won four and lost two to the White Sox. And the Tigers have won two and lost four to the Twins. Yet the White Sox are in second place and the Twins are in third place.

The only conclusion I can make from these team win loss records is that it is more important how the schedule falls. Who you play more often and when?

Any team can beat any other team on any given night.

That's baseball.

So how do the Tigers schedule look for the next half of the season?

• The Tigers play better at home – at Comerica Park. Their winning percentage at home is quite high.
  
• They play six games against the White Sox at home, and only three in Chicago.
  
• They play seven games at home against the Twins, and only three games in Minnesota.
  
• The last seven games of the Tigers schedule are against Minnesota and Chicago in Detroit at Comerica Park.
  

So that sounds very promising.

The Tigers Roster

Q: Let's talk about the Tigers players

Things can change very quickly. This is simply assuming the current trends will hold, and they likely will change a bit. Trades will be made in the next several weeks. Contending teams will try to bolters their rosters with pieces they are missing – trading with teams likely out of contention and that need to change direction or ease their payolls.

The Tigers need to make a couple of trades. Who knows if anything will be available though.

Maglio Ordonez

Tigers superstar Maglio Ordenez isnot play very well at all. Mags has a career average of .310. He is hitting .260 this year. He has ever been an outstanding right fielder. He has a strange contract that states if he reaches a certain amount of games played for the Tigers this year, he earns an automatic extension and another 33 million dollars.

The expectation is that Mags has to go. I'm sorry to say that. His quality is still in the upper echelon of baseball, but that damned contract paints the Tigers into a corner that they must … well .. get out of.

My own feeling about Maglio – for what little it's worth - is that a controversy he was caught in the middle of – where he publically supported an unpopular Venezuelan president caused his fellow Venezuelan fans to boo him harshly through this springs World Baseball Classic appearances. Mags batted around .220 in those exhibitions, and that slump carried well into this season. I think that hurt Maglio emotionally, and is a big part of the reason for his slump.

I would hate to see Mags traded to a team and have him come back to beat us, But I also appreciate the fact that his numbers this season do not warrant a 30 million dollar contract extension.

Tigers Pitching

Q: The Tigers have one of the best starting rotations in baseball?

As well, the Tigers pitching has been their strongest weapon. Justin Verlander and Edwin Jackson have been spectacular so far. So has rookie phenom Rick Porcello. The fourth starter Armondo Gallarraga has had a bumpier start than his break out rookie season last year, but he could step it up in the second half.

The fifth starter, Dontrelle Willis has been a dud since joining the Tigers in 2008. His ERA is 7.49. And so the Tigers basically are stuck with a four man rotation. But now with the rising of Lucas French up from the minor league system – a no decision in his first start – a sixteen inning marathon in Minnesota loss, and a brilliant start in Kansas City that made people take notice - the Tigers might think they now have a five man rotation again.

Time will tell. But unlikely any trades will occur. Perhaps the dismissal of Dontrelle Willis.

Q: Fernando Rodney has never blown a save this year.

The Tigers bullpen has been as much to blame for Tiger losses as the often quiet bats of an explosive Tigers Offense. Fernando Rodney has stepped in to assume the role of closer – and has a perfect save record of 19 – 0, with an ERA of 3.92. That ERA is a bit high for a perfect save record. The news is that in Save situations – Rodney has given up less runs than the Tigers explosive runs have provided as a lead. Every outing is a roller coaster ride, and his record in non-save starts is rather abysmal.

In short, Rodney can get the job done to close a game out when the Tigers are leading into the ninth inning, but he is unlikely to hold the opposition off from scoring to give the Tigers a chance to catch up.

Solution? Only use Rodney in true save situations.

Q: How bad is the Tigers bullpen? That's what everyone nationally wants to know.

Our bullpen needs help.

The only problem is that every team hordes their quality bullpen staff. To acquire from another team means paying costly with talent you already have. The hope is that Joel Zumaya, Ryan Perry, and Fu – Te Ni can raise to the quality Tigers management expect of them.

Bobby Seay, Freddy Dolsi, and Brandon Lyon – on the other hand – have done well to hold up their end of the bullpen, and it is critical they maintain those levels.

So I do not expect to see any big trades for pitching coming, just some shuffling and perhaps a release or minor league repositioning or two.

Conclusion

Q: So Fred, sum this all up – what is your conclusion?

Well, if our quality starters – Cabrera, Laird and Inge can maintain their above normal paces this year, and Granderson, Anderson, Polanco, and Ordonez can raise their games to where they should be – the Tigers regular players will be competitive with any team in the Majors.

As well, if the players trying to stay in the majors from the minor leagues – Raburn, Thomas, Kelly (who might pop back up from Toledo) – can continue to contribute the way they have in the first half of the season, the Tigers chances grow even higher. These guys have played extremely well for the Tigers while regarded as 4A (AAAA) players – too god for the minor leagues but not quite major league material. And this has been a big reason (in my opinion) for the Tigers first half success.

As well, if Verlander and Jackson stay hot and healthy, and Luke French does not get found out, our starting rotation will be among baseballs very best.

But the starters can only be expected to get you six or seven innings in a game. The Tigers bullpen is the key to the second half. If Rodney continues getting saves – in his own roller coaster fashion that would make Todd Jones look dependable – then the Tigers can continue to win games with a lead into the ninth.

But if Joel Zumaya, Zach Minor, and Ryan Perry don't step upon the middle relief roles – the Tigers explosive bats get cancelled very quickly.

I think the key to the second half of the Detroit Tigers second half of the 2009 season is the bullpen, and the often quiet bats of the offense to wake up a bit. There will be something done with Maglio Ordonez, Dontrelle Willis, and most likely a couple of our super 4A contributors – but who and what that will bring to the Tigers is a crap shoot.

Who knows.

The Tigers have the schedule on their side for the second half of 2009, but unless the bullpen gets it done, and the bats wake up more often, it will be a very very close race right up to the final game in October.

And baseball is a funny game. Any team can win on any given day.