Detroit Tigers
Management: GM Dave Dombrowski; Manager Jim Leyland
Key Additions: Phil Coke, Austin Jackson, Max Scherzer, Daniel Schlereth, Jose Valverde, Johnny Damon
Key Losses: Freddy Dolsi, Curtis Granderson, Aubrey Huff, Edwin Jackson, Brandon Lyon, Placido Polanco, Clay Rapada, Fernando Rodney, Dusty Ryan, Dane Sardinha, Marcus Thames, Matt Treanor, Jarrod Washburn
Projected Starters
C Gerald Laird
1B Miguel Cabrera
2B Scott Sizemore
3B Brandon Inge
SS Adam Everett
RF Magglio Ordonez
CF Austin Jackson
LF Johnny Damon
DH Carlos Guillen
SP Justin Verlander
SP Rick Porcello
SP Armando Galarraga
SP Jeremy Bonderman
SP Max Scherzer
CP Jose Valverde
Preview: After losing in 163 games last year, the Tigers made some major overhauls to their roster, but they remain a serious contender for the division crown. The strength of this team looks to be the starting rotation. Justin Verlander is one of the best pitchers in the game and Rick Porcello is basically a mirror image just a few years younger expirience wise. Max Scherzer has dominate stuff and should be helped greatly moving into a pitchers park like Comerica. The offense is going to be a little harder to project. Damon’s numbers were inflated by Yankee Stadium and the Yankee’s offense. After him you’ve got a couple rookies that need to step in and be solid contributors. Scott Sizemore is a potential 15/15 guy and they need to see glimpses of that throughout the year to have a successful year. Austin Jackson has all the same tools as Curtis Granderson, he just has never had the chance to show them on the major league level, so you know there are going to be rough stretches. Miggy Cab has reportedly given up the liqour which might have been a horrible idea since some of the greatest offensive players in history were notorious boozers, I’m looking at you Babe and Mickey. Ordonez was a disaster for most of the year last year and if he continues to decline the Tigers are going to be in trouble. Inge is a great role player, but when you’re counting on him to be your 3rd best offensive player you might be in trouble. In the end, the Tigers pitching is going to keep them in most games and the offense will probably score just enough runs to win more than they lose, but it’s not going to be many more. In this division that’s enough to be a contender.
