Season Preview Detroit Tigers

The Detroit Tigers made waves this offseason with the free agent acquisition of Prince Fielder, signing the first basemen to a 9 year, $214 million deal. Fielder is added to a roster that already has super slugger Miguel Cabrerea and reigning Cy Young award winner and MVP Justin Verlander. The Tigers have a solid starting rotation and a lineup capable of home run barrages, even without standout Victor Martinez.

Projected Lineup:

1. Austin Jackson (Cf)
2. Brennan Boesch (Rf)
3. Miguel Cabrera (3b)
4. Prince Fielder (1b)
5. Delmon Young (DH)
6. Jhonny Peralta (SS)
7. Alex Avila (C)
8. Ryan Rayburn (Lf)
9. Brandon Inge (2b)

Projected Rotation:

• Justin Verlander
• Doug Fister
• Max Scherzer
• Rick Porcello
• Drew Smyly

Strengths:

Have you looked at that lineup? It’s unbelievable. The Tigers are definitely going to give the Red Sox a run for their money for the major league lead in runs scored this year. Even with the loss of Victor Martinez, who was great last season and vital to the team’s success, the Tigers are a force. The addition of Prince Fielder, one of baseball’s biggest power threats, to Cabrera, arguably the game’s best hitter, Young, Rayburn, Peralta, and even Jackson makes this team a pitcher’s worst nightmare.

Justin Verlander was the first starting pitcher to win the MVP since Roger Clemens in 1986. He had one of the most incredible season in recent memory in 2011, posting 24 wins, 250 K’s, and a WHIP under 1, not to mention the other amazing stats you’ve heard a million times so I won’t bother to rewrite. Every team in baseball has already circled Verlander’s games against them on their schedules. As of right now, he is the ultimate Ace.

Weaknesses: 

Defense, defense, defense. I can’t stress this enough. The 2012 Detroit Tigers may have the worst infield defense in history and it will be their downfall. Apparently, Miguel Cabrera has been working really hard in spring training as he tries to transition to third base. It doesn’t matter; at best, he will be below average. He couldn’t do it at the start of his career and he won’t be able to do it all that well now. Cabrera moved to third to make room for Prince Fielder at first base. Fielder is already one of the worst (by some metrics the single worst) defensive first basemen in baseball. He’s even worse than Cabrera was but because of Fielder’s body type, he couldn’t be the one to move. Peralta is the shortstop and, like Ryan Raburn the second basemen along with Brandon Inge, he is in the major leagues because of his bat not his glove and he is painfully slow. Finally, Brandon Inge is trying to play second. He is an excellent defensive third basemen but second is a whole different animal and there will be inevitable growing pains if this works at all.

Perhaps the biggest problem with the defense is its effects on other parts of the game. One of my friends asked me for fantasy baseball advice about Rick Porcello and I told him to stay away. Porcello is a sinker ball pitcher and therefore a ground ball pitcher who is heavily reliant upon his defense. The Swiss Cheese that mans Detroit’s infield won’t help his cause at all. This could make for a very tough year for poor Rick, not to mention many of the other pitchers on the staff. All this is going to put added pressure on the offense to generate more runs. There’s a reason there are three phases of the game– offense, defense, and pitching. You can’t just ignore one and hope the other two compensate. The Tigers are about to find that out the hard way.

Storylines:

How will Prince Fielder handle the switch to the AL?

How will Miguel Cabrera handle the switch to third base?

Brennan Boesch hit .339 when batting in front of Miguel Cabrera last season. How will he fare when he has both Cabrera and Fielder behind him?

Can Justin Verlander duplicate his amazing and historic 2011 season?

Prediction:

94-68. 1st Place, AL Central. The Tigers are a powerhouse and though they may face some serious competition from the Royals and Indians and maybe even the Twins, Detroit will hold on. They’re either winning this division by 2 games or 12, I’m leaning towards the latter.

Bold Predictions:

• The Tigers will trade for Matt Garza at the deadline when the figure out that Doug Fister isn’t a real number 2 starter and they need serious help in that half of the game where they hold the ball.
• Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder will combine for 74 errors.
• Jim Leyland will hire Tony La Russa as his leadoff man by May. Also, he will shave his mustache.

-Max Frankel