Tigers Season Preview

Two seasons ago the Tigers shocked the entire sports world by making the World Series. Last year the Tigers repeated one thing, they shocked the sports world again. However, the shock was due to the fact that the Tigers (who were for once near the top of the payroll list) was at the bottom of the division. BEHIND THE ROYALS! Last year most people said the same thing when you asked them about the Tigers before the season started, this season is much different. I have heard everything from "we are going right back to the World Series", to "I won't be surprised if we are last again." The question marks are definitely there, and that's what makes predicting what is going to happen with the 2009 Detroit Tigers difficult.

This year's Tigers team will be different from the past couple years, or at least the faces will have changed. Gone are the likes of Todd Jones, Gary Sheffield, Pudge Rodriguez, Kenny Rogers, Edgar Renteria, and possibly but hopefully not Joel Zumaya and even Jeremy Bonderman. In are the likes of Rookie Pitchers Rick Porcello and Ryan Perry, newly acquired OF Josh Anderson, RP Brandon Lyon, C Gerald Laird, and SS Adam Everett. Fernando Rodney is your Opening Day Closer, and Nate Robertson will also be in the bullpen to start the season. Here is a quick look at the Tigers Opening day Lineup (projected)

1. Granderson (CF)
2. Polanco (2b)
3. Magglio (RF)
4. Cabrera (1b)
5. Guillen (LF)
6. Thames (DH)
7. Inge (3b)
8. Laird (c)
9. Everett/Santiago (ss)

Rotation:
1. Verlander
2. Galarraga
3. Edwin Jackson
4. Porcello
5. Miner

DL
Joel Zumaya (same injury that began the end of his career)
Bonderman (lingering injury from last season )
Dontrelle (completely lost)


The lineup would be good, for a National League team. In fact, it really looks like a typical NL lineup. 5 deep, then 4 hitters who will be insanely lucky to hit over .240 (.220 is more likely). To focus on the positive, the top 5 of our lineup is as good as any. Cabrera is ready to take A-rod and Manny's role as the best Right Handed hitter in baseball. Magglio is a stud still, and Granderson, Polanco and Guillen are all All-star caliber players. To me this lineup has to stay healthy which has been tough the past couple seasons, and if that happens they can be above average, but the bottom 4 in the lineup will kill many possible big innings.

The pitching rotation has huge question marks. Verlander was a horrendous #1 SP last season, and has been up and down in the spring. Galarraga gave up lots of baserunners, but not lots of runs last season. Edwin Jackson had an ERA around 5.00 last year, and Porcello and Minor will be lucky to make it to the All-star break still in the rotation. The rotation is terrible. To even be average they will need a 18 win season from Verlander and two of the next 4 to well exceed expectations. I have doubts that Bonderman will be back to himself at any point this season, and Nate Robertson may be released at some point if he doesn't adjust to the bullpen. The bullpen has many question marks, featuring many minor league pitchers from last season. The bullpen will struggle to be even near average.

As a whole this Tigers team has a lot to prove. I do not see good things here. The lineup is top heavy (extremely) and injury prone even at the top. The defense is still very slow and the pitching is scary. The bullpen is a bunch of guys who most Tiger's fans won't recognize and the rookies will have roles they were expected to have at AA/AAA ball.

This team will finish in last place, and that's not the bad news. The bad news is that after a couple months there will be a FIRESALE in Detroit. All players making any money will be gone, and gone quickly. Magglio will be the first and if we can get rid of the likes of Guillen, Inge, Robertson, and many more we will. I am predicting around 70 wins and finishing the season with a team that would be OK if it said MUDHENS on the front.

(God, I hope I am wrong)