Spring training is underway so it is that time of the year again…the boys of summer. The Tigers only have a few more good years left with the roster that they have. So with that being said, let’s queue the music and talk Tigers baseball.
Defense:
The defense this year is so much better this year. The fielding positions will look something like this: LF Dirks/Kelly/Davis, CF Jackson, RF Hunter, 3B Castellanos, SS Iglesias, 2B Kinsler, 1B Cabrera, C Avila/Holaday. Detroit did not feel like signing any new catchers this offseason so they went with Holaday who has been in the minors with Detroit for a while now. He should be a decent backup catcher for the Tigers and will call a good game for our ace staff. Every other position has been upgraded this offseason. With Jackson and Hunter in the outfield you know we will be getting gold glove quality outfielding. Castellanos is a natural shortstop but switched to 3B and to LF once he got into the Tigers system. He has a very high offensive ceiling and an average defensive ceiling. He will be a better third basemen than Cabrera was last year. At shortstop is soon to be gold glover Jose Iglesias and everyone knows what this kid can do defensively (http://makeagif.com/i/E8oTmM). At second base we have Ian Kinsler. Kinsler was acquired in our deal with Texas for Prince Fielder. Kinsler is better than Infante offensively and defensively. Finally at first base we have Cabby. Miguel played first base before Fielder arrived and he was a better fielder (no pun intended) with a little more flexibility for that extra stretch at the bag.
Starting Pitching:
The starting rotation might have taken a hit with Fister being traded to the Nationals but I still have high hopes. This will be the starting rotation:
1. Justin Verlander (MVP, Cy Young)
2. Max Scherzer (Cy Young)
3. Anibal Sanchez
4. Rick Porcello
5. Drew Smyly
I feel that our starting pitchers will have more wins this year than they did last year. With Scherzer and Verlander you know that they will give us at least 15 wins each. My biggest prediction is that Porcello gives the Tigers 17 wins. Porcello is a groundball pitcher and with our infield being better this year, I expect Porcello to have a great year. Smyly is a bit of a wild card at the fifth spot in the rotation but he helped the Tigers close the season down 2 years ago. With Smyly being a left-handed pitcher that also helps the Tigers, since all of our other starters are right-handed pitchers.
Bullpen Pitching:
The Tigers finally have a proven closer with Joe Nathan (341 career saves). Also in the bullpen will be Bruce Rondon, Jaba Chamberlain, Al Alberquerque, Phil Coke, Ian Krol and Luke Putkonen. Right now I think Rondon will be our 8th inning guy if he can stay healthy. He has that 100+ mph fastball that will be deadly to hitters. Chamberlain is a guy that had a terrible past few seasons in the Pin Stripes, but he thinks that he will have a rebound year in Detroit. Chamberlain only signed a one-year contract; he must have a good year to continue with his career. With Alberquerque it is just a matter of consistency. Will the Tigers see good Al-Al or bad Al-Al? Ian Krol is a left-handed pitcher and he was acquired from the Nationals for Fister in the offseason. He was a rookie last year and he had a 3.95 ERA. Krol will be a great addition with a strong left arm in the bullpen to replace Smyly.
Offense:
The offense this year will look different. First let’s look at the starting lineup:
1. 2B Ian Kinsler
2. RF Torii Hunter
3. 1B Miguel Cabrera
4. DH Victor Martinez
5. 3B Nick Castellanos
6. C Alex Avila
7. LF Andy Dirks
8. CF Austin Jackson
9. SS Jose Iglesias
Over the past years the offense was the long ball. Now the offense will be small ball. Brad Ausmus will play a more National League style of offense. Ian Kinsler holds the record for most steals in Rangers history. Expect him to get on base and to score a lot this season. Cabrera will still be the best hitter in the game and it’s probable that he will be better. In August last year he suffered a groin injury that plagued him for the rest of the season. He had some offseason surgery and has been quoted saying he has never felt better. Castellanos has a very high offensive ceiling. Scouts say that he is projected to be a 20 home run hitter with a batting average of .300. Avila and Jackson need to have rebound years to help this offense run on full cylinders. Iglesias is not the best hitter but he will hustle on every play and try to run out an infield hit on almost every play.
Prediction?
Obviously the Tigers will win the Central. The Indians got worse this offseason, the Twins are still awful with no starting pitchers and a weak batting lineup, the White Sox are rebuilding and do not look to be ready to contend yet, and finally there are the Royals and they will be the only challenge to the Tigers in the Central. The Tigers look to get back to the World Series and with this being possibly Scherzer’s last year in Detroit, the Tigers may be looking for something to prove and keep him in Detroit. I’ll take the Tigers over the Dodgers in the World Series in 6 games.
Sidenote: For those of you that do not know much about the players the Tigers signed this offseason, this may help you.
@Simpsonati
EDITORS NOTE: The Cleveland Indians did not get worse they got considerably better and let's not talk about World Series until we can get past the Red Sox- @bosoxtim