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Two words.

Le Tigre

Detroit Tigers

The Tigers arrived on the season two years earlier than most people expected, winning the Wild Card and making the World Series for the first time in ages, riding the backs of solid veterans and electrifying rookies.  They could have won the Series, if the Tiger pitching staff didn’t seem so keen to help the Cardinals.  The Tigers have made some additions to the lineup, hoping to add some more plate discipline and power to a team that lacked a lot of it during the course of the season.  Will it work?  Let’s find out.

Starting Rotation

1. Justin Verlander (RHP) – Verlander has some of the best stuff in baseball and can easily become one of those rare ace pitchers that can dominate on any given day of the week, no matter who he’s facing.  However, I do think Verlander will experience some growing pains, as his arm has been such a drastic workload over the past two years.  He rose very quickly through the ranks of the Tigers’ farm system and piled on the innings on what is still a very young arm, and the effects were seen during his terrible August.  Even though he had rest this past season, I do think Verlander will labor come summer.
2. Kenny Rogers (LHP) – Rogers provided leadership to a young staff and was dominant in the post-season (though that was tainted thanks to whatever the hell was on his hand during Game 3 of the World Series), plus was able to log in innings, keeping a dynamic bullpen rested.  It’s not known what he’ll be able to give the Tigers this year, as he’s getting older and 40 year old pitchers are a bit of a ticking time bomb.
3. Jeremy Bonderman (RHP) – Bonderman just continues to get better as he distances himself from that horrible rookie year when he went 6-19 with a 5.55 ERA.  He recently signed a four year contract extension, buying out the first two years of his free agency and ensuring that this young rotation stays together for as long as possible.  Bonderman should continue to improve and go over .500 for his career sometime this year, plus break the 4.00 ERA barrier.
4. Nate Robertson (LHP) – Robertson is a solid young lefty who throws with some surprising velocity for a lefty, with his fastball clocking in the low 90s most of the time.  His slider is a plus pitch and that mixes well with it.  The real problem is that he tends to lose control as the innings go one, causing him to throw it up in the zone.  He’s a solid fourth starter, but he’s better than that.  He needs to get more consistent.
5. Mike Maroth (RHP) – Maroth was off to a great starter in 2006 until bone chips ended his season.  Maroth doesn’t have overpowering stuff, but his command is impeccable, giving him a chance to locate the ball wherever he wants to.  There is talk that Maroth is on the trading block, but until he’s actually dealt, he’s the fifth starter and should be one of the best ones in the league.

Bullpen

• Todd Jones (Closer) – Jones is merely a serviceable closer that can get guys out mostly due to smoke and mirrors.  I really don’t expect him to be the closer at the end of the year.
• Joel Zumaya (Setup Man) – Zumaya is setting up for the moment, but he’s going to be the closer next year, if not sooner.  Zumaya has that amazing fastball plus a solid breaking ball that he mixes in to give him a solid mix.  Should Jones falter, expect Zumaya to take the job and run with it.
• Fernando Rodney (RHP) – Rodney was effective as a setup man as well and also did some spot closing as well.  It’s possible that Rodney could be shopped if a team is in desperate need of a possible closer. 
• Jose Mesa (RHP) – Mesa has been a closer through much of his career, but the Tigers have brought him in to help the setup corps, possibly as a 6th or 7th inning guy.
• Wilfredo Ledezma (LHP) – One of the reasons why the Tigers are eager to trade Maroth is that they view Ledezma as a starter.  His stuff is certainly good enough to handle the role, but right now as the lone lefty in the bullpen, Ledezma will function as a reliever until a spot opens for him.
• Edward Campusano (LHP) – Campusano was picked up in the Rule V Draft and was tremendous at Double A.  He’s got a great fastball that clocks in the mid 90’s plus a strong slider that sets it up well.  As a Rule Five pick, Campusano has to stick in the majors to stay with the Tigers, but he’s got enough of a track record of success that he’ll be a solid lefty bullpen option right now.
• Jason Grilli (RHP) – This solid right hander completes the bullpen, giving even more depth to a strong position.

Starting Lineup

1. Curtis Granderson (CF) – Granderson is miscast as a leadoff man, as his high amount of strikeouts kind of negate his average and kill his on base totals.  The Tigers would love to be able to try and help him out by moving him out, but the only other guy on the lineup that can leadoff is Polanco, and he doesn’t really have the speed to do it.  Granderson is a capable centerfielder that has good range and hands, and he’s got some power.  Realistically, he should be batting about 7th.
2. Placido Polanco (2B) – Obtained from Philly in the Uggie Urbina deal (when the hell is he going to get out of jail anyway?), Polanco has been a solid second baseman for the Tigers, hitting well with a bit of power and displaying something most of the other Tigers don’t have: plate discipline.  He can steal the occasional base and, hitting in the two hole, should be very productive in setting up the other hitters.
3. Gary Sheffield (DH) – The Tigers needed a middle-of-the-order hitter who provides more power and will walk more than he strikes out and that’s what they got in Sheffield, who will now be the DH most of the time.  Sheffield is coming off a down year thanks to injuries, but his vendettas seem to motivate him into producing.  He should be okay, especially since his departure from the Yankees was, to be blunt, fugly.
4. Magglio Ordonez (RF) – Part of the reason for the Tigers’ great rebound is that Ordonez was healthy for the first time in three years.  Ordonez put up great numbers, though his power numbers weren’t the same as they were when he was in Chicago.  Ordonez should be good for at least another year, but keep in mind that he’s 33 and that’s about the age when outfielder corners begin to get hurt.  With three guaranteed years left in his contract, the Tigers are hoping that he doesn’t revert to his 2005 form.
5. Craig Monroe (LF) – Monroe is an underrated outfield corner that lead the Tigers in home runs last year.  Monroe has great raw power, enough to maintain a 25 homer, 90 RBI output for a few more years.  The big problem with him, as it is with most of the Tigers, is the strikeouts, which is why he isn’t hitting lower in the order. 
6. Ivan Rodriguez (C) – People thought that Pudge was done as a starting catcher, but he’s actually been able to rebound and resurrect his batting average.  Pudge has actually become a better catcher over the years and still calls a great game, but his power is beginning to go, which is trouble.  He should be serviceable for this year, but long term, the Tigers need to figure out what exactly they’ve got to succeed him.
7. Sean Casey (1B) – Acquired last season, Casey was the one Tiger that showed up for the playoffs and as a result, earned a one year contract to stay with the team.  Casey is a good defender, but it's his bat that makes him valuable.  Casey has great plate discipline and is one of the few Tigers that can take a walk.  He won't hit for power, but a average near .300 while batting second (he should be) will give the middle of the order some more RBI opportunities.
8. Carlos Guillen (SS) – Guillen is a so-so shortstop that was extremely productive last season, hitting .320 with 19 home runs and 85 RBI’s.  It’s also the most time he’s stayed healthy over a season in his career.  I don’t expect him to make it a habit, which is why he’s in the back.  He also lead all AL shortstops in errors as well, making it possible that he could be switched to first base.
9. Brandon Inge (3B) – I’ve always thought that Inge was overrated.  He’s got some power, but his lack of plate discipline negates a lot of that.  Hence, Inge has the potential to be dangerous at the ninth spot, but he’s just so damn inconsistent. 

Bench

• Nelfi Perez (UTIL) – Perez was acquired after it looked that Polanco was done for the season.  They since regard him as a mistake, but he’s stuck on the roster anyway. Perez is very limited offensively, but he’s versatile enough to handle second base, shortstop and third base. 
• Marcus Thames (OF) – Thames is a useful fourth outfielder that can display some great power off the bench at times.  He should see some time in order to spell both Inge and Ordonez.
• Vance Wilson (C) – The Tigers are confident enough in Wilson to keep them in games when Pudge takes a day off, but long term, he’s not the answer to succeed him.
• Omar Infante (UTIL) – Infante is able to play most of the infield, as well as centerfield and can hit decently enough where he doesn’t take away for the offense too much.

Down On The Farm…

Like the New York Yankees’ farm system, the Tigers system is rich in pitching, but is lacking in positional players, with their best player, Cameron Maybin, being years away from any sort of contribution to the big club.  Still, pitching is valuable and it’s possible that some of these kids may be valuable chips at the deadline.

• Andrew Miller (LHP) – Miller has already seen time as a middle reliever last year (though that was mostly due to the fact it was mandated in his contract), but long term he projects to be a starter, much like Jeremy Bonderman.  Miller has great size and his stuff was considered to be the best in the draft.  He had a low to mid 90’s fastball that touches 98 at times and a hard slider that breaks nasty and is already considered to be major league ready.  However, he has some control issues that he needs working out and he needs to refine his changeup some more into a plus pitch.  All in all, he’s got the makings of a stud and could rise quickly if everything falls together properly.
• Chris Shelton (1B) – Shelton is a bit mystifying at the moment.  He had a great April last month, hitting .326 with 10 home runs, but only hitting four more for the rest of the year, resulting in him getting demoted.  At the moment, it’s unknown where Shelton will end up.  He’s a great bat of the bench, but the Tigers still have an option left on him and will likely demote him if they feel he needs more time to prepare, but clearly, time is running out for him to establish himself.
• Roman Colon (RHP) – Colon is a flamethrower in the mold of Zumaya, who’s fastball clocks in the mid to uppe r90’s and he’s got great secondary pitches in his slider and splitter.  Lefties murder him and there’s questions about his durability, making it possible that he may have to adjust to being a fifth starter or a long man.
• Zach Miner (RHP) – Miner is another nice middle of the rotation pitcher that is has great success with good command of a low 90’s sinking fastball and a plus slider.  Like Colon, efties murder him and his biggest critique is that he’s a little too tentative on the mound, but he’s an excellent three or four starter.  Unfortunately, he ‘s going to be shut out of the Tiger rotation until a spot opens. 
• Jordan Tata (RHP) – Tata is a decent pitcher that can be a suitable swingman, as his secondary pitches aren’t strong enough to merit more than a fourth spot in the rotation.  Tata, however, has good movement on all of his pitches and he maintains good control and command.  He’ll likely be down in the minors again, though he could possibly beat out one of the other bullpen guys for the long relief job.
• Eulogio De La Cruz (RHP) – At 5-11, 170, De La Cruz is a smaller player, but he’s got a relatively good arm.  De La Cruz has a mid 90’s fastball that touches 98 and he has hit 100 in previous years. He sets it up with a great curve that has a lot of movement.  The problem is that De La Cruz’s height works against him, resulting in less height, which means a little less movement.  Depending on whether or not he develops a third pitch, De La Cruz could be either a power starter or a power reliever. 

In Conclusion

Can the Tigers make it back to the World Series?  Not this year.  I think there is bound to be some sort of attrition for the Tigres as far as their starting pitching, but mark my words, they will be in the post-season.  And sooner or later, they will win a Title, thanks to the strong pitching depth they have.  But I do think that this club’s pitching will take a bit of a step back before they take that next step forward.

Final Standing:  Second In The American League Central, Wild Card Winner