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2010 Detroit Tigers preview
2009 was a reasonably successful season for the Tigers. After a few seasons of disappointing results, the Tigers fought their way back into the playoff picture, forcing a tie with Minnesota in the AL Central. That forced a one games playoff for the Division Crown that Detroit lost by a single run to end their season in disappointing fashion.
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However, hope was rekindled by 2009’s success and fans are positive heading into 2010 in Detroit. The biggest new acquisitions include outfielder Johnny Damon, starter Matt Scherzer and closer Jose Valverde, both of whom should become big time contributors this year. Will those two be enough to vault the Tigers over the Twins and into first place in the Division?
Starting Pitching
Detroit’s rotation will be anchored by the fireballing ability of Justin Verlander (19-9, 3.45 ERA, 35 Starts, 3 CG, 240 IP, 269 K), who was a major contender for the AL Cy Young Award last season. He’s the clear ace of the staff.
However, he’s not the only strong starter on tap for the Tigers’ rotation. 21 year old Rich Porcello (14-9, 3.96 ERA, 31 Starts, 170 IP) had a great rookie season and is considered one of the best pitching prospects in baseball. Expect him to put forth another solid effort in his sophomore campaign. New acquisition Sherzer (9-11, 4.12 ERA, 30 Starts, 170 IP, 174 K) will be a strong middle of the rotation option and his numbers should only get better playing in a notorious pitcher’s park. Finally, the 4th spot will be filled by Jeremy Bondermann, who missed most of the last season and a half due to injury. However, he has a ton of talent and is expected to be fully healthy to start the year, making him an ideal candidate to ease his way back into the rotation behind three capable starters.
The 5 th spot is where things get interesting, as four candidates will be given a chance to win the job. Armando Gallaraga (6-10, 5.64 ERA, 25 Starts) had a disappointing season in 2009 after a strong 2008 as a rookie. Eddie Bonine (1-1, 4.46 ERA, 4 Starts) pitched well last September but it considered a long shot. Nate Robertson (2-3, 5.44 ERA in 28 Games) was average in long relief last season and has been hit hard the last two years. The most interesting candidate is one time superstar Dontrelle Willis (1-4, 7.49 ERA, 7 Starts), whose first four seasons were among the best in baseball and whose past three seasons have been nothing short of disastrous. The odds-on favorite for the spot is Gallaraga but with so many candidates it seems like the Tigers should be able to find another starter to complete a strong rotation.
Bullpen
The loss of former closer Fernando Rodney is easily offset by the acquisition of Jose Valverde (4-2, 2.33 ERA, 25 Saves in 52 Games), who led the National League in Saves in both 2007 and 2008. He throws some serious heat and is a candidate to lead the American League in Saves in 2010, assuming that he gets the opportunities.
Getting those opportunities seems like a good bet as there is a deep bullpen in front of him. Fireballer Joel Zumaya (4.94 ERA in 29 Games) hasn’t been fully healthy for the past three years but his abilities are undeniable. Other strong options include Bobby Seay (6-3, 4.25 ERA in 67 Games), Ryan Perry (3.79 ERA in 53 Games), Phil Coke (4-3, 4.50 ERA in 72 Games), Zach Miner (7-5, 4.29 ERA in 51 Games) and Fu-Te Ni (2.61 ERA in 36 Games). Expect the Tigers to get a great performance from their bullpen in 2010.
Infield
The biggest news for the Tiger infield in the offseason was 1st Baseman Miguel Cabrera (.324, 34 HR, 103 RBI, 198 Hits, 96 R, .396 OBP) announcing a renewed commitment to his craft after an alcohol-related controversy late last season. He’s one of the elite hitters in all of baseball and is deadly when he is playing his best.
The problem is that the rest of the infield is fairly underwhelming. 3rd Baseman Brandon Inge (.230, 27 HR, 84 RBI, .314 OBP) hits for good power but his batting average is terrible. Catcher Gerald Laird (.225, 4 HR, 33 RBI, .306 OBP) has never been a great hitter and will have to fend off youngster Alex Avila (.279, 5 HR, 14 RBI, .375 OBP in 29 Games), who seems destined to become the starter at some point this season.
Up the middle, things don’t look significantly better. Shortstop Adam Everett (.238, 3 HR, 44 RBI, .288 OBP) is an underwhelming hitter and is only starting due to his defensive prowess. Meanwhile, 2nd Base is up for grabs between top rookie Scott Sizemore and veteran Ramon Santiago (.267, 7 HR, 35 RBI, .318 OBP). Expect Sizemore to start due to his youth and Santiago’s effectiveness as a utility infielder. However, this is not an impressive infield beyond Cabrera.
Outfield
The big news during the offseason was the departure of elite centerfielder Curtis Granderson and the free agent acquisition of Johnny Damon. Now a leftfielder, Damon (.282, 24 HR, 82 RBI, 12 SB, 107 R, .365 OBP) should see his power numbers drop in the cavernous confines of Comerica Park but will still function well as a top of the order hitter. He’ll pair with Magglio Ordonez (.310, 9 HR, 50 RBI, .376 OBP), whose power numbers fell off last year while he maintained his averages well. Expect a big rebound in run production from him this year.
At centerfield, 23 year old Austin Jackson was a big part of the Granderson trade and he is expected to get first crack to start the season. With his speed and strong minor league production, he should fit well in Detroit’s spacious outfield. Clete Thomas (.240, 7 HR, 39 RBI, .324 OBP in 102 Games) will back up all three positions and is cast well as a backup.
Finally, don’t forget about Carlos Guillen (.242, 11 HR, 41 RBI, .339 OBP in 81 Games), who has struggled with injury in the last two seasons. When he’s healthy he can hit 20 Homers and drive in 90 runs. He’ll serve as the Designated Hitter this year to try to keep him in the lineup for 140 games and if the plan succeeds then expect a big season from Guillen.
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Outlook
There is a lot to like about the Tigers this year. They have a deep rotation and an excellent bullpen. In a pitcher’s park like Comerica, this staff has the ability to stymie opponents all year long. Their offensive is slightly underwhelming beyond the obvious talents of Cabrera but this group should be more productive than last year with a bounce back season from Ordonez and the addition of Damon. If some of the Tigers’ young players break out this year, Detroit could be surprisingly productive on the scoreboard. Expect the Tigers to win around 85 games this season and push the race into the final week for the division title before falling short of the Twins and White Sox to finish 3 rd in the AL Central.
By Matt Baxendell
MLBcenter.com Staff Writer
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