Young arms are Detroit's foundation
DETROIT -- The lesson for 2005: You're only as good as your young core.
The Tigers began and ended 2004 searching for veteran talent. In between, they
added All-Stars Ivan Rodriguez, Carlos Guillen and later Troy Percival. They've
chased after more top-level free agents over the past months than they did ove
r the last two offseasons combined. But no matter how much fans swoon and criti
cs clamor over bringing in big names to compete for a title, the Tigers still h
aven't lost sight of what they need to contend.
Free agent signings only complement Detroit's young performers, not replace the
m.
"I don't think that ever changes, to be honest with you," manager Alan Trammell
said. "At least in the market that we're in. That's how it works."
In fact, if the Tigers haven't signed another starter by the time you read this
, they probably won't sign one at all. The only way they will upgrade their rot
ation is if they can add someone who's clearly better than what they have. Addi
ng a veteran simply to add a veteran, or trading young pitchers simply to rent
a veteran, goes against the plan.
"To me, the foundation for our future is based upon our young pitching," team p
resident/general manager Dave Dombrowski said at the Winter Meetings. "And we o
nly think it's going to keep getting better and better. And we think there are
three of them that are going to pitch in the upper part of our rotation. I woul
d say in most cases the youngsters, [Nate] Robertson, [Jeremy] Bonderman and [W
ilfredo] Ledezma, fit that description. And we think we have more young pitchin
g coming."
The season that awaits them will be the biggest test yet of just how far the cu
rrent young pitching has matured. At least one of them will probably have to ta
ke the major step of pitching 200 innings if the Tigers are to contend for an A
L Central Division crown. That means they're going to have to find some consist
ency.
Robertson had a reasonable case to argue for an All-Star selection after his st
ellar first half, but struggled mightily down the stretch. Bonderman's growing
pains from April through July were so bad that columnists questioned whether he
'd be better served in the minor leagues. Ledezma has been held to pitch counts
each of his two seasons in the Tigers system because of his history of injurie
s.
All of them have the potential to be great next year, which is what Tigers mana
gement hoped to build in their rotation. Tigers coaches believe, in fact, that
Bonderman could be the ace in 2006, which raises the question why they need a v
eteran pitcher to hold down the top spot for a year in the first place.
The focus on youth extends to the bullpen. While Troy Percival, Ugueth Urbina a
nd Jamie Walker will likely handle the late innings, they'll have a trio of you
ngsters learning behind them in Fernando Rodney, Chris Spurling and Roberto Nov
oa.
Then there's the offense. Ivan Rodriguez, Dmitri Young and Carlos Guillen handl
e the bulk of the offensive work in the middle of the order, and two of them pr
ovided close to career-best seasons. But aside of that trio and Rondell White,
the greatest potential for improvement in Detroit's lineup comes from up-and-co
ming young players. Carlos Pena is on the fringe of 30-homer production if he c
an cut down on strikeouts. Brandon Inge and Omar Infante are finally showing si
gns of offensive production, not to mention clutch hitting. And Craig Monroe ha
s become one of the more productive fourth outfielders in the division.
This is the year many young Tigers are expected to take their production up a n
otch, when youth ceases being an excuse for their education and maturation star
ts being a reason for their improvement. If enough of them graduate into the pr
ime of their careers, then Adrian Beltre and Steve Finley won't be the lost wou
ld-be Tigers.
Offseason report card: The Tigers can afford all the money they have to spend o
n free agents, but they can't make them all come to Detroit. That's where the "
free" part of free agency comes about. But considering they signed Troy Perciva
l to close and are willing to slot Urbina and his salary into setup work, they'
ve at least addressed their most pressing need. On a scale of one to 10, give t
hem a 6: Improved and still shopping.
Arrivals: RHP Troy Percival (free agent), OFs Byron Gettis and DeWayne Wise (wa
ivers)
Departures: RHPs Al Levine and Esteban Yan
Did you know? Jeremy Bonderman, Mike Maroth and Nate Robertson won 11 games or
more apiece to become the first Tigers trio to hit double digits in victories s
ince Willie Blair, Brian Moehler and Jeff Weaver. By winning 13 in 2001, Weaver
is the last Tigers pitcher to reach double-digit victories in back-to-back sea
sons. No pair of Tigers have each won double digits in consecutive seasons sinc
e Moehler and Justin Thompson in 1997-98.
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