Detroit Tigers Season in Preview
Tigers believe they can reach .500 this season
The Tigers ended 2004 with a 29-game improvement over the previous year,
putting to rest the infamy of 119 losses in 2003. Their next step is to put
more than a decade of losing seasons behind them.
No American League team has gone longer without a winning record than
Detroit, who last topped the break-even mark when their current manager was
their starting shortstop, their current bench coach was their DH and their
Opening Day starter was 10 years old. That was 11 years ago, and the Tigers
haven't so much as reached 80 wins in a season since.
Between the acquisitions of the last two offseasons and the maturation of
their young pitchers, the Tigers believe they have the squad to cross .500.
Detroit added another proven slugger in Magglio Ordonez to fortify the middle
of a lineup that rivaled the best in the league for the first two months of
last season before tailing. The signing of Troy Percival keyed the overhaul
of a bullpen that blew more save opportunities than any team in the American
League and was largely responsible for a miserable 12-27 record in one-run
games.
To win more than 82 games would be a major boost for a team mired in misery.
Given the AL Central, however, the Tigers might need a major step above that
to become a contender in the division, something they haven't done since
finishing second in the AL East in 1991.
Batting order
1. Omar Infante, 2B
His quick bat and newfound comfort level made him a surprise in place of
Fernando Vina last year. He has the job all to himself now, but he'll have to
be more patient to succeed atop a balanced order.
2. Carlos Guillen, SS
The first player in franchise history to bat .300 with 20 home runs, 20
doubles, 10 triples and 10 steals in the same season moves out of the middle
of the order. How quickly Guillen will regain a comfort level following ACL
surgery on his right knee last fall is a question, but his Spring Training
performance suggests little falloff.
3. Ivan Rodriguez, C
He's a little small to be called Pudge now. Though he still flashes a
powerful doubles bat to either gap, his newfound speed on the basepaths
becomes an unknown factor if Detroit wants to be aggressive around the bases.
4. Magglio Ordonez, RF
He's been less of a question healthwise than Guillen since Spring Training
began, but his contract and his left knee condition make his return the
bigger story. He might not get back to 30 homers a season, but a .300 average
with doubles power and consistency versus righties and lefties would satisfy
the Tigers on their owner's investment.
5. Dmitri Young, DH
No longer under pressure to anchor Detroit's lineup, Young can concentrate on
being a solid everyday hitter in the final guaranteed year of his contract.
His once annual .300 averages could be over as his power matures to 30-homer
potential.
6. Rondell White, LF
White fended off a potential platoon role by hitting everything hard in
Spring Training and reminding management how much he provides when he's on a
tear. He believes he can be a .300 hitter if healthy, something that's eluded
him in recent years.
7. Craig Monroe, CF
Detroit's great offensive experiment of sacrificing speed for power in center
came about following two solid seasons as a fourth outfielder. He won't run
down drives and cover gaps like Alex Sanchez or Nook Logan, but his ability
to get jumps in the field and hit at the plate will be critical to making
this work.
8. Carlos Pena, 1B
The Tigers' home run leader last year earns a drop in the order for his
trouble, but less pressure usually produces more plate discipline for the
young slugger. He's the only true left-handed hitter in the lineup.
9. Brandon Inge, 3B
Last season's super sub makes the full-time move to third base, where the
boost in playing time and reduction in wear and tear from catching could
further the offensive maturation he showed last year.
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