2009 MLB Preview - Detroit Tigers

Detroit Tigers
Manager: Jim Leyland (4th season)
2008 Record: 74-88 (5th AL Central)


Added: C Gerald Laird (TEX), C Matt Treanor (FLA), SS Adam Everett (MIN), SP Edwin Jackson (TB), RP Brandon Lyon (ARZ)
Lost: C Ivan Rodriguez (Unsigned), SS Edgar Renteria (SF), OF Matt Joyce (TB), RP Kyle Farnsworth (KC), RP Todd Jones (Retired), RP Jason Grilli (COL)

Projected Lineup (2008 Stats)
1. 2B Curtis Granderson (.280, 112 R, 22 HR, 66 RBI, 12 SB) 2. 2B Placido Polanco (.307, 90 R, 8 HR, 58 RBI) 3. RF Magglio Ordonez (.317, 72 R, 21 HR, 103 RBI) 4. 1B Miguel Cabrera (.292, 85 R, 37 HR, 127 RBI) 5. DH Gary Sheffield (.225, 52 R, 19 HR, 57 RBI) 6. LF Carlos Guillen (.286, 68 R, 10 HR, 54 RBI) 7. C Gerald Laird (.276, 54 R, 6 HR, 41 RBI) 8. 3B Brandon Inge (.205, 41 R, 11 HR, 51 RBI) 9. SS Adam Everett (.213, 19 R, 2 HR, 20 RBI)

Projected Starting Rotation (2008 Stats)
1. Justin Verlander (11-17, 4.84 ERA, 163 K) 2. Jeremy Bonderman (3-4, 4.29 ERA, 44 K) 3. Edwin Jackson (14-11, 4.42 ERA, 108 K) 4. Armando Galarraga (13-7, 3.73 ERA, 126 K) 5. Nate Robertson (7-11, 6.35 ERA, 108 K)

Bench
C Matt Treanor, IF Jeff Larish, IF Ramon Santiago, OF Marcus Thames, OF Ryan Raburn

Bullpen (2008 Stats for Closer only)
Brandon Lyon (26 SV, 59.1 IP, 75 H, 44 K, 4.70 ERA), Fernando Rodney, Joel Zumaya, Bobby Seay, Zach Miner, Freddy Dolsi, Clay Rapada

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fantasy Studs: 1B Miguel Cabrera, OF Curtis Granderson, OF Magglio Ordonez
Fantasy Sleepers: SP Edwin Jackson

Men In The Minors: SS Scott Sizemore, SS Cale Iorg, OF Wilkin Ramirez, SP Rick Portello, SP Casey Crosby, RP Ryan Perry

Home Ballpark: Comerica Park (Grade 6/10)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Team Outlook: Remember last season when the Tigers were picked by many to win it all thanks to their offseason acquisitions. But instead of ascending to the top, the Tigers descended to the dungeon, finishing in last, even behind the Royals. This season, the Tigers hope to live up to those 2008 expectations. It all starts with the pitching. Last year was awful for them. Verlander had a terrible season. Bonderman was sidelined for most of the season due to a blood clot. And Dontrelle Willis was in a word, dreadful. The only bright spot was Galarraga, who did a nice job filling in. Jackson is a good pick-up and should help stabilize the rotation. Everyone else just needs to improve on bad 2008 seasons. The bullpen has Zumaya and Rodney back healthy and added Brandon Lyon to replace the veteran Todd Jones as closer. The lineup wasn't the problem last year. The Tigers scored plenty of runs and hit plenty of homers. The bottom of the lineup though this year is weaker with Inge and Everett barely batting over .200 last year. Plus, Sheffield is about at the end of his career so don't expect great numbers from him. If the pitching has a dramatic turnaround (which with these young arms is very much possible), then the Tigers will be a force. But if the pitching falters, they'll just be a farce, for the second year in a row.

Next Preview: Florida Marlins