[Calder]

The Tigers come into this season brimming with optimism and confidence, but I don’t see it. Returning virtually the same cast of characters as last season, they’re banking on the teaching and discipline that Jim Leyland will supposedly bring. Kenny Rogers is an old man, and angry old man, but they’re relying on him to provide some leadership as well as quality innings. Jeremy Bonderman should break out this year and get that ERA lower, and could possibly get his first all-star berth if he is able to stay healthy. Mike Maroth is a good pitcher, and a great chemistry guy in the clubhouse.

Offensively, this club has shown over the last couple of seasons that it can be shut down. Detroit is putting a lot of stock into whether or not Magglio Ordonez can return to the form that he had for years with the White Sox. Placido Polanco is a nice table setter, and teaming up with Carlos Guillen, they make up one of the better defensive double play combos in the league. Guillen fell backwards with the bat a little in ’05, but expecting him to duplicate his 2004 production might be stretching it. Curtis Granderson came up late last season and wowed the Tigers with his steady bat and his solid defense in the outfield. The Tigers have many veterans like Dimitri Young, Pudge Rodriquez, Craig Monroe, Brandon Inge, but are they going to have enough to compete in the A.L. Central? With Cleveland and Chicago in front of them, my guess would be a resounding no. As a Tigers fan, however, I am hoping I’m dead wrong on that prediction.

[legend]

There is hope, maybe not this year though. the tiger have two of the minors highest touted pitchers, both with fastballs in the high 90s. Joel Zuyama and Justin Verlander will be in Detroit, maybe as early as this summer.
Meanwhile, the kid that came up last year, Cris Shelton, showed alot with the bat. H hit 18 homers and knocked in almost 60 runs in 388 at bats. With Percival looking like he could be hanging it up, Todd Jones will have to close.If he has a year like 2005, the Tigers could finish at .500. It will be very hard for Leyland to have a huge impact, unless they come flying out of the gate and start to believe they can play. I hope they do, because I have always liked Leyland and want to see him go out as a winner.

[Calder]

Verlander is actually being given an opportunity to win the fifth starter’s spot this spring. Even if he doesn’t get the nod when the team breaks camp, he’ll more than likely be up before June. Percival indeed cleaned out his locker a couple weeks ago, after not being able to pitch without experiencing pain. His career is likely done, and it’s a shame his great career had to end this way. You would have liked to see him go out on his own terms.

You’re right about Shelton. That boy just came out of nowhere last season and kept hitting and hitting for the Tigers. All indications are the first base job is his, despite Carlos Pena’s late-season surge in the power category. As for Todd Jones, he was a rollercoaster for us when he was here the last time, and even Ernie Harwell labeled him as such. But you can’t argue with the results in Florida last year, and he truly is one of the best clubhouse influences you’ll ever find.