[ThePundit]

Manager: Jim Leyland (2nd season)

Notable Additions: OF/DH Gary Sheffield; Relief Pitcher(s): RHP Jose Mesa

Notable Deletions: OF Alexis Gomez; OF/DH Matt Stairs; Relief Pitcher(s): RHP Troy Percival, LHP Jamie Walker

Key Rookies: OF Cameron Maybin; LHP Andrew Miller

The 2006 Detroit Tigers were a young team with lots of potential… it certainly appeared that they might become a good team someday.

That day was a LOT sooner than most people thought it could be as Detroit made the 2006 World Series… losing in unceremonious fashion to the St Louis Cardinals. The loss was a bitter pill for the team to swallow, but as the Tigers and their fans look forward to 2007 the outcome of the series is unimportant… it's done and over with. But the post-season experience was valuable in that it was instructive regarding the importance of Spring Trainng fielding drills for the pitching staff.

The question that presents itself on March 13, 2007: Can they be as good in 2007, or will they suffer from a World Series hangover?

My guess: they'll need to drink some tomato juice and take a couple of aspirin.

This edition of the Motown Nine will be as talented as last year's team… but I believe it is too much to expect that everything will go right two year in a row. Last year, virtually everything went right — from Kenny Rogers terrific season… to Justin Verlander's immediate impact… to Todd Jones' inexplicable effectiveness… to the career year of Craig Monroe.

I don't expect any of those three players to repeat their 2006 performances.

Rogers will begin to show his age — and it may be that his performance will suffer a precipitous decline. Verlander will be good… but he will suffer from something resembling a sophomore slump — primarily because he threw more than 200 innings last year (an increase of more than 70 IP from 2005) and, at the age of 24, his body will have a normal and expected reaction to that workload. Joel Zumaya will replace Jones as the team's closer by mid-season — if Zumaya can manage to stay away from playing air guitar. And Monroe will return to form — meaning he will be a decent player in 2007 — but he will not be a fantasy stud.

ROTATION: RHP Justin Verlander, LHP Kenny Rogers, RHP Jeremy Bonderman, LHP Nate Robertson and LHP Mike Maroth.

Bonderman will continue to improve… Verlander will take a small step backward… Rogers and Robertson will both take bigger steps backwards… Maroth will make a nice comeback and hold down the #5 slot in the rotation.

BULLPEN: RHP Todd Jones, RHP Joel Zumaya, RHP Fernando Rodney, RHP Jose Mesa, RHP Jason Grilli, LHP Wilfredo Ledezma

Zumaya will assume the closer's mantle by mid-season… Rodney will assume the role of primary set-up man… Mesa adds another power arm but it remains to be seen whether he will be able to match up to Father Time — who will get the best of Jones… Grilli and Ledezma are capable at the back end of the 'pen… this is a good pen, but the subtraction of Jaime Walker will be very significant.

Mesa will be a key.

LINEUP: CF Curtis Granderson, 2B Placido Polanco, SS Carlos Guillen, DH Gary Sheffield, RF Magglio Ordonez, C Ivan Rodriguez, LF Craig Monroe, 1B Sean Casey, 3B Brandon Inge

The manager likes ot shake up his lineup… and it is likely he will use fifteen different lineups in 2007. Sheffield is a nice addition to this lineup (he would be a nice addition to ANY lineup). I look for Ordonez and Inge to take another step forward, and for Granderson will plateau (which should be a huge disappointment in Motown). Both Rodriguez and Monroe will take big steps backwards… and Casey will provide significantly less production than is needed from a corner infielder. The team was relatively healthy in 2006 (aside from Polanco and casey) and with age becoming an increasing concern, I dont believe Tigers fans should bet the mortgage payment on the relative health of an aging team.

SOX1FAN » 2007 A. L. Preview: Detroit Tigers
ThePundit's prediction: 2nd in AL Central. They're good, but I think the White Sox are better. Anybody think the Bengals will repeat?

[Michigan Man]

White Sox better? I dont think so. Last time I checked they were LAST in the Cactus League. Tigers are first in the Grapefruit league. Tigers will win the Central Division this year.

[ThePundit]

Originally Posted by Michigan Man

White Sox better? I dont think so. Last time I checked they were LAST in the Cactus League. Tigers are first in the Grapefruit league. Tigers will win the Central Division this year.

You can't go by spring training records, Michigan Man. Now that Mr. Rogers is on the shelf, do you still think they will pull it off?

[Gotham Dark Knight]

I like Verlander...I don't see why they are predicting a small step back...him and Bonderman will form the heart of a rotation that should be around for a while...as long as they will throw money at them that is...

[Lefty Noob]

I'm confused as to why everyone's predicting Jones is going to lose the closers' role.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

I'm confused as to why everyone's predicting Jones is going to lose the closers' role.

with Gagne on the DL for me...maybe I should go check out Zumaya?

[azrael492]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

I'm confused as to why everyone's predicting Jones is going to lose the closers' role.

I haven't heard that he is going to lose the job. They are shopping him because they think Zumaya is ready for the job. Why not get something for him before the younger guy takes the job from him.

[azrael492]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

I like Verlander...I don't see why they are predicting a small step back...him and Bonderman will form the heart of a rotation that should be around for a while...as long as they will throw money at them that is...

I became a Verlander fan after the series against the Yankees. He threw some curves that made me flinch. I couldn't imagine trying to hit one.

[Michigan Man]

Yeah Verlander is good. And Maroth was out for all of last season and they did pretty good.