"Good Core Group" Should Contend Again In 2012
Coming out of spring training, the Tigers thought they had a good team but spent the first three months of the season working to make things come together.
The starting pitching -- aside from Justin Verlander, of course -- was hit-or-miss. The fifth slot was more like a black hole in space than a hole, netting just one win by the various starters through mid-July.
Not having Joel Zumaya from the start of spring training created a hole in the middle of the bullpen -- which was quickly filled by the call-up of Al Alburquerque, who debuted by using a wicked slider to strike out two batters per inning.
His importance wasn't immediately noticed in mid-August, when he suffered a concussion that sidelined him for two weeks. But when he couldn't shake the rust from inaction, his impact was noticed in the playoffs, especially when Detroit couldn't match the depth of the Texas bullpen.
So adding a shut-down sixth/seventh-inning guy will be a priority for the Tigers this offseason unless they decide to gamble on Zumaya, a free agent who missed all of 2011 with lingering problems in the tip of his right elbow after surgery last summer. And that's a real possibility since the Tigers will have an opportunity to see him throw this winter.
Detroit badly needs a full-time second basemen after trying a half-dozen players at the position. Ramon Santiago would like to be the guy, but the Tigers might seek a higher-profile regular. If that's the case, Santiago would probably depart as a free agent.
Third base was a problem position for the Tigers all season. Wilson Betemit was brought in to provide more offense than Brandon Inge, but he was a non-factor in the postseason and likely will be allowed to depart as a free agent.
Inge, who has a year remaining on his contract, hit much better after accepting a stint in the minors and performed well in late September and the postseason. If an upgrade is obtained, Inge could fill a utility role.
Detroit missed the potent bat of Brennan Boesch, who had surgery to repair ligament damage in his right thumb, but his absence prompted the waiver claim of Delmon Young. The 2012 outfield figures to be, from left to right, Young, Austin Jackson and Boesch.
Young is eligible for free agency after the 2012 season and has limitations, but he filled out the batting order nicely and it would not be a surprise to see Detroit try to sign him to a multi-year contract.
There's a lot right with the team. Miguel Cabrera won the batting title (.344) and is widely regarded as the league's top hitter. The back end of the bullpen is solid (Jose Valverde saved 49 games without a miss), the rotation is excellent and the batting order is deeper than the club has had in a long time.
"We've got a real good core group," GM Dave Dombrowski said after Detroit lost to Texas in the ALCS, four games to two. "If you were to tell me that we'll stay healthy next year, I think we'll have a fine club.
"We don't have to make a lot of huge moves because the foundation is there."
The Tigers spent last spring trying to make a starter out of Phil Coke so they'd have one lefty in their rotation, but that didn't work. He was sent back to the bullpen.
But the rotation then was filled out by adding Doug Fister at the trade deadline. He went 8-1 for the Tigers and was solid in the postseason.
Verlander won the Triple Crown for pitchers -- wins (24), ERA (2.40) and strikeouts (250) -- and is widely seen as a unanimous choice for the league Cy Young Award.
With Verlander, Fister, Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello, the Tigers have the foundation for a superior rotation. Both Scherzer and Porcello stepped it up on the playoffs, although Scherzer was the losing pitcher in the deciding game against Texas.
Brad Penny won 11 games as the fifth starter, and while many don't see him coming back, he still has upside and would buy them time to develop some of their hot minor league pitching prospects. He was paid $3 million last season, and it is assumed that he cashed in on most of his $3 million in incentives because they were believed based on innings, starts, wins and staying off the disabled list. A similar deal might get him to return because he hungers for a World Series win.
Jackson enters a critical year in his career after a second high-strikeout season in which he was almost an automatic out with the count 0-2 or 1-2. He fanned 181 times in the regular season and 19 times in the playoffs.
Not having Victor Martinez to catch after the first week of August put an awful strain on Alex Avila, something that won't be allowed to happen in 2012.
Detroit's team speed is in need of improvement, but having Young and Boesch all season will be a help. They won't steal, but they go from first to third well and don't clog up the bases.
The club was last by a good margin in stolen bases, but manager Jim Leyland liked to keep his walks and singles at first base with Cabrera and Martinez coming up so opposing managers won't walk them.
The Tigers will enter next season as a favorite for the AL Central title.
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