2013 Tigers Hitting Projections

POSITION	PLAYER	HR	RBI	AVG	OBP	R	SB
C	Alex Avila	16	70	280	361	65	3
1B	Prince Fielder	42	118	310	423	96	1
2B	Omar Infante	9	53	285	329	79	10
3B	Miguel Cabrera	40	128	337	420	116	5
SS	Jhonny Peralta	19	76	279	330	62	1
LF	Andy Dirks	14	64	294	349	72	7
CF	Austin Jackson	18	70	304	390	102	16
RF	Torii Hunter	21	82	287	359	80	5
DH	Victor Martinez	17	100	317	378	83	0
C	Brayan Pena	3	23	265	301	18	0
UT	Don Kelly	7	36	258	298	25	7
IF	Ramon Santiago	2	22	247	290	23	2
UT	Matt Tuiasosopo	10	34	270	309	20	2
OF	Quintin Berry	1	22	247	307	29	13

Tigers Biggest Series of 2012 Starts Tonight

It may not be the biggest by the end of the year but a sweep is just what the Tigers need to climb atop the division and stay there, and let’s not forget right now is the time most Tigers play at their absolute best.
THE YOUNG GUN: Sure, Nick Castellanos is the Tigers top prospect but Avisail Garcia has slowly climbed up the system and flashed his tools and in the past few years he has turned those into results.  He deserves the call and could be the Tigers weapon to success f they make the postseason.  First he needs to help this series, and he can.  Some compare him to former Tiger Magglio Ordonez and if one thing is for sure he can get a clutch hit like him, so don;t be surprised if he gets a huge hit and some attention while making his MLB debut tomorrow.  No he started the year repeating HIgh A ball, not because he was bad but the fact he was young, and he tore it up, so the argument that he can’t help Detroit is a bad one.
THE OFFENSE: The Tigers need to stop the White SOx 2-5 and they can beat them.  The other parts of the order need be pitched well but the 2-5 holes are the Sox best hitters and if the Tigers stop Youkilis, Dunn, Konerko and Rios they can win the series and possibly more.  It also helps that the Tigers three best pitchers are pitching, so the chances of shutting down those hitter goes up.  So get these guys, don’t walk guys, and get the hitter in the bottom of the order out.
PITCHING
Friday: Jake Peavy vs Doug Fister- Fister has been awesome since All-Star Break besides one bad start and Peavy shuts down the Tigers since he was traded to Chicago.  This is Chicago’s best chance to win.  This should be a pitcher’s match-up.  I thinK Fister should rebound and I predict him as the Tigers Player of The Game.  Both of these teams will need to get hits.  I think the Tigers will need to bring out their power tonight too  LINE PREDICTIONS: Peavy 7 IP 3 ER 6 H 1 BB 8 K  Fister 7 IP 2 ER 7 H 2 BB 8 K
Saturday: Francisco Liriano vs Max Scherzer- Scherzer will surpass the 200 K mark during this game and he should hold down the White Sox well as he has started a mini hot streak, he just needs to avoid walks and be the power pitcher he is.  I like Scherzer and the big things expected of him should come out now.  Liriano could get bombed by this offense, but he could also do a decent job, the Tigers offense needs to show up and make a statement during this game.  PREDICTED LINES  Liriano 6 IP 5 ER 7 H 3 BB 5 K  Scherzer 6.2 IP 2 ER 7 H 2 BB 10 K
Sunday: CHris Sale vs Justin Verlander- Verlander needs to bounce back after a bad start and he will because he is an ace.  His W-L record is not what he has been this season and he can shutdown any offense, and I expect him to have another special game against CHicago.  Sale is impressive and I like his stuff and how he pitches altogether but the Tigers just need to get a few hits and runs off of Sale and they can win.  PREDICTED LINES Sale 7.1 IP 3 ER 7 H 1 BB 7 K  Verlander 9 IP 0 ER 4 H 0 BB 11 K

Game Predictions:
Friday: White Sox 5  Tigers 6
Saturday: White Sox 3 Tigers 9
Sunday: White Sox 0 Tigers 4

The White Sox struggle in Detroit and the Tigers play well at home and the Detroit Tigers hitting can come alive this series.

NOTE: The Tigers have had some disappointing seasons from guys like Boesch and Avila this year but they can get through it.  Avila still gets on and Boesch can still hit a bomb and they can both get better in September, but the big thing is guys like Max Scherzer and Austin Jackson are doing better than 2011 so the Tigers can do fine and make a run in September, maybe even one like 2011.

Tigers Get Spark in Quintin Berry

A few days ago the Tigers called up speedy outfielder Quintin Berry, to start in center while Austin Jackson recovered from an injury and DFA’d Collin Balester, who could still be a good reliever later this year for Detroit if not claimed.  Berry has been on fire, he’s done everything he showed he can provide a huge spark by using any of his tools, hitting, running, and fielding.  Now he likely won’t stay this good but he could be a useful bench player and a good injury replacement like he is now and if he continues to play anyway as near as he is now, he should stay with the ballclub and I see him helping a lot this year.  His speed is what the Tigers will like the most though, the need a guy who can steal second off the bench or have a small ball play to go along with the sluggers on the team.  If he does end up staying with the club, I’d say you’d have to DFA Don Kelly though, I like Raburn better than Kelly.  Berry will hit decent and just be a good and useful player, plus he reached safely in all five of his first games as a Tiger, the first to do so ever in Tigers history and that’s just a testament to his OBP ability.  I like Berry and him on this team.
A SEPARATE NOTE: The Tigers shouldn’t trade Turner unless the absolute right deal comes along and the reason why is, it’s always good to have an MLB ready arm in the minors like the Rays and later this year he can come up when Smyly is shut down.

Opening Day Notes

• Don’t freak out, all the closers are finding a groove, even Mariano blew a save.  Valverde is till good, Perez can hold his job and Putz will be more dominant
• On that note, Justin Verlander should close out his own games for the Tigers, Valverde should close for all the other starters.  Verlander has proven he can do it and he could throw 150 in a game, as long as it’s only once in a while
• Austin Jackson should have a breakout year and he could have the best of anybody in the MLB, his new stance seems pretty legit for getting his average up and he will K still, but reducing his K’s by 30-35 is possible
• I still believe in the Marlins and that they have a great chance at the playoffs but if anyone could disappoint big it’s the Marlins, small chance they’re like the 2008 Tigers but I doubt it
• Melky Cabrera’s 2011 may have not been a fluke
• This could be Chad Billingsley’s year to become a great number two
• Verlander is really as good as 2011 suggests and Halladay has to be the favorite for a CY Young this year
• Johan Santana is ready to comeback strong
• Both Vernon Wells and Adam Dunn will improve easily on his 2011
• I wouldn’t be too concerned with Yovani Gallardo yet

My Best Fielders of 2011

My picks all had to come from the Gold Glove finalists, which I don’t always agree with.
AL
C Matt Wieters
1B Mark Teixeria
2B Dustin Pedroia
3B Adrain Beltre
SS Asdrubal Cabrera
LF Alex Gordon
CF Austin Jackson
RF Jeff Francouer
P Mark Buehrle

NL
C Yadier Molina- Platinum Glove Choice
1B Joey Votto (Pujols deserved it)
2B Brandon Phillips
SS Troy Tulowitzki
3B Placido Polanco
LF Gerardo Parra
CF Matt Kemp
RF Jay Bruce (Wish Justin Upton was a nominee)
P Clayton Kershaw

Amazing Catches Player Of The Year: Sam Fuld

A Look At The Tigers Game 1 Line-Up

1. Austin Jackson CF- If he can get on than he can stay here and he found ways to get on even when he wasn’t hitting very well in the ALDS
2. Ryan Raburn 2B- A Ranger killer who does good in Rangers Ballpark and is doing well right now should stay here
3. Miguel Cabrera 1B- As long as he hits a few homers, gets on and gets RBIs he can hit third or fourth, third might be the better choice because he could get ane extra at-bat along the way but it doesn’t really matter a lot
4. Victor Martinez DH- I like him hitting fourth and should do a lot better this series and I have a feeling he will flash his power
5. Magglio Orodnez RF- He’s been hot and is a great postseason hitter, he should shit here or second but no lower
6. Alex Avila C- He needs to regain his swing and then he can hit a couple of homers and he can hit here with ease
7. Jhonny Peralta SS- A great number seven hitter who will contribute a lot
8. Ramon Santiago SS- When he gets a start he has some pop and can geta few hits here and on another note his defense is great
9. Brandon Inge 3B- He does well and will hit a few homers in the playoffs

Losing Delmon hurts but this line-up can still get a lot of runs and do well.  Betemit should hit a homer and get a few hits here and there if he stops swinging at everything.  Kelly can do some nice things for the Tigers with a few starts too

What The Tigers Line-Up Should Look Like For ALDS Game 5

Here’s what I’d do

1. CF Austin Jackson
2. RF Magglio Ordonez
3. LF Delmon Young
4. 1B Miguel Cabrera
5. DH Victor Martinez
6. SS Jhonny Peralta
7. C Alex Avila
8. 3B Brandon Inge
9. 2B Ryan Raburn

I’d do this because Jackson has been getting on and I’m not sure Dirks would do much better and Maggs had his best game in the two hole.  I trust Inge more than Kelly or Betemit right now and I’d put Avila in the seven hole because even though he’s struggling he can hit a homer just like that in Yankee Stadium.  Santiago will start doing worse and worse if he plays everyday and Raburn will come up better and I like Peralta in the six hole for some reason.  Betemit then Kelly then Dirks would be my pinch-hitting options in order of who I’d want up there the most.

Leyland said Kelly and Maggs will start so I’d put Kelly hitting ninth and Raburn seventh in that case and the lien-up Leyland is putting out there is decent but could easily win more importantly.

Tigers Line-ups

THE BEST: That’s what Leyland is putting out today but a close second would be

1. CF Jackson
2. LF Young
3. SS Peralta
4. 1B Cabrera
5. DH Martinez
6. C Avila
7. RF Boesch/Ordonez
8. 3B Betemit
9. 2B Raburn

Simply put the best line-up for the Tigers right now is the one where their best hitters get to bat the most and this is how I’d rank the guys

1. Cabrera
2. Martinez
3. Peralta
4. Avila
5. Young
6. Boesch

Jackson and Dirks are the only two who can hit leadoff and one of these guys would be good in the bottom along with Raburn and Betemit so the line-up can be feared all the way around.  Another way to spice the line=up is to start Don Kelly less, he hasn’t done much on offense lately.  Ordonez and Raburn could really show up soon too.

Best line-up with Maggs and Young hitting third

1. CF Jackson/Dirks
2. RF Ordonez
3. LF Young
4. 1B Cabrera
5. DH Martinez
6. C Avila
7. SS Peralta
8. RF Ordonez
9. 3B Betemit

Let’s also face this, Boesch is the Tigers two hitter and though he may not be the best two hitter he will give you something and actually show up in this year’s second half.  Ordonez could hit there too and if Raburn heats up, he’s okay there every once in a while.  Avila and Peralta may need to move up too they can’t miss the ball right now and with Young they could alternate.   This is a good group of players that can win even in a mismatched line-up.

MLB Stretch Questions and Morrison Demoted

MLB DOWN THE STRETCH QUESTIONS:
Brewers:
Can they start winning on the road and survive that in the playoffs? Yes, but still might not win in NLDS
How will Greinke perform the rest of the way?: Better than he has but has been an ace all season for them
Should Axford continue to be the closer over K-Rod?: Yes, by a longshot
Who’s the better hitter, Braun or Fielder?: Braun, but Fielder has been more valuable
What to make of Bentancourt’s hot streak: Just that, a hot streak.  It may continue for a while but won’t carry on much longer but he could still do well in the playoffs
Tigers:
Whose their second best hitter?: Martinez, then Peralta, then Avila and Ordonez could creep up
Is Verlander the best pitcher in the MLB right now?: Yes and he will continue to be
Are Austin Jackson’s struggles a sign of things to come?: No, he still has very high upside and it’s just a sophomore slump, expect him to perform more like 2010 next year
Is Peralta’s .300 a fluke?: Probably but he’s a .275-ish hitter and when his average goes down his power will go up.  He should stay above .300 for the rest of the year though
Can Valverde stay perfect as far as saves to save opportunities: Yes, even better than Lidge in 2008
Could the Tigers win in the ALDS? If they played the Yankees or Rangers they could have a shot and with Verlander they have a very small shot against the Red Sox
MORRISON: This demotion is a dumb move by the Marlins, his average will go up as he matures at the plate and he’s a great, young talent.  This makes the Marlins a ton worse and Morrison is very valuable to them, if they lose him after this they could be in trouble.  His defense is coming along with everything else too.  The Helms release was understandable though.  Morrison could tear the NL up when he comes back.

Game Notes: Tigers vs Royals 5-14-11

• It’s only a matter of time before Eric Hosmer starts slamming the ball
• Brad Penny is for real and back for a good season
• The Royals are slowly falling
• Alcides Escobar is the best shortstop in the AL on defense
• The Tigers are the best and most talented team in the AL Central
• The Tigers have great defense and will keep it up
• Austin Jackson won’t do much worse than last year
• The top of the order is going to really good along with the middle of the order for right now for the Tigers
• Jhonny Peralta will hit better as a Tiger than he has as an Indian
• Jeff Francis will start to get bombed soon
• Jose Valverde will be at the level he’s at now for a while
• Victor Martinez is great and will always hit for the Tigers