Detroit Tigers Awards

Tiger Of The Year

1. 3B Miguel Cabrera
2. SP Justin Verlander
3. CF Austin Jackson
4. 1B Prince Fielder
5. SP Max Scherzer

CY Young

1. SP Justin Verlander
2. SP Max Scherzer
3. SP Doug Fister

Rookie

1. SP Drew Smyly
2. LF Quintin Berry
3. RP Brayan Villarreal
4. RF Avisail Garcia
5. RP Darin Downs

Comeback: CF Austin Jackson
Relief Man: Brayan Villarreal
Breakout Star: OF Andy Dirks
Gold Glove: CF Austin Jackson
Postseason MVP: Phil Coke

Tigers Starting Rotation For The 2012 World Series Is Set

How I’d set it up

1. Verlander
2. Fister
3. Scherzer
4. Verlander/Sanchez (JV would be my number one option barring rest not being a big deal)
5. Sanchez/Fister (Rather Sanchez start)
6. Fister/Scherzer (Fister is my first choice)
7. Verlander

Verlander can go on 3 days rest once, maybe twice but the Tigers would defiantly be smart to keep him for Game 7.  I’d rather Verlander make three starts, but sometimes it’s impossible.

The Real Deal So Far

1. Verlander
2. Fister
3. Scherzer
4. Sanchez

I doubt Leyland will pitch Verlander more than twice, he’s just not that kind of manager and that’s fine, we can still win with these four great arms.  Verlander’s second start should be chosen very wisely, especially with the postseason he has had.  Verlander is great for Game 1 since he has improved a 100x this postseason and should take care of his business.  Fister is good to go Game 2, since he is good in the playoffs and has done well on the road and Scherzer in Game 3, since he has been the Tigers best starter behind Verlander and Game 3 is a huge game.  Let’s not forget Sanchez either, he’s a durable righty who can hold any offense most days that the Tigers get to throw out there for a game.  The Tigers rotation is fine regardless and the way Leyland is handling for the Tigers eleventh World Series is great.

NOTE: Valverde struggled again in a simulated game today, if he continues to struggle, Coke should close in the World Series and Smyly be used for all our lefty needs.  Also, I think Brennan Boesch should be on the World Series roster, but he can’t strike out like hr did in the simulated game.  Last, Avila hit a HR and I’ll be amd if he doesn’t start 3 of the first 4 games at least.

Tigers Notes: How to win the divison in 2012

The Tigers can still win the AL Central in 2012 and defend their crown form 2011, though it isn’t as easy this year.  The Tigers have to take it one game at a time.  That situation is very true for this situation.  Their pitching is fine with Fister, Scherzer, and Verlander all being aces in the staff this year.  The offense just needs to score runs, and even if they are just enough they need to spread their runs out and score enough to win games.  If they improve in one run games that makes this team even stronger.  The offense will perk up to Miguel Cabrera, prince Fielder and Delmon Young will be great in the middle, the end guys just have to get a few RBIs each game and improve, which may be the hardest thing out of this teams needs list.  The Tigers should be fine they need to take at least 2 from the White Sox though and then only lose 3-4 against the teams they should beat and the A’s.  If the Tigers make the playoffs anything can happen, and the Tigers are a strong playoff team with talent and experience along with an overall ability to get hot and win.  Things are only looking u from here for the Tigers.  Another thing is to utilize the players on the bench the right way and pinch run Berry, bring in Santiago at short after the seventh or eighth to play defense sometimes, and using Garcia in the line-up and bigger situations.

Big Series For Tigers-White Sox In Chicago

Tonight is the start of a 4 game series in Chicago with the White Sox leading the Tigers by two games.  Last time these two teams met was from August 31 to September 2nd at Comerica Park where the Tigers, who have dominated the Sox in 2012 swept them, but this series is in Chicago with the stakes high, so anything could happen at this point
WHITE SOX: The Sox have a good line-up, but their task is to be able to hit the Tigers studs, the Tigers are sending Rick Porcello, Max Scherzer, Doug Fister, and Justin Verlander to the mound in this series and the White Sox have to defend their home turf and score runs against these guys or they will be in for a long series again versus a Detroit team.
TIGERS: The Tigers just need to play the Sox the way they have all year, and like last time they played them, shut down the Sox middle of the order, it will all follow from there.  I think their hitting will get better at the Cell during the series and I believe in this team.  I have watched them all year and they can beat the White Sox out for the division, and as a fan of the Tigers they can beat these guys with their offense.
PITCHING:
MONDAY: Rick Porcello vs Jose Quintana-  Aside from his last start Porcello has done well lately and his ground ball pitching in the sox ballpark is huge for the Tigers tonight, I expect him to shut this offense down and set the tone for the series.  Quintana is good, but the Tigers can certainly hit him well and make him leave the game early.  LINE PROJECTION: Porcello- 7.1 IP 1 ER 5  2 BB 7 K  Quintana 5 IP 5 ER 7 H 3 BB 5 K
TUESDAY: Doug Fister vs Jake Peavy- I expect Fister to fully return to his second half greatness for this start and hold the White Sox to barely any offense.  HE could be dominant in this start too, he just needs to keep going strong even if he hits a bump at one point.  Peavy has faced the Tigers a lot in 2012, and they are starting to figure him out very well, so it may not be his best start of the year.  LINE PROJECTION Fister: 7 IP 2 ER 5 H 1 BB 8 K  Peavy: 5.2 IP 4 ER 7 H 2 BB 6 K
WEDNESDAY: Max Scherzer vs Francisco Liriano- Scherzer has been a force in the last month and he tamed the White Sox last start, I expect something similar.  On the note of Liriano, I think he was a bad pick-up for the SOx and the Tigers hit him well, so we will see.  LINE PROJECTION: Scherzer: 7 IP 1 ER 6 H 2 BB 12 K  Liriano 6 IP 4 ER 6 H 3 BB 2 K
THURSDAY: Justin Verlander vs Chris Sale- The Sunday Night Baseball match-up where Verlander outpitched Sale has a sequel and I don’t expect it to be any different, a pitcher’s duel where Verlander dominates and doesn’t give up much and Sale does great but the Tigers could use some power and rallies and clutch hitting to beat him again  LINE PROJECTIONS Verlander: 9 IP 1 ER 4 H 0 BB 9 K  Sale 7 IP 3 ER 6 H 2 BB 8 K

KEYS:
Tigers: They should win Monday and just keep hitting, a sweep may seem far-fetched but I think it’s actually a possibility and guys like Garcia, Cabrera and Fielder along witht he whole offense should come alive
White Sox: They have to hold the Tigers and score runs to win games in the series

PREDICTIONS
Monday: Tigers 7  White Sox 2
Tuesday: Tigers 6 White Sox 7
Wednesday: Tigers 7 White Sox 1
Thursday; Tigers 4 White Sox 1

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.

Top Ten MLB Pitchers Right Now

1. Justin Verlander- He’s still the best for sure, he’s not having a year quite like last year but he is still doing amazing and amazing things almost every start and his fastball and curveball are crazy good, and all his numbers support him, especially if you look deeper
2. Felix Hernandez- He seems to be forgotten at times playing on a non-contender but he’s another amazing pitcher, and he is fresh off of a Perfect Game against a good team
3. David Price- Best left-handed pitcher in all of baseball, he’s become very hard to hit this year and is just entering his prime, so getting even higher on the list is no stretch for him, and every time he climbs the mound Tampa seems to win
4. Jered Weaver- He was having a very great season until he fell off a bit lately, but he’s still a great pitcher and an ace who can do big things
5. Matt Cain- He has to be one of the most underrated pitchers of the last decade, but this year he’s having a career year and I’d take him over any NL starter right now in a heartbeat
6. Clayton Kershaw- The defending Cy Young hasn’t been much worse in 2012 and he’s still so young I can see him being elite for 12 years barring a drop off in his pitching
7. Madison Bumgarner- I feel this guy could win the Cy Young next year and I see him being the next Clayton Kershaw but likely even better, but he still is younger and will continue to grow on everybody
8. Stephen Strasburg- He’s leading the Nationals to a division crown at his very young age and he’s been an all-star and that’s just the start of what should be a great career with a long list of accomplishments
9. Chris Sale- I got to see Sale pitch last night and it was a treat he was carving up some of the best batters in the MLB with his amazing stuff and getting out after out, he can even field his position well, he amazed me in pretty much every way to say the least
10. RA Dickey- Has had a bit of a drop-off and his prime won;t be as long as most pitchers but right now, he’s tenth best with his great numbers and even better knuckler

HM: Johnny Cueto, Jordan Zimmermann, Jake Peavy, Gio Gonzalez, Cole Hamels, CC Sabathia

Detroit Tigers Notes: Line-Up, Below, Road

• Duane Below was sent back to Toledo and they called-up Luke Putkonen.  I think Putkonen has a live arm and could be a great reliever but Below was just going through a little tough stretch and is a valuable arm for the Tigers as a lefty, even with Darin Downs and Phil Coke.  The whole bullpen hasn’t been good lately but I think it’s just an August swoon, and though it won’t be as good as it was earlier in the year, it will get a lot better.  Below will come back up and should do well when he does, and to get Putkonen back to the MLB was a good move, but sending Below down right now wasn’t as good of a move, and I hope Below will be eligible for a playoff roster too.
• The Tigers beat the Twinkies to win 2 of 3 at Target Field, the first road series the Tigers won since the first series after the All-Star Break against the Orioles.  The road record will have to get a bit better on the road, and that starts by supporting Verlander in his starts on the road.  The Tigers can do better on the road though it won’t be as easy
• Here is a line-up I would run out against righties for the Tigers

1. CF Austin Jackson
2. 2B Omar Infante (I want him ahead of Cabrera as much as possible and he’s a two hitter)
3. 3B Miguel Cabrera
4. 1B Prince Fielder
5. C Alex Avila
6. DH Delmon Young
7. LF Andy Dirks
8. SS Jhonny Peralta
9. RF Brennan Boesch

and against lefties

1. CF Austin Jackson
2. 2B Omar Infante
3. 3B Miguel Cabrera
4. 1B Prince Fielder
5. SS Jhonny Peralta
6. DH Delmon Young
7. C Alex Avila
8. RF Jeff Baker
9. LF Quintin Berry/Andy Dirks/Brennan Boesch

These line-ups are what I’d do with the Tigers on a temporary basis.

Tigers Quarter Mark

THE IDEA: Famous Tigers Manager Sparky Anderson said you will know a lot about your team after 40 games, that’s true a lot of the time, but not always as proven by the 2011 Tigers
THE LOOK SO FAR: They are 20-21 through 41 games, but last season they struggled like this too and they have some slow starters that are starting to hit and pitch better such as Fielder, Young, Valverde and Scherzer.  Now just Avila and Peralta plus the bottom of the order, which it will sort out and the Tigers will win at least 90 games, very likely more and along with the line-up the bullpen will get a bit better at least and some acquisitions could boost the team a lot.  The rotation is really taking shape and the five arms in it, I like a lot.  This team is still good, they just need to put it all together for a few game and it will all take off, just like last year.  They might have already done that with Verlander and Scherzer’s great games and we will see if they can build a winning streak on this road trip, which could turn them around.
WHO’S HOT?
Miguel Cabrera: Average will rise and so will OBP, but he’s here for being the top offensive performer like usual and being above average, slightly, at third base.  He’s done what everyone’s expected and more, and he will do even better too.
Austin Jackson: He is hitting like 2010 again and with power, and that is the real Jackson and his defense is as good as usual
Andy Dirks: His will cool down a little bit but his power will stay and he will still hit very well.  He can stay in LF and may be able to keep starting and he’s been great
Justin Verlander: You know why he’s here
Drew Smyly: He wills struggle some, but for the most part he’s a dominant lefty and that’s what he will develop into too and he will be very useful this year
WHO’S COLD?:
Jose Valverde: Will warm-up
Prince FIelder: Not cold but will warm-up
Alex Avila: Will warm-up
Ryan Raburn- Second half will be his
Delmon Young- Will warm-up, do decent
Jhonny Perlata: Will warm-up
RECAP: Boesch will also be a big and good factor and the first 40 games aren’t that telling this year, this tigers team will heat up and June and July could be some of it’s best months.

Tigers Rotation Ready for May

The Tigers rotation is taking shape, now all they need is for the vats to get going, which should happen pretty soon and the bullpen to get straightened out. The reason the rotation is shaping up is due to May. It’s a month Porcello dominates, Verlander starts being amazing and the month Doug Fister comes back. Porcello will be good in May, but he has to stay good in the following months too and there is no reason he shouldn’t, he’s got experience now and the right mechanics to stay good. Fister, a breakout star has come back and from what I’ve seen and believe Fister the real deal. Scherzer worked out a flaw in his delivery and with the kind of pitcher he is and that fix, he could take off. Verlander gets dominating in May and starts doing what he does, a bunch of amazing feats and big streaks. Smyly has been great and he will give up more runs than two in a start soon but I think he can always give the Tigers a chance to win. This rotation should be good this month and quite possibly beyond that. The Tigers will win, remember they didn’t take off until June last year and this year it may not take that long to take off but don’t panic as long as they win some on this road trip and this trip could be the turning point.

What Is Wrong With The Tigers?

The Tigers find themselves back where they were in 2011, at a 10-10 record 20 games through the season, they have lost 5 straight though.  There is no reason to panic though because Prince Fielder, Alex Avila, and Jhonny Peralta, and Brennan Boesch will soon join Austin Jackson and Miguel Cabrera hitting well.  Verlander’s worst month will always be April and he will warm-up and Porcello is just getting more experienced and he and Scherzer could start doing well at any way.  The major problem so far has been the bullpen, the Tigers need to find another arm that will fit with the 5 good ones they have now, that arm could be a guy like Putkonen or a free agent like Mike Gonzalez.  Still things are at their absolute worse right now and everything should start to change.  The Tigers are a deep team that will win.  Every team goes through a bad stretch in a season, and I wouldn’t be surprised if this was it for the Tigers and they won’t get this cold again.  Delmon Young also needs to come back and start hitting as soon as he is removed from the restricted list following his arrest.  This team will shape up and be what we thought they would, they have too many talented players not to.  Last year the Tigers lost 5 straight twice and still won 95 games.  There is no reason for panic this early and they can easily still win even 100 games.  Nothing major is wrong, just a cold streak.
TODAY: Drew Smyly is the perfect guy to bring the Tigers out of this losing streak, he has been good and I think he can survive Yankee Stadium have a decent start at least, and the Tigers can hit Garcia really hard and beat him like they did the last time they faced him in Game 2 of the ALDS at Yankee Stadium