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 at A’s ALDS Game 4 Preview

Keys
Tigers: Scherzer has been hot, but the offense needs to go out and score some runs early and often
Athletics: Support AJ Griffin because he won’t turn in as good of an outing as Brett Anderson did

Line-Ups
Tigers

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

I like the look of this line-up more than last night’s.  It can score some runs and maybe hit a few homers tonight.  It could even go crazy which it needs to do.  One thing is I like Berry hitting in the two hole after what he did in Game 1 there but Garcia needs to pinch hit late in the game if it’s close.  Cabrera and Fielder could lead this group tonight.

Athletics

1. CF Coco Crisp
2. SS Stephen Drew
3. LF Yoenis Cespedes
4. 1B Brandon Moss
5. RF Josh Reddick
6. 3B Josh Donaldson
7. DH Seth Smith
8. C Derek Norris
9. 2B Cliff Pennington

This is a decent line-up, but I can’t see it production more than four runs max.  Cespedes and Smith have been the only ones to really impress me during the series, but Crisp, Drew, Reddick or Moss could help out tonight.  I like the Tigers line-up a lot better though

PITCHING MATCH-UP: OAK: AJ Griffin vs DET: Max Scherzer: Scherzer should pitch a great game and his stuff has been on lately for the Tigers.  I expect a lot of Tigers strikeouts today.  Griffin is good and he should do a decent job but I see him letting some baserunners on today and the Tigers hitting him decent and scoring some runs, but he could turn in a decent performance.  Scherzer should be his normal self that he was in the last two months of the year.  PREDICTED LINES: Scherzer 7 IP 10 K 2 BB 2 ER 6 H Griffin 5.1 IP 4 K 3 BB 5 ER 9 H

Hero will be…Miguel Cabrera
Goat will be…Josh Reddick

Prediction: Tigers 9 Athletics 3

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.

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 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.

Giving The Tigers Pitchers A Grade

Justin Verlander: A+
Doug Fister: A
Max Shcerzer: C-
Rick Porcello: D+
Brad Penny: C
Jose Valverde: A+
Joaquin Benoit: A-
Al Alberquerque: A-
David Pauley: C-
David Purcey: D-
Ryan Perry: C
Daniel Schlereth: B-
Phil Coke: C+
Duane Below: B
Charlie Furbush: B
Brayan Villarreal: D+
Adam Wilk: C

Can The Tigers Win The ALCS?

Yes, Game 6 will be harder than Game 7 and the Rangers are still favorites but just slightly.  Max Scherzer will give up a few runs in Game 6 but that should be it and he should keep the Tigers in the game.  The offense is now rolling and it needs to stay that way, and I expect it too.  Leave everybody where there at too Jim Leyland.  Young could come up big again and so should the whole order but the middle of it mostly.  If the Tigers force a Game 7 I trust Fister, first he won another deciding game against the Yankees, second he’s been lights out since August and third he pitched well in Game 3.  If he goes seven you can turn it over to Verlander for an inning or two.  Benoit and Valverde should come up big.  If I were to make a prediction I would say the Tigers win both games.  They can win two straight and on the road and they have played very well against the Rangers all year and even or the road.  One thing is for sure, the Tigers won’t go down easy at all and the Rangers won’t easier but in an elimination game I’ll take the Tigers no matter what.  Look for Miguel Cabrera to shine the brightest along with he whole Tigers bullpen, in Coke, Benoit and Valverde.  The Tigers can hit Holland easy they just need to keep the lead when they have it and score at least five runs, which they can do easily.  They can hit Colby Lewis too, he’s probably the worst pitcher currently in the rotation besides Harrison.

Can The Tigers Comeback?

Yes but there is one key.  They have to win tomorrow, if they don’t win I see them losing this series in six.  I going to make a bold prediction right here and say the Tigers win this series in six still.  Tomorrow you have Fister and Lewis and Lewis may be a great postseason pitcher but still the Tigers can start hitting back at home and they really can hit Lewis and after that game the way Porcello has pitched he can beat Harrison and if the Tigers can get to CJ and have JV return to himself they can take a 3-2 series lead and it’s very possible to that, I’d give it a 40% chance and then you have a rematch and if the Tigers can get to Holland a little better the Tiger win the series.  If the Tigers lose tomorrow you have to start Verlander Game 5 but to win at all this offense has to start-up.  Tomorrow Kelly deserves a start at third and leave Santiago at second and Raburn in right and then the Tigers need to get their middle of the order alive, especially V-Mart and Miggy, if those to can hit the Tigers are in shape even if Avila and Peralta don’t follow and at least one should.  Jackson might geta hit here or there but he probably will struggle no matter what, they only other two guys I’d start in the leadoff spot right now are Santiago or Kelly.

1. Don Kelly 3B
2. Ramon Satiago 2B
3. Demon Young LF
4. Miguel Cabrera 1B
5. Victor Martinez DH
6. Ryan Raburn RF
7. Jhonny Peralta SS
8. Alex Avila C
9. Austin Jackson CF

What To Watch in ALDS Game 2 Yankees vs Tigers

• Max Scherzer needs to give up less fly balls and he will continue his success against New York
• The Tigers can kill Freddy Garcia
• Garcia can hold them though, but it’s less likely
• Expect a so-so start from Scherzer and a bad one for Garcia
• Miguel Cabrera will come alive and the offense should follow
• New York won’t go out with a whimper and Cano is a big threat
• The Tigers can shut down Derek Jeter
• X-Factor for Tigers is the bottom of the line-up doing good and for New York it’s Cano being Cano again
• Keys for Detroit are to play great defense behind Scherzer and score and for the Yankees to take a 2-0 lead any way they can
• PREDICITION: Tigers 7 Yankees 5
• Starting Pitcher Comparison
• GAME 2: Scherzer>Garcia
• GAME 3: Verlander>Sabathia
• GAME 4: Porcello>Burnett
• GAME 5: Fister>Nova

How I’d Set The Tigers Playoff Rotation

ALDS

HOME FIELD

1. Justin Verlander
2. Max Scherzer
3. Doug Fister
4. Rick Porcello
5. Justin Verlander

With no home field flip-flop Scherzer and Fister.  Fister will keep up his hot streak and can pitch well anywhere.  Scherzer has been inconsistent but is best at home. Verlander needs to start the most important games and Porcello could do good in his start.

ALCS

1. Justin Verlander
2. Doug Fister
3. Max Scherzer
4. Justin Verlander
5. Rick Porcello
6. Doug Fister
7. Justin Verlander

Porcello pitches well under pressure so Game 5 is no sweat.  If Verlander can’t go Game 1 he goes game two and if somehow he couldn’t go game three you go Porcello game 2.

WORLD SERIES

Same As ALCS only if Verlander is tired Fister goes in Game 1 and Verlander in Game 2.

BOTTOM LINE: Verlander will win almost all his starts in the playoffs and Fister is sort of a second ace right now so a couple good starts from Scherzer and Porcello and the Tigers are set.  No Penny either, he gives up to many runs and there will be a lot of hitter’s park in the playoffs too.