Tigers Odds and Ends

• The Tigers should trade Porcello rather than Smyly if they trade a starter.  Smyly looks more promising but Porcello could still bring in a good return.  Smyly is also a lefty and he looks promising and I think he could get off to a quick start in 2013
• I still believe Porcello could pan out and be a really good starter and I’m totally for keeping Porcello as a number fie and Smyly as a swing man for right now
• Peter Bourjos is my number one target for the Tigers in a trade or Joel Hanrahan is worth it too
• Bruce Rondon could be a good closer if the Tigers stick with him
• I see Brennan Boesch being a great fifth outfielder for the Tigers this year
• I would still target a guy like Scott Hairston to be a fourth outfielder.  Hairston is suck a great fit in Detroit.  Jeff Baker and Ben Francisco could also be worth a look
• I see Ramon Santiago winning the spot over Danny Worth and I believe he is better than Worth and is a very much more ready to help the Tigers in 2013
• Avisail Garcia and Nick Castellanos could always sneak their way on this team too and they’re both extraordinary talents

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.

Tigers Offseason Need List

A little late but here we go…
Needs: (In Order)

1. Starter
2. Second Baseman
3. Reliever
4. Third Baseman
5. Corner Outfielder

FAs To Target (In Order)

1. 3B Aramis Ramirez
2. SP Mark Buehrle
3. 2B Kelly Johnson
4. OF Josh Willingham
5. OF Coco Crisp
6. RP Octavio Dotel
7. RP Chad Qualls
8. RP Michael Wuertz
9. RP Mike Gonzlaez
10. SP Ted Lilly

Trade Options

1. 3B Chase Headley
2. 2B Orlando Hudson
3. RP Ramon Ramirez

Untouchables: Jaocb Turner, Nick Castellanos, Casey Crosby, Drew Smyly, Bruce Rondon, Rob Brantly
Touchable: Andrew Oliver (High numbers, sell while you can because I smell bust but could be an okay MLB pitcher)
Bullet Points

• Tender Delmon Young a contract, look what he did, sure he has his cons but he’s proven he can be a big offensive force and some of the other things the Tigers could get by signing a second or third baseman that offers those stats
• Do not trade Rick Porcello or Brennan Boesch.  Boesch looks as if he could be a good starter and Porcello can still live up to every bit of his potential and will have a great career
• If Magglio Ordonez stays on the market give him a look, but don’t do that with Carlos Guillen
• Wilson Betemit is a toss-up, he’s a good option but there is better so maybe if you can;t get any better because he could do well at 3B and give the Tigers more production there than Kelly or Inge likely
• Keep Brando Inge, he will be more productive this year

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

MLB Pick’em: MLB Postseason Games 3 and 4

FAVORITE-Rays- Hellickson is better than Harrison  UNDERDOG- Rangers- Won’t go down easy and offense will be tough but Hellickson and bullpen may slow it down

FAVORITE-Cardinals- Jamie owns the Phillies and it’ an upset alert here but I still expect the Phils to come back from their hole  UNDERDOG: Phillies- Could still win this game

FAVORITE-Tigers- They kill Burnett and Porcello shows up, could be similar to Game 4 of ALDS in 2006  UNDERDOG-Yankees- Season is put of AJ Burnett’s shoulders…that doesn’t sound to good to me

FAVORITE-Diamondbacks- They won’t go down without a fight  UNDERDOG- Brewers- the road record from the first half shows up today but maybe only today

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.

Do The Tigers Have The Division Locked Up?

The Indians are the bigger threat, I think…
INDIANS: If Ubaldo shows up they can hang it for a couple of weeks longer but they should get eliminated the last week of the year.  They just aren’t that good of a team and lack enough offense espacially without Choo and Sizemore.  If they did somehow make the playoffs they should be an easy team to beat.  They can close games out with Perez which will be big for them in staying in the race, though it will take a big comeback there still in it, but not by much at all.  CHANCE OF MAKING IT: 10%
WHITE SOX: Not enough a disappointing.  I say they go .500 or less, maybe a lot less from here on out.  Konerko has been the only good player and if Dunn and Rios don’t have a huge stretch, there is no way the make it.  If they get swept be the Tigers tomorrow, I’d say they’re.  They could lose a lot of they’re divisional games.  They have decent pitching but Humber was holding it together and if he doesn’t come back soon it’s another dink in the team.  I also have a feeling Santos may fall apart now.  CHANCE OF MAKING IT: <1%

The Tigers look like a tough, beatable team and could easily take it to both team in the upcoming match-ups and the Tigers could be a surprise in the playoffs, especially if even one of Scherzer or Porcello shows and both could.

Series Preveiw: Tigers at Indians

PREDICTIONS
Tuesday: Tigers 3  Indians 1
Wednesday: Tigers 5  Indians 6
Thursday: Tigers 8  Indians 0
PITCHING
TONIGHT: Fister vs. Masterson: Don’t let Fister’s record fool you.  He’s a guy who will hold the opposition and he’s tough to score or get a walk off of and he will be like that forever so it could be a very long night for the Indians mediocre offense.  Masterson will only get better and he will show it tonight by doing well in a high pressure start, but maybe not good enough.  The Tigers can get to him but will keep getting harder and harder for them.  FISTER: Great Start  MASTERSON: Good Starter
WEDSENDAY: Rick Porcello vs Ubaldo Jimenez: Porcello is a second half pitcher for now and he has put together a string of good starts and he should tomorrow again.  Jimenez will be dominant the rest of the year but sometimes you can still get to him and the Tigers offense is defiantly good enough  PORCELLO: Decent Start  JIMENEZ: Decent Start
THURSDAY: Verlander vs Carmona: Easily summed up…Verlander will be close to unhittable if not unhittable and Carmona will have some good innings and some horrible innings.  VERLANDER: Amazing Start  CARMONA: Bad Start
ANALYSIS: The Tigers bullpen could see a few struggles this series but nothing serious.  The Tigers are better and should prove it through everything they do.  The Indians could see some hitting struggles too.  If the Indians get swept they may be out or really close to being out.  The Tigers middle of the order will show up.  Cabrera could add some homers to his totals.  The Indians should play decent and aren’t a true losing team and will be tough.
FALLOUT: I wouldn’t be surprised to see a sweep by Detroit because they are so much better and I think the Indians are the third best team in the division, right behind the White Sox.  It will be tough for the Indians to pull this out because they were overperfroming early in the year.  The Tigers have everything and are ready to strike
KEYS: TIGERS: Show up play your game and don’t blow it, especially Benoit.  INDINAS: They have to hit. Asdrubal will show up but can the rest?  I’m leaning towards no but if they can it will make it harder on the Tigers

Angels vs Tigers Series Preview Pt. 1

PROBABLE PITCHERS:
THURSDAY
JOEL PINERO: he’s a good pitcher who can do a solid job but the Tigers can crush him and have crushed him before, so I’d expect no different and he could either have a real quick exit or do have way decent but either way the Tigers should find a way to get to him.  PROJECTION: BAD START
BRAD PENNY: Will do decent but will not be untouchable and give up hits and runs but should improve on his last start and not do that bad agin for a while, but he’s not an all-star anymore and should have some great innings and some bad one today.  Expect him to settle in late in the game.  PROJECTION: DECENT START
EDGE: Penny
FRIDAY
TYLER CHATWOOD: He’s a top prospect who could have a really good start at any time, but against this offense he probably won’t be unstoppable tomorrow, but he should do okay and show some flashes of good.  PROJECTION: GOOD START
RICK PORCELLO: Has been good and consistent and I think he going to keep getting better and this is the real Porcello.  He shouldn’t get touched up real bad and Porcello should prove that he’s here to stay on Friday.  PROJECTION: GOOD START
EDGE: Porcello
OFFENSE: For the Tigers Boesch and Cabrera could have real big series and guys like Guillen and Martinez nto far behind.  The Tigers should score a lot.  The Angels should score four or five times today and maybe twice tomorrow with their usual suspects doing the damage like Hunter, Abreu, Kendrick and Trumbo
KEYS: The Tigers need a good start from Penny and at least four runs each game, probably five.  The Angels need both guys to shine at the bottom of their rotation to stay in the race and win these games
PROJECTION
Tigers 8  Angles 6- Thursday
Tigers- 5 Angels-3- Friday
The Angels could sneak one though
TIGERS: They need to win at least two in the whole series and start their offense so they can maintain a lead in the Central.

Porcello: Is 2011 the Year He Breaks Out?

I think he will defnatly start to break out and eventually get as good as he is supposed to be.  Right now he could stay hot and be a great number three guy who gets outs and strikes a few out while always setting himself up for the win but he probably will have a smaller stretch where he does bad but I think he could reach his full potential by 2012.  Porcello will start to break out and be a good number four guy this year.  He will get outs and I think he should have an ERA just under four and he will start some bigger games and do pretty good.  Porcello will do a good job at Comerica and for right now.  He won’t reach Scherzer level yet but he could in the second half of this year.  There is a lot to like he just has to fight his way through it and I think he defiantly will and when he does he could be one of the top 20 in the league this year.  He has great talent and will use it.