Power Rankings: 5/5/13

1. Tigers
2. Cardinals
3. Rangers
4. Red Sox
5. Braves
6. Giants
7. Yankees
8. Royals
9. Reds
10. Rockies
11. Athletics
12. Nationals
13. Orioles
14. Diamondbacks
15. Pirates
16. Rays
17. Dodgers
18. Mariners
19. Phillies
20. Indians
21. Brewers
22. Mets
23. Twins
24. White Sox
25. Padres
26. Cubs
27. Angels
28. Blue Jays
29. Marlins
30. Astros

Opening Home Series Preview: Yankees @ Tigers

PREDICTIONS:
Friday: Yankees 3 Tigers 7
Saturday: Yankees 1 Tigers 10
Sunday: Yankees 4 Tigers 5
PITCHING MATCH-UPS
FRIDAY- Doug Fister vs Ivan Nova- Nova is good and usually lucky, but a team like the Tigers can get to him.  Fister always looks impressive in big games and his first start should be just that.  he should mow down Yankees hitters PREDICTED LINE: Nova: 4 IP 5 ER 11 H 4 K 2 BB  Fister IP 2 ER 6 H 8K 1 BB
SATURDAY- Max Scherzer vs David Phelps- Phelps shouldn’t even be a match for the Tigers. Scherzer should be pumped and pitch well at Comerica.  Expect him to be in the form he was in during August of last year.  And expect a ton of K’s.  PREDICTED LINE Phelps 3 IP 7 ER 10 H 3 K 4 BB  Scherzer 7 IP 1 ER 4 H 11 K 3 BB
SUNDAY- Justin Verlander vs CC Sabathia- The battle of the aces is going to be a good one, but Verlander should win, because he is the ace after all.  He has everything working for him and should kick off 2013 with a bang, like he did 2011.  Sabathia should do good but I can’t see him winning this one.  PREDICTED LINE Sabathia 6.2 IP 3 ER 7 H 8 K 2 BB Verlander 7 IP 2 ER 5 H 10 K 1 BB
HITTING: It should be a slugfest.  Expect big series from the Tigers big guns and the Yankees should have good series from Hafner, Boesch, and Cano.
ANALYSIS: The Tigers always play the Yankees well and the Tigers also usually play well during their first series of the year.  With the team they have they can handle the Yankees, just like they did last year with the Red Sox.  I expect a lot of guys on the Tigers to come out of this series with impressive stats.
KEYS: Fir the Yankees it’s to hold the offense like the Twins were able too and for the Tigers it’s too heat up and gain momentum
Series Hero: 3B Miguel Cabrera

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

Top 10 Right Now- Team (Tigers, Royals, Indians)

Tigers

1. 3B Miguel Cabrera
2. SP Justin Verlander
3. 1B Prince Fielder
4. CF Austin Jackson
5. DH Victor Martinez
6. SP Max Scherzer
7. RF Torii Hunter
8. SP Doug Fister
9. SP Anibal Sanchez
10. RP Joaquin Beniot

Royals

1. LF Alex Gordon
2. DH Billy Butler
3. SP James Shields
4. 1B Eric Hosmer
5. 3B Mike Moustakas
6. SS Alcides Escobar
7. SP Jeremy Guthrie
8. RP Greg Holland
9. CF Lorenzo Cain
10. SP Wade Davis

Indians

1. RF Nick Swisher
2. 2B Jason Kipnis
3. CF Michael Bourn
4. SS Asdrubal Cabrera
5. SP Ubaldo Jimenez
6. RP Chris Perez
7. C Carlos Santana
8. 3B Lonnie Chisenhall
9. RP Vinnie Pestano
10. SP Justin Masterson

 

Free Agent Profile: Delmon Young

OVERVIEW: Young helped the Tigers to the playoffs in 2011 and 2012 with his hot September’s and is a great playoff performer.  On the other hand his defense stinks, putting it best and he can’t hit in the first half leading to bad all-around numbers in everything except the power department.  He’s only going to be 27 though and age 27 seasons can become career years in a hurry.  Despite his lack of patience at the plate, which will probably never change, I can see him very easily helping out a contending team in 2013 and beyond.  He could be a platoon type of guy, who plays more than he doesn’t, with the Yankees and I also see him being able to gain stock
with a team like the Astros and going back onto the market and getting a good deal.  If he can take a few more walks and start off the season hot, he can be one of the team’s top hitters and I like his play to an extent and it’s worth a deal somewhere.
STATS: You’ll most likely get a .260-.300-.420 type of year and around 20 homers and 70-80 RBIs with some playing time in any part of the line-up.  His defensive metrics and stats will not be pretty at all.
FITS:
Yankees- As a part-time DH, he could smash in that stadium too and this is his best chance of breaking out
Astros- A team that could use some hitters, another place Young could find some success, just might be harder to in Houston
Tigers- Almost no chance he re-signs, but he did some nice things in 2011-12
Braves- They’ve looked at him, decent fit, but doubtful
Rangers- Need a DH with Michael Young gone, Young can thrive better in a hitting environment
IDEAL CONTRACT: 1-year, 5-6 Million
CAN HE REBOUND?: He can rebound off of his poor years, but he really needs to work and focus and keep it up to show why he is a former #1 pick
BOTTOM LINE: Slugger who could help a team with high reward potential, like on a good deal

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 Sign Brayan Pena

The Tigers have signed Brayan Pena to a one-year deal to replace Gerald Laird as the Tigers back-up catcher,  He will have competition from Bryan Holaday but I’d say that Pena is a heavy favorite to win the job.  The Tigers catching staff looks good and Pena is an experienced back-up, who even though he only has 14 career HR I feel could provide pop and be a god replacement at the bottom of the line-up in the 45 or so games Avila get off this year.  Pena fits well with Detroit and his contract is a no lose situation.  Pena won’t be the best guy of defense but he isn’t a slouch either.  The only thing is I don’t think you’ll be seeing him pinch run for Avila that often, or at least it wouldn’t be smart because Avila wins in that category.  I’ve always like Pena though and even tough it’s not a big move at all this helps fill in the team and I’m thrilled they got a guy like him.  It could be an under the radar pick-up for the Tigers that helps them out a lot.  The fact that he’s a switch hitter too only helps the Tigers.  I expect a good year from Pena and him just to help the Tigers, like Laird did only in a slightly different way.

The Tigers and Boesch

Brennan Boesch exploded onto the scene for the Tigers in April of 2010, becoming an offensive force as a rookie with tremendous power.  Power that he still has.  He finished the second half off terrible and rebounded in 2011 before an injury and then this past year he had his worst year yet, falling out of favor.  Now look, I don’t think Boesch is a starter, but I know that even if he is inconsistent he could help the Tigers a lot from the bench.  He may have only hit 12 homers last year, but that number is bound to go up.  I know players such as Chase Headley who have increased their power.  Now I know  Boesch is no Chase Headley but he has power like him.  If the Tigers do trade Boesch, they’ll be getting a bunch of low grade, low level prospects and for a guy like Boesch, a guy who could possibly help out the Tigers like he did just two short years ago that’s not enough.  To just let him go isn’t smart either. I’d hold onto him at least through Spring Training and see how it goes with him.  If he can tweak his swing some, he could be a decent fourth or fifth outfielder and I think he’s waiting to help the Tigers out in 2013 and he could surprise you.  Boesch has a brighter future ahead if himself than 2012 no matter what and he will get off to a fast start somewhere if given the chance.  So, if the Tigers do trade him, they should ask for at least one half way decent prospect who has a shot.  Boesch has been a special talent I’ve watch move up in the system with his power  His defense may not be there but if he improves just a little, I can see him going on to be a great player who can play a few different roles.

Torii Hunter Visits Detroit, Tigers Leading Bidder

Torii Hunter was in Detroit today visiting the Tigers and they are prepared to offer him a multi-year deal.  Hopefully only worth about two years as he is getting older and a decline is due at some point, but or the Tigers to have him in right field and hitting second would be huge for them, and he is a major upgrade over Delmon Young.  Of all the outfielders in this free agent class, Torii may not fit the best with the Tigers and Victorino may be the best fit but Torii has talent and the defense he brings to the Detroit outfield is great.  To have Dirks in left and Jackson in center along with him will be a great outfield and signing him and teaming that up with a Victor return the top of the Tigers line-up could be a machine.  At this point, Torii signing with Detroit seems likely and possibly the best move.  The Angels would hurt from his loss but with all of their players can’t afford to keep hom.  The Rangers are the only competition at this point and he though he fits with them and makes them a ton better too, he looks to be Detroit bound.  This is the player the Tigers need and he can hit well in Comerica.  He is just a good choice,a nd could add 20 homers from the two spot.  Torii will sign soon, as he did when coming to LA in the 2007/08 offseason.  PREDICTION: Tiger for 2 years, 23 Million

Line-Up With Torii

1. Jackson CF
2. Hunter RF
3. Cabrera 3B
4. Fielder 1B
5. Martinez DH
6. Dirks LF
7. Peralta SS
8. Avila C
9. Infante 2B

That looks amazing and Hunter protects Jackson and is protected by Cabrera, a hitter’s dream, even better than in LA with Pujols.  Martinez can handle all the pressure in the five hole too, so this line-up looks great

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