Tigers 2010
Put it in stone, simple...How many games will the 2010 tigers win?
Sounds easy but it's not.
Why you ask? Because baseball, more so than any other sport changes minute to minute. It's a longer season. It's more players. It's a team having a stable of options to go to if someone falters. It has no salary cap, rare salary dumps and the most critical player on the field changes each game out on the mound.
Whoops! Forgot injuries.
So, with a success rate that is already in the low teens...let's predict what the Tigers will do this season.
Drumroll..........82 wins.
Not good, not bad. Just kinda there. At the party but not making a scene. I simply think this team is a mediocre ball club. At time they will delight, rip off some streaks, beat good teams and really make you pause and say "They are gonna win this thing."
They will also lose series to the Royals, an annual tradition here in Detroit, play awful versus the AL East...another yearly treat, and yes have some serious flaws exposed over the longest season in sports.
I'm not bagging on these guys. I like a lot of what this team has. the 1-2 of Verlander and Porcello (he's done...buwahahahaha...doh!) is as good as any combination out there sans Lee/King Felix, Freak and Cain, and possibly Beckett and Lackey.
One problem. Everyone else. I have less than zero faith in Dontrelle. Bonderman has been a myth, just like Inge, that were once something special or are something special. Bonderman has never had an ERA under 4.00 and is now 4 years removed from his "breakout" season. Not buying. Scherzer intrigues the hell out of me. Problem is every time I've watched him pitch he has been a disappointment. Kid has amazing stuff and an electric arm but he is erratic and will likely struggle, like all humans do, in coming to the AL.
Bullpen? Not all bad. Valvarde is solid. Tons of lefties to get key outs. Setup could be an issue depending on whether Zumaya can actually stay healthy and PErry can find the plate. I'll give benefit of the doubt that this unit will be decent.
Offensively they are what they are. A lot of holes filled in with a few gems. Miggy will compete for AL MVP, I'll call it at .321AVG 41HR 124RBI...monster season. Damon will be ok, same for Maggs...despite that ridiculous contract. Outside of that? Good luck. Sizemore and Jackson are rookies, I'll pass. Inge is Inge...I feel a breeze. Everett and G-Money provide little to nothing at the dish, and Guillen is simply too banged up for too long to truly be a dynamite DH.
Defensively I am petrified. Scouts have said Sizemore is a liability at second. Everett has a bionic shoulder. Take Granderson out put rookie in. Damon has worst arm in league and Maggs needs a Vespa to patrol right field. LAird will shut down running games of every team...but he cannot stop them from running when a gapper hits the wall on what Curtis would've hauled in.
Overall they are a decent team. Everyone knows me issue with how it was constructed by DD so let's not go there. Bottom line they should entertain and be in the mix come August. Then, as with most flawed teams, they will be exposed. they will fade. Probably settle into third place 7-8 games out. Hope I'm wrong. Would love to take in some playoff games and get that 2006 magic back for you guys. But sadly I cannot fix the things that are so blatantly wrong. take it month by month, series by series, and hope we can discuss meaningful ball late in the game.
82-80. Third place. Let the record show I posted it here so haters can't say I picked 112 wins,lol.
