Tigers looking to roar in new decade
Sports Editor
The last week of spring training is crucial for how the regular season will unfold for the Detroit Tigers. Big holes still need to be filled, and a few spots are still left on the roster for young players to make the big-league roster. As the final cut-day inches closer, players sweat out over finding a red card (not making the team) as shown in the movie “Major League.” While the 25-man roster and some pitching problems are up in the air, other players are starting to know their roles. Barring some major surprises, here’s what the lineup could look like when the Tigers finally play meaningful games next week:| Projected batting order | Pos. |
|---|---|
| Austin Jackson | CF |
| Johnny Damon | LF |
| Magglio Ordonez | RF |
| Miguel Cabrera | 1B |
| Carlos Guillen | DH |
| Brandon Inge | 3B |
| Gerald Laird | C |
| Scott Sizemore | 2B |
| Adam Everett | SS |
The Tigers finished with the fourth-worst batting average in the American League in 2009. Dave Dombroski went out this off-season trying to get improve the stagnant offense.
Replacing Curtis Granderson and Placido Polanco won’t be an easy transition but young gun Jackson seems up to the challenge. Jackson is hitting at eye-popping .375 with three triples and a bomb. The acquisition of Damon will give the top of the lineup another player who will get on base like Jackson. Too many times last year, Ordonez, Cabrera and Guillen came up with the bases empty. Damon and Jackson will both find their way on the bases, giving the big bats opportunities to rack up RBI’s. On the mound, the Tigers are also a work in progress. By far the Tigers biggest question entering the season is how the starting rotation will pan out. With only a week left before Opening Day, even Jim Leyland doesn’t know who will step up and follow Justin Verlander, Rick Porcello and Max Scherzer. Surprisingly, Dontrelle Willis is the one who has been most impressive during his outings in Lakeland. Although he should, with his mammoth contract. But who really expected him to have the second best ERA in camp by a starter? Nate Robertson also proved the lefty can still get outs with a 3.68 ERA. Jeremy Bonderman and Armando Galarraga have ERA’s ballooning over nine in spring training. If that continues, manager Jim Leyland will start going through three packs of smokes a day instead of two. Detroit will desperately need Scherzer to step in to fill Edwin Jackson’s shoes. Jackson was an All-Star last year in Detroit before he was traded this winter. Here’s what Leland is hoping for a starting rotation as the season is set to begin:Pitching rotation
Justin Verlander Rick Porcello Max Scherzer Jeremy Bonderman Nate Robertson Or Dontrelle Willis When training camp opened, the bullpen had the biggest holes, but Joel Zumaya re-emerged with Bobby Seay and newcomer Phil Coke to give the appearance that the set-up crew could become the strength of the teams in the late innings before Jose Valverde comes in to close. It’ll be a transition for Valverde who’s coming from the National League, but he hasn’t allowed a run yet this spring. He’ll try to carry the momentum to the regular season. Obviously, Zumaya will need to focus on his health. But Seay is a proven left-handed specialist. Perry has shown his potential with his dominant fastball and slider. His only fault last year was control, and this spring he has only walked one batter. The bullpen will need another arm or two that could incude southpaw Fu-Te Ni or one of the starters who couldn’t make the rotation. For now, the only sure bets to make the bullpen are:| Bullpen | |
|---|---|
| Bobby Seay | LHR |
| Ryan Perry | RHP |
| Joel Zumaya | RHP |
| Phil Coke | LHP |
| Jose Valverde | RHP |
