Detroit Tigers

Contributor: Matt Wallace, Take 75 North

2007 Record: 88-74

2007 Summary: The Tigers scored the second most runs in the American League, but were held back by injuries and a surprisingly ineffective pitching staff. Kenny Rogers went down early and never really recovered and the bug hit Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney as well. Eventually, even the dangerous lineup fell victim as Gary Sheffield hurt his shoulder in a collision with Placido Polanco and was never the same.

Curtis Granderson (20 or more doubles, triples, homers and stolen bases) and Magglio Ordonez (.363 BA) each had historic and remarkable seasons, overshadowing excellent seasons by both Placido Polanco (.341 BA, no errors at second base) and Carlos Guillen (859 OPS). The one bright spot for the pitching staff was the continued development of Justin Verlander (18-6, 183 K, 3.66).

All the individual achievements felt a little hollow, though, as the Tigers fell short of the goal they had set for themselves immediately after losing Game 5 of the World Series the year before.

2008 Key Additions: The Tigers went all out, acquiring by trade Edgar Renteria, Jacque Jones, Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis.

2008 Key Losses: Joel Zumaya will miss at least half the season with a freak shoulder injury and Fernando Rodney opened the season on the DL with shoulder issues of his own. Not to mention the fact that the Tigers gave up a ton of young talent to make up their frightening lineup.

2008 Starting Lineup:
1. Curtis Granderson CF
2. Placido Polanco 2B
3. Gary Sheffield DH
4. Magglio Ordonez RF
5. Miguel Cabrera 3B
6. Carlos Guillen RF
7. Edgar Renteria SS
8. Ivan Rodriguez C
9. Jacque Jones LF

2008 Starting Rotation: Justin Verlander, Kenny Rogers, Jeremy Bonderman, Nate Robertson, Dontrelle Willis

2008 Closer: Todd Jones

2008 MVP: Miguel Cabrera. This team is likely going to owe its season to its offense and Cabrera is going to be the biggest key to its success

The Tigers will be successful if: they can score enough runs to keep the bullpen out of too many high leverage situations. It's uncertain when Zumaya and Rodney will be back or how effective they will be once they are. For that reason, combined with a lack of remaining trading chips to bring in solid relief help, the Tigers are going to need their lineup to put up big runs and their rotation to keep the early runs down. That will keep what the damage of a bullpen that is likely to be ineffective at times to a minimum.

2008 Season Prediction: The Tigers will be in a division race with the Indians right up until the end of the season, but it won't be one for the ages because the loser will get the wild card. At the end, most of the spoils will go to the lineup but keeping a healthy rotation will be a big factor in this team's success (or lack thereof).

Standings Prediction:
1. Cleveland Indians
2. Detroit Tigers
3. Minnesota Twins
4. Chicago White Sox
5. Kansas City Royals