Tigers: Week one recap (5-1)



View from Wednesday's game!



The first week of the MLB season is complete, and all I can say is… man, did I miss baseball.  The Tigers should be 6-0 right now with the Central division all but locked up, instead they are only 5-1 with the Central division title in sight.  Even though the one loss was a blown game in the 9^th inning by the best pitcher in baseball, it is hard to be that upset with this team right now.

As we all expected, the Detroit Tigers are by far the best team in the AL Comedy Central.  Kansas City is looking like they have an actual team this year, but the rest of the division is a littered with glorified AAA teams. There have been some interesting developments already in the young season though.

1.       If Miguel Cabrera is not the best hitter in the league right now, he is 1A.  Everyone knows that he has great power and to all fields as well.  But the thing that impresses me the most about Miggy is how calm he looks at the plate.  It seems like major league baseball is easy for him most plate appearances, almost like a high schooler playing in the Little League World Series.  It is not often you can say that at the professional level, so we are extremely lucky to be able to watch him every day.  One example was in the first game vs Tampa on Tuesday, Miggy was facing a hard throwing lefty.  He got in a quick 2 strike hole, then after fouling off 2 pitches and taking 1 ball he laced an opposite field hit.  With 2 strikes, Miggy hit the base of the wall in right center for a double.  As he is protecting the plate, he hits a 400 foot shot the opposite way.  He is the perfect combination of raw power, bat speed, and he has one of the best plate presences that I have EVER seen.  Plus, it is about time that the big guy is hitting in the 3^rd spot.  As the opposing starting pitcher, knowing that you will have to face Miguel in the 1^st inning cannot be settling.  I think it is one of the main reasons why Austin is having such a great start to the year.  I could go on and on, but I will continue as the season progresses and Miggy is batting .350.  Maybe this year he will actually win the Silver Slugger. 

2.       Justin Verlander is the best pitcher in baseball.  It is something special when we get to watch 1 player make MLB look easy, but we have 2.  He is locked in to midseason form, and has been for his first 2 starts.  Through his first 16 innings pitched, he had given up 3 hits and 0 runs.  Yes, he struggled to close out the Rays on Wednesday and it resulted in our only loss, but this guy is dominant.  His ERA skyrocketed to 2.20.  the most frustrating part of these 2 great starts is that the offense has scraped together 4 total runs for the guy.  I think that will change in Kansas City next week, look for JV to get his first of many wins. 

3.       The offense is loaded from top to bottom.  Yesterday the Tigers scored 7 runs off a very good Ray’s pitcher.  7 runs seems standard for these guys with Miggy, Biggy, Delmon, Peralta, etc.  Except yesterday Detroit scored 7 runs with little to no help from those 4 guys.  Miggy had his first hitless game, Biggie Smalls got on base but didn’t drive home any runs.  The game was won by 2 2 out singles from Boesch (on his birthday), a triple by the always speedy Avila, and a triple by Dirks.  Yes, there will be games that the Tigers struggle to score (look at JV’s two starts) but the majority of the games are going to look like the other 4 of the season so far. 

Yes, there still are questions about the starting rotation.  With Fister out, Max is going to have to step up and eat up some innings to protect this bullpen.  I am very confident that JV will have 30 quality starts this year.  Fister seems like a guy that we can count on to have 25+.  The question marks then will be with the remaining 3 guys.  Can Porcello recreate his great first start more than 15 times?  Can Max be more consistent, he can go from All-Star caliber to pulled in the 3^rd inning.  Even if his ERA stays around 4-4.50 this season, I want to see him be a consistent 7 inning guy giving up 3 runs.   Drew Smyly looked great at times in the MLB debut yesterday, and I think he can be just as productive as the bartender was last season for us… plus it will be more fun to root for a 22 year old rookie.  I know Tampa’s offense isn’t the most formidable that he will face this season, but I wouldn’t be surprised with his stuff if he cant win 10+ games for us. 

The bullpen seems improved since last season.  The addition by subtraction of Perry has been good so far.  Also, the traveling baseball player (Dotel) will be a huge asset for the Tigers.  If the key guys can stay healthy (Coke, Dotel, Benoit, and Valverde) the bullpen can actually be a postseason strength.  Have the starters get to the 6^th, and then these 4 lockdown pitchers can take it from there.  Albuquerque is supposed to be coming back after the All-Star break, which could add a huge arm to the pen.  I am also really liking the addition of Balester so far this season.  He seems like a more refined Perry.  He can throw in the mid-90s, but seems to have great control over his stuff.  It will be nice to get Al back so then Schlereth can be demoted to Single A ball. 

As Tiger fans you have to like what you are seeing from the Boys of Summer, the Woodward Warriors, the Big 2 and little 7, or the Motown Mashers.  From everything that I am seeing right now, I think a 100 win season could be a very real possibility. 

Go Tigers!