DETROIT TIGERS

The Tigers won the American League Central division by 15 games, winning at home 50 times and on the road 45.  That means they were just as good on the road as at home, home field advantage meant nothing.

Tiger baseball was consistent to say the least with the team finishing 4^th in runs scored, 3^rd in batting average and 4^th in on base percentage with an equaling punch of 4^th in slugging percentage.

Pitching was another story; spotting the league a 4.04 ERA, 218^TH overall, with 11 quality starts, and opposing hitters batting .257 against them.

Here is how they Detroit did in the Free Agent marketplace.

Wilson Betemit  3^rd baseman – to Baltimore for 2 years and $3.25Million

Joel Zumaya RP to Minnesota 1 year $850,000

Ramon Santiago 2^nd baseman – resigned 2  years $4.2 Million

Octavio Dotel RP from St. Louis 1 year $3.5 Million

Prince Fielder 1B From Milwaukee 9 years $214 Million

Gerald Laird Catcher from St. Louis 1 year $1 million

Miguel Cabrera

Offensively, you could say Miguel Cabrera and call it a day. The man hit .344 with 30 home runs and 105 RBI’s. His On Base Percentage was a phenomenal .448 with 197 hits!  They did lose some great bench strength and backup to Cabrera in Wilson Betemit signing with Baltimore.

Brennan Boesch with his .283 BA, 16 homers and 54RB’s and Alex Avila’s .295 BA and 19 home runs plus 82 RBI’s, Jhonny Peralta’s 21 HR’s and 86 RBI’s, and for good measure add Victor Martinez’s .330 BA and 103 RBI’s with 12 HR’s helped create a powerhouse in Detroit. Now bring Prince Fielder into the picture and you have one big monster! If anyone can challenge the Angels, this is the team.

Starting pitching is not an issue. Justin Verlander led off with 24 wins, Max Scherzer 15-9, Rick Porcello 14-9, and Brad Penny 11-11 seem to make a nice starting four. They could use a fifth starter and maybe a little more production from Brad Penny. Jose Valverde with 49 saves and Joaquin Benoit with 29 holds round out a decent staff., it just isn’t enough to convince me that they can overtake the Angels in the Championship Series, or the Yankees for that matter.

Without a doubt one of the best teams in baseball.