We are less than a week away from the Detroit Tigers breaking camp and heading up north. I am excited about this team and about the possibility that they will make it to the playoffs this season. I stand with many pundits who believe the 2011 Tigers have the talent to get them there and go all the way to the World Series.
In 2010, the Tigers were riding high atop the Central prior to the All-Star break. A number of injuries were cited as the reason for their second-half slide. This year, the Tigers will begin the season without Joel Zumaya and Carlos Guillen. Both players will be on the disabled list (DL).
The key to making this a successful year will rely heavily upon the health of key players, such as Miguel Cabrera and Magglio Ordonez.
Of course, keeping the position players off of the dreaded DL is important. Keeping this pitching staff healthy, too, will be important. Unfortunately, as you know, that isn’t an easy thing to accomplish. Injuries happen. There is no way to prevent many of them from happening. But I am saying that barring any mishaps on the field, or off, this team will go far.
A couple of off-season moves will help to make that happen. The signing of Victor Martinez added punch to a lineup that already boasts such heavy hitters such as Miguel Cabrera and Magglio Ordonez. Definitely most fans are expecting to see good things from Austin Jackson — at the plate and in center field. Brandon Inge will be back at third, and Jhonny Peralta will be Tiger’s shortstop. The position of second base was recently filled by Will Ryhmes. You can expect that once Carlos Guillen is healthy enough to return he will take over for Rhymes.
Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, and Rick Porcello are a group of starters to be reckoned with. Each of them has good stuff. Phil Coke will begin the season in the bullpen, although he is expected to be a part of the rotation. I have been a fan of new Tiger’s pitcher Brad Penny. He has great potential as long as he’s healthy (see, there’s that word again). He can get a lot of wins. Jose Valverde is beginning the year healthy — and happy. Jim Leyland has already made a comment that he will hold Papa Grande to a pitch-count. No more high-pitch-count-marathons for him! The Tigers also added Joaquin Benoit to their bullpen. He will be the setup man for Valverde — which was the role we had hoped to see Joel Zumaya in. No worries, Benoit can do the job.
Certainly, as you can see, this is a Detroit Tigers team to be excited about. I am also excited to share the 2011 season with you.
The season officially starts at 1:05 p.m. ET on March 31 in New York against the Yankees. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN. Then the countdown to the home opener, April 8, 2011, will begin. That game starts at 3:05 p.m. ET., which is a little later than usual, and that is because of the previous night’s game against Baltimore. We want a well-rested team to take the field that Friday afternoon. Don’t we? So, I will take the later start — and hope the weather will be decent — at least a few degrees warmer than the 38 degrees we saw last year on opening day.
Be sure to get downtown early to find a place to park, and mingle with Tiger’s fans at a couple of the downtown bars and restaurants before the game.
Comerica Park gates open at 12:3o.
-Skip
