Tigers pitching faltered badly in the second half of the 2007 season and it cost them a playoff spot. Will the addition of Cabrera give them the extra wins they will need in 2008 or do they now have to focus on some pitching help?
2007-12-05 03:39:50 · 18 answers · asked by Frizzer 7 in Sports ➔ Baseball
I'm not crazy about that pitching staff, and I don't think Dontrelle Willis is the answer to their problems.
Justin Verlander is definitely an outstanding pitcher, and I'd expect that he'll have another good season in 2008. After that, though, it quickly gets sketchy. For all his talent, Jeremy Bonderman still has only one sub-4.50 ERA season, Kenny Rogers is 43 and didn't have a great season, and both Maroth and Robertson are barely average.
As for Willis, I think people overvalue him. His WHIP has been steadily climbing, and his homers allowed has skyrocketed. I wonder a little if he's one of those guys who peaked early, but faded once batters figured him out. Their bullpen is decent once Zumaya returns, but Todd Jones is not someone I'd want closing my games.
If they win, it will be through the same means the Yankees won last season - offense.
2007-12-05 03:48:07 · answer #1 · answered by Craig S 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They certainly didn't hurt themselves on this deal, as long as you're looking at the here and now scenario. However, the prospects they gave up to get these guys hopefully won't come back to bite them in the butts.
Do I think that the Tigers can win the division, only if Cleveland falls apart. But I do think that they bumped their odds in the right direction. It's all a matter of teamwork. If I was going to give an advantage out it would to be to Detroit, not because of the addition of Cabrera and Willis, but because Cleveland is run by Eric Wedge, and Detroit has Jim Leyland.
Do I think they can win the World Series? Drop the odds. Remember that Boston isn't going away, especially if they get Santana. I'm still up in the air about the Yanks. The team in the AL that everyone needs to pay attention to for 2008 is the Angels.
2007-12-05 04:52:01 · answer #2 · answered by no1nyyfan55 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If they are smart they try and trade Inge and possibly an OF for relief help, they need help in the pen bad, Zumaya is gone with the fire injury. They have more than enough starting pitching, I am not a huge fan of Willis but maybe the change of scenery will do him good...helath was the factor last year, if they have a healthy rotation and add an arm or two to the pen they will be a great team next year...I do not think that Dombrowski is done yet.
2007-12-05 04:00:44 · answer #3 · answered by bdough15 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, they are stacked with stars.. There starting pitching is good with Valender, Bonderman, Roger, and now dontrel, maybe thats if all the players leaving detriot pass a physical. Though even if they dont get Dontrel they still have 3 out of 5 great starters. Now Lets look at bullpen. Its decent could be better but what sticks out is rodney and zumey. Those guys have out standing arms but there problem is control. If they can have a little bit of control they may get hitters chasing, but also they may leave it in a real bad spot.
Offensivly there stocked, and now with the execpitons with cabrea(maybe) they will fear younge pitchers leaving them to easy hits..
Im not sure if they can go all they way. Will and experience really matter in the end. You cant really see will to well on a good team, you see it best when a player is not being effected by being crushed like pujols for exmple. I will tell you it didnt seem the tigers had abunch of will at the end last year, and also in 2006 world series, Cardinals had alot more will to win betting the mets and the padrez being such and under dog, thats will to win..
also experience matters alot. Kenny rogers showed his experince in the post season. A younge team may choke, like the diamond backs against rookies for rookies against boston.. Boston had so much more experience, being in the world series in 04 showed.. Some tigers have expereice so we will just have to see
2007-12-05 04:00:31 · answer #4 · answered by charles C 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Verlander, no comment, he proved himself as the pitcher everyone thought he would be.
Bonderman, got injured last year, think he pitched a few games while injured. Check out his game by game stats last year, how many games he started in which he allowed 2-3 earned runs in 6-7 innings, and lost, because of lack of scoring. He still has to "prove" himself to some, but he will be fine.
Kenny Rogers, last year was a fluke, the blood clot and injury, but keep in mind, he will still get you 12-15 wins a season if he plays to his potential, and he keeps himself in great physical shape, think he will be fine also.
Dontrelle Willis, hopefully his lackluster performance and ERA was because of the team he played for. I honestly see him winning 15-17 games, considering his offense should score many runs for him.
Nate Robertson, probably the most unlucky pitcher the last few years. I did not research anything, but I am sure he is one of the top 3 pitchers with the least amount of run support, the last two seasons, could have easily had +5 in wins, -5 in losses.
The problem is the bullpen, hopefully Fernando Rodney's problems were from injury, because he was solid for the few games he came in after coming off the DL. Todd Jones is the closer, but it was forced upon because of Zumaya's freak accident. I think they will pick up a quality reliever before the season starts, or by the trade deadline.
Think this is the year for the Tigers, keep in mind, nobody gave them a shot in '06, not even the greatest Tigers' fan!
2007-12-05 04:01:03 · answer #5 · answered by AmericanCultureWarrior 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
properly, the Aussies as is their wont will play no longer basic, this is no longer open to talk! some gamers play ought to call the playing cards or the photos like Clarke, Chris Rogers (ask your self), Faulkner, Haddin, Pattinson, Siddle, Lyon & Doherty. at situations England could desire to be very liable to the colourful Aussie section yet this is it, I challenge lots on the subject of the Aussie batting, a capability for an prolonged time now. The bowling replace into continuously promising, a effective crop of speedy bowlers being available like Jackson fowl, Hastings, Kane Richardson all with some good %. & stream. whether, the promising batters have not come by using, Khwaja no longer in desire, Cowan promising yet no longer completely stable, Warner purely basic for pulling the rabbit out of the hat & Maxwell untested at this point. Yea, England somewhat are the outright favorites, its purely a count number of time whether the Aussies capitulate in the 1st try or no longer! which will deliver shivers down their necks & in the event that they are down 3-0, then the Ashes urn comes back to previous blighty
2016-10-19 06:30:31 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd say that the Tigers on paper at this point in time do have more then enough to possibly win the whole thing in 2008.
2007-12-05 03:46:34 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yeah they have everything they need. The batting order is up there with the Red Sox now.
The pitching staff is fairly young so 2nd half they did break down last year, but the bats they have now they shouldn't have to use the starters into deep innings. Save them.
2007-12-05 03:46:40 · answer #8 · answered by O Dolo 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
plenty of possible starters verlander, rogers, bonderman, willis, robertson, grille and some solid relievers.....zumaya, rodney, jones, seay. The only reason the pitching staff might struggle is health issues.
2007-12-05 03:50:41 · answer #9 · answered by jeriicco 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nope.
The Indians will win the division once again and Detroit will miss the playoffs.
Their GM will be at home crying to God asking, "WHY!?"
2007-12-05 05:21:33 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋