2008 Detroit Tigers Picks & Predictions

May 22, 2008

Dave Price’s 2008 Detroit Tigers predictions are all ready to go. Find out if the Tigers offseason moves will translate into a division title this season as we take an inside look at this team.

Pitching

The Tigers’ starting rotation has three All-Stars and they easily could have had four. Enough said. Now they add Dontrelle Willis to the mix. Young fireballer Justin Verlander is the ace of this staff. He went 18-6 last season with a rock solid 3.66 ERA. Kenny Rogers couldn’t stay healthy last season, but if he can remain healthy in 2008, the Tigers will greatly benefit from his experience on the mound the way they did in 2006. Jeremy Bonderman, Nate Robertson, and Dontrelle Willis round out the starting five. Willis is a former 22-game winner and still has a lot of mileage left on his arm. Robertson and Bonderman are coming off sub-par years but there is no doubt that the talent is there.

The shoulder injury of Jose Zumaya will cost Detroit some depth in the pen, but it likely won’t leave them out of contention before he returns midyear. In the meantime, Fernando Rodney will likely be the guy pulling setup duty. Todd Jones, who is 20th on the all-time saves list, will be closing the door.

Offense

The additions of Miguel Cabrera and Edgar Renteria should give the Tigers the best lineup in the Central. Cabrera averaged 31.5 homeruns and 115.3 RBIs in four full seasons with Florida and now will be hitting in a lineup with more protection. Renteria is a career .307 hitter with runners in scoring position – about as clutch as they come. Magglio Ordonez is coming off a season in which he won the AL batting title with a .363 average. He smacked 28 homeruns and added 139 RBIs. He would have been the easy MVP choice if it weren’t for A-Rod’s ridiculous numbers. Gary Sheffield is still capable of slugging 30 homeruns. He hit 25 in 133 games last season. Pudge didn’t have his best season offensively in 2007, but I expect the 14-time All-Star to really bring it in hopes of winning a title on this stacked team.

Defense

Carlos Guillen moves to first base and takes his 53 errors over the past two seasons with him. Five-time All-Star Edgar Renteria gives the Tigers a much more sure-handed shortstop. Placido Polanco went through the entire 2007 season without committing an error at second. Cabrera may make some boo-boos at third and Guillen is new to first base, but both provide enough power numbers that management will be willing to overlook almost anything. The outfield of Granderson, Ordonez, and Jacque Jones is more about offense than defense, but all three are solid fielders. There’s no one better behind the plate than Pudge. He won his 13th Gold Glove in 2007 and is expected to play almost every day again this season.

The Tigers went out and got the pieces they felt were preventing them from winning a title. Now we’ll have to sit back and see how bad they want it. Kenny Rogers’ health in the starting rotation is a concern and the Tigers will have to live without Zumaya for while out of the pen. But all in all, the Tigers look like the team to beat in the AL Central.

Check out all of Dave Price’s 2008 MLB predictions before opening day to gain an edge over your bookmaker. While it takes some cappers a month to feel out all the teams, Dave Price starts doing his research during Spring Training so he can start beating the books from day one.

Odds to win AL Central: 5/6

Odds to win AL Pennant: 7/2

Odds to win World Series: 11/2

AL Central

2008 Detroit Tigers Picks & Predictions

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