Detroit Tigers 2011 Preview, Predictions & Odds

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Detroit stumbled to a .500 record last season, lacking in power and pitching depth. Will the addition of Victor Martinez propel the club toward the top of the AL Central?

Detroit Tigers 2010 MLB Record: 81-81
Detroit Tigers 2010 MLB Home Record: 52-29
Detroit Tigers 2010 MLB Away Record: 29-52

Detroit Tigers 2011 Betting

Detroit Tigers Odds to Win the American League: +1000
Detroit Tigers Odds to Win the World Series: +2500

Detroit Tigers 2011 Preview & Prediction

A year ago, following a devastating final-weekend collapse that kept them out of the 2009 playoffs, the Tigers built their offseason around one major trade – sending beloved center fielder Curtis Granderson to the Bronx in a three-way deal that netted four young players. All four (Max Scherzer, Austin Jackson, Phil Coke and Daniel Schlereth) became key contributors in Detroit, and while the Tigers sputtered in the second half to finish at 81-81, they were a younger and deeper team. Thus, paradoxically, despite taking a step back in the standings, they appeared closer to contention. Now, after spending big this winter to nab free agent catcher Victor Martinez and reliever Joaquin Benoit – as well as re-upping with Jhonny Peralta, Brandon Inge and Magglio Ordonez – the Tigers have the pieces in place to make another run at an AL Central title.

Detroit Tigers Manager: Jim Leyland – Sixth year (20th overall) Record: 1,493-1,518

The ultimate oldschool manager, Leyland takes no nonsense from anyone. He also treats players fairly and always finds a way to use all 25 men on his roster.

Detroit Tigers 2011 Projected Batting Order: CF Austin Jackson (R), 2BWiII Riiymes (L), RF Magglio Ordonez (R), 1B Miguel Cabrera (R), DH Victor Martinez (S), SS Jhonny Peralta (R), 3B Brandon Inge (R), LF Brennan Boesch (L), C Alex Avila (L).

Detroit Tigers 2011 Projected Rotation: RH Justin Verlander, RH Max Scherzer, RH Rick Porcello, LH Phil Coke, RH Armando Galarraga.

Detroit Tigers 2011 Projected Closer: RH Jose Valverde

2011 Detroit Tigers Offense:

With the way he strikes out, OF Austin Jackson might not approach .300 again. His speed could make up for it, though. OF Ryan Raburn earned the everyday leftfield job with his monster second half. He’s a sleeper because of 2B eligibility in many leagues. C Victor Martinez will primarily be a DH but will also see some starts at catcher and first base. 1B Miguel Cabrera is a lock for another MVP caliber season. OF Magglio Ordonez’s ankle should be ready to go. He’s a disaster defensively, but his bat has yet to slow down. Detroit will move Jhonny Peralta back to shortstop. He’s only 28 and still has 20-HR upside. 3B Brandon Inge has some punch, but he’s a drain on your batting average. The No.1 catcher job is Alex Avila’s to lose. There’s some nice power upside here. Detroit would like to see 2B Scott Sizemore reclaim a regular role. If not, 2B Will Rhymes is a solid enough Plan B. After adisastrous finish to ’10, Brennan Boesch is battling for a roster spot.

2011 Detroit Tigers Rotation:

Justin Verlander’s strikeout rate was slightly down, but he induced more groundballs and stayed healthy while throwing a ton of innings again. Max Scherzer took a hugestep forward last year, particularly in the second half. If he continues to be more economical with his pitches, he’ll be an All-Star. Rick Porcello has shown great control and, at 22, certainly has time to develop. But he’s not overpowering, more of a back-of-the-rotation groundball specialist. Lefty reliever Phil Coke moves into the rotation. He had moderate success as a starter in the Yankees system as recently as 2008. If his changeup continues to progress he could be asolid middle-of-the-rotation guy. If not, he could be a disaster. Armando Galarraga has an inside edge for the last rotation spot. But despite the non-perfect perfect game, he’s a borderline MLB starter. Middling prospect Alfredo Figaro could overtake Galarraga for that NO.5 spot.

2011 Detroit Tigers Bullpen:

His late-season elbow soreness turned out to be nothing, so Jose Valverde is locked in as Detroit’s closer. He’s a step below the elite level, but certainly capable of saving 40-plus games if the Tigers give him enough save opps. The Tigers forked over some big-time cash to Joaquin Benoit. He has no extensive experience as a closer, so Leyland might look elsewhere if Valverde goes down. Joel Zumaya is coming off yet another elbow injury. The good news is that it was a fracture rather than ligament damage, so Zumaya has agood chance to be 100% by the spring. He’s not about to challenge Valverde, but could get the nod over Benoit if Valverde gets hurt.

2011 Detroit Tigers Middle Infield:

The Tigers were impressed enough by Peralta during his two-month stint at shortstop in Detroit last year that they re-upped him for two more years. He is as dependable as they come, good for around 150 games, 15 homers, 80 RBIs and solid if unspectacular defense on a daily basis. He also fits in nicely in the bottom half of the Tigers’ lineup following the trade that brought him over from Cleveland. Second base? That’s another story. An accurate depth chart would probably show four candidates — in order, Will Rhymes, Scott Sizemore, Carlos Guillen and Danny Worth — vying for playing time. In other words, two young players trying to prove they are viable full-timers, an aging veteran whose bat is still an asset if he can stay healthy, and a light-hitting glove man who is more of a utility man. Sorting out those pieces will be one of management’s most critical tasks this spring.

2011 Detroit Tigers Corners:

The Tigers could have easily allowed Inge, their veteran third baseman, to walk away after 10 valiant seasons in Detroit; instead, they gave him a new, two-year deal. And why not? Inge has become a more patient hitter in his old age, and is just two years removed from an All-Star season in 2009. Meantime, across the diamond stands the franchise, Miguel Cabrera, coming off a monster season (.328/.420/.622) that might have earned him the MVP had the Tigers hung in contention a little deeper into the season. Interestingly, last year 148 of Cabrera’s 150 starts were at first base, but it stands to reason that with Martinez, who can catch and play first, now in the fold, the team could give Cabrera, who turns 28 in April, a few more games at DH in order to reduce the wear and tear and keep him fresh down the stretch.

2011 Detroit Tigers Outfield:

The biggest question here is what to make of Brennan Boesch. His 2010 rookie season produced some of the most extreme first half/second half splits you’ll ever see. Pre-All-Star-break, he was a leading Rookie of the Year candidate, hitting. 342 with 12 homers, 49 RBIs and a staggering .990 OPS. After the break, however, the corresponding numbers were .163/2/18 and .458. It was a precipitous enough fall to call into question whether Boesch is really a full-time player. He will have to use this spring to prove that he is — with Ryan Raburn and Casper Wells there to fight for the job if Boesch fails. Otherwise, the Tigers’ outfield is fairly well set, with Ordonez back in right field after re-signing late in the offseason, and Jackson returning to center field following a stellar 2010 campaign that saw him finish runner-up to Texas closer Neftali Feliz in the AL Rookie of the Year vote.

2011 Detroit Tigers Catching:

Once the Tigers signed Martinez, one of the best-hitting catchers in the game, the question was whether he would be seen as a catcher or a DH. The answer: both. The Tigers expect Alex Avila to be the primary catcher, with Martinez catching two or three times per week, and spending the rest of the time at DH. Avila, a left-handed hitter, will start primarily against right-handed pitchers, with Martinez, a switch-hitter, facing lefties. The Tigers signed Omir Santos to a minor league deal in case they want to carry a third catcher — something teams often do when one of their primary catchers spends a lot of time at DH. More likely, Santos will provide depth at Triple-A.

2011 Detroit Tigers Bench:

With Martinez catching two or three times a week, the Tigers have the luxury of passing around the DH to some of their other veteran hitters, such as Guillen and Cabrera. Assuming he doesn’t wind up as the starting second baseman, Guillen could also be the Tigers’ primary late-inning pinch-hitter, with additional starts in left, third or first. Don Kelly will be back as their super-utility man, capable of playing all three outfield positions and both infield corners. Raburn returns as an extra outfielder, while Worth could become the utility middle infielder.

Detroit Tigers 2011 Season Predictions

Victor Martinez will add some much-needed punch to Detroit’s lineup. Ultimately, this team will only go as far as its pitching takes it. The rotation is loaded with talented young arms, but only Justin Verlander is a proven commodity. If Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello can take the next step, the Tigers could be really good. If not, they’re merely average. – We predict that the Detroit Tigers will finish 79-83 & 3rd in the AL Central Division.

Detroit Tigers 5-Year Win Trend

2006: 2nd AL Central 95
2007: 2nd AL Central 88
2008: 5th AL Central 74
2009: 2nd AL Central 86
2010: 3rd AL Central 81

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