Detroit Tigers: Spring Training Information

By Mack Avenue Tigers
Location: Joker Marchant Stadium- Lakeland, FLA
Pitchers and Catchers Report: Feb. 14
First Game: Feb. 25 vs. Atlanta
Schedule

Projected Opening Day Lineup

1. Granderson, CF
2. Polanco, 2B
3. Ordonez, RF
4. Cabrera, 1B
5. Guillen, LF
6. Sheffield, DH
7. Laird, C
8. Inge, 3B or Everett, SS
9. Everett, SS or Inge, 3B

Projected Rotation

1. Justin Verlander
2. Dontrelle Willis
3. Armando Galarraga
4. Jeremy Bonderman
5. Edwin Jackson
   

Projected Bullpen

Long: Zach Miner
Situational: Bobby Seay,
7th Inning: Joel Zumaya, Casey Fien
8th Inning: Fernando Rodney, Nate Robertson
Closer: Brandon Lyon

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Key Battles: Last year, the Tigers went into Spring Training with pretty much everything set for a run to the World Series. This year, that is clearly not the case.

Start with the pitching. We're pretty sure the Tigers have written the names Justin Verlander, Jeremy Bonderman, Armando Galarraga and Edwin Jackson into their rotation with ink. (Bonderman claims he's fine after his blood clot and rib surgery and ready for the season.) That is four righties, if you're counting. So it appears the final spot in the rotation could be between Dontrelle Willis -- if he even remotely looks like Dontrelle Willis of old -- and Nate Robertson -- ditto that one -- just because they throw southpaw. With all the money invested in both, the Tigers have to find a way to put these guys in a position they can succeed, whether it's starting or relief. I'm guessing Willis emerges as a starter and Robertson becomes a late-inning Bulldog in the bullpen. I suppose it could go either way, however. And I'm not sure if Galarraga's spot is as secure as we think. And speaking of bullpen, I don't think the Tigers really have a clue about defined roles yet. Closer is not set in stone but I'd be surprised if Lyon doesn't win it in a fight against Rodney. There could be a minor leaguer fighting for the 13th pitching slot, but don't expect 2008 draft pick Ryan Perry to break camp yet. He's slated to close for Double-A Erie.

Other than a little bickering about who bats where in the order, the positional side of things is a lot more settled. The Tigers have their starters. They have most of their four-man bench settled. (1B/OF Marcus Thames, utility IF Ramon Santiago and C Matt Treanor). So that leaves just one position fight. With lefty OF Matt Joyce traded to Tampa for Jackson, and Santiago's ability to handle pretty much any position you throw at him, it could be between lefty IF Jeff Larish and righty IF/OF Ryan Raburn. I think Raburn likely wins that battle.

What To Expect: For the Tigers? This year? Gotta be honest with you here: I have no clue. And I'm pretty sure anyone who makes a confident prediction about how they'll do this year is lying to themselves. This team could really go either way. Last season, it was projeced to soar, and a combination of poorly conceived roster, poor chemistry, untimely pitching disasters and injuries sank that ship. This year, they are no longer the "sexy" team in the media. They have addressed a few of their roster issues. If guys come back from injury and play closer to their potential, they could still matter in September, and we'll see what happens after that. But the rotation has a few too many questions marks, and the bullpen is a total mystery. So, yeah, I don't know how they'll do. I'll just hedge my bets and pencil them in as fnishing midway in the A.L. Central: third place, ever-so-slightly above .500.

Kurt covers the Tigers on his blog, Mack Avenue Tigers.