In his column for the Detroit News today, Lynn Henning explored four reasons for Tigers' fans to worry about the upcoming season. It kind of disappoints me that I'm already reading negative things about this season when it hasn't even started yet. It's a tad bit irresponsible for Henning to come out of Spring Training preaching doom and stuff when none of the games that were played in the past month and a half counted. Anyway, I'll respond with my thoughts about each of Lynn's concerns and we'll see if hope matters.
An impressive team's weak link: the relievers- Well, no shit. I've been saying since November that the area that had to be improved the most was the bullpen and very little was done. The Tigs have Fransisco Cruceta, the hard throwing Dominican acquired in the off-season, stuck in his homeland with visa problems. Zoomer and Rodney are hurt. Jason Grilli still exists. All of that. The only positive I can bring out of the pen is that there is no way it can be as bad as last year. Everything that went right in 2006 went wrong in 2007 - and things seem to be shifting that way again. But I believe in karma, and the Tigers are owed some good outings from the bullpen this season since they blew enough games last year.
Another positive- Denny Bautista pitched well enough in Spring Training to take over Fernando's set-up role. He's a fireballer and, provided he controls himself and limits the walks he's noted for, should fill in admirably.
April's schedule is as frightening as the weather- Unless the White Sox, Indians, Red Sox, and Yankees have all been playing competitive games for a month and a half and the Tigers are just getting started, I don't see much of a problem here. All the other teams that the Tigers play during this stretch are going to be facing the same problems- cold weather, cold arms, cold bats. As the Yanks have shown us the past two years, having a shitty April doesn't necessarily count you out of anything - they've made the playoffs both years. Henning may be worried about facing the big bats on each of those team with the bullpen in its current form, but guess what? All of their pitchers have to face off against the fucking stacked lineup wearing the Ol' English D.
Getting by without Granderson, and trading Inge- Personally, I don't see Inge leaving until at least May now. With Grandy out, Inge's athleticism is going to be needed in the outfield. Losing Granderson most certainly sucks - his defensive prowess in center and explosive capabilities coming out of the lead-off spot are unmatched on this team. But with Renteria filling in at the lead-off spot (a guy with nearly half as many strikeouts, a 30 point better average, and a 50 point better on-base percentage last year) the Tigers should be OK for a few weeks. Inge almost certainly has to go, and he'll be great trade bait later on in the year for a fill-in reliever - an almost certain necessity.
Handling the scrutiny - and the pressure- Used to be one of my few worries about the Tigers. But, let's look at the guys they've added - Dontrelle Willis, Miguel Cabrera, and Edgar Renteria. Willis was used as a relief pitcher in the 2003 World Series and did an admirable job, Cabrera was the best hitter on that 2003 squad, and Renteria singled in the winning run in the 1997 World Series for the Marlins. All of these guys are battled tested and will most certainly lend a steadying hand to the younger guys on the team who haven't been part of something as strong as the Tigers are this year. Something tells me that with the good mix between veteran and young players - young players that have been to a World Series and been through a heated pennant race - there will not be that much crumbling under the weight of the world. I don't think Jim Leyland would let that happen anyway.
So there, Lynn. Take it for what it's worth. It's March 29th- there's no reason for doom and gloom yet. Opening Day isn't for another two days.
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