The Tigers won 88 games last year. That many wins with Kenny, Bondo & Nate missing time from the rotation. That many wins with Sheff ineffective from mid July on with an injuried shoulder. 88 wins with Zumaya and Rodney missing a chuck of time as well. With the addtions we have made in the off season and hopeful health of the team we should easily win 95 games or more. That is only 7 more wins then last years team.
I have to belive the rotation will be closer to what we saw in 2006 when it was baseballs best. They bullpen will be better if the starters go longer and Rodney and Zumaya are healthy.
I also think that after having a 130+ million payroll to start the year if we need to add something this season Mr I will throw more money into the team.
We should all buy an extra pizza or two this summer as well!!
I agree, the rotation is the key. If the can go 6 every night and take pressure off the pen, this team could win 100. However, if they have a lot of short outings, they could win around 90 again.
Another key, like you mentioned, is that Zumaya and Rodney need to make contributions to the team. There is a good amount of money invested in them but they just haven't gotten the job done when we have needed them. So I agree that this team could get 100 wins with a decent performance from their bullpen. I also agree that it would be a great help for the starters to go 6 or 7 innings because it would take a significant amount of stress off of the bullpen which I think will definitely help them get that solid contribution that they need.
LOL, Oldenglishd... $5 Hot-n-Readys for everyone!!! Help Mr. Ilitch buy us a premiere reliever!
As always, injuries are the key. They have good depth, but you can only push that so far. Unfortunately, this is the same bullpen that cost us 10-15 wins last year. The extra offense and rotation depth might be enough to get us to 94 wins... which still might not win the Central.
I would guess around 95 right now too. Cleveland and Chicago will be better too and Kansas City will be no gimme as we seen in game one. Until Rodney and Zumaya come back we will struggle to keep pace with the Indians. Once they are back and if they pitch any thing like they did in 2006, we will roll to win the Central Division. If not We will hve tough time making the playoffs.
I agree, it's only 7 more wins than last year, but the bull pen is the key. Good pitching beats hitting every time. Look what KC did to us today. I would like to see a package deal trade at the All Star Break, for a middle reliever and a closer. Maybe Rodney and Jones for a good closer, if any will be available is another question.
95 is much harder than you think. With an improved Royals, a more experienced Cleveland team, and your entire pitching staff a big ?, no way. 89 wins yes. Not 95.
With the bull pen in doubt, the only thing that could bail us out would be if we started scoring and becoming a offenisve machine. With the players we have, our line up could step up and bail out the pitching by out scoring our oppenets, but no manager wants to depend on having to out score everyone late in the game. Like the one poster stated if we can keep our starter in for 6+ innings that would help.
I hope Dombrowski can make a deal somehow , remember we also have Brandon Inge, we do have some pretty good players we can move. Inge would start for alot of teams, he's a pretty dang good 3rd baseman. Oh well we will have to wait and see. I still think we will have some pretty good success at scoring runs.
Inge is almost immovable, unless the Tigers want to eat part of that ridiculous $30 mil contract they gave him after 2006. If they are willing to take the salary hit, he's tradeable for a good, not great middle reliever.
I know that they won't get 110 this season. And asking for 88, again might need some Divine Intervention too. 85 wins should be a good guess. That means the Tig's are going to have to step it up a bit and win at a .534 clip for the rest of the season.
