2012 Detroit Tigers Predictions
Written by Steve Janus - Google +
The Detroit Tigers won the AL Central for the first time in franchise history with a 95-67 overall record. They would go on to take out the Yankees in the first round of the playoffs, but they ended up losing to the Rangers in six games. With the offseason addition of first baseman Prince Fielder the Tigers are expected to easily defend their division title and are a serious contender to win it all. Let’s take a closer look at the projected starting lineup, starting rotation, and closer situation for 2012.
Projected Lineup
Alex Avila (Catcher) – Avila looks to build off a breakout season in 2011. As a 24-year-old he hit .295 with 19 home runs and 82 RBI over 464 at-bats. He was named to the All-Star team, won the Silver Slugger Award, and he led all catchers with a .895 OPS.
Prince Fielder (First Base) – The addition of Fielder makes the Tigers one of the more feared lineups in all of baseball. The All-Star first baseman hit .299 with 38 home runs and 120 RBI with the Brewers last year, giving him five straight seasons with at least 30 homers. He is as durable as they come at first. The 27-year-old has played in at least 157 games in each of the past six seasons.
Ryan Raburn (Second Base) – Rayburn figures to take over full time at second base this season, despite his ability to play multiple positions. He hit just .207 in the first half of the season, but made up for it by hitting .235 in the second half. His 14 home runs and 49 RBI in just 121 games are promising for a second baseman, but needs to lower his strikeouts if he is going to take that next step.
Jhonny Peralta (Shortstop) – Peralta solidified himself as the starting shortstop with a strong 2011 season. He continues to strikeout less, and as a result he finished with a career-high .299 batting average last year. He also put up some pretty strong power numbers with 21 home runs and 86 RBI.
Miguel Cabrera (Third Base) -Cabrera has agreed to move to back to third base to allow Fielder to play first, but it really doesn’t matter where he plays defensively. Cabrera is considered by many to be the most dominant hitter in the game. He hit .344 with 30 home runs and 105 RBI in 2011, and the 28-year-old has shown no signs of slowing down. He’s hit at least .324 with 30+ home runs and 100+ RBI in each of the last three seasons.
Andy Dirks (Left Field) – Dirks is expected to get a shot at holding down the open spot in left field, but its hard to expect a lot from him offensively after watching him hit just .251 with seven home runs and 28 RBI in 78 games last year. He turned just 26 in January, so there is an outside shot at a breakout season.
Austin Jackson (Center Field) – Jackson suffered a big decline offensively in his second season as the starting center fielder. After hitting .293 in 2010, his average dropped down to .249 in 2011. While his offense took a hit, he continued to provide Gold Glove-caliber defense. He also is extremely fast on the bases, which has resulted in 21 triples and 49 stolen bases the past two seasons.
Brennan Boesch (Right Field) -Boesch was really coming along nicely before a thumb injury ended his season early. The 26-year-old ended up hitting .283 with 16 home runs and 54 RBI in 115 games. He is expected to be healthy and ready to go for 2012, and the Tigers are hoping he can take off right where he left off.
Delmon Young (Designated Hitter) – The Tigers acquired Young in a midseason trade with the Twins, and he really came alive once he landed in Detroit. Young hit .274 with eight home runs and 32 RBI in just 40 games with the Tigers. The former No. 1 overall pick has never lived up to expectations, but a lot of people forget he turned just 26 last September.
Projected Rotation
Justin Verlander (RHP) – Verlander took home both the 2011 Cy Young and AL MVP with an unbelievable season. The righty went 24-5 with a 2.40 ERA and 0.92 WHIP. Few pitchers have what it takes to win 20 games in a season, Verlander has only done it once in his career, but has totaled 61 wins over the last three seasons. Almost a lock to win at least 18 games if healthy, making him a threat to win the Cy Young again in 2012.
Doug Fister (RHP) – The Tigers landed Fister from the Mariners at the trade deadline and simply can’t wait to see what he can do in a full season in Detroit. In just 10 starts with the Tigers, Fister went 8-1 with a 1.79 ERA and 0.84 WHIP
Max Scherzer (RHP) – Scherzer’s ERA jumped from 3.50 in 2010 to 4.43 in 2011, but he still went out and won 15 games. He was hurt by the fact that he gave up 29 home runs, but that seems to be more a fluke than something you can expect going forward. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he made significant improvements to that ERA this season.
Rick Porcello (RHP) – Porcello’s 4.75 ERA and 1.41 WHIP will have a lot of people second guessing his 14 win season, but he now has 38 wins in just three big league seasons. Not to mention, Porcello turned just 23 in December, so there is plenty of reason to believe he is just getting started.
Jacob Turner (RHP) – Turner is the frontrunner to win the final spot in the rotation, and the Tigers are extremely high on their most heralded prospect. The 20-year-old posted a high 8.53 ERA in just three starts last season, but many believe he has the stuff to win the AL Rookie of the Year in 2012.
Projected Closer
Jose Valverde (RHP) – Valverde was arguably the best closer in all of baseball last season, converting all 49 of his save chances while posting a 2.24 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. With the starting pitching and offense the Tigers are expected to send to the field this season, there’s no reason he can’t put together another 40+ save season in 2012.
| 2012 Detroit Tigers Odds | |
| World Series | +800 |
| Win AL Pennant | +400 |
| Win AL Central | -400 |
| Total Regular Season Wins | O91.5 (-115) |
| U91.5 (-115) |
Over/Under Total Home Runs in the 2012 Regular Season
Miguel Cabrera – 34.5
Prince Fielder – 35.5
Alex Avila – 18.5
Over/Under BA in the 2012 Regular Season
Miguel Cabrera – .325
Jhonny Peralta – .270
Prince Fielder – .290
Over/Under Total Wins in the 2012 Regular Season
Justin Verlander – 17.5
Max Scherzer – 13
Doug Fister – 12.5
Rick Porcello – 12
Over/Under Total Saves in the 2012 Regular Season
Jose Valverde – 37.5
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91 wins is a bit under what should be expected from the Tigers 2012 edition. They play in the remeber they play in the Al central. they will beat down the rest of those guys like the bums they are. Pitching is the key this year. Max and porcello should improve even more this year and the 5th spot in the rotation could be a big suprise this season. If these things happen you’re looking at 100 plus wins this year.