Some team’s goal of getting to the post season is enough. Some teams are satisfied with making it to the Championship Series or World Series, but not the Detroit Tigers. Last season the Tigers went to the World Series and got swept by the San Francisco Giants. Since the disappointing trip to the big show the Tigers have made their chances of not only getting back to, but winning the World Series. With the best one two punch in the MLB with Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder the Tigers get back slugging Victor Martinez to back up and protect Prince Fielder, and also re-aquired Tori Hunter to add a little bit of everything from the outfield position. But hitters and fielders aren’t the only thing the Tigers have done this off season to prepare for a run at another World Series. They re-signed Anibal Sanchez who was a dominate pitcher late in the season last year but crazy good in the postseason.
One main problem the Tigers did find themselves in last year was they didn’t have a closer they could rely on. The general manager of the Tigers last Friday said that their new closer will be Bruce Rondon. This 6-foot-3-inch 265 monster of a man from Valencia, Venezuela has a fast ball that can reach into the triple digits and buckle the knees of any hitter with his of speed. With one of the best starting rotations in all of baseball it is necessary to have a man to rely on to close things out and get a win at the end of the day.
Spring training starts for the Tigers on Feb. 22, against the Atlanta Braves which many fans are anticipating to be the first game of a long World Series. Looking at the Tigers positions and lineup as a whole they have one flaw that needs to be addressed right away. Jhonny Peralta is a defensive liability on the field. He is the biggest and least athletic shortstop in the league and although may have some pop in his bat he hits for a terrible average.
Even with that one hole in the Tiger’s lineup they are still one of the most dangerous clubs in baseball and have a very good chance of going back to the World Series, but this year winning four more games and bringing the trophy back to Detroit.
