Detroit Tigers: Who’s Ready for Baseball?

As the New Year’s Day football games endlessly play on my television, I am so ready for baseball. (And, I know I’m not alone). In about seven weeks, the pitchers and catchers report and the first Detroit Tigers pre-season game is on the last day of February. Between the big plays in the football games, I’m feeding my hunger for baseball by catching the videos popping up in year-end-review-social-media posts. While I watch the replays of home runs, strike outs, and jaw-dropping catches, I can’t stop thinking about what I can’t wait to see in 2016 with my favorite Tigers.

I’m ready to watch Justin Verlander pitch. The way he ended the 2015 season is making me wonder what he will be up to in 2016. It looks like he’s been having fun in the off-season, so he will be ready to get serious during the season. Will he hit 100 MPH? Will he be the JV of old?

I’m also ready to watch Daniel Norris continue to develop his pitching repertoire. The series against the Chicago Cubs showed us not only what he could do on the mound, but on the plate, too. I’m excited to see him stymie batters and add to his home run totals.

I can’t wait to see Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez, and J.D. Martinez rack up the hits in the heart of the lineup. Now that V-Mart has had the off-season to take care of his knee and Cabrera has had some time to take care of his legs, too. From social media posts, it looks like Cabrera and J.D have started working on their hitting with J.D.’s swing looking smooth and sweet. Hopefully, the best hitter on the planet will continue his batting titles streak and J.D. will make his way up the AL home run ranks, too.

Speaking of J.D. Martinez, I’m also ready to watch him become the next Al Kaline in right field. Once the Tigers extended his contract, which should happen any day now, right field will be his and hopefully, for a long time. He earned his first Silver Slugger in 2015 as well as his first All-Star appearance – more is on the way.

I’m always ready to watch Jose Iglesias make highlight reel plays with his double-play partner, Ian Kinsler. Who isn’t? While I’m thinking about the infield, the corner players, Nick Castellanos and Miguel Cabrera, will definitely have a few catches that will be note-worthy.

There are a few new guys that I’m ready to watch, too. As much as I enjoy watching McCann behind the dish, I’m also ready to see how Jarrod Saltalamacchia catch for a few pitchers and ring up some hits. Maybe Salty and Jordan Zimmermann will have some magic, like Verlander and Alex Avila once had. It’ll be interesting to see how Cameron Maybin adjusts to his old team – and I’m wondering where exactly he will play.

Lastly, I’m ready to watch the bench guys do their things. We, the fans, all know there will be at least one game where the entire team falls apart and a bench guy gets to pitch. Maybe this year, it’ll be Andrew Romine, or maybe it’ll be Mike Aviles.

Next: Best Detroit Tigers Moments of 2015

And on the days when everything is going well, I’m ready to be able to breathe when the bullpen comes out to play. I enjoyed watching Alex Wilson and Drew Verhagen in 2015, especially when Wilson made his faces on the mound. I’m also ready to see Francisco Rodriguez show the Tigers’ fan base why he earned the nickname K-Rod. Mark Lowe and Justin Wilson promise to put on a good show, too.