Detroit Tigers Top 5 Storylines for 2015

Oct 3, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander (35) throws a pitch against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning of game two of the 2014 ALDS playoff baseball game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

#4: Can Justin Verlander bounce back in 2015?

SPOILER ALERT! One of the issues we will not touch on because it may or may not affect the Tigers is if Max Scherzer will be back with the team in 2015. There is no way of knowing if that will happen or not so we must go under the assumption that since Max is not currently on the roster that he won’t be on the roster.

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That, of course, could change, but we should focus on the one ace we have rather than one of the aces we might have. Justin Verlander is the ace we have. Although for the last two regular seasons he has not pitched like an ace pitcher.

And no one knows this more than Verlander, who has pledged that he will put last season’s struggles behind him. Gone are the days of a youthful J.V. blowing away batters with his blazing fastball and/or vexing off-speed pitches. When he was on, he didn’t have to worry much about location, but now as he gets older and the hitters catch up, location becomes very important.

The key to Justin’s success for the remainder of his long-term contract is to adapt. It is hard to adapt in-season and after surgery just months before the season started. With a full off-season on his specialized off-season regiment, and having the ability to fine tune his skills, I would expect Justin Verlander to be a workhorse again. He may not be as dynamic and “Must See J.V.” as he once was, but he will once again fill the role of ace of the staff.

With or without Scherzer, this is important.

Without Scherzer and a still tattered Verlander would make it very tough for Detroit to compete in the AL Central in 2015.

On to #3…

Oct 5, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera (24) during batting practice before game three of the 2014 ALDS baseball playoff game against the Baltimore Orioles at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

#3: Will Miggy be ready for 2015?

Miguel Cabrera has undergone surgeries in each of the last two off-seasons. The most recent surgery was in late October to rid him of the bone spurs he was playing on throughout 2014, likely causing his power decrease.

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After Miggy’s successful surgery there was no timetable for return given. When Verlander received his surgery last January, the team was quick to note that he would likely be on track for halfway through Spring Training and that is exactly when he came back. With Miggy the only future date we received was that he’d be reevaluated in January and an estimated timetable for return would be established at that point.

So could the Tigers be facing an Opening Day lineup without their biggest bat? It is entirely possible.

But even if best case scenario transpires and Cabrera is able to come back before or during Spring Training, what kind of season will we see from him? Miggy had a tremendous September but struggled through much of the season with power and sometimes looked very un-Cabrera-like at the plate. A lot of this had to do with the pain he was experiencing post-2013 surgery and pre-2014 surgery.

We can only hope that Miguel Cabrera is back to his God-like level because the entire Tigers’ lineup, 1 through 9, is created around him.

Two more to go.

Sep 21, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Detroit Tigers third basemen Nick Castellanos (9) catches a line drive off the bat of Kansas City Royals batter Salvador Perez (not pictured) during the seventh inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

#2: Will the defense finally improve?

We thought the defense would improve last season but as we stated in our #5 storyline, when Iglesias went down, it screwed up everything. With newcomer Anthony Gose platooning with Rajai Davis in center field, Yoenis Cespedes slated to play a dynamic left field, and possibly an underrated defender in J.D. Martinez shifting to right field, the outfield should be better.

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With Alex Avila and James McCann, the catching should be exemplary and most of the pitchers field their position well. So that leaves the infield. If Miggy is healthy, he will be slightly above average at first base. Ian Kinsler will always be sharp at second, and a healthy Iglesias could be the top defensive shortstop in baseball.

That leaves the wildcard of Nick Castellanos. The Tigers’ third basemen will no longer have the protections of “he’s just a rookie” or “he hasn’t played the position in two years” that some were willing to give him for his below average defense last season (ranking last in defensive index rankings). Others were less forgiving.

Casty has spent his off-season trying to get better defensively. The Tigers will give him another season to see if he can improve and become an asset rather than a liability at the hot corner. If he doesn’t improve, Detroit may look at finding another option at third and moving Casty to the outfield if Cespedes leaves after this year or trading him altogether.

One thing is for sure, if Castellanos is the Tigers’ weakest everyday defender, they are in really good shape in that department.

And last but not least, follow the link.

Sep 9, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Joe Nathan (36) celebrates after the game against the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park. Detroit won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

#1: It’s the bullpen, stupid!

When you ask how far the 2015 Detroit Tigers can go, the conversation will always begin and end with the bullpen. It is a scary proposition looking at it currently. I mean this is the unit that perhaps cost the team a World Championship in 2013 and contributed to an abrupt end to the last postseason.

But there is some hope that the unit will be better. Rondon will be back and figures to be a seventh-inning set-up man. I think a properly used Joakim Soria will be better than the little used Joakim Soria of 2014 and is an upgrade at set-up over Joba Chamberlain. Alex Wilson, obtained in the Cepedes for Rick Porcello deal, will become a more reliable middle relief option than any Tiger was last year and Joel Hanrahan figures to finally be back healthy from Tommy John surgery and his track record says he will be an asset.

Of course, this could all go to Hell quickly if Rondon looks more like early 2013 Rondon rather than late 2013 Rondon, Hanrahan can’t come back, Wilson is a bust, Soria struggles and everyone’s favorite closer Joe Nathan has another terrible season.

With this top storyline, and really all the storylines, one thing is clear. If it could have gone wrong for the Tigers in 2014, it did. From injuries to inconsistency to off years–it all hit the Tigers at the wrong time. Despite all that the team was able to make the postseason for a fourth straight year.

The Detroit Tigers are a talented team and are due for some breaks after a hard luck 2014. We present these storylines because if all five go in the club’s favor, they could finally capture that elusive World Series. But if all five go bad, it could be a third place finish in the AL Central or worse.

Only time will tell.

95 days until Opening Day–not that we’re counting or anything.

Next: Links: Joe Nathan, Resolutions, Jose Iglesias