ICYMI: MCB Digest–Detroit Tigers Week That Was

Oct 5, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman

(24) prior to game three of the 2014 ALDS baseball playoff game against the Baltimore Orioles at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

You have made it. Made it to the weekend and made it through another week, which means we are just about three weeks out from pitchers and catchers reporting to Lakeland, Florida to begin yet another Detroit Tigers’ season.

In the meantime, the writers of Motor City Bengals kept the fires burning and provided top-notch analytical views of YOUR Detroit Tigers.

Take the slideshow joy ride and check out everything you may have missed from this week.

Zane Stalberg kicked off the week and looked at the Tigers as they currently stand. While they are definitely different, Zane feels they are also a better team than a year ago.

The 2015 Detroit Tigers will be new, but improved

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"When the Detroit Tigers first take the field in 2015 there will be just as many new faces around the diamond as there are familiar ones. However, to improve is to change. And, despite significant departures, the Detroit Tigers will be better in 2015 than they were in 2014. It starts with defense. Up the middle the Tigers project to be one of the best teams in baseball. Between Ian Kinsler and Alex Avila, alone, the Tigers were worth 4.1 wins above replacement in 2014, and you can expect that number to be much higher when you supplement Andrew Romine and Eugenio Suarez with Jose Iglesias and add Anthony Gose. Iglesias, in particular, will have an effect on the Tigers’ defensive efficiency. Having a defensive wizard like Iglesias back in the fold makes the Tigers better not only at short, but at third as well, by limiting the amount of plays Nick Castellanos will have to make. Castellanos posted a -2.8 dWAR in 2014. On paper, the Tigers will be much better defensively. And, not just up the middle, either. Yoenis Cespedes who posted a dWAR of 0.6 in Oakland (0.5 in Boston), and led the league in outfield assists (16) in 2014, will replace Torii Hunter who posted a -1.9 dWAR last year. READ MORE"

Last Saturday was TigerFest and one of the hot topics on that cold day was that the Tigers and David Price seem mutually interested in working on a long-term extension past Price’s final season before free agency in 2015.  Tom Zahari thinks this may be a bad idea.

David Price Should Not Sign a Long Term Extension with the Detroit Tigers

"It is rare that someone actually thinks about a player’s needs on a team before we think of the team’s needs, but let’s take a look at David Price’s needs now. David Price would be foolish to sign a long-term extension with the Detroit Tigers before he tests free agency next offseason. Price is easily going to be the most pursued free agent in next year’s class. He is a top 5 left handed starting pitcher in the baseball. A top of the line lefty is more prized than a top of the line right handed pitcher like Max Scherzer. The Tigers tried to get a deal done with Scherzer, but he decided to test free agency and was rewarded with $66 million more than his original offer. Reports surfaced earlier this week that Price would be open to signing a long-term deal with the Tigers and he would be excited if the Tigers signed one of Price’s closest friends in baseball, James Shields. Price also acknowledged one free agency’s perks (and it’s not just the money): “More or less being able to pick where you play. It’s kind of like a video game; you create your player and you’re like, ‘All right, I’m going to play for this team; that’s always enticing. I guess I’m about a week short of six years [in Major League Baseball] now, so at the end of the year I’ll almost have seven, and I guess that’s 32, 33 starts away from being able to pick where you play.” Price hit the nail on the head and basically told Tigers fans in that quote that he will not resign with the team before testing free agency. He is going to be able to go out and pick where he wants to play, where he wants to live, and how much money he wants to make. Even if the Tigers sign Shields, Price would most likely go out and test the open market. READ MORE"

Oct 17, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias (1) slides into third base against the Boston Red Sox during the seventh inning in game five of the American League Championship Series baseball game at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Dan Byrne looked at some keys to success for this year’s team.

The Keys to Success for the 2015 Detroit Tigers

"The keys to success for the 2015 Detroit Tigers may very well be held in the exquisitely soft hands of Jose Iglesias. Most certainly there are lesser keys that will need to click in order to unlock the elusive vault otherwise known as a World Championship. But it all starts with the unworldly talents of a very gifted shortstop. Our pitching staff should feel very confident coaxing hitters to beat the ball into the ground with our infield behind them. And, yes, I realize we have a neophyte 3rd sacker. Jose is often criticized by media as being a “defense first” ball-player. Being a magician with the leather does not preclude him from being able to hit. He pounded the ball as a member of the Red Sox in 2013. Batting .330, slugging over 400 with an OBP of .376 in 63 games is indicative of offensive capability. His hand-eye coordination is excellent and that should eventually manifest itself at the plate. A solid all-around season by Jose would be an upgrade over the impotence experienced at short last year. Without question, his season-ending injury made life miserable for the Tigers all year long. If Jose can’t answer the bell they really have no viable back-up plan. There are other notable key ingredients in the Tiger recipe, one being the left-handed bat of Anthony Gose. Can he provide enough on-base traffic to bat lead-off ahead of the essence of the Tiger lineup? If so, Ian Kinsler can then be installed as the #2 hitter. This would be an effective and speedy combination. Opposing pitchers would then have to deal with an intimidating middle-of-the-order Tiger fans have not enjoyed since the days of Al Kaline, Norm Cash, Willie Horton, Jim Northrup and Bill Freehan banging the ball all over Tiger Stadium. That would be music to our ears! READ MORE"

What better than to fill the gap until baseball with some of the best Miguel Cabrera bombs of all time? We cobbled the top five with video evidence. Warning: It will get your really pumped for baseball!

The 5 Best Miguel Cabrera Home Runs (VIDEOS)

"Miguel Cabrera seems on track to be back before Opening Day after having surgery this offseason. This is, of course, great news for Detroit Tigers’ fans, not only increasing the chances of winning, but just upping the sheer entertainment factor of every game he’s involved in. This is also great news for baseball fans who just simply love to see the guy hit a baseball. We all know that Miguel Cabrera, affectionately known as “Miggy” (or “Cabby” if you’re so inclined), has become something of rarefied air. The first Triple Crown since 1967, stats nearly identical to Hall-of-Fame legend Hank Aaron, and his jovial personality mixed with competitive fire sets him apart from the pack. During his career in Detroit, which began in 2008, Miguel has hit some timely, clutch and entertaining home runs. #5 First homer as a Detroit Tiger READ MORE"

Oct 3, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander (35) reacts after a two-run home run by Baltimore Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis (not pictured) during the third inning of game two of the 2014 ALDS playoff baseball game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Josh Scramlin reminisced about one of the best seasons for a Detroit Tigers’ pitcher ever: Justin Verlander‘s 2011 season and how the former ace can kick that “former” away this season.

Looking Back at Justin Verlander’s Remarkable 2011 and Looking Ahead

"One of the most exciting moments of my life occurred on October 13th, 2011 at Comerica Park. It was Game 5 of the American League Championship Series. The pitching match-up was Justin Verlander vs. C.J. Wilson. The energy that was in the park that night is simply indescribable, as chants of “MVP” echoed all the way to the Renaissance Center. And no, those “MVP” chants weren’t for Jose Valverde. Those ominous, incredible chants were meant for Justin Verlander, whom just a mere four years ago looked like a reincarnated Steve Carlton. 2011 was the year Detroit Tigers fans saw their beloved baseball team go to the postseason for the first time since 2006. And Verlander led the charge the entire season, going 24-3 with a 2.40 ERA, both first in the league. His 24 wins were the most in the majors since Bob Welch of the Oakland Athletics went 27-6 in 1990. That season Verlander also led the league in win percentage, games started, innings pitched, and strikeouts. He won the Cy Young unanimously, and captured the AL MVP award as well; the first pitcher to do so since Dennis Eckersley back in 1992. Back in 2011 after winning his array of awards Verlander said “I think that a starting pitcher has to do something special to be as valuable or more so than a position player.” He did just that. READ MORE"

Another look back on Throwback Thursday, this time remembering Magglio Ordonez. His time with the Tigers was fairly brief but he left an indelible mark that won’t soon be forgotten.

#TBT Magglio Ordonez: Author of a Tigers’ signature moment (VIDEO)

"In our Throwback Thursday features of the past, we’ve ridden the way-back machine to feature a Detroit Tigers’ legend of long-past. Today we look at a more recent Tigers’ star, one that will be remembered for one unforgettable swing of the bat. Let’s throwback to today’s player…”OHH WEE OHH, MAA GLIOO!” Magglio Ordonez, who turned 41 yesterday, was requested by one of Motor City Bengals’ Twitter followers @TigerTradeIdeas. If you are like me, someone who somewhat remembered the glory years of the 1980’s, (’84 is a flickering memory from my six-year old former self, but I remember ’87 very fondly) and was one of a few select group of self-hating individuals that followed the team through the terrible 90’s and early 2000’s, this memory in the video below will never be forgotten. READ MORE"

May 30, 2014; Toledo, OH, USA; Detroit Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski in the stands against the Charlotte Knights at Fifth Third Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Blair Tatrault put the finishing touches on the week by delving into each of the Tigers’ trades this offseason and assigned a grade.

Detroit Tiger Off-Season Trades A Mixed Bag

"If you’re a serious sports fan, you’re living in a golden era. You have a cornucopia of information at your fingertips–print and online newspapers and magazines; radio and television sports talk shows; live, world-spanning audio and video game coverage; and even a plethora of special interest websites (such as our own Motor City Bengals), which drill deeply into stories uncovered by the mainstream press. If you partake regularly of these resources, have some background in the sport, and care passionately about your favorite team, you naturally form well-documented opinions about how your team is managed, both on the field and in the front office. So with that in mind my well-informed friends, because we’re Detroit Tiger fans and we care about such things, it’s time to pass judgment on general manager Dave Dombrowski’s off-season trades. First though, to ensure the integrity of the process, there’s a proviso–just like double D, we don’t get the benefit of hindsight. Once you opine on a trade, you own that position forever. In practical terms, that means if you think trading Rick Porcello was a mistake (as I do) and Yoenis Cespedes goes on to have a great year and hits a walk-off home run to win the World Series, you are morally bound to drop to your knees, confess your mistake, and pay homage to the venerable House of Dombrowski. READ MORE"