Detroit Tigers Top 5 Spring Training Story Lines

Apr 5, 2013; Toronto, ON, Canada; Boston Red Sox pitcher

(52) delivers a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. The Red Sox beat the Blue Jays 6-4. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

#5: Bullpen

Granted there are some pressing injury issues that we will get to later on, but entering any Detroit Tigers’ season, the phrase, “It’s the Bullpen, Stupid” springs to mind.

It can be argued that the bullpen was the reason the Tigers were bounced out of the playoffs the last two years. Joba Chamberlain‘s complete meltdown in Game 2 of the ALDS turned a 1-1 series heading back to Detroit into an 0-2 hole and a listless Comerica Park crowd that couldn’t do their part to fire up their baseball heroes.

The season before that, the Tigers appeared to have all the pieces in place to be a champion, but two ill-timed pitches in the ALCS went for Grand Slams. Had those two pitches not gone out, I honestly believe the Tigers would have been World Champions in 2013, but sadly that is not the case.

Early on this offseason I stated that I felt if the Tigers didn’t make a big move in their bullpen (i.e. signing Andrew Miller) they not only would not go far in the postseason, they wouldn’t even make it.

I am not convinced they did enough to change this perception, but I can say that perhaps the unit will surprise. As an equally hardcore Detroit Lions’ fan, I never could fathom what the defense did for the Honolulu Blue and figured the secondary would doom the unit per usual.

Like the Lions’ defense there is potential for the Tigers’ bullpen, but “potential” is not something you want to be throwing around when you pencil yourself into World Series contention.

As it stands non-roster candidates like Joel Hanrahan (who will likely make the team if healthy), Alfredo Cabrera, Rafael Dolis, Tim Melville, Luke Putkonen, Omar Duran and Joe Mantiply will compete for spots with guys on the 40-man roster. These players include Blaine Hardy, Ian Krol, Angel Nesbitt, Chad Smith, Jose Valdez, Alex Wilson and Jose Zeid. Also in contention could be minor league starters/major league spot starters Buck Farmer, Kyle Lobstein, Kyle Ryan and Drew VerHagen.

You also have the relievers guaranteed a spot in the mix like Al Alburquerque, Tom Gorzelanny, Joe Nathan, Bruce Rondon and Joakim Soria.

No matter who makes the bullpen out of camp it will likely be a dramatic departure from 2014. On the surface that could be a good thing, but they could also be worse believe it or not. Spring Training should give us a fairly accurate view.

Sep 1, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Detroit Tigers pinch hitter

(18) celebrates his three-run home run in the ninth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

#4 Which young player(s) will make the Opening Day roster?

We touched on the young players who could make the bullpen (or possibly a fifth starter over Alfredo Simon) but what youngster can make the Opening Day roster?

Tyler Collins was a good story last spring and made the team out of camp. It seems like he has the inside track at becoming the Tigers’ fifth outfielder for 2015. Collins also made the Opening Day starter a year ago, but struggled. He did well in Toledo but was blocked in coming back by a red-hot J.D. Martinez. He also was very good in a limited role after September call-ups.

Fans would probably wish to see Steven Moya in Detroit, however his raw skills seem to need a year in Toledo. Some worry about the hitch in his swing and his problems hitting against right-handers. Still with uncertainty about Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez, some have speculated that Moya could make the team out of necessity and spend time at first base.

This is a bad idea.

Unless Moya absolutely rakes in Spring Training against big league-caliber pitching, especially right handers, he should not make the team. He is an intriguing prospect but needs the proper seasoning. If he tears up AAA like J.D. Mart did a year ago, then he could be considered.

Dixon Machado will also be an interesting prospect to watch. He will not be on the big league roster but the SS could be moving to backing up Jose Iglesias soon or converting to second base and taking over when Ian Kinsler‘s time in Detroit is over. Even a strong Grapefruit League season from Machado would not likely get him to the bigs this season. The Tigers will likely choose between Andrew Romine and Hernan Perez for backup middle infielder with Romine having the inside track for his contributions from a year ago.

Oct 3, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher

(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

#3 The return of Must-See J.V.?

Fans were disappointed in Justin Verlander’s 2014 performance, the Tigers were disappointed in Justin Verlander’s performance, Kate Upton was disappointed in–okay well maybe not her. But you get the picture. Everyone was disappointed in Justin Verlander’s performance in 2014. Most of all? Justin Verlander.

Rising Apple

Some fans bemoan the big contracts that the Tigers shell out to star players (though many of the same are pissed when star players leave, cough, cough Max Scherzer) but the claim some make that once the players receive their “payday” they stop caring/trying.

This can’t be further from the truth for Verlander. If you have watched him closely since his rookie year of 2006, there are not many who are as competitive and driven on the mound as J.V. Sometimes that can be to his determent if he gets angry on the mound and grooves a pitch (as he may have done against Nelson Cruz in the 2011 ALCS).

But Verlander is not going to go into easy street mode for the rest of his career because he’s set for life. I mean honestly if that was the case no athlete would perform beyond their original rookie contracts!

With all that said, this is a make or break year for Verlander and we’ll get an idea of which way his career is going in Spring Training. Will he be average or be one of the game’s top pitchers again?

The last two regular seasons have been average but the 2013 postseason was lights out.

Of course Verlander could easily be done as a superstar. His age is creeping up, he has pitched a lot of innings since 2006 and his fastball is losing its speed and elusiveness. However there are a lot of factors that support a rebirth.

He has experienced the most rest after a season in four years. He did not pitch deep into the postseason last year as he did from 2011-2013. Last year’s surgery kept him from his rigorous offseason routine, but he has been able to get into that again this year.

He has also been working on a new pitch, which is something a starter in his 30’s always has to do to remain solid.

Don’t expect to see that new pitch much during Spring Training games as Verlander will likely want to save it for the Minnesota Twins on Opening Day. Also even in J.V.’s glory years of 2009-2012 he never had stellar Spring Training seasons, however there will be some signs, either positive or negative, that will give an accurate gauge of his 2015 season to come.

Jun 10, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics left fielder

(52) fields the ball during the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

#2 Defense Improvement?

A year ago we thought the defense would be a lot better, but that never materialized.

A lot of that had to do with the loss of Jose Iglesias early on, but everyone not named Alex Avila or Ian Kinsler (and possibly Miggy who doesn’t get the credit for being decent first baseman) seemed to underachieve on the diamond.

With Iglesias seemingly back, Anthony Gose platooning in center, Torii Hunter no longer in right and Yoenis Cespedes’ cannon arm in left, signs point to a large jump in defensive skills.

It would be hard to argue that the Tigers have regressed in two areas: starting pitching and hitting. The loss of Scherzer and Rick Porcello will hurt unless Shane Greene and Alfredo Simon can each have career years. The hitting is a huge question mark with the health of the three and four hitters in the lineup.

Therefore the team will need to makeup runs somewhere. Spring Training will tell us if the defense has what it takes to help out the shortcomings of other areas on the team.

Aug 19, 2014; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera (24) and designated hitter Victor Martinez (41) look back against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Detroit Tigers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 8-5. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

#1 Healthy Tigers

Miguel Cabrera is still a question mark for Opening Day. Despite the good news from yesterday, it is not an absolute certainty that Victor Martinez will be ready for Opening Day. Will Iglesias hold up all season? Will Bruce Rondon hold up all season? Will Hanrahan be able to go and be as effective as he once was? How about the durability of Anibal Sanchez? What other players that have been relatively healthy will miss time?

The Tigers were unlucky with injuries last year when Rondon, Iglesias and former outfielder Andy Dirks all went out for the season before the team left Florida. Then Sanchez, who may have been the team’s most consistent pitcher in 2014, couldn’t stay healthy.

One would think by the law of averages the pendulum would swing the other way and the Tigers would be largely healthy, but Cabrera and Martinez have shown early on that is not the case.

As I mentioned earlier, relief pitching is what killed the Tigers the last two season, but another factor that hampered their consistency in the regular season the last few years, particularly 2014 was their lack of depth.

Though Dave Dombrowski made it his goal in the offseason to add depth to the bench, it doesn’t look like that came to pass. Perhaps there will be a deal in Spring Training (similar to J.D. Martinez last year), but what these early injuries have shown is that the Tigers are in deep trouble if their stars are injured long term.

Imagine that lineup into the middle of April without Cabrera and V-Mart. It is not a pretty picture.

The Tigers will not have either of these players for most of, if not all of, Spring Training. We’ll see how they do without the big guns in their lineup.

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