Detroit Tigers Feeling the Pressure to Succeed in 2017

Only a few pieces of the rotation seem set: Justin Verlander and Michael Fulmer appear to be the locks for the first and second spots. The rest is uncertain.

Of course, they have the pressure to lead the team, and the rest of the potential starters do, too. Jordan Zimmermann has the pressure to live up to size of his contract. Mike Pelfrey and Anibal Sanchez have the pressure to show that they can still throw an effective pitch. Matt Boyd and Daniel Norris are under pressure to make the rotation.

Of the rotational pitchers, Jordan Zimmermann has the most pressure. No one is expecting much from Sanchez or Pelfrey. And, the young pitchers still have room for growth. Zimmermann does not. He has to pitch and pitch well. His contract is big for 2017: $18 million. And, it just gets bigger for the three years that follow. When he was signed in the pre-2016 off-season, he was expected to be an ace. He started off that way, then practically disappeared.

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In reality, Zimmermann does have a guaranteed contract with a team that was suckered into signing him for several years. That should be a low-pressure situation, but as a professional athlete, Zimmermann has to be feeling the heat. Tigers fans are not known for being kind to players who underperform and they are expecting great things from him. His pressure is to perform for the fans who buy tickets, jerseys, and concessions.

And, as much as Tigers fans can be ruthless to underperforming players, they can also be incredibly thankful – especially for a big comeback story. His incredible start to 2016 showed what he can do when he’s feeling good. Fans would like to see more of that in 2017.