[luckymann]

LAST YEAR: 81-59 1 GB, 2nd / .290 / 3.25
BNN PREDICTION: 79-75 9 GB, 5th / .236 / 2.44
FARM SYSTEM: 12th
BEST PROSPECT: P Bruce Hurst (35th)
PAYROLL: 5th, $27,849
HIGHEST PAID PLAYER: OF Gene Richards, $1,800
CASH BALANCE: $150,994
GAINS: NONE
LOSSES: NONE

The Tigers did everything but actually win the AL Pennant last season and I’m afraid it looks as if they are going to spend this season regretting more and more with every loss endured not having done so when they had the chance. Because I don’t see them as having much of one this season.

On offence, a lot of what happens for Detroit depends on whether or not 2B Sam Mertes can get his 32-year-old body to defy Father Time. If 1903 is any indication, the signs aren’t promising in this regard, with a marked fall in his run production and some niggling injuries that limited his time on the diamond. His partner in the middle infield, SS Eddie Kasko, is the same age and, despite his solid output last year (a team-leading 3.85 WAR), must also be a concern in this respect. Should age weary one or both of them, younger players such as 1B Patsy Tebeau and outfielders Joel Youngblood and Milt Cuyler – none of whom are by any means superstars to begin with – will be left decidedly vulnerable to a lack of protection. OF Gene Richards is a bit of a wild card. He is one of those players who always seems to get the most out of their talent, and once again led the side in most hitting stats in 1903. He’ll need to repeat this magic trick again if the Tigers are going to have any chance at remaining competitive.

The one bright spot for Detroit is their young gun rotation. If Elden Auker, Doug Rau, Melido Perez and Weldon Henley can reproduce or even improve upon their performances of a year ago, the Tiges’ chances increase exponentially. Perez, in particular, had a fantastic 1903 going 18-11 with an AL-leading 2.25 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 80 FIP- and 6.5 WAR, and Auker can only have been improved by his rookie campaign. With an average age of just 22 they should keep Detroit in games for years to come. But they wouldn’t want to lose any of them to trade or injury, because there’s nobody behind them. In fact, the Detroit farm system is an embarrassment to the franchise, with their top prospect coming in at number 35. And their lofty finish last year means they won’t be getting anywhere near the cream of the crop come Draft Day. So they better get well busier in the trade market than they were this past offseason.

What does all of this portend? Well the Tigers aren’t without some hope. But they will need everything – and I mean everything – to fall into place for them to be in the mix, and we all know that doesn’t happen very often.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: P Elden Auker; P Melido Perez; 2B Sam Mertes