Fantasy Take: The Detroit Tigers

Fantasy Take – The Detroit Tigers 2006

The Tigers surprisingly have a lot of decent fantasy talent. Sadly the team doesn't look to be very good. Playing in a competitive division doesn't help very much, but maybe just maybe they'll be able to suprise both fantasy owners and the other teams in their division.

Top Tier
 
The Tigers have no clear top tier players.
 
Second Tier
 
Craig Monroe (OF) - 20 HR and 89 RBI doesn’t seem like a top tier candidate, but assuming that with a commitment to a more aggressive base running style as well as a more disciplined approach at the plate would mean more runners on base.  It would not surprise me to see Monroe run his numbers up to 30 HR and 100 RBI is all goes well.  He could very well be a steal in your draft.
 
Dmitri Young (OF/1B) - As with Monroe, a lot depends on how the team responds to the new offensive attitude.  Expect his numbers from last season, 21 HR, 72 RBI, 61 R, and .271 BA to increase substantially.  Would be a nice fit in the DH role on your fantasy team and you should be able to get him for cheap or in the later rounds.

Ivan Rodriguez (C) - In a thin catching corps within the league, even with having a bad year last season, 14 HR, 50 RBI, 71 R, and .276, puts him as a pretty good catcher in fantasy leagues.  These numbers should increase soundly though, but as it stands now, he is second tier material.
 
Carlos Guillen (SS) - In 2004, he had a career year and then last season, he put up his usual numbers, 5 HR, 23 RBI, 48 R, .320 BA; but he only played in 87 games so who knows how well he would have done with a full season.  I would expect him to hit around 15-20 HR, 70 RBI, 75 R, and hit around.300 if he avoids the injury bug.
 
Kenny Rogers (SP) - Even with all of his off field troubles last year, he still managed to post a really good year despite that and his age.  14 W, 87 K, 3.48 ERA, and 1.32 WHIP is still pretty good, though he isn’t going to win any strikeout titles.  He isn’t going to hurt your team, and has the possibility of doing better in new surroundings.
 
Third Tier
 
Craig Shelton (1B) - In only his first full year he showed a bat that exceeds the potential he showed when drafted in the 33rd round by the Pirates in 2001.  18 HR, 59 RBI, 61 R, and a .299 BA in only 107 games would normally deserve a higher ranking than third tier.  The only reason I am putting him this low is that he has no track record to prove that these numbers could be expected to be repeated this season.  I fully expect him to do better but you may want to wait and see how he starts the year.
 
Brandon Inge (3B) - A homegrown talent who was a second round pick in the ’98 draft, Inge has shown a steady upward trend in his numbers every year culminating with last year’s 16 HR, 72 RBI, 75 R, .261 BA season.  My outlook for him though is that he has reached his peak; I could be wrond, but there is a lot of talent in the majors at the third base position so this is where he stays until he shows another season of improvement.
 
Jeremy Bonderman (SP) - One thing about Bonderman is that he has shown marked improvement every year he has been at the major league level, remember it was only three years ago now that he lost 19 games versus only six wins.  The next year he went a much more tolerable 11-13 and then last season he was 14-13, 145 K, 4.57 ERA, and 1.35 WHIP.  He just might do better this coming season but I seriously doubt that he will do worse.  Imagine if he was on a team that provided more runs for him.
 
Mike Maroth (SP) - Like Bonderman, he has improved substantially every season.  Three years ago when Bonderman lost 19, Maroth did him two better or worse and lost 21 games against nine wins.  The following year he too improved to 11-13 and then last season, like Bonderman again, he won 14, 115K, 4.74 ERA, and a 1.37 WHIP.  Look for him to do better again this season and yet again like Bonderman, he should be able to be gotten for cheap or in the late rounds.

Question Marks
 
Nook Logan (OF) - This guy should flat out be doing more than what he has shown in his limited career.  He flat out is fast, no doubt about it.  But you can’t steal any bases or score any runs if you don’t get on base.  Granted he is a lead off hitter, but 17 RBI  and 47 Runs in 322 AB is not acceptable.  Nor is the fact that he only had 23 SBs and struck out 52 times.  If Don Slaught can get him to be more patient and disciplined at the plate, his numbers will resemble that of a true lead off hitter.
 
Magglio Ordonez (OF) - For years while Mags was with the White Sox, as sure as the sun sets and you pay taxes, he was gonna hit 30 HR, 100 RBI, 100R, and hit .320; then he signed with Detroit and the injuries began taking their toll.  He showed the Ordonez of old last season in 82 games though hitting 8 HR, 46 RBI, 38 R, and .302 BA so expect him to be back to his old form this year.  But he is still a player that is recovering from a serious injury to his Achilles and that healing process takes a long time.
 
Carlos Pena (1B) - He is a bit of a throwback in that his swing is for the fences or bust.  He will strike out about once every four at bats and probably not hit above .250, but if healthy he can hit 25-30 HR, 70-80 RBI, and score 60-70 runs.  It is anyone’s guess though how this season will unfold for him so either draft him and sit him on the bench until he proves his swing is on or take a chance and try to get him on the Free Agency market.
 
Todd Jones (RP) - If he wasn’t 150 years old he would be Top Tier no questions asked.  The problem is though, he is coming back into the AL after a few years in the NL.  The other thing is that he hasn’t registered 40 or more saves since 2000 aside from last year.  So did he prove that he can still dominate or was last year his last hurrah?  That is the gamble you take, but one thing is for sure, if the offense for Detroit picks up on Leyland’s style of play, there should be a lot of save opportunities for Jones; who by the way is only 37 year old.
 
Troy Percival  (CL) - I don’t know if anyone in the organization knows what they will do with Percival, not even he knows.  There are stories that he is going to go back to being a starter since he will have more time to rest his arm in between starts.  There is also the talk that he will be a long reliever as well as try the closer’s role again if Jones falters.  The bottom line is that if he gets his pitching back into anything near where he was with the Angels, get him on your team.  If not, let the other guy take a chance.  But a wait and see approach is probably best for this once dominating closer.

Rob is AHP's resident White Sox blogger