Detroit Tigers 2003 Season Preview

Bobby Higgenson - Can he make fantasy reality?

Most younger readers and fans have seen the Tigers as a weak team, with no finish better than second since 1991, and sub-.500 records in almost every season in that period.  But to many of us old-timers, this is a special franchise.  We think of the 1930s, with Greenberg, Gehringer, Bridges and Schoolboy Rowe; the 1940s, with Newhouser, Trout, and Trucks.  The 1960s featured Al Kaline, Mickey Lolich, and bad boy Denny McLean.  Five pennants and three World Series were won in those decades, a record which would make most people other than George Steinbrenner happy.

The last pennant flag flew in the Motor City in 1984, followed by another Series triumph, and it is both fascinating and symbolic that two of the heroes of those days, Alan Trammell and Kirk Gibson, have been brought back in leadership roles.  The former will be a rookie manager, the latter will coach the hitters, but both surely are expected to instill competitive fire in a team that is generally wet behind the ears, especially out on the mound.

Let's play another type of "Fantasy Baseball' with the Tigers, emphasizing what are the probable lead-off through number six spots in their lineup.

		Avg.	HR	RBI	R	SB
George Lombard	cf	.285	18	70	100	16
Damion Easley	2b	.271	27	100	84	15
Bobby Higginson	rf	.300	30	102	104	15
Dean Palmer	3b	.278	34	119	84	8
Dmitri Young	lf	.303	18	88	68	0
Carlos Pena	1b	.285	25	80	75	5

The numbers for two through five are actual stats attained in a good year by these players in 1998 and later.  Lombard's line reflects what scouts have been expecting of him for several years, beginning as  a very strong minor leaguer in the Braves' system.  Pena has hit at his posted pace in parts of the past two seasons, and the left field fence in the new park has been moved in to complement his power to all directions.  The "fantasy" here is the hope that these folks could hit and score  as shown; very highly unlikely, but nevertheless Detroit's only chance of moving up a notch out of the cellar.

The lower part of the order will have one of two young shorstops, Ramon Santiago or the fittingly-named Omar Infante, who have yet to show they can hit enough, and catcher Brandon Inge, a fine defender whose offense has been near the Mendoza line.  Eric Munson has been reported to have the most power of anyone in the organization.  He will do some DH-ing, can play first, and would get a shot at third if Palmer's injury history repeats itself. 

33-year-old journeyman utility folks, Shane Halter and Craig Paquette, can provide some pop as back-up infielders, while the athletic but inexperienced Eugene Kingsale will play some if Lombard stumbles or the other outfielders need rest or recuperation.

Management let its best southpaw starter, Mark Redman, go to Florida in a trade for prospects.  Left alone to lead the staff is old knucklballer Steve Sparks, whose absolute performance ceiling would seem to be 15-12, 4.00.  The many other starting hopefuls are, as we say out here in Hawaii, a "rattoon crop" --- nameless sugar cane seedlings just appearing in the field.  And probably the best of that group, Nate Cornejo, is reportedly hurting at Spring Training.  If fast reliever Matt Anderson could return to the form of two seasons ago (3 wins and 22 saves), it would help the pitching picture, which otherwise is not at all pretty.

Prediction:  If most of the fantasy becomes reality, Detroit could nudge ahead of Kansas City and escape the basement of the AL Central.  If not, they will join the Royals, Tampa Bay, and Milwaukee in an ennervating struggle to avoid losing 100 games once again.