FanPost

What Will Happen in 2015

It's only a few more days until April 6th. We will get the first inkling of what this new Tiger team will be like...

Let's start with the bullpen:

Joe Nathan will blow three of his first four save opportunities, the last in spectacular fashion giving up eight runs. Yes, Ausmus will hang him out to dry to prove the point. DD will have a BBQ and set $10 million in cash on fire in a ceremonial ritual to signal the end. Soria will take over as closer and will be fine through mid-July but will then suffer an obscure injury. A scramble will ensue the rest of the season and never really settle down. Rondon will not really contribute much. He will look tantalizing at first but vague arm soreness will set in and multiple DL trips will begin. (Think "Zumaya"). Joba will not be 2014 Joba. The words "dumpster fire" will be hurled with regularity. The bus route to Toledo will be very busy.

Starters:

Justin Verlander - No big comeback. Maybe 14-12; 4.28 ERA. We will keep hoping based on a positive sign here and there.

David Price - 17-12; Will lose several 2-1 and 1-0 games including losing a 1-0 no-hitter. Fans will be in a rage. Will come in second in the Cy Young voting.

Anibal Sanchez - 15-11. More injuries but a decent season. 3.72 ERA.

Shane Greene - 14-9. Decent ERA but limited innings; fading a little toward the end.

Alfredo Simon - not going to cut it. Drew VerHagen, Kyle Lobstein, and other random left-handers are tried. No one really works. Trade deadline deals. Eventually use eight different starters for number five slot. We long for Brad Penny. "Suarez deal" becomes a thing like "Fister deal"

Positions:

Catcher: Alex Avila gets hurt a lot. Hits against too many left-handed pitchers because James McCann has trouble adjusting to major league pitching. Avila ends up about like 2014: .210/.250/.320 with 10 home runs. McCann is de minimis. Bryan Holaday gets called up again strictly for the swimsuit issue.

First base - Miggy starts slow due to injury but eventually gets into 130 games. Hits .320 with 35 home runs and 107 RBI. We keep thinking he is going to do somewhat better.

Second base - We love the Iggy/Kinsler duo when it is in place. Kinsler hits .265 with 17 home runs. He steals eight bases but gets picked off seven times. Still puts the "pop" in "popup".

Shortstop - Jose Iglesias and a lot of HernanPerez. Iggy plays about 110 games. He needs a lot of rest due to nagging injuries. He eventually is wearing pool noodles strapped over shin guards. When he is healthy, he is really sharp. Bats .228/.270/.302 with 3 home runs and 28 RBI. Perez is a non-factor offensively but holds his own with the glove. Romine gets waived and claimed at the end of spring training.

Third base - Nick Castellanos really improves with the glove to be just below league average. He bats .290, clubs 20 home runs, and drives in 85 runs. Having Iglesias next door really helps him defensively. We keep thinking "Wow, next year..."

Left field - Yoenis Cespedes throws out six runners at the plate in highlight fashion. He steals 14 bases. He hits 22 home runs and bats .247. Most runners stop challenging his arm from first to third.

Center field - Anthony Gose and Rajai Davis. This works OK except Gose is so weak offensively Davis ends up hitting against too many right-handers, and then Gose comes in for defense. Not ideal, but it sort of works. Either way, there is always some speed off the bench. They combine to steal 31 bases but only hit .265.

Right field - J.D. Martinez 's defense is OK - certainly an improvement over the Torii Hunter adventure last year. By the way, a resurgent Hunter will lead the upstart Twins to a stunning 91-71 record and an AL Central Division Title in 2015. Meanwhile, J.D. Martinez will hit .280 with 21 home runs.

Designated hitter - Victor Martinez will be a little slow off the injury. He will bat .301 with 15 home runs while knocking in 87 runs.

Tyler Collins will get some duty in the outfield and at DH and limited PH duties. He will get a couple of key hits.

Overall, the Tigers will end up at 86-76 fading just a little down the stretch finishing in third place in the division; two games behind the wild-card White Sox.

I sure hope that I am wrong.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of the <em>Bless You Boys</em> writing staff.