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Detroit could be new power house in the American League
New Lineup looks flawless
By Jeremy Tiedt
Did that just happen? Did the Detroit Tigers really just pull off a blockbuster deal?
Like everybody else outside of the Marlins and Tigers organization I was in complete shock when I turned on ESPN and saw nothing but headlines reading “Willis and Cabrera to the Tigers.”
Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera packaged in the same deal for six prospects? Mind you, there are some studs in that list of six prospects, but nonetheless, with the acquisition of these two players the Tigers might have just moved past the Red Sox as the American League favorite.
Adding Cabrera to a batting order that finished third in the league in runs scored last year is unbelievable. This is going to be a batting order for the ages. This is just a quick lineup I threw together, but regardless of where Leyland decides to put these guys, it’s going to be scary 1-9.
This is the best lineup in baseball; there truly is no weak spot. They have the balance and the power that will keep opposing pitchers up at night, and I haven’t even touched on their pitching rotation yet.
Most Milwaukee Brewer fans can attest to how good Justin Verlander is, as he hung a no-no on them last season. And to bring in a guy like Willis who can eat up upwards of 200 innings is going to be something that is really going to put this team over the top.
Even though he did have a down year last year, you are looking at a guy that has World Series experience and who is going to have a huge bounce-back year. With the pressure being taken off of him to be the ace I look for him to win at least 15 games next year and have an ERA well under four. Now add the fact that Kenny Rogers will be coming back and they already have Jeremy Bonderman, and you are looking at a rotation that is solid 1-4.
Detroit has now taken the final step into becoming an American League superpower. They’ve got the lineup, the rotation, as well as the coach and even more importantly, they now have a payroll that is headed upwards of $120 million.
I think I just heard George Steinbrenner pick up his cell phone and reopen trade talks with the Twins, because even he knows his team is going to have no shot without Santana in the new and even more powerful American League.
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