2013: The Detroit Tigers Return to the World Series?

                                             

This seemed to have been a common theme throughout the 2013 season for the Detroit Tigers. A stellar starting pitching performance wasted by the bullpen. If it was not the bullpen, it was the Jekyll-and-Hyde offense that could not score runs for the pitching staff. This was a team that was expected to not only make it to the World Series for the second year in a row, but they were expected to win it all. While it is hard to live up to such high expectations, with a team that had as much star power as the Tigers did, to say the playoffs were a disappointment is putting it mildly. For many Detroit fans, it was World Series or bust.

2013 Strengths

Max Scherzer- The 2013 Detroit Tigers cannot be discussed without discussing this man. He won the 2013 Cy Young, and went 21-3 with a 2.90 ERA. Max stepped up whenever the Tigers needed him. His story is even more incredible because his successful year came on the heels of losing his younger brother Alex in the summer of 2012.

Miguel Cabrera- The reigning 2012 AL MVP and Triple Crown winner nearly won the triple crown for a second year in a row. He was once again named the AL MVP for 2013 with a .348 batting average, 44 homeruns, and 137 RBI. Cabrera’s backstory is interesting as well; because he did all of this while injured throughout the season, and had to have surgery when the season was over.

Starting Pitching Staff- The 2013 Detroit Tigers starting pitching staff was among the best in baseball. They combined for 75 wins. Throughout the season, Anibal Sanchez and Max Scherzer were among the strikeout leaders in the American League. Anibal Sanchez had a 2.57 ERA, which was good for best in the American League. Rick Porcello threw for a career high in strikeouts in 2013 with 142.

2013 Weaknesses

Justin Verlander- It is probably a surprise to see Verlander on this list. With a record of 13-12 for 2013, that record is not what we would expect from him. While every loss was not totally his fault, there were times where he just seemed lost on the mound, and did not possess that dominant air that the ace of the Detroit Tigers pitching staff usually exudes. There may have been problems with injury. We did see a flash of vintage Verlander in the playoffs, and there should be no doubt that he will return to form.

Prince Fielder- This is another player that one would not expect to see on this list. Like Verlander, he was a leader in the clubhouse, and with one swing of the bat, Fielder can change the game. His hot-and-cold bat was a source of worry for the Tigers in 2013. He had also made some atrocious fielding plays at first base. Even more worrisome is the fact that for the last 2 postseasons, his bat has gone cold when we needed him the most. For someone who makes as much money as Prince Fielder does, this is just simply unacceptable. Hopefully his move to the Texas Rangers won’t bite the Tigers in 2014.

The Bullpen- The Tigers bullpen had been a source of worry since the beginning of the 2013 season. It started when GM Dave Dombrowski announced that Bruce Rondon, a rookie who had never pitched in the majors, was going to be the Tigers closer. When Rondon didn’t work out right away, the staff decided on a closer-by-committee approach. The Tigers bullpen had one of the worst ERAs in baseball in the first part of the 2013 season. Joaquin Benoit was named the closer eventually, and he did very well for a long period of time. Benoit’s weakness is giving up the long ball, however, and he did just that in the ALCS, giving up a grand slam to David Ortiz in Game 2, costing the Tigers the lead and eventually costing the Tigers a win. Hopefully signing Joe Nathan as the new closer and the addition of Joba Chamberlain will add some depth to the struggling bullpen.