Ahhhhh, pitchers and catchers…
You ready for your Prince Fielder bp photo/video overload? ESPN covers it here. Even the local guys in Lakeland had to work.
So let’s throw some predictions on Prince out there. I’ll set the over/under on HR at 38, RBI at 112, and OPS at .940. Your thoughts?
After looking at the photos I’ll set the over/under at 320.
With the big guy batting behind Cabrera (who will hopefully hit no. 3, but with Leyland you never know), Miggy just might have a super year. The best hitter in the league just got better and it will be interesting to see the numbers he puts up this year.
Inge at his incoherent best:
http://beck.mlblogs.com/2012/02/24/inge-i-just-want-to-play-any-spot-i-can-get/
Make sure to read the final Inge statement at the end as to why he wasn’t in camp early.
Wow, this is tremendous. So unselfish.
In the bigger picture, there is really no thankless job in baseball. In relative terms, though, how would you like to be Tom Brookens, entrusted to teach baserunning to Young, Fielder, Cabrera, Boesch, and Avila?
http://m.freep.com/Sports/article?a=2012202250381&f=1233
(Personally, for the all-horror baserunning squad I’d substitute Peralta for Boesch, and throw in V-Mart when he returns…and I know we’ll all miss the days of the Ordonez-Thames double-steal attempt).
This squadron of baserunners + Crazy Geno in the 3B box = the perfect storm for baserunning Clown Show.
Meanwhile, the only fast guy on the team doesn’t know how to steal, can’t get on base, and is working on his power-hitting…
The Ordonez-Thames double steal attempt to be replaced by the Cabrera-Fielder double steal attempt.
Actually, JL should just give up on stealing entirely and GL should give up (trying to get those guys to take an extra base, I mean). Station-to-station should work out just fine with this lineup.
I’d say 38 dingers is high. My guess is Prince will be pitched around more than Miggy, since whoever is batting behind him will be less imposing.
Unless it’s Inge, who will terrify pitchers now that he has added 20 lbs.
With Young batting 5th, the GDP potential is huge. He had 19 in 503 PA last season. He lead the league in that department in ’07. The numbers pretty much speak for themselves:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/y/youngde03.shtml
On the other hand, if Brookens can teach Cabrera and Fielder to take out the pivot man, by the end of the season the best middle infielder left standing in the AL might be Inge.
Actually, the Tiger franchise has a long and proud tradition of the GIDP. In fact, you could make quite a GIDP lineup out of current and former Tigers. Among the top 50 active GIDP players: Pudge Rogriguez (1st), Magglio Ordonez (techically active, 7th), Edgar Renteria (8th), Placido Polanco (21…the downside of never striking out…), Miguel Cabrera 25 (and so young! look out Pudge), Aubrey Huff (27), Victor Martinez (30), and Jhonny Peralta (49).
baseball is cool
detroit tigers is one of the best teams ever