It is 19 above zero tonight, but it down in Lakeland Florida there are people getting ready for baseball - 2009 style. Of course I am hoping that 2009 style is significantly better than 2008 style.
I'm not sure what exactly to make of his comment, but Mike Ilitch isn't setting the bar very high this year when he tells us that 2009 is a "stabilizing year" and that next year they will be "very, very aggressive" (italics mine).
I'd like to take a look at what the Tigers have done in the past few months. This shouldn't take long because they did not do very much. I said throughout 2008 that the poor (porous) defense was really hurting the team- especially the starting pitchers. They often had to make 4 or even 5 outs per inning, which sent their pitch counts higher and turned the game over to the bullpen in the 5th or 6th inning. The bullpen was a known weakness before the season started and nothing really changed that perception.
So they did some things to fix the "D". Renteria was not asked back at shortstop. Instead we have Adam Everett who is a stud with a glove. That has to help. Once he and Placido have a little bit of time to get into sync I expect to see some slick double plays turned.
Next they put Brandon Inge back at third. Carlos Guillen will move (again) to Left Field. I like Inge at 3rd. He seems to get to balls and make plays that hardly anyone else can. He just seems to really enjoy the position and it is just an absolute blast to watch him play there. He is there as a defensive boost, not as an offensive threat (no matter what he believes).
Carlos Guillen moves out to Left. I am hopeful that this works out, but I'm not as confident about this as I am about Everett or Inge. Do you remember Bobby Higgenson's comment about "Comerica National Park"? He was in Left too. The wall was brought in to make it a little bit easier, but there is still a lot of territory to cover with Guillen's aches and pains.
So, I believe that the pitchers will have better back up. This should help them by converting more batted balls into outs. Innings should be shorter and arms fresher.
I think Cabrera will improve at 1st. Polanco will continue to be awesome at 2nd. Granderson will be more 2007 than 2008 and that will be good. Ordonez is getting older, I'm not sure how he will play out this year.
So, defensively, I think that the Tigers will be improved over last year. I really do think that this will be a key to helping the team to be competitive.
I'd like to look at the pitchers next time. Until then think warm, happy thoughts! 2 weeks until Spring Training 2009 begins!
