Tigers Season Preview Part 5

In the fifth installment of my season preview series for the Tigers, I will look at the bullpen.  Like I did with the bench players, I'm not going to do a full on statistical prediction for these guys; only a relatively short preview on how I think they will do/help the Tigers in 2012.

Without further ado:

LR: Duane Below LHP

Duane Below is one of those feel good stories you can't help but smile about.  Hailing from Britton, MI (South-Central part of state), Below has never been on any "Top-10" prospect lists.  However, he has been successful at every minor league stop, finally earning his shot with the Tigers last season, and performing pretty well out of the bullpen.  Below was originally slotted to be sent to Toledo out of spring training this season, but an injury to Luis Marte had Below headed to Detroit before he could even unpack his bag.  3 games into the season, Below already has 2 wins (the first 2 of his career) and has proved to be a key contributor and the sole "long man" in Jim Leyland's bullpen.  While it wouldn't surprise me to see Below get a spot start this season at some point; I think his stuff translates better to the bullpen, where he can have some moderate success.

LR/MR: Colin Balester RHP

This is who we got in exchange for Ryan Perry from the Washington Nationals.  Considering Ryan Perry has been a grease fire of a pitcher in Detroit, the fact that we got anything more than a half-empty tin of dip and 4 week old spitter for him in a trade should be considered a steal by Dombrowski.  I don't know much about Balester other than he's the ultimate swingman; meaning that he has the ability to spot start, be a long relief guy, or come into a game to get one out.  Leyland has said that he will be the "jack of all trades" in the Tigers bullpen.  In the Max Scherzer aberration of a start on Sunday, Balester came on and pitched 2 2/3 innings of 1 run relief, which honestly, I'll take.  He also has an absolute beauty of a mustache:

We ain't talkin bout no peach fuzz; we talkin' bout handlebars

MR: Daniel Schlereth LHP

"Son of Stink", "Stink, Jr.", "Lefty", "THROW THE GODDAMNED BALL OVER THE GODDAMNED PLATE".  All of these nicknames come to mind when I think about Daniel Schlereth.  Similar to Perry in that he's a young reliever with oodles and oodles of potential that lacks the ability to consistently throw strikes.  Unlike Perry in that he's lefthanded and has had at least moderate success.  Originally tabbed as the "steal" of the Granderson/Edwin Jackson deal, he was billed as a Billy Wagner type future closer.  He's not that, but he has shown the ability, with command, to be a dominating strikeout machine against lefty hitters.  He is the designated "LOOGY" (Lefty One Out GuY) of the bullpen, meaning that in situations where a left-handed hitter is coming out and Leyland needs 1 out, Schlereth is probably the guy coming in.  He throws a fastball anywhere from 90-94, usually sitting 91-92, and a curveball that, WHEN COMMANDED, can absolutely dominate lefties.  I have my reservations about Schlereth, but as usual, I'm optimistic.

MR: Octavio Dotel RHP

The definition of "journeyman", Dotel begins his 12th season in the big leagues with Detroit, his 13th team.  Dotel was the "big" signing of the offseason prior to Prince, and should not be overlooked in terms of value.  In the ALCS against Texas, the one BIG issue that brought us down (there were several, I know) was our lack of bullpen depth.  We literally could not count on anyone except for Benoit and Valverde, and by game 4 of the ALCS, they were tapped out.  That's why Dombrowski went and signed Dotel: experience, depth, and yet still a very good pitcher.  He and Phil Coke will presumably split the 7th inning duties, as we all know how Leyland loves to play righty/lefty platoon matchups.  Dotel will be very underrated in terms of his value to the Tigers, and I would guess that he has a very good season in Detroit.  However, his true value will show up in the playoffs.

MR: Phil Coke LHP

First, follow @PhilCoke'sBrain on twitter.  You'd be doing yourself a favor, I promise.  Now, to actual baseball.  Phil Coke is one of my favorite Tigers.  From his sprinting into the game from the bullpen, to randomly pointing up every time a ball is remotely hit in the air, he brings a sort of goofiness that I believe every team needs.  He tried starting last year, didn't do so well, got moved back to the bullpen, and didn't do so well for awhile.  He picked it up down the stretch; however, providing the Tiger's with a valuable piece.  I believe he will be counted on mightily this season to be the primary lefty in Leyland's bullpen; being counted on to pitch the 7th inning and get big outs.  He can get up as high as 96 on the gun, and from the left side, that's very impressive.  He also has a good curveball that's effective on lefties, and an at least serviceable changeup.

SU: Joaquin Benoit RHP

Dombrowski really pissed some people off last offseason when he spent 16.5 million dollars over 3 years to sign an 8th inning guy.  But last year in the playoffs against the Yankees, Benoit earned every damned penny IMHO.  Benoit will again be counted on as the primary set up man to Valverde.  I also believe he is a better pitcher than Valverde, but that's just me.  Benoit throws a fastball in the mid 90's, the occasional slider, and his secret weapon is the "Vulcan" changeup, aptly named due to the "Vulcan salute" grip he throws it with.  Benoit can be dominating, but is also susceptible to strings of hits and runs.  Regardless, he's one of my Tigers, and his gutty performance in the ALDS ranks right up there for me in terms of best playoff performances.

CL: Jose Valverde RHP

I call him Papa Grande.  Phil calls him Fatty.  Either way, the engimatic Tiger's close was perfect last season, converting 49/49 regular season save opps and was 2/2 in the playoffs.  He already blew a save this season (GASP!  FIRE LEYLAND!  SHOULD HAVE LEFT JV IN!  AHHHHHH FIRE LEYLAND!), so the streak is caput.  That's fine with me, as they still won the game.  I really couldn't give any less of a shit about who "gets" the win, so long as the Tigers win the game.  As you all know, I believe Wins, Saves, and RBI are the softest, most useless stats in the world, but that's just me.  Regardless, Valverde is a good, not great, closer.  He was helped out a lot last year in terms of saves, and his non-save opp stats aren't very good.  Regardless, I'm glad he's the Tiger's closer.  We could have it worse.  It could be Todd Jones

In the Finale of the Tiger's season preview series, I will give you a preview of who you might see pop up in Detroit this season from within the Tigers farm system (this is NOT a "top prospect" list)

Opening Day Recap-Detroit Tigers 3, Bahwstan Red Sawx 2

"For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land."

-Song of Solomon, as read every year on Opening Day by Ernie Harwell (RIP, we miss you Ernie)

Opening Day.  Rebirth.  Happiness.  Summer Shandy.  Skipping class.  The Detroit Tigers.  Warmer weather.  God Bless America.  Baseball is back.  All of these thoughts come to mind when I think of Opening Day.  It truly is absolutely magical, even if you don't go to the actual game.  There is no happier day of the year for me, including Christmas, my birthday, Halloween, New Years, etc.  I'm happier on Opening Day than I am on any other day (except if the Tigers win the World Series).

Anyways, our Tigers took on the Boston Red Sox yesterday down at Comerica Park.  On display to the world via ESPN 2 was the best pitcher in baseball (Justin Verlander), the best hitter in baseball (Miguel Cabrera), the Tiger's shiny new toy (Prince Fielder), and the rest of the defending 2011 AL Central Champions.  Verlander v. Lester was the matchup of Ace's, and they did not disappoint.

Rather than do a play by play type thing, I figured I would just do a random thoughts/observations list.

-Austin Jackson looked really good.  He went 3-5 with 2 single, a triple, a lineout, and 0 K's.  He also had his first career walk off hit in the bottom of the 9th to win the game.  Jackson is absolutely crucial to the Tiger's success.  If he can cut the strikeouts down and get on base more often, this could be a really fun season.

-The changes in Jackson's approach were very evident from a hitting perspective.  His big leg kick is gone, and you can tell he worked his ass off to get his hands quicker to the ball.  Hitting a baseball perfectly is the single hardest thing to do in any sport, as it takes so many intricate movements, hand-eye coordination, etc.  Jackson looked great.

-Verlander was Verlander.  What else is there to say?  His curveball was the best I've ever seen it, making good hitters like Youkilis and Ortiz look absolutely stupid.  He was very efficient also, throwing just 105 pitches through 8 innings.  Fastball velo was from 91 all the way up to 98, where he sat comfortably for a while.  That's the great thing about JV, is he can sit at any velo he would like and still dominate.

-Cabrera made an error OH MY GOD SOUND THE DAMNED ALARMS!!!  People, chill.  Cabby is going to make errors.  So is Prince at 1st.  Probably more than they should.  Seriously though, its cool.  I have great faith in Cabby and Prince to field their positions adequately.

-Cabby walked 3 times.  You won't see that very often, because Prince Fielder hits behind him.

-Prince singled in his Tiger's debut, and also put on an absolute clinic at first base in how to scoop low throws.  If there are any players, coaches, parents of players, etc, reading this, make them watch the replays of Prince scooping the uncharacteristically bad throws from Peralta.  His fundamentals are absolutely perfect, 100% spot on.

-Peralta and Avile combined to go 5-7 with a BB, an RBI, and a run scored.  Oh, and THEY BATTED 7-8 IN THE LINEUP.  Outstanding.

-Delmon Young played LF and Raburn DH'd.  Sigh

-Raburn got a hit.  Nobody tell him it's April

-Valverde blew a save for the first time since 2010.  Yeah, I would have left Verlander in.  But I'm not going to question Leyland here.  You have a closer who was perfect last season in your bullpen, and your pitcher is over 100 pitches in his first start.  It was completely understandable to go to the pen for the 9th inning. 

-Saves are a stupid stat anyways, much like wins and RBI


A programming note: I will not be doing these recaps for every game, because that would be ridiculous, and I don't get paid for this.  Also, forget Peace, Love, & Tigers baseball as a quirky way to sign off.  Beer, Broads, and Tigers baseball to you all