Detroit Tigers: Examining 2008 and Beyond

The Tigers in the Coming Years

Ah, my favorite part. Examining the future.

First things first, the pitching staff. Let's get one thing straight right off the bat; Jeremy Bonderman is the most overrated (well, second most overrated, cough Dontrelle cough) pitcher in Major League Baseball. He is never going to be a front-of-the-rotation-type pitcher. He's a No. 3 at best, and that's where he needs to stay.

Let's assume that Justin Verlander and Bonderman are the only two guys left in the rotation come 2010 or 2011. I'll gladly take a rotation that looks like Verlander, Rick Porcello, Bonderman, Duane Below, and Casey Crosby. I'll also gladly take a bullpen that consists of Zumaya throwing 98+ and closing. That's all we need. Just let Zumaya warm up every game, and throw every inning in relief. That would be the best idea for everyone.

Managing on the bench—we can only hope that Chuck Hernandez has an unfortunate accident sometime soon, before Verlander is posting 10-14 seasons with a 4.50+ ERA on a consistent basis. We can only pray that the man is gone before he can even breathe next to Porcello. Same goes for you, Lloyd McClendon.

By 2010 or 2011, I'm hoping for Tom Brookens as the manager. Maybe that's just me.

We're looking at a potential 2010 or 2011 lineup of this:

C - Brandon Inge (I think it's going to happen)
1B - Miguel Cabrera (Should be a great 1B by then)
2B - Scott Sizemore (I think Placido is let go after his contract is up after 2009)
SS - Edgar Renteria (Meanwhile, I think Edgar still has gas in the tank for three or four more years)
3B - Mike Hessman (He can't stay down any longer)/Carlos Guillen
LF - Matt Joyce (See above)
CF - Curtis Granderson
RF - Magglio Ordonez (I think his swan song is coming, but his new approach in the last two years to hitting for average instead of power should keep him around into his upper 30s)/Brent Clevlen
DH - Carlos Guillen/Magglio Ordonez
Bench - Jeff Larish (I'd love to see him starting, but there's no room right now)
Bench - Michael Hollimon
Bench - Cale Iorg
Bench - Brent Clevlen
Bench - James Skelton (To spell Inge...)

I'll take it, baby.

Detroit, I'll be waiting for a front office call sometime soon.

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