Bleacher Report - Articles by Brian Campana

I Would Love to Go to Detroit…

Brian Campana — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 16:57:37 -0400

By Brian Campana

*****

I’m being completely honest, and it has nothing to do with money, but…

The Detroit Lions should not even consider Matthew Stafford for their first overall draft pick. Call me a pessimist, remind me that I dwell on past discrepancies, but we swung for the fences with Joey Harrington, and we struck out. But the problem is not with Stafford. It’s not you honey, it’s me…

Matthew Stafford is going to be a great quarterback in the pros, maybe even a Pro Bowl selection one day, but the focus of the Lions needs to be almost entirely devoted to the defense. The Lions defense gave up way too many points last season, simple as that. The Lions were far and away the worst defense in the league, giving up a ridiculous 517 points. For those of you not disgusted by this, I will elaborate. The Lions gave up 32.3 points PER GAME on average. How is that for pressure on the offense?

Imagine, for a second, that you are Matthew Stafford. You were selected first overall in the 2009 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. You look up at the scoreboard at the end of the first quarter and your jaw drops. In the Lions first four games of 2008, they were finding themselves in trouble early. They trailed the Falcons by a score of 21-0 early in the second quarter. The Packers also put up a quick 21 points before the Lions really got going. Even San Francisco and Chicago found themselves leading by scores of 21-3 and 17-0 in the first half.

But no pressure kid, you will be fine. Oh, and your offensive line is terrible. And you don’t have a polished NFL running back to keep defenses honest. Stafford would simply drop to the ground and move into the fetal position just to avoid the four or five opposing players coming his way. Detroit’s defense is terrible, and their offensive line is not much better. But that is what the draft is all about, rebuilding. And fortunately for the Lions, they have a lot of picks to work with.

The Lions have the pleasure of having the first overall pick. However, this is bittersweet because how much “pleasure” can be found in being the worst team to ever lace up the spikes and take the football field?

*****

I’m being completely honest, and it has nothing to do with money, but…

I, along with other fellow Lions fans, do honestly believe that the offense (minus the quarterback spot) was not all that bad last season. While there were a few guffaws made (sorry Dan, but you can’t run out of the end zone like that) the Lions did actually have a decent offense.

A few future faces of the franchise were in the spotlight last season, namely Calvin Johnson, one of the league’s premier receivers. Calvin racked up 1331 yards and 12 touchdowns on only 78 receptions. Only Larry Fitzgerald was more dominant.

Ernie Sims, the Lions’ first round draft pick in 2006, had another impressive season, notching 113 tackles. Sims has averaged 124 tackles a season in his three years with the Lions. Sims appears to be a foundation on this defense. This is promising, one spot down, ten more to go.

Gosder Cherilus went through a rough first half of the season, but the fact that fellow rookie Kevin Smith found room to run on the right side leads me to believe that Cherilus may be legit. Now I am not saying that Sims, Smith or Cherilus are or ever will necessarily be Pro Bowlers, but they can have solid careers in Detroit.

*****

I’m being completely honest, and it has nothing to do with money, but…

The Lions WILL draft with money on the mind with the first overall pick of the 2009 NFL Draft. I know that commissioner Roger Goodell will walk out and say, “With the first pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions select Matthew Stafford, quarterback, from the University of Georgia.” What they SHOULD do is go after an anchor for their offensive line or defense.

But in reality they won’t, they need to sell tickets and offensive linemen just don’t do that. But just go with it for a second, Baylor’s Jason Smith goes first. Or even Eugene Monroe out of Virginia.

It may pain sports fans to see lineman go first overall, but the fact is that a solid offensive lineman can change your whole team. A lineman that is devoted to a franchise, that can be the foundation on which to build around, can lead to great things.

Look at the St. Louis Rams for example. Orlando Pace has been one of the best in the business since he was drafted by the Rams in 1997. Pace has been nothing short of stellar for his entire career, something the Lions should be actively searching to find in their first pick.

Though the offensive line does need help, adding another stud on defense would be a smart pick as well. Aaron Curry, linebacker out of Wake Forest, has really impressed me and fellow Lion faithful (I feel weird using the word faithful) at the NFL combine.

His combination of speed, athleticism and strength really impressed the Lions front office. Curry managed to be the top linebacker at more than half of the combine events. He ran a 4.56 in the 40 yard dash. His vertical was measured at just over three feet. Curry was also impressive in the 60 yard shuttle (11.35 seconds) and the broad jump (10 feet, 4 inches) to make him the premier linebacker in the draft. The Lions could go after Curry to flank Ernie Sims, cementing a linebacker corps that is sure to be around for years.

*****

I’m being completely honest, and it has nothing to do with money, but…

Sure, the Lions may go after the “sexy and trendy” pick with Matthew Stafford, it does make for a great story. It also puts fans in the seats. But it does bring a bit of curiosity to my gut. As a journalist, the relation between Matthew Stafford and Bobby Layne makes my mouth water. As a Lions fan, however, it does make me wonder if maybe fate is bringing Stafford to us, or Layne laughing his ass off from the grave.

As many Lions fans know, Bobby Layne led the Lions to three NFL Championships. In the last of the three, Layne got injured and the Lions wanted to jump ship. As far as the Lions were concerned, Layne was history; his career would soon be over. So they got rid of him. As Layne was leaving for his new team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, Layne vowed that Detroit “would not win for 50 years” and that “I’d like to win a championship for the Steelers and for myself to shove down Detroit’s throat.” This became known as the Curse of Bobby Layne.

That was 50 years ago. That’s right, in the final year of the “you won’t win for 50 years” curse, the Lions managed to do just that, not win. What many people may not know, though avid sports fans have heard the ironic relation, is that Stafford and Layne share a common bond. Bobby Layne is a member of the Highland Park High School Class of 1944, while Stafford graduated in 2006. Intriguing, right? What if, and it is a big if, the Lions can somehow turn it around (Tampa Bay Devil Rays anyone?) and make a run at the NFC North title. It is far-fetched to believe they will win a game in the playoffs, but the NFC North isn’t the toughest conference in football. Like the kid in Angels in the Outfield said, “it could happen.”

Plus it is our year, we are due.

*****

I’m being completely honest, and it has nothing to do with money, but…

As much as the Lions do need a franchise quarterback, is Stafford really the guy?

The last few weeks have seen the Lions addressing their number one concern from last season, the defense. The Lions traded journeyman gunslinger Jon Kitna to the Cowboys for cover corner Anthony Henry. They then followed that up with the signing of Eric King, a reserve player of Jim Schwartz’s from Tennessee. They then signed veteran cornerback Philip Buchanon to a two-year deal. So what slim chances there were of maybe trading down to take Malcolm Jenkins are out the window.

The Lions then signed running back Maurice Morris to a three year deal. They also added wide receiver Bryant Johnson to a three year contract. Therefore any chances of the Lions maybe dropping to take Michael Crabtree are gone.

That leaves four legitimate contenders for the Lions at number one: Matthew Stafford, Eugene Monroe, Jason Smith and Aaron Curry. But there could be a dark horse.

*****

I’m being completely honest, and it has nothing to do with money, but…

The Lions need to avoid making the “Millen” pick, which would mean they go after the trendy pick. Sure, Matthew Stafford could be great. But the Lions need to go after defense in this draft. And with first year head coach Jim Schwartz, I think they are going to do just that.

The Lions picked up Grady Jackson, a Band Aid for the defense for the time being. Rookie Cliff Avril showed some promise last season. But in the whole scheme of things the defensive line needs some work.

The key needs the Lions need to fill this season, in no particular order of importance, are offensive tackle, linebacker, defensive end, quarterback, secondary and an entirely new front office.

The candidates for offensive tackle are clearly Jason Smith (Baylor) and Eugene Monroe (Virginia). The Lions have Cherilus on the right side, so a left tackle would be ideal. Smith and Monroe both can provide years of solid play on the offensive line, allowing the Lions to focus more on their offensive weapons and their defense.

The linebacker candidate is Aaron Curry. The kid is explosive, and shows the type of pash rushing presence the Lions so desperately need.

Defensive ends Brian Orakpo (Texas) and Everette Brown (Florida State) both could potentially see themselves in Detroit next season, though it is not as likely as the big four of Monroe, Stafford, Curry and Smith.

The quarterbacks in the draft are Stafford and USC’s Mark Sanchez, though Sanchez isn’t a good fit for Detroit.

The secondary has apparently been addressed through free agency, with the acquisitions of Buchanon, Henry and King.

*****

I’m being completely honest, and it has nothing to do with money, but…

Look at what the Miami Dolphins did last year in the offseason, and then look at the offseason the Lions have currently been having. The focus of Miami last season was to address every single problem position, not just by making blockbuster trades and draft picks, but rather under the radar free agent signings.

The Lions have quietly bolstered their secondary, clearly deciding to address the issue on the waiver wire as opposed to wasting picks in the draft.

The Lions then got a solid running back option in Maurice Morris. Kevin Smith is our running back of the future, but Morris can provide short yardage conversions when needed. The tandem of Kevin Smith and Maurice Morris should make for a pretty balanced offense when coupled with the passing game.

The Lions released Orlovsky, traded Kitna and signed wideout Bryant Johnson. That leaves Daunte Culpepper as the leader of the Lions passing attack (for now) and showcases Calvin Johnson as the big play-maker on offense.

The Lions also added signed offensive tackle Daniel Loper and linebacker Cody Spencer.

So far, the Lions are following the model of minor upgrades across the board before draft day.

*****

I’m being completely honest, and it has nothing to do with money, but…

Not counting the compensatory picks at the end of the late rounds (3-7), the Lions have eight picks at their disposal. Obviously they have the number one overall pick. They also have the 20th pick of round one, acquired from Dallas in the Roy Williams trade. The Lions open up selections in the second, third, fifth and sixth rounds, while also having the 18th pick of the third round and the 19th pick of the sixth round. Moral of the story, the Lions have five of the first 82 picks.

If I were the GM of the Lions, my draft would look a little like this for the first thee rounds.

Round 1, Pick 1, Detroit selects Aaron Curry (LB – Wake Forest). This kid has too much potential for the Lions to pass up on. He has shown his explosiveness and strength at the combine, and I feel that the pure talent of the Wake Forest linebacker is too much to pass up on. I know the golden rule of the NFL draft, the old cliché, is that “if you don’t have a franchise QB, get one.”

Round 1, Pick 20, Detroit selects Josh Freeman (QB – Kansas State). 6’6”, 250 pounds and a laser rocket arm. Freeman has the body of an NFL quarterback, and one that can take the hits as the offensive line gets settled in. Freeman played a pro-style offense under Ron Prince at Kansas State and has all the weapons needed. His calm demeanor makes him a great fit in Detroit, in a system that is on the rise offensively.

Round 2, Pick 1, Detroit selects Michael Johnson (DE – Georgia Tech). With the Lions running a 4-3 defense, as coach Jim Schwartz plans to do, you need a stronger player inside and a pass-rusher outside. Grady Jackson is a temporary fix for now on the interior of the defensive line. Johnson is a strong player that can provide pressure from the outside, while allowing Jackson, Curry and Sims to handle the interior gaps.

Round 3, Pick 1, Detroit selects Fili Moala (DE/DT – USC). And then the Lions had a defensive line. Free agency has seen the Lions fill the voids in the secondary. With the young combination of Curry and Sims, the linebacking corps is set (Dizon could be a future stud as well), and the defensive line needs one more solid young star. Moala provides that, and provides it well. It is highly likely that Moala will be picked late in the second round, but if it’s me and he is available, consider it done.

Round 3, Pick 18, Detroit selects Jason Watkins (OT – Florida). Watkins is a very well built lineman, with his speed off the line being a huge asset. He has strong arms and is extremely coordinated. I take Watkins here to give the offensive line a boost, and if it doesn’t work out, I focus on the offensive line for my first pick of the draft, wherever that may be.

*****

I’m being completely honest, and it has nothing to do with money, but…

Three rounds and five picks later, the Lions could be looking at a stud linebacker, a consistent gunslinger, a pair of defensive linemen and an offensive tackle. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Lions take a WR or a safety in the later rounds, but I like the idea of going after Curry then focusing on the lines.

Freeman would be the exception simply because I just cannot put a vote of confidence in Daunte Culpepper to lead the Lions next season.

All in all, as a Lions fan, I am not going to be happy with the draft. I cannot remember the last time that I was, frankly.

NFL Draft day will come on April 25^th. I will throw on my jersey with the hope that with Millen gone that this year will be different. But when Millen got fired, they just promoted from within, so what really changed? I will walk away with my head down thinking where we could go any more wrong from last year. The Lions will come out in 2009 and probably still be the worst team in the NFC North. But we are still rebuilding. To the Lions front office I ask you to, please, make the smart picks that produce wins, not season ticket sales.

I’m being completely honest, and it has nothing to do with money, but I would love to go to Detroit. Well that is a good thing Mister Stafford, because it’s looking like you are coming to Motown.

Spring of the Tigers: Galarraga, Willis Struggle Early In Tiger Loss

Brian Campana — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 19:08:03 -0500

Dontrelle Willis made his 2009 debut for the Tigers on Friday, and the Toronto Blue Jays made him pay for his mistakes.

Willis allowed four runs, two of which were earned, while allowing three hits, a walk and hitting a batter before finally recording three outs.

Willis was pulled in the start of the fourth inning.

The Tigers lost to Toronto by a score of 6-4, again struggling off the mound, much like their opener.

Willis, pitching for the first time since the end of the 2008 season, fell right back into the form he was in last season. In his final four appearances of 2008, Willis tallied 20 earned runs in his last 14 innings of work in 2008.

With all the talk about how good he looked in his bullpen sessions, the shaky Willis took the mound against the Blue Jays. But he was not alone.

Detroit starter Armando Galarraga also had an off day. In his two innings of work Galarraga allowed a run, walking two Toronto batters and hitting another.

The Blue Jays opened up the scoring in the bottom of the first, when Adam Lind’s sacrifice single put the Blue Jays up 1-0.

The Tigers came right back in the second, when Timo Perez grounded out, scoring Mike Hessman to tie the game at 1-1.

In the bottom of the third, Kevin Millar reached base on an RBI double off of Dontrelle Willis, then scored on a Rod Barajas single. After the third it was the Blue Jays leading 3-1.

It was more of the same in the fourth.

Willis allowed three batters on before being pulled for Chris Lambert. Aaron Hill drove in a run, and Alex Rios hit a sacrifice fly to extend the Toronto lead to 5-1 after four innings.

Fernando Rodney came on to pitch the sixth inning, giving up a one-out solo home run to Jason Lane, giving the Blue Jays a 6-1 lead. Rodney gave up a run on a pair of hits and two walks in the one-run sixth.

The Tigers fought back, rallying for three runs in the seventh off of Brian Wolfe. Donnie Kelly hit a solo home run, and Alex Avila added on a two-run single to leave the Tigers trailing 6-4 after seven innings of baseball.

The Toronto relievers then shut down the Tigers to win by two runs.

Dirk Hayhurst pitched one-hit ball, notching two strikeouts in a scoreless eighth inning.

Brian Burres allowed one hit and struck out one, recording the save.

Brad Mills, a contender for one of the spots in the Blue Jay starting rotation, picked up the win by pitching one-hit ball, allowing no runs to score in two innings of work.

Juan Rincon and Scott Williamson each pitched a scoreless inning to close the game for the Tigers.

Gary Sheffield made his first appearance for the Tigers this spring, having sat out the first two games with a sore elbow suffered on Wednesday. Sheffield went 1-for-2 with a walk in his debut.

Brandon Inge continued his wonderful start to the spring as he went 1 for 2 with a double. Inge is now hitting .750 this spring.

The Tigers (1-2) will next take on the New York Mets, with Brandon Lyon scheduled to pitch after starter Jonathan Kibler.

Lyon was shaky in his first appearance of spring training, giving up three runs in only an inning of work. The Blue Jays (2-1) take on the Atlanta Braves on Saturday.

Jeremy Bonderman will pitch a simulated game in his bullpen session on Saturday. Bonderman has yet to appear this year for the Tigers.

Spring of the Tigers: Tigers Drop Close Game to Washington Nationals

Brian Campana — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 03:03:13 -0500

Edwin Jackson pitched two scoreless innings in his preseason debut as the Detroit Tigers (1-1) lost a close one to the Washington Nationals (1-1) by a score of 2-1.

In his first appearance since being traded to the Tigers for Matt Joyce back in December, Jackson looked strong for his two scheduled innings. He struck out three and walked one, allowing no hits and no runs.

Adam Everett and Clete Thomas had the two Tiger hits of the afternoon, but the story at the Nationals facility in Viera, Fla. was not the Tiger hitting, but rather the pitching.

Rick Porcello, perceived by many to be Detroit’s new golden boy, looked shaky as he gave up a run off of two hits, though he did notch two strikeouts while at work in the fifth inning.

Joel Zumaya looked decent, allowing two baserunners in a scoreless sixth inning. Clay Rapada and Macay McBride both pitched scoreless innings to finish off the day for the Tigers.

The scoring started in the bottom of the third when Wil Nieves cracked a double off of Nate Robertson, allowing Pete Orr to score on the play. Robertson gave up two hits, including the RBI double by Nieves, in two innings of work.

In the top of the fifth, the Tigers tied the game at one run a piece when Ryan Raburn scored off a Clete Thomas single off of Mike O’Connor.

O’Connor was credited with the win when the Nationals scored their second, and final, run of the game in the bottom of the fifth. Orr then scored again, this time off of a Chris Marrero double, and that was enough for the Nationals to win the ballgame.

Edwin Jackson and Joel Zumaya left the Tigers with something to talk about. Jackson appears to be locked into the fourth spot in the starting rotation, while Zumaya appears healthy and ready to resume his role as a late-inning reliever for the Tigers.

Rick Porcello and Nate Robertson, considered two of the candidates for the fifth and final starting spot, didn’t do much to improve their standing with manager Jim Leyland.

It was a surprising day, as the potent Tiger batting order was held to just two hits, striking out eight times. Carlos Guillen, Magglio Ordonez, and Miguel Cabrera all were hitless in the game. Guillen has now gone two games without a hit, as he went 0-for-3 against the Braves on Wednesday.

Collin Balester, Jordan Zimmerman, Terrell Young, former Tiger Wil Ledezma, and Jesus Colome all pitched scoreless baseball for the Nationals. Only Mike O’Connor (1-0) gave up a run, but he did strike out two batters and recorded the win. Colome was credited with the save while Rick Porcello (0-1) picked up the loss.

Spring of the Tigers: Tigers Pitching Suspect in Win Over Braves

Brian Campana — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 05:33:28 -0500

As the sun sets on day one of spring training for the Detroit Tigers, a haze of a bittersweet victory looms. The Tigers (1-0) defeated the Atlanta Braves (0-1) in their first game since the end of last season. The score, 5-4, was far from ideal in that a lot of questions still remain.

The concern all offseason had been the Tigers and the pitching staff being able to get back on course. With one win under their belts, the concern is more prevalent than it was before.

The Tigers' pitching was phenomenal for the first four innings. Justin Verlander provided two innings of one-hit ball, followed by Zach Miner pitching two scoreless innings of his own.

After four innings, the Tigers were leading comfortably, 3-0. But the two-headed monster that is the Tigers bullpen then took to the field. Over the next five innings, five Tiger pitchers gave up four runs.

In the fifth inning, the ball was handed to new acquisition Brandon Lyon, the Tigers new closer. In one inning of work Lyon managed to give up three hits, a walk and three unearned runs.

After a rather tumultuous year with Todd Jones as the closer, this was not a good sign for the Tiger faithful.

Bobby Seay pitched a perfect sixth inning, striking out all three of the Braves that he faced. Eddie Bonine gave up a home run to Jordan Schafer in the seventh inning.

Taiwanese import, Fu-Te Ni, was surprisingly good, retiring all three batters that he faced in the eighth inning, on only six pitches, to earn the win. Kyle Bloom, a Rule V pick, struck out two hitters in his perfect ninth, recording a save.

While the disappointing debut of Brandon Lyon was the top story, the apparent reemergence of Justin Verlander is quite intriguing. Verlander looked strong in his two innings, not allowing a ball out of the infield.

If Verlander can return to the form that went 18-6, with 183 strikeouts, in 2007, the Tigers could be a dark horse World Series contender, again. But that is much easier said than done. For now, it looks as if he has his swagger back, and the Braves saw that first hand.

Bobby Seay, Zach Miner, Fu-Te Ni, and Kyle Bloom all pitched well, which is a plus for a Tiger bullpen that had a year to forget in 2008. The Lyon situation will be interesting to watch, but there was a silver lining to the pitching in Lakeland on Wednesday.

The MVP off the mound was undoubtedly Bobby Seay, as he struck out the side in the sixth. A command over his pitches suggested that he has been hard at work this offseason, but it is only one game.

The suspect relief pitching was the key focus of Tiger critics in this game, but the hitting was nothing to smile at either.

The Tiger batters stranded an embarrassing 20 batters, which is simply inexcusable.

Curtis Granderson, Placido Polanco, Magglio Ordonez, and Miguel Cabrera all managed to get a hit, which is to be expected. The four combined to hit 4-for-10 with a run and an RBI.

Newcomer Gerald Laird went 2-for-3 with a double, a triple, and a pair of runs. Though the combination of Lyon and Laird allowed two stolen bases in the Braves’ three-run fifth inning. This offensive performance earned Laird the MVP at the plate for the game. But his shortcomings defensively are rather bothersome.

The loss of Ivan Rodriguez will be clearly noticeable, as Laird has nowhere near the arm strength that Pudge had provided for his years behind the plate for the Tigers.

Lackluster performances by Carlos Guillen and Jeff Larish added to the Tiger inefficiency behind the plate. The pair combined to go 0-for-5 with seven runners left on base.

Though the Tigers won, the fact that they tallied eleven hits and five walks, only to score five runs, is hard to believe for an offense as potent as the Tigers. The Tiger runs were scored off of two sacrifice flies, a wild pitch and two singles. This scrappy play cannot be relied on to win ballgames with a bullpen as shaky as the Tigers.

The fact of the matter is that the Tigers offense needs to cover for a weaker pitching staff. Against the Braves, they escaped with a win, but this is not a reliable means to victory.

The Tigers will travel Thursday to take on the Washington Nationals in Viera, Florida. Tiger pitchers Edwin Jackson, Nate Robertson, Joel Zumaya, and rookie gem Rick Porcello are all scheduled to pitch, with Jackson penciled as the starter.

All in all, the Tigers were good but not great in their first game of the preseason, but spring training is all about finding your identity as a team. And in the Tigers' case, they are still searching for answers.

The Top 10 Most Laughable Sports Moments

Brian Campana — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 16:37:07 -0500

I have not been around the sports world as long as most, yet there are some simply laughable moments in sports. The best thing about the life we live is that there is no "Pause Life" button. There is no "Start Over" function on the remote that controls our life. So as the old cliche goes, "think before you act." The athletes, referees and coaches invoved in some of these laughable moments simply didn't think at all. And to that, I propose a toast. Whether it is a botched snap, an errant through, a creative celebration, or just arguing a call, these moments will always go down as the funniest that I have ever had the please to witness.

Begin Slideshow

Springing The Detroit Tigers Back to Life

Brian Campana — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:23:58 -0500

Spring training is back again in Detroit and fans are looking forward to a better baseball season than last year. With the disappointment of last year's Tigers, the winless Lions, and slumping Pistons, Motown fans would like something else to cherish besides a Stanley Cup win.

There is a legitimate shot for the Tigers to win the AL Central this year, as none of the five teams appear any stronger than the other. The downside is that there has been little shakeup this offseason.

Manager Jim Leyland will return this year, bringing new acquisitions Brandon Lyon and Adam Everett. Lyon will bring a little more consistency to the closer's role and Everett provides great defensive presence in the infield.

The return of Joel Zumaya from nagging injuries also brings hope to a city desperate for something positive.

The bad news is the pitching, which, aside from the arrival of Lyon and the retirement of Todd Jones, really isn’t much different from last year.

The Tigers' strengths this year are mainly based around hitting. Magglio Ordonez is back and still dangerous. Miguel Cabrera still can hit and anchors this potentially explosive roster. The names, and the bats that are synonymous with those names, are still the same as the 1,000-run expectation of last year.

Curtis Granderson, Placido Polanco, Carlos Guillen, Cabrera, and Ordonez have what it takes to make a run at another Series, but hitting was not really the issue last year. Pitching was the downfall.

While the outlook seems to be better than last year, there are many questions surrounding this year’s pitching staff in Detroit.

Can Lyon actually be a consistent closer for the Tigers?

Is Jeremy Bonderman actually healthy enough to pitch a full season?

Will Justin Verlander be able to regain his form that has been missing since the World Series run?

Can Zumaya and the middle relief keep the Tigers in ballgames?

The ninth-inning situation should be much improved with Lyon replacing Todd Jones, but Lyon is in no way a dominant closer. The defense will be relied on to get the Tigers the final outs, as Lyon, much like Todd Jones before him, is a groundball pitcher.

Detroit needs a miracle right now to spark some life back into a sports city that is giving Cleveland a run for the title of the most disappointing sports city. As was the case last season, the Tigers have the potential to make it deep in the playoffs. But can a team that has been a model of inconsistency and sloppy play when it matters most piece together a full season of baseball?

Injuries have been another issue for the Tigers. Losing Zumaya last season was tough. A major void in the bullpen never was filled, not even close. But there is always a silver lining. Armando Gallaraga came out of nowhere last season, cementing himself as the second starter behind Verlander.

The rest of the rotation appears shaky. Sure, Verlander is a terrific pitcher, but he needs some help. Bonderman appears to have the third spot in the rotation. He showed he can pitch, and pitch well, but the Tigers need him to watch his pitch count and buckle up for the long season.

The bottom half of the rotation leaves a lot of room for doubt. Edwin Jackson has potential to be great, but he has struggled in long seasons, with an ERA over 5.00 for his career. The last spot in the rotation appears to be a three-pony race, with Nate Robertson, Dontrelle Willis, and Zach Miner all vying for that spot.

Willis is back from a knee injury, but his career had derailed long before that mishap. Robertson has gotten worse every year since the trip to the Series, and Zach Miner seems to be a model of mediocrity in Motown.

Detroit has what it takes to make it big this season. Leyland is a phenomenal manager who knows how to withstand long seasons. The bats have been there, but they are needed now more than ever. The loss of Pudge Rodriguez hurt last year too, but the Tigers will rebound from that.

If they can have a few pitchers return to form, the team will be strong. Only time will tell if the Tigers can make this happen, but until then, a haze of expected disappointment lies like a plague over the city of Detroit. The only way out is up.

No pressure.

Ad-Justin-G to the Big Leagues: Verlander Finds Success in Detroit

Brian Campana — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 10:39:44 -0400

June 12, 2007. Detroit, Michigan. JJ Hardysteps up to the plate, his Brewers trailing 4-0 in the ninth. But today there would not be a Brewercomeback, not with Justin Verlander on the mound. Hardy belts a ball to the track, but Magglio Ordonez isthere to haul it in. Tigerswin. But most importantly,Verlander, at 24 years of age, has pitched the Tigers’ first no-hitter in 23 years.

Fast forward to the present. Justin Verlander leads a somewhat suspect pitching corps ofthe Detroit Tigers. But if youtold him that it was shaky, he’d probably laugh you off.

But Verlander, along with most other young gunslingers,needs to be cautious. Overpitchinghas been an issue in the majors in the past few years, with teams riding theirhot young ace’s arm all the way to the disabled list.

Just ask Kerry Wood. The Chicago Cubs made use of their young star almost immediately, asWood threw for 166.2 innings in his 1998 rookie season. He sat out the 1999 season with tornligaments in his elbow. In hisfourth and fifth season, Wood topped the 200 innings pitched mark.

Enter the injury bug, again. Wood’s arm was so overused that he hasn’t played a fullseason in three seasons. ButDetroit Tigers skipper, Jim Leyland, has not let this bug come anywhere nearhis young ace.

That is until last season. Verlander tossed for 201.2 innings last season. And with this raise in innings came aslight raise in ERA. Leyland hasinsisted to the media that he has kept track of the pitches being thrown by hisyoung pitchers, namely Verlander and Jeremy Bonderman, but everyone gets greedyfrom time to time.

Baseball needs to be able to rest their young prospects andbe careful not to end a career before it even starts. One thing is for certain, however, the kids all got game.