Tigers Silencing Critics With Strong First Half

Looks like the so called "experts" got it wrong again. Picked to be at the bottom of the AL Central, the Detroit Tigers have jumped out to a five game lead over the Minnesota Twins and rest of the division.

The strength of the team lies in the pitching staff.  Led by Justin Verlander, the Tigers (41-31) have a combined team ERA of 4.10, which is good for 8th in Major League Baseball. Verlander has bounced back nicely from a shaky 2008, posting an 8-3 record with an American League leading 118 strikeouts.

Detroit has also benefited greatly from starters Edwin Jackson and Rick Porcello.  Jackson, the 25 year old right hander acquired in a trade from Tampa Bay, has a 6-4 record with a 2.40 ERA, trailing only Zack Greinke of the Royals for tops in the AL. Meanwhile Porcello, only 20 years old and a rookie, has given the team quality innings and has eight wins and a 3.55 ERA to show for it.

On the offensive side of the ball, Brandon Inge and Miguel Cabrera have lead the charge. Inge, hitting .275 with 17 HRs, has the team lead with 49 RBI while Cabrera is hitting an obnoxious .332.  The key to this offense though really seems to be Curtis Granderson.  Off to a slow start but heating up at the right time, Granderson has added some power from the leadoff spot with 17 HRs. 

Mike Illitch's team has also trusted role players like Ryan Raburn and Ramon Santiago to get clutch hits when the team needs them. Case in point was Raburn's walk-off home run against the Chicago Cubs Tuesday night.

Like any team, Detroit has some holes to patch.  A left handed bat to supplement Granderson would be useful and the middle relief pitching, specifically Nate Robertson, needs to turn it on.  Robertson has been a disappointment since being demoted to the bullpen, with a team worst 7.71 ER.

Ahhh, the Detroit Tigers.  Are they primed to build on this momentum and gain an insurmountable lead in the weak AL Central?  Or are Verlander and company headed towards a collapse?  Only time will tell, but if these power arms and bats keep playing up to their potential, October may come a callin' to Motown again.