Flawed Tigers Might Just Surprise in The Postseason

If you took this Tigers team and placed them within any other division in baseball, they would be relegated to longshot status for the postseason.

Lucky for them, they play in the stunningly mediocre AL Central, where the flawed reign supreme.

Make no mistake about it, the Detroit Tigers have their share of vulnerability. Most of that centers around their anemic offense.

Miguel Cabrera is the only player on the team that is hitting over .300. He also leads the team in home runs and RBI. One might say, he is carrying this Tigers offense. If Cabrera keeps up his pace and the Tigers win the division, he will certainly garner MVP attention.

However, beyond Cabrera, there isn't a whole lot to get excited about when a Tiger is at the plate.

Gerald Laird is batting a piddly .225, which coincidentally, is also his body weight. Adam Everett? .241. Even the normally fearsome Magglio Ordonez is suffering a massive drop in production this season. Brandon Inge has plummeted due to a knee injury that he has played through, after a solid first half

However, at least in the case of Laird, he makes up for his lack of offense with his superior skills at his position. Laird has thrown out 30 batters this season, which is good for best in the majors. It's a quiet statistic, but an important one.

Although he'll deny it, many speculate that Laird is also partially responsible for the resurgence of Justin Verlander, the spectacular season from Edwin Jackson, and the rapid development of Rick Porcello. 

On paper, these Tigers don't compare to the power lineups of their AL counterparts in New York, Boston, and L.A., but they do have a possible competitive advantage in their pitching rotation.

Justin Verlander is certainly a valid ace pitcher. He leads the AL in strikeouts and wins, and is seventh in ERA. His work will earn him Cy Young attention to be sure.

Edwin Jackson has been a dream come true and is currently third in the AL in ERA.

Throw Jarrod Washburn (sixth in ERA) and surprising rookie, Rick Porcello (fifth in wins) in the mix, and the Tigers have a four-man postseason rotation that can stand with the best of them.

Then there's the bullpen. Fernando Rodney is sixth in the AL with 29 saves this year, and just one blown save. Brandon Lyon, Fu-Ti-Ni, Bobby Seay, and rookie Ryan Perry have all provided great support in late innings as well.

In 2006, it was pitching that got the upstart Tigers past the murderers row lineup of the New York Yankees. Could more magic be in the works this season?

Virtually any team the Tigers face will trump them on offense, but pitching and defense wins championships, and the Tigers hold an edge in both categories.

So the expectations for the team in postseason play won't be high, but the possibilities for upsets are very good.

Enjoy the pennant race Tigers fans, and keep in mind that even if the Tigers suffer an early exit in the postseason, the future remains bright for this team.

The Tigers big three in the rotation of Justin Verlander, Edwin Jackson, and Rick Porcello are all under the age of 27.

Miguel Cabrera is just entering his prime, they have a potential solid bat in Alex Avila ready to make the leap next season, and if Magglio Ordonez comes off the books, a big bat can be added in the offseason.

Detroit is ready to make the leap to perennial playoff contenders and the 119 loss Tigers of yesteryear are becoming a distant memory. Enjoy this.