Panzram
11-22-2004, 07:07 PM
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=tigersaregettingreadytop&prov=tsn&type=lgns
Is it too early to pick the Tigers to win the A.L. Central in 2005? Probably. But a team that improved from 43 wins in 2003 to 72 last season is again spending big in a low-budget division. If the Tigers aren't quite ready for contention, they should be soon.
The Twins, three-time defending champions in the Central, are retooling again. The Indians are preparing for life without shortstop Omar Vizquel. The White Sox have reached 87 wins only once in the past 10 seasons, and the Royals are trying to climb out from 104 losses.
The Tigers, meanwhile, feature two All-Stars, catcher Ivan Rodriguez and shortstop Carlos Guillen, who are signed through 2007. Their latest addition, free-agent closer Troy Percival, 35, is in decline, but he's an upgrade over Ugueth Urbina, who is likely to be traded. The team also is casting a wide net for other free agents, including second baseman Jeff Kent, center fielder Steve Finley, third baseman Troy Glaus and righthander Derek Lowe.
Spending money won't guarantee success, not when the Twins are one of the game's most resourceful franchises and the Indians are on the rise. But scouts like the Tigers' nucleus of young starting pitchers -- Jeremy Bonderman, Mike Maroth, Nate Robertson and Wil Ledezma. Only the Astros had a larger attendance jump among teams that did not open new ballparks last season. And the contracts of right fielder Bobby Higginson, second baseman Fernando Vina, left fielder Rondell White and righthander Jason Johnson expire after the 2005 season, clearing more than $22 million in payroll.
By '06, if not sooner, the Tigers will be a force.
Is it too early to pick the Tigers to win the A.L. Central in 2005? Probably. But a team that improved from 43 wins in 2003 to 72 last season is again spending big in a low-budget division. If the Tigers aren't quite ready for contention, they should be soon.
The Twins, three-time defending champions in the Central, are retooling again. The Indians are preparing for life without shortstop Omar Vizquel. The White Sox have reached 87 wins only once in the past 10 seasons, and the Royals are trying to climb out from 104 losses.
The Tigers, meanwhile, feature two All-Stars, catcher Ivan Rodriguez and shortstop Carlos Guillen, who are signed through 2007. Their latest addition, free-agent closer Troy Percival, 35, is in decline, but he's an upgrade over Ugueth Urbina, who is likely to be traded. The team also is casting a wide net for other free agents, including second baseman Jeff Kent, center fielder Steve Finley, third baseman Troy Glaus and righthander Derek Lowe.
Spending money won't guarantee success, not when the Twins are one of the game's most resourceful franchises and the Indians are on the rise. But scouts like the Tigers' nucleus of young starting pitchers -- Jeremy Bonderman, Mike Maroth, Nate Robertson and Wil Ledezma. Only the Astros had a larger attendance jump among teams that did not open new ballparks last season. And the contracts of right fielder Bobby Higginson, second baseman Fernando Vina, left fielder Rondell White and righthander Jason Johnson expire after the 2005 season, clearing more than $22 million in payroll.
By '06, if not sooner, the Tigers will be a force.