I think many Tigers fans thought this was the year the team with the old English D would turn the corner. Unfortunately, due to injury (Casey Mize in particular) and the lack of the young players' progressions, they just aren't there yet. So, what do we have to look forward to this season? Well, perhaps we'll start to get some answers and some guys can turn their seasons around.
Which players turning it around would make the biggest difference?
Javier Baez
Jeimer Candelario
Jonathan Schoop
Eric Haase
Akil Baddoo
Which players have been the biggest surprises?
Alex Faedo
Tarik Skubal
Harold Castro
Willi Castro
The Bullpen
Which players am I excited to see return to action
Matt Manning
Michael Pineda
Eduardo Rodriguez
Jose Cisnero
Kyle Funkhouser
Really, the decimation of the starting rotation hasn't had all too terrible an effect on the team's success. The bullpen has been excellent this season. They still have some arms out that probably won't be back for a while. The young players like Spencer Torkelson, Eric Haase, and Akil Baddoo haven't hit as we hoped. Luckily, the outfield has plenty of talent with Willy Castro stepping in and Austin Meadows returning (and hopefully returning to early season form). Veterans like Baez, Schoop, and Candelario have really struggled to hit so far this season. Miguel Cabrera is having a stellar season, though. Skubal has generally been the highlight of the starting pitching this season. Young prospect Alex Faedo has been a bright spot as well. With the combination of the vets struggling, starting pitching out, and young players not progressing from last season, the Tigers still have some developmental years ahead. Hopefully, I'm wrong.
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