Opening Day in the "D" for the Tigers is finally here!!!

      Opening Day 2017 in the "D" is finally here for the Detroit Tigers! The Tigers are 2 games into this young season and are 1-1 heading into the Opener on Friday afternoon. As the long and grueling season has just started , it is also a season full of promise but also uncertainty for these Tigers. The Tigers are coming off a very disappointing 2016 season which seen numerous injuries and a pitching staff that imploded. This season most Baseball Pundits have ranked them mainly 3rd or 4th in the Division mainly because their are questions about their pitching both starting and the bullpen and and offense that is built mainly for feast or famine.
      Injuries are also a big question mark as both V Martinez and Cabrera are coming back from injuries for the 4rd season in a row and JD Martinez who missed a huge chunk of last season with an injury is going to miss the first 3 or 4 weeks due to an ankle injury. Gone are Mike Pelfrey,Mark Lowe and the biggest surprise was the trading CF Cameron Maybin, who was the spark plug of the offense last year hitting well over .300 and stealing bases. The Tigers who have the 2nd highest payroll chose not to pick up the $9M contract for Maybin and will instead have a CF chosen by committee. The offense stacks up to be one of the best in all of baseball but that is only if the main guys can remain healthy for the whole season. Already in Spring Training , injuries have occurred to the starting and bullpen pitching as well as the main offensive guys.  It is a significant change from just last year and looks like an above average but not feared starting pitching staff of just a year or two ago!  The Bullpen has many questions and will need Sanchez and Greene to really step up this season.  Starting pitching will need Zimmermann to stay healthy and regain his old form and for Verlander to remain the ace of the staff and win close to 20 games this season. Boyd and Norris will need to make the next step this season and Fulmer needs to continue on the path he was last year when he won AL Rookie of the Year!
      So instead of a  few years ago, when the Tigers could count on winning low scoring one run ball games as the norm, this year they will have to score allot more runs and win higher scoring games. So make no mistake about it, this years Tigers will be very enjoyable to watch as they will score allot and at times drive everyone crazy with some bad pitching. Most peg the Tigers winning 80 to 82 games this year.  I think the Tigers have just enough pitching along with their fearsome hitting and much improved defense to win 87-90 games this year. So bring on the hot dogs and beverages and cracker jacks. the Season is finally here after a long tough winter, sit back and cheer on your favorite Teams and may Everyone see the Tigers in the World Series this year!!!   twitter; @cupofjoeinthed   email; cupofjoeinthed@gmail.com   www.cupofjoeinthed.blogspot.com 

Cooper and Joey MLB Analysts getting ready for Opening Day in the "D"