Detroit Tigers 2003 Finish: 43-119, 5th AL Central	Select Team Angels Astros Athletics Blue Jays Braves Brewers Cardinals Cubs Devil Rays Diamondbacks Dodgers Expos Giants Indians Mariners Marlins Mets Orioles Padres Phillies Pirates Rangers Red Sox Reds Rockies Royals Tigers Twins White Sox Yankees

Ivan Rodriguez AP
Batting Order
CF	Alex Sanchez 52 steals ranked third in the majors.
2B	Fernando Viña First time in American League since '97.
RF	Bobby Higginson On-base and slugging declined 3 straight years.
DH	Dmitri Young Drove in or scored 28 percent of Tiger runs.
C	Ivan Rodriguez 16 HRs in 2003 fewest since '95
LF	Rondell White Batted .319 vs. AL teams in 2003.
3B	Eric Munson Tied for rookie HR lead before injury.
1B	Carlos Peña Most K/AB in American League.
SS	Carlos Guillen Decent stick; will be an upgrade at short.
Rotation
RHP	Jason Johnson 4–0, 2.12 in April last year for Baltimore.
LHP	Mike Maroth First 20-game loser in big leagues since 1980.
RHP	Jeremy Bonderman Most losses ever by a pitcher not yet 21.
RHP	Nate Cornejo Worst run support (3.24/9 innings) in big leagues.
LHP	Nate Robertson Fourth in International League with 3.14 ERA.
Bullpen
RHP	Fernando Rodney Closer had a 25-game scoreless streak at AAA Toledo.
RHP	Matt Anderson 22 saves in '01, 3 in '02 and '03 combined.
LHP	Jamie Walker Lefties hit .214, but with 6 HR in 113 AB.
RHP	Franklyn German Opponents hit .218 against him prior to break; .396 after.
RHP	Danny Patterson Returned in July from Tommy John surgery.
RHP	Al Levine Career high 5 saves for '02 Angels.
Prospects
RHP	Kyle Sleeth Tied NCAA record at Wake Forest with 26 straight wins.
OF	Cody Ross Tigers' minor-league Player of Year.
RHP	Joel Zumaya 97 mph fastball led to big year in Class A.

The Tigers have as much hope as they've had in quite a few years. It's strange, because they're not just coming off the worst year in franchise history but nearly the worst in baseball history. But a flurry of free-agent activity unseen in Detroit in years have what is left of the Detroit faithful looking forward to a summer of baseball. The crown jewel of the free-agent shopping is catcher Ivan Rodriguez, who won a World Series ring with the Marlins, then decided to head north to Detroit. But Fernando Vina, Rondell White and Al Levine also came to the Tigers in the offseason via the free agent market. A winning season is more or less out of the question because that would require an improvement of 39 wins over last year. In other words, it would be like asking if the Yankees can win 140 games, or if the Devil Rays can win 102. Still, there's hope and optimism, so much so that Tiger legend Al Kaline compared the offseason signings to the Wright Brothers' first flight at Kitty Hawk. "This, in my opinion, is the lift-off the Tigers need to get out of the basement,” Kaline says.

Late last season, Tigers pitching coach Bob Cluck suggested there was reason for optimism, because he could already safely identify three members of his 2004 rotation. After all, Cluck pointed out, Detroit didn't name a second starter behind Mike Maroth until the week before Opening Day 2003. You take progress where you can get it. The Tigers still don't have a true No. 1 starter, but the definites in the rotation grew to four with the December signing of free agent right-hander Jason Johnson. Johnson has a 36–58 career record, but he went 10–10 for the Orioles last year and immediately became the Tigers' most experienced starter. Maroth, last year's Opening Day starter, remains at or near the top of the rotation despite his 21 losses last year. Don't forget that while Maroth accounted for 18 percent of the Tigers' losses, he also accounted for 21 percent of their wins. You can look at Jeremy Bonderman's 6–19 record the same way, because even as Bonderman made big-league history by losing the most games ever by a player so young (20 years old), he was far and away the most promising young Tiger last season. Eventually, he'll be this team's ace, perhaps even this year. Nate Cornejo also got something out of last year. He was the Tigers' best starter for a stretch in May, and for another stretch late in the year. He worries numbers people because his fastball doesn't light up the radar gun and his low strikeout totals make you look twice, but his ERA was a run lower than any other Tiger who took a regular turn in the rotation. Those are the four, but you need five, so there will be one more, likely chosen from among the young pitchers who debuted last summer. Nate Robertson showed some promise at the end of the season, and Matt Roney showed more than his 1–9 record would indicate. Besides, if the Tigers are only worried about a fifth starter, then they've come a long way.

Matt Anderson had 22 saves the last time he was healthy, and Franklyn German has been the closer of the future two years running. But it was Fernando Rodney who spent September as the closer, and he could end up opening the 2004 season in the same role. If Anderson proves he's healthy, and German proves he can throw strikes, the Tigers could have a decent back end of the bullpen. They retained left-handed specialist Jamie Walker, who has a disturbing tendency to allow home runs but was effective enough to appear in 78 games. Danny Patterson is a quality setup man when he's healthy, which he should be in his first full year back from Tommy John surgery. Levine was solid for Tampa Bay and Kansas City last year. In other words, the bullpen shouldn't be the Tigers' problem.

The hope was that youngsters Ramon Santiago and Omar Infante would remind fans of Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker. Instead, they reminded the Tigers they needed to find two new double-play partners. The Tigers responded by signing Viña to play second, and trading for Carlos Guillen to play shortstop. As president and general manager Dave Dombrowski said, “This is a much different double-play combination.” As for Santiago and Infante, the former was sent to Seattle in the deal for Guillen, while the latter remains a Tiger, and the team has some renewed faith in him after a strong winter in his native Venezuela.

The Tigers have shown a strong commitment to Carlos Peña, and it's about time for him to deliver. Pena drove in just 50 runs; every other regular big-league first baseman was above 60, and eight were over 90. Third baseman Eric Munson also ended up with 50 RBIs, but he missed the final six weeks of the season with a broken thumb. At the time he was hurt, Munson was tied for the rookie home run lead with Texas' Mark Teixeira.

The Tigers set out to add an outfield bat, and they came up with Rondell White, who made the All-Star team last year, has a .288 career average and drove in more runs in 2003 than any Tiger. They still have Dmitri Young, too, along with Bobby Higginson and Craig Monroe, who took advantage of the opportunity he got last year and drove in 70 runs. Those four should be able to handle the corner outfield spots, with one of them usually serving as the DH. Center field is more of a question, but the Tigers saw promise in Alex Sanchez after acquiring him from Milwaukee.

Rodriguez has made the All-Star team 10 times in his decorated career and figures to make an immediate impact in the lineup. He was the Most Valuable Player of the NLCS for the Marlins last year, but hit just .297 for the season, a 10-year low. Brandon Inge will back up Rodriguez, with his strength being his ability to handle the young staff. Offensively, Inge is limited, hitting a career-high .203 last year.

Between Young, White and Monroe, the Tigers should always have one of their outfield bats available to use as the DH. And adding starters like White and Vina should improve the Tigers' bench. Last year, bench players too often filled starting roles. This year, spring invitees Warren Morris, Danny Klassen and Brent Abernathy should be the top reserves.

President and general manager Dave Dombrowski's reputation took a little bit of a hit when the Tigers lost 119 games in the first year he had full control of the roster. But then a Marlins team largely built by Dombrowski won the World Series, and Marlins players and opponents all rushed to give him credit. As for manager Alan Trammell, all the losing wore on him, but he survived with his popularity intact. Players loved him, and for the most part the record wasn't seen as a reflection of his ability.

The last time the Tigers set a team record for losses, they improved by 26 wins the next year. It's hard to see that happening again, but the Tigers shouldn't be losing 110 games this year, let alone 119. If they avoid 100 losses, it will have been a decent year.

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