SI.com  Fantasy Baseball Previews
	Detroit Tigers	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

Projected Lineup (2003 stats) Pos. Player Avg. HR RBI SB CF Alex Sanchez .287 1 32 52 2B Fernando Vina .251 4 23 4 C Ivan Rodriguez .297 16 85 10 DH Dmitri Young .297 29 85 2 LF Rondell White .289 22 87 1 3B Eric Munson .240 18 50 3 RF Bobby Higginson .235 14 52 8 1B Carlos Pena .248 18 50 4 SS Carlos Guillen .276 7 52 4 Projected Rotation (2003 stats) H Player W-L ERA WHIP RH Jason Johnson 10-10 4.18 1.56 LH Mike Maroth 9-21 5.73 1.45 RH Jeremy Bonderman 6-19 5.56 1.55 RH Nate Cornejo 6-17 4.67 1.51 LH Nate Robertson 1-2 5.44 1.75 FANTASY BASEBALL Sign up Today! • NEW! Baseball Commissioner Full service league management tool. $99.95 per league • NEW! Fantasy Baseball Conquer your league and take home the pennant. $19.95 per team • NEW! Salary Cap Challenge Select your dream team with a $75 million budget. $9.95 per team

Last year's Tigers were as much a wasteland in the fantasy world as they were on the field, and although they shouldn't be the first (or even second) place you should turn this year, they have amassed a few useful parts.

Dmitri Young had big numbers last year and Pudge Rodriguez brings a winning attitude with him, but for fantasy players, Alex Sanchez is the man to get from Detroit. The AL has too few stolen base options, especially among those who can hit close to .300. Playing 144 games combined for the Tigers and Brewers last season Sanchez stole 52 bases yet scored only 58 runs. Given a fulltime job with some decent hitters behind him, Sanchez could again steal 50 bases while approaching 100 runs scored.

The market shriveled up for second baseman Fernando Vina, who comes to the Tigers after a disappointing, injury-plagued, final season with the Cardinals. Vina never had power and he's no longer a stolen base threat so there really isn't any reason to draft him.

Closer. With his team only managing 43 wins in 2003, there was no reason for Tigers skipper Alan Trammell to have a closer, let alone a closer controversy. This year, however, he has a bunch of arms to choose from. The favorite is Fernando Rodney, who was three for five in save opportunities with 20 strikeouts in 14 innings after Sept. 1. He's competing with two former Tigers closers -- the inconsistent Franklyn German and Matt Anderson, who is trying to get back to form following 2002 shoulder surgery.

New shortstop Carlos Guillen doesn't run much, but he does get injured often, which would open up time for Omar Infante. The backup to both Guillen and Vina, Infante stole 28 bases between Class AAA and the majors in 2003.

Before his injury Matt Anderson was considered one of the up-and-coming closers in the game. But he has been awful this spring. Danny Patterson, who held the closer's job for about a week last season, has been the Tigers' best pitcher this March.

Becoming the first single-season, 20-game loser in 25 years last season won't prevent Mike Maroth from being successful in 2004. Working with Rodriguez behind the plate, a stronger bullpen behind him and a lineup that is guaranteed to provide more run support, Maroth's numbers will experience a dramatic jump. Don't be surprised if he posts a .500 record.

Eric Munson, Carlos Pena, Rondell White

Bobby Higginson, Brandon Inge, Craig Monroe