EVENTS
 Sportsman of the Year
 Heisman Trophy
 Swimsuit 2001

No. 21 Detroit Tigers

Juan Gonzalez averages a home run every 14.2 at-bats. Rick Stewart/Allsport

1999 Record: 69-92 (3rd in AL Central)

New manager Phil Garner inherits a Detroit team that went nowhere in 1999, losing 90 games for a second straight season. The Tigers needed a reason for fans to turn out to brand new Comerica Park, and they found one in Juan Gonzalez.

The former Rangers slugger is a two-time AL MVP who has averaged 43 homers the last four years -- but can he put up similar numbers in Detroit?

The Power alley in left center at Comerica is a distant 402-feet from home plate, and that's just where Gonzalez hit most of his home runs last year. Tigers General Manager Randy Smith is quick to point out that the wind blows out to left 90% of the time at the new park.

But I'm a bit concerned when the GM is counting on Mother Nature to lift his team's homerun total. Especially when most in the Detroit lineup took advantage of cozy Tiger Stadium to hit their homers last season.

Even with the addition of Juan Gonzalez, I think the Tigers of 2000 are facing a power outage. That's a big reason why I list them as my 21st-ranked team in baseball.

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