5 X-Factors For The Detroit Tigers Season Going Into 2015

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The Little Guys In The Bullpen

Aug 10, 2013; Seattle, WA, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Tom Gorzelanny (32) throws a pitch during the sixth inning of the game against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports

Some of the biggest news of the off-season has been how Dave Dombrowski has restructured the Tigers bullpen. There’s already been countless articles either analyzing them or predicting some of its future.

And a lot of the mentions have rightfully been on the bigger guys in the bullpen like Joe Nathan or Joakim Soria. They make the big bucks and should rack up tons of innings closing out games for the Tigers.

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While they get the headlines a lot of the focus should be on the little guys in the bullpen. The Alex Wilson‘s and Tom Gorzelanny‘s in the bullpen. Even they have been mentioned this off-season for the Tigers and their extensive bullpen problems.

For better or for worse the primary bullpen guys already have a lock in this bullpen. Manager Brad Ausmus has already named most of this staff and there are only a few spots left over.

The Opening Day roster though, has no implication on what happens for the rest of the season. Tigers fans saw the kind of revolving door the bullpen was last year. The pitchers competing for the leftover spots should look at that as an opportunity to capitalize and make the big bucks.

June 22, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Alex Wilson (63) pitches against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

As mentioned in the article these smaller role players must step up for the Tigers. Bullpen arms randomly catch fire over the course of a few months all the time. The Tigers actually had a pitcher like that in their bullpen in Blaine Hardy last year. He was enjoying a successful season until September hit when he recorded a 5.40 ERA in the last month.

Since this is beating the same drum over and over again it shouldn’t be too hard to comprehend. The reality of the situation is that the “big” guys in the bullpen will achieve some kind of reasonable success. This bullpen should be much improved from the dumpster fire it was last year.

But for it to be better and reliable come the postseason (if the Tigers even make it) they will need a few guys to pitch well down the stretch. Even if guys like Nathan, Soria, and Al Alburquerque have a spectacular season they will need more than 3 reliable guys to pitch in the middle innings if a starter struggles.

Dombrowski has done well on assorting a number of low-risk, high-reward type of guys. Now if the Tigers can ride one or two of these guys down the stretch while they’re hot it’ll look a lot better for their postseason aspirations.

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