5 X-Factors For The Detroit Tigers Season Going Into 2015
Anibal Sanchez’s Health
Jun 30, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez (19) pitches in the first inning against the Oakland Athletics at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
While Justin Verlander’s comeback is undoubtedly important there’s another veteran right-hander the Tigers will rely upon. His name is Anibal Sanchez and he should need no introduction.
Sanchez was shipped here during the 2012 season along with Omar Infante to shore up the starting rotation and 2nd base position for the Tigers at the time.
Mar 4, 2015; Sarasota, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez (19) warms up before the start of a spring training game against the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
While he was a free agent at the end of that season he re-signed with the Tigers on a 5 year/$80 million contract. With all the mega-deals being handed out to starting pitchers Sanchez’s deal seems like a bargain.He’s been successful here for the Tigers too. He was the 2013 AL ERA King with a 2.57 ERA in that stacked rotation. He’s been more than a capable pitcher for the Tigers the last few years.
The only knock on him during his Tigers tenure though has been his health. He has yet to eclipse 200 IP in his career and the Tigers will need more production from him with the bullpen’s current status.
He now stands at the obvious #3 pitcher on this depleted Tigers staff and needs to act like the dominant veteran he can be. His 17-K game against the Atlanta Braves still stands as the most strikeouts in a single game in Tigers history.
There’s a reason of the 5 X-Factors two of them have to do with the starting rotation. In recent years the Tigers offense and starting pitching has carried them to 4 consecutive division titles.
With a departed Max Scherzer and traded Rick Porcello the starting rotation has taken the biggest hit in terms of production. The Tigers are going to need to adapt to this as youngsters like Shane Greene will be a full-time starter.
The first step in this transition will be Anibal Sanchez’s success, who will be with the team two more years after the 2015 season. If he can pass the 200 IP mark for the first time in his career while pitching well teams will be much more weary of this rotation. Like mentioned before, the only real lock of this rotation is Price and who knows where he will be in 2016.
Sanchez needs to pitch well and compliment Price and Verlander (if he’s effective) in this rotation. In the postseason a 3-man starting rotation is also an option and should be looked at considerably if both Greene and Alfredo Simon struggle.
Now, your thoughts. What do you think of the list? Hate it? Love it? Missing something? These 5 X-Factors are only a small part of the Tigers team that needs to step up past its initial 25-man roster. It’s only a start though as Spring Training continues to roll.