Everyone thought it would be easy sledding for the Tigers this season. They had run away with the division last year, and they added Prince Fielder to an already-potent lineup. As it turns out, the Tigers had an up-and-down season and trailed the Chicago White Sox for most of the summer. But they got hot at the right time and overtook Chicago in the last two weeks, clinching the AL Central for the second consecutive season. The Tigers haven't been a very good team for most of the year, so how did they stay in the race and then pounce at the exact right time?
1. The Top of the Lineup: Miguel Cabrera was obviously the engine that drove this offense thanks to an OPS over 1.000 and 44 home runs. He also got help from two key parts of the lineup. One was the leadoff spot, thanks to Austin Jackson. If/when Miguel Cabrera wins the Triple Crown, he can thank Jackson for getting on base at a .376 clip, a massive improvement over last year's .317 OBP, providing Cabrera with more RBI opportunities. The other key was, of course, Cabrera's primary protection in the cleanup spot: Prince Fielder, who put up a typically fantastic offensive season. The rest of the Tigers' offense was mediocre; Jackson, Cabrera, and Fielder were essential.
2. Justin Verlander: He's the best pitcher in baseball and it's no accident that his two best seasons have coincided with Detroit's back-to-back division titles. His numbers are almost identical--only very slightly worse--than 2011; he just isn't getting MVP consideration again because his win-loss record isn't as gaudy as last year. Verlander once again led the league in innings and strikeouts with a stellar 2.64 ERA. It would be difficult to prove that Miguel Cabrera is definitely more valuable to the success of the Tigers than Verlander.
3. A Strong Rotation: It wasn't just Verlander in the Tigers' pitching staff. Max Scherzer struggled to open the year, but he's been an ace since July and leads the league in strikeout rate. Doug Fister has been his usual self when healthy; when not, rookie Drew Smyly has been there to provide solid innings. And midseason trade acquisition Anibal Sanchez has given the Tigers 12 starts and a solid 3.74 ERA, including a 2.43 ERA during their September run at the division.
There are probably six teams in the American League that are better than the Tigers, and two of them didn't even make the playoffs. Detroit benefited greatly from the weakness of the AL Central (dozens of games against the Twins, Royals, and Indians). This team failed to even reach 90 wins over the course of the season because it lacks in depth, especially in the lineup. But the Tigers will always be a dangerous playoff team because of their roster construction: it's very top-heavy.
You can make the argument that Detroit has both the best hitter and the best pitcher in baseball. Between Justin Verlander, Miguel Cabrera, and Prince Fielder, no team has a better trio of players. Then throw in Austin Jackson, three more solid starters, and one or two good bullpen arms, and suddenly the weakness of the rest of Detroit's roster doesn't really matter. Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski has emphasized the acquisition of high-upside players regardless of cost, and the impact of that decision is clear.
What makes Dombrowski's strategy unique is that he doesn't have one set method of executing it. His modus operandi is simply to acquire the players with the highest upside, and he's achieved that end through every possible variety of roster construction. He's not afraid of paying big bonuses in the draft, which is how he got Justin Verlander. He's not afraid of trading away a gigantic haul of prospects, which is how he got Miguel Cabrera. He's willing to spend big dollars on the free agent market, which is how he got Prince Fielder. He's not afraid of dealing off established contributors (Curtis Granderson, Edwin Jackson) in exchange for exciting, unproven young players, which is how he got Austin Jackson and Max Scherzer. He's made deadline trades before, which is how he got Doug Fister and Anibal Sanchez. Dombrowski isn't shy about pursuing any means to achieve his end.
The downside to this course of action is Detroit's payroll. A massive chunk of it is devoted to just a few guys, which is why the rest of the roster lacks in quality. But it's hard to argue that this strategy doesn't work after back-to-back AL Central titles.
Detroit's Formula: Good starting pitching and an elite top of the lineup, achieved through the acquisition of elite players by any means.
San Francisco's Formula: Healthy starting pitching, dominant bullpen, and a lineup built for home-field advantage achieved through strong pitching development and the revitalization of declining veterans' careers.
Washington's Formula: Healthy and elite starting pitching, dominant bullpen, and balanced lineup achieved through homegrown talent and superb talent evaluation.
Cincinnati's Formula: Healthy starting pitching, dominant bullpen, and balanced lineup achieved through homegrown talent and low payroll.
Jimmy Leland is the coolest!
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