It seems a little early to have best rotation lists out. However, that has not stopped Buster Olney for rating the starting rotations of the30 MLB teams. In his estimation the Tigers rank 7th of the 30 MLB teams. Since the rotation for 2012 is anything but set, he is making a ranking on really only three pitchers.
Those of course are Justin Verlander, Doug Fister, and Max Scherzer. Verlander’s status is well known as he is the reigning American League Cy Young award winner and MVP. The surprise here may just be Fister. His second half ERA was the best of the Tigers starters at 2.47. He went 8-1 down the stretch, and if he can continue on that clip in 2012 the Tigers could ride their starting rotation far.
The first concern here is Scherzer's 2011 ERA of 4.43. However, Olney makes the point that Max pitched better than his ERA suggested. Tigers fan would be fast to agree with that assertion. This brings us to Rick Porcello, who is penciled in at the #4 starter.
Porcello went 14-9 in 2011 with a 4.75 ERA. His career ERA is 4.54 in three big league seasons. The Tigers would like to see that number to come down and for Porcello to be an effective fourth man.
Of course, the Tigers currently do not have a fifth starter on the roster. Last year it was Brad Penny, and he was largely ineffective. Verlander has so many wins after losses due to that ineffectiveness. It seems that Tigers' fans would like to see this staff have five solid starters. They are currently at least one if not two arms away from that goal.
While 7th is a good place to be, even now in the baseball dead months, there is still work for Tigers General Manger Dave Dombrowski to do. Hopefully he does said work and this ranking goes up.
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