Position

Age

’08 Triple Slash

OPS+ (‘06-08)

+/- (’06-08)

Comment

C-Gerald Laird

29

.276/.329/.398

105, 64, 92

N/A

Supposedly a good backstop, but I wouldn’t expect him to repeat last year’s offense.

1b-Miguel Cabrera

26

.292/.349/.537

159, 150, 130

-12, -24, -6

’06 and ’07 was at 3rd.

I tend not to look too much into first half/second half splits, but Cabrera was significantly better in the second half and it had nothing to do with BIP.

2b-Placido Polanco

33

.307/.350/.417

80, 122, 102

+5, +10, +14

Second baseman tend to have short careers, so a sharp drop off is not out of the question.

3b-Brandon Inge

32

.205/.303/.369

98, 80, 76

+27, +22, N/A

Played C last year.

Phenomenal defender that almost has to hit for a better average next year.

SS-Adam Everett

32

.213/.278/.323

64, 56, 64

+41, +18, -1

Small samples in the last 2 seasons.

One would think the injuries and age have taken a toll on his defensive capabilities.

Lf-Carlos Guillen

33

.286/.376/.436

136, 123, 114

This will be his first extended action in left.

Not the asset he used to be now that his offense is declining and he’s a Lf, but the Tigers owe him 36 million over the next 3 years.

Cf-Curtis Granderson

28

.280/.365/.494

98, 136, 124

+12, +20, -12

For a player on one of the Tribe’s rivals, I like this guy way more than I should.  

Rf-Magglio Ordonez

35

.317/.376/.494

112, 167, 127

-16, +3, -11

He needs  457 PA this year to guarantee his options of 18 million in ’10 and 15 million in ’11.

DH-Gary Sheffield

40

.225/.326/.400

107, 120, 90

N/A

A great talent like Sheff may have one more good season in him, but that seems unlikely.

OF-Marcus Thames

32

.241/.292/.516

123, 99, 108

-8, +4, -13

He’ll be the primary backup in left and at DH.

INF-Ramon Santiago

29

.282/.411/.460

N/A

N/A

Hasn’t played much the past 3 seasons but with Adam Everett as the only other SS, he’ll see plenty of action.

Pitcher

Age

ERA+ (’06-08)

IP (’06-08)

GB% (’08)

K/BF %

(’08)

BB/BF%

(’08)

Comment

Justin Verlander

26

126, 125, 92

186, 201, 201

39.9%

18.52%

9.89%

He had a flukey rookie season, legit second season, and a hard-luck third season.

Jeremy Bonderman

26

112, 91, 104

214, 174, 71

47.4%

13.79%

11.29%

Health experts: Is Bonderman’s illness something that is likely to be a recurring problem?

Armando Galarraga

27

N/A, 119

0, 8.7, 178

43.5%

16.89%

8.18%

He looks very average, not that there is anything wrong with that.

Edwin Jackson

25

N/A, 78, 101

36, 161, 183

39.1%

13.64%

9.72%

Scouty types love this guy so there may be a possibility that he breaks out, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.

Nate Robertson

31

119, 96, 70

208, 177, 168

44.5%

14.19%

8.15%

I think he will bounce back to being a decent back end guy.