Detroit Tigers 2006 Season and Off Season

The Detroit Tigers 2006 regular season could not have gone any better. It was the first time since 1987 that the Tigers even made the playoffs. They had not been to a World Series since 1984 when they won it.

A lot went right during the regular season for both the offense and the pitching staff. Short stop Carlos Guillen had one of his best seasons. He stayed healthy the whole year and played in 153 games. He had his highest batting average, since coming to the majors, at .320 and also set a career high in stolen bases with 20. He also drove in 85 runs and hit 19 home runs. Magglio Ordonez had backed to back injury plagued years in 2004 and 2005. During 2006 he stayed healthy playing in 155 games while batting .298, 24 home runs, and 104 runs batted in. Ivan "pudge" Rodriguez had his third straight good year with Detroit. Pudge hit .300 with 13 home runs and 69 runs batted in. He also threw out 51% of would be base stealers. Other guys who had a good year with the bat include: Marcus Thames, Craig Monroe, Brandon Inge, Curtis Granderson, and Placido Polanco. Detroit had 8 different players with at least ten home runs and four that had twenty or more.

The pitching staff some good performances, too. Rookie Justin Verlander started 30 games. He posted and era of 3.63 while going 17 and 9 in 186 innings. Jeremy Bonderman's numbers continued to improve in is fourth big league season. Bonderman went 14 and 8 with an era of 4.08. He threw 214 innings and struck out 202 batters while walking just 64. Nate Robertson had his best year throwing 208.2 innings. His record was 13 and 13 while his era was 3.84. Kenny Rogers showed that age has not slowed him down at all. He started 34 games, with a record of 17 and 8, and his era was 3.84.

The bullpen saw outstanding performances from Joel Zumaya, Jamie Walker, and Fernando Rodney. Zumaya posted an era of just 1.94 as a rookie. He struck out 97 in 83.1 innings. He showed of his 100+ mph fastball every time he came into the game. Walker got the left handed batters out and his era was 2.81. Rodney finished with his era at 3.52 while striking out 65 batters. At the end of the game closer Todd Jones saved 37 games in 2006.

The Tigers went from a 71 and 91 record in 2005 to a 95 and 67 record in 2006. In the American League Division Series the Tigers faced the Yankees and beat the 3 games to 1. After advancing to the American League Championship Series, Detroit took on the A's and swept them 4 games to none. The World Series did not go Detroit's way as the faced the St. Louis Cardinals and lost the series 4 games to 1.

During the off season Detroit re-signed Sean Casey to a one-year deal. Outfielder Gary Sheffield was acquired from the New York Yankees for Humberto Sanchez, Kevin Whelan, and Anthony Claggett. The only other some what big move they made was signing veteran reliever Jose Mesa to a one-year contract. Mesa had a better year in 2006 with the Rockies. Pitching in Colorado he managed to post an era of 3.86. They did lose Jamie Walker via free agency.

In 2007 Detroit fans should expect another good year out of the Tigers. The team remains mostly intact and the addition of Sheffield should only make the offense more threatening. Do not be surprised to the Detroit Tigers in the World Series for the second consecutive season.