There are two realms regarding the Tigers as this very different MLB season approaches.
The first is the dream about a 60-game sprint and "anything can happen."
The other is a fact: The Tigers won just 47 games in 2019 - the fourth-least ever during a 162-game season.
Realistic expectations should be improvement, respectability and, in these worst of times, sports entertainment from the only game in town with the Red Wings and Pistons sidelined.
Is it too much to ask? Perhaps not. I like what the Tigers did with their free agent acquisitions during the off season. I do think they are on the path to a much brighter future.
It's just now the reality of the season is here, and there are factors that should be pointed out.
The sprint is going to be into the wind. The American League Central is a difficult division.
Minnesota and Cleveland have much better MLB talent than the Tigers. The White Sox began their rebuild earlier and could breakout. In 2019, the Tigers were 12-44 vs. the above-mentioned clubs, including 1-18 vs. Cleveland.
One of the narratives is AL Central teams will be playing the Tigers and Royals so much, it should net the division a wild card spot.
The National League Central with the Cardinals, Brewers, Cubs and Reds is balanced and competitive. The only likely cupcake is the Pirates.
First baseman C.J. Cron and second baseman Jonathan Schoop are capable of going on short-term rolls. They have power (combined 52 home runs last season for the AL Central-winning Twins). On one-year free agent deals, they should be motivated. The Tigers needed a veteran catcher to work with their young pitchers. Austin Romine provides one. Cameron Maybin doesn't hit remotely as well as Nick Castellanos, but he is a better right fielder.
So there are upgrades.
Yet, the Tigers are far from getting their rebuild under way in earnest at the MLB level. The Tigers' free agent signings were bridge measures, designed to be flipped in trade deadline deals, which seems unlikely under these circumstances.
Casey Mize will likely join the pitching staff early in the campaign, and it will cause quite a stir, and there could be a point infielders Willi Castro and Isaac Perades get a shot.
Yet, mostly the Tigers' path to respectability must come from improvement of players from last season.
The sticking point is left-handed hitters.
Progress from Christin Stewart, Niko Goodrum and Jaimer Candelario is vital to any advancement. It's because they hit from the left side. The Tigers' lineup is so right-handed loaded, they remain decidedly vulnerable to righty pitching.
The talent is there. Stewart, in particular, has power potential. However, the trio has displayed huge holes in their swings.
The Tigers need the first half version of Matthew Boyd from '19, when his spin rate and quality pitch design baffled hitters with an incredible strikeout rate. Late in the season, Boyd became susceptible to home runs. Has he adjusted? Boyd will be tested immediately in a small ball park during Friday's opener vs. a Reds' lineup featuring such right-handed thunder as Castellanos, Mike Moustakas, Eugenio Suarez and Nick Senzel.
Spencer Turnbull has an electric arm, and had an underrated season in '19 based on advanced metrics. He is being depended on. How will he respond?
Free agent Ivan Nova should help, but to a limited degree. The Tigers are going to have a lot of options in the bullpen, but they need to find lightning in a bottle, perhaps with minor free agent Shao-Ching Chiang or Rule 5 pick Rony Garcia. Getting to setup man Buck Farmer and closer Joe Jimenez will be key. Shane Greene was an outstanding closer for the Tigers before traded last season, but it had little impact because the Tigers were out of so many games early.
There is a bottom line about this season - and it isn't
about spectacular catches by Riley Greene or the luster of drafting Spencer Torkelson first overall.
It's more about what the Tigers' returning players from last season can or cannot do with a better veteran cast and a more in-shape Miguel Cabrera supporting them.
I think the Tigers will be improved. I think they will be interesting. I can see the Tigers being entertaining.
The idea is to get off to a good start, change the narrative and have a winning percentage in the area code of .500.
Contending, though, is a reach.
