5 Detroit Tigers Stats That Will Win Them the World Series
5 Detroit Tigers Stats That Will Win Them the World Series
For most teams in Major League Baseball, making a single World Series appearance will buy several years of goodwill from fans who know all too well the struggles endured by those franchises who go decades without appearing in the Fall Classic (Pittsburgh Pirates and Kansas City Royals, anyone?).
For other franchises, however, a mere World Series appearance, while appreciated, will only earn temporary deference from the squad's faithful followers. Those teams enter each season with high expectations, and anything short of a championship is a disappointment. The Detroit Tigers are one of those teams, and their expectations in 2013 are as high as ever: World Series or bust.
Though fortunate to boast Miguel Cabrera -- the league's best hitter -- as one of their own, the Tigers success over the past three seasons can be chalked up to how complete their roster is from top to bottom. They are dangerous in every single aspect of the game, and though Cabrera is a big part of their attack, he is just that, a part of a greater whole.
Returning to the October championship will require the Tigers to continue their consistent play and, as with every World Series team, they will need a bit of luck to help them along. Some teams would rather be lucky than good, but Detroit is hoping they can be plenty of both. Though the Tigers are not the best in the MLB in all of the five following stat areas, they are damn near the top in every single category. With that, we look at the five stats which, when taken together, may be enough to earn Detroit the World Series crown they have come so close to winning over the past three seasons.
Tony Baker is a Los Angeles Angels writer for Rant Sports. You can follow him on Twitter at @tonloc_baker and on Google.
5. Only 75 Errors
Defense may get overlooked when comparing good teams, but there's nothing more frustrating in the playoffs than giving away runs for free. Fortunately for Detroit, their defense has been rock-solid this year, committing just 75 errors, the third-lowest among all MLB playoff-bound teams. Torii Hunter, Austin Jackson and the rest of the Tiger defense should continue to keep the mistakes in the field to a minimum and get out of tough innings.
4. 3.64 Team ERA
Few rotations are as fearsome as Detroit's, and even fewer when you consider the fact that playoff rotations shrink to three or four pitchers. With Justin Verlander, Anibal Sanchez and Max Scherzer starting nearly all playoff games for the Tigers (3.06 ERA between the three of them), opposing hitters will have their work more than cut out for them.
3. Joaquin Benoit's 1.91 ERA
There's nothing quite like peace of mind, and that is exactly what the Tigers have had whenever they've handed the ball over to Joaquin Benoit with a lead after eight innings. Benoit has been lights out for Detroit, saving 24 wins in 25 opportunities. If the Tigers have the lead after eight innings, it's hard to see how they lose no matter who they're up against so long as Benoit is there to slam the door.
2. 2012's 4-0 Sweep
How exactly does an embarrassing sweep help your chances the following year? Because it gives your team an edge. The memory of 2012's series will be fresh in Detroit's mind should they make it back, and they will be playing with a huge chip on their shoulders. All other things being equal, that might just give them the extra motivation they need to bring the title back to Motown.
1. .285 Batting Average
At the risk of sounding like John Madden, this game's about scoring more runs than the other team, and to do that, you need to get hits. No team's hit better than the Tigers, whose .285 average leads the Majors by a longshot. Not too surprising considering they have Cabrera, Prince Fielder, Hunter and Jackson rounding out their order. This team is unbelievably loaded on offense, and that is the primary reason they will be impossible to stop in the postseason. Look out, MLB.
