Detroit Tigers Dominate Opening Weekend

Three quick games into the 2012 MLB Season and the Detroit Tigers have already displayed signs of dominance. Sitting atop the relatively thin AL Central division with a 3-0 record, the Tigers swept the opening series against the Red Sox and they are the team with the most runs (26), most RBI's (24), most home runs (7), highest batting average (.345), and highest slugging percentage (.593) in the majors. Of the top fifteen players in OPS (on-base plus slugging), four of them are Detroit Tigers (Cabrera, Avila, Jackson, Fielder).

Last season, the Tigers offense was fourth in the majors in runs scored. That potent offense just got more powerful with the off-season acquisition if Prince Fielder. Prince is already helping out his new ball club with 2 home runs, 3 RBI's, and a .417 batting average.

In three quick games the Tigers have proven:

• They have the best offense in the big leagues. See above. 
• You can't count ever count them out. The Tigers faced a multi-run deficit in the bottom of the 9th as well as in the bottom of the 11th and still came back to win Sunday afternoon. 
• The best pitcher in the whole world is a Tiger. Cy Young winner and AL MVP, Justin Verlander pitched a gem in shutting down the Red Sox and allowing only two hits and no runs in 8 innings on Opening Day to show that he has not lost a step.

The Detroit Tigers should walk away with the AL Central without much of a fight. They might even clinch before the All-Star break. The only concern with this team is the pitching staff. Aside from Verlander, they need to prove the rest of the starters and the bullpen are capable and will not become a liability on the team. Who knows, maybe even a sub-par staff and bullpen won't matter if they keep putting up 9 runs a game. 

Look for this team to make a run to break some offensive records and seriously contend for a championship.