Dickerson Expects Improved Tigers Bullpen, 'Monster Year' For Miggy

DETROIT (WWJ) - With the Tigers preparing to open Spring Training in Lakeland, Florida next week, Dan Dickerson is among those weighing in with high expectation for the season.

Speaking live on WWJ Newsradio 950 Friday, the Tigers play-by-play announcer said he does expect to see some better pitching. He believes the team's bullpen should be much improved.

"I think for fans, the early thing to look for early in the season — does it line up like Al Avila and his staff thinks?" Dickerson said. "In other words, you've got a guy in the seventh, a guy in the eighth, and a guy in the ninth. The good teams do. The Tigers, as we all know, haven't' for a few years.

"And if you seen that, early in the season that it's working out like that, then the bullpen becomes a plus," he said.

Dickerson is optimistic, in general, about the team's chances in 2016, after a very disappointing 2015.

He said a bit chunk of the Tigers' success will depend on the club's biggest stars staying healthy for the whole season.

"I think Miguel Cabrera is going to have a monster year; I really don't worry about him too much," Dickerson told WWJ's Jackie Paige.

"Victor Martinez to me is a key because he's been injured twice now in the last three, four years," he added. "And Anibal Sanchez to me is a key. Because when Sanchez gets back to being that guy who has that great stuff, suddenly your rotation looks a whole lot deeper and a whole lot stronger than if he struggles like he did last year."

Pitchers and catchers are due to report on Thursday, Feb. 18.

What do you think of Dickerson's predictions for the Tigers in 2016?