Ten Hot Questions as the Detroit Tigers Open the 2007 MLB Season

Issues Surrounding the AL's Best Team from Last Year

Last year was a dream season for Detroit Tigers fans who had been tortured since 1994, the last winning season for the club prior to 2006.

The Tigers may have lost the World Series to the surprising Cardinals, but they won something almost as important with their stellar play- the hearts of thousands upon thousands of new, enthusiastic fans across the state of Michigan.

Detroit enters the 2007 season with new hope, but can Detroit repeat as AL Champions and maybe even win it all?

Read on to find out the ten most important issues the club will face as they look to recapture last year's magic:

1. How will the Tigers handle the difficulty of taking each team's best shot?

A: The fact that other teams are gunning for them now will be difficult at first, but this team should adjust quickly. They were fighting for the playoff lives down the stretch of last season and into the playoffs so they know what it's like to play in big games.

Still, this phenomenon will be good for at least three or four extra unexpected losses throughout the year and the Tigers only narrowly made the playoffs last year.

2. The Tigers added Gary Sheffield to an already powerful (albeit inconsistent) lineup. How much will he help?

A: I believe he will help a tremendous amount. His bat speed has been steady throughout his career (read: frighteningly fast, perhaps the batting equivalent of a Joel Zumaya fastball) and he has looked good in spring training.

Sheffield also has the revenge factor to draw on for motivation as he will want to prove the Yankees wrong for letting him go. Also, his line-drive hitting style will be perfect for spacious Comerica Park, and he should be happy most of the year since Manager Jim Leyland will garner his respect much like he did on the 1997 Florida Marlins championship team.

This was a shrewd move by Tigers General Manager Dave Dombrowski and one that should pay huge dividends for the next two years assuming Sheffield stays healthy.

3. What about the other minor changes to the roster? How much will they matter?