2012 Detroit Tigers season

2012 Detroit Tigers American League Champions American League Central Champions
Major league affiliations
American League (since 1901) Central Division (since 1998)
Location
Comerica Park (since 2000) Detroit, Michigan (since 1894)
2012 information
Owner(s)	Mike Ilitch
Manager(s)	Jim Leyland
Local television	Fox Sports Detroit (Mario Impemba, Rod Allen)
Local radio	Detroit Tigers Radio Network (Dan Dickerson, Jim Price)
Stats	ESPN.com BB-reference
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The 2012 Detroit Tigers season was the team's 112th season. On October 1, 2012, the Tigers clinched the AL Central title, the club's first repeat title since 1934–1935. They finished the regular season 88–74. They defeated the Oakland Athletics in the American League Divisional Series, 3 games to 2. It was the Tigers' second consecutive ALDS win. The Tigers went on to sweep the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series before being swept themselves by the San Francisco Giants in the World Series.

Roster moves

Releases

• On October 29, the Tigers released relief pitcher Joel Zumaya to free agency.

• On November 1, the Tigers released outfielder Magglio Ordóñez, infielder Carlos Guillén, and starting pitcher Brad Penny to free agency.

• On December 12, the Tigers released utility infielder Will Rhymes to free agency.

• On March 12, the Tigers released relief pitcher David Pauley. On March 15, Pauley cleared waivers and became a free agent.

• On April 26, the Tigers released veteran infielder Brandon Inge after 12 seasons.

Key injuries

• On December 16, the team announced that relief pitcher Al Alburquerque had surgery on his pitching elbow, to replace a stress fracture.

• On January 17, it was reported that designated hitter/catcher/infielder Víctor Martínez tore his ACL and needs surgery to repair it. On March 12, the team placed Martinez on the 60-day disabled list and declared him out for the season.

Signings and key returns

The Tigers signed free agent first baseman Prince Fielder on January 24.

• On October 28, the Tigers picked up the option on closer José Valverde.

• On November 18, the Tigers signed catcher Gerald Laird to a one-year contract. Laird had been the Tigers' primary catcher for the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

• Also on November 18, the club purchased the minor league contracts of pitching prospects Casey Crosby, Tyler Stohr and Matt Hoffman; outfielder Avisail Garcia and infielder Hernan Perez.

• On November 30, the Tigers re-signed second baseman Ramón Santiago to a two-year deal.

• On December 9, the Tigers announced a one-year deal with relief pitcher Octavio Dotel. There is an option for the 2013 season.

• On January 16, the Tigers avoided arbitration with starting pitcher Rick Porcello and reliever Phil Coke, signing both to one-year deals. The following day, the team agreed on one-year deals for starting pitcher Max Scherzer, outfielder Delmon Young and utilityman Don Kelly. This helps the team avoid an arbitration hearing for the 10th year in a row.

• On January 24, the Tigers signed first baseman Prince Fielder to a nine-year, $214 million dollar deal. As a result, Miguel Cabrera moved to third base.

• On April 20, the Tigers re-acquired pitcher Zach Miner from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for cash. Miner will report to the AA Erie Seawolves.

Trades

• On December 9, the Tigers traded relief pitcher Ryan Perry to the Washington Nationals for fellow reliever Collin Balester.
• On July 23, the Tigers traded pitcher Jacob Turner and two minor league prospects (catcher Rob Brantly and pitcher Brian Flynn) to the Miami Marlins for starting pitcher Aníbal Sánchez and infielder Omar Infante.
• On August 6, the Tigers acquired utilityman Jeff Baker from the Chicago Cubs for two minor league players to be named later. He was traded to the Atlanta Braves on August 31 for a player to be named later.

Delmon Young's arrest

On April 27, 2012, an intoxicated Delmon Young was arrested for third-degree assault and an “aggravated harassment hate crime” in New York City after a confrontation with a group of Jewish tourists in which he made antisemitic remarks outside of their hotel before a series against the Yankees. Later in the day, Young issued a statement apologizing for his actions. On April 30, Young was suspended without pay for seven games, and ordered to undergo therapy. His next court date is November 7, 2012. If convicted, Young could possibly serve a year in jail, however his lawyers are currently attempting to reach a plea deal with the Manhattan district attorney.

Individual accomplishments

• On September 27, starting pitcher Doug Fister struck out 9 batters in a row, a new American League record. It was just one short of the Major League record of 10 in a row, accomplished by Tom Seaver in 1970.
• With a .330 average, 44 home runs and 139 RBIs, slugger Miguel Cabrera became the first player in 45 years to win the Triple Crown of Batting, leading the American League in all three categories. The last player to accomplish this feat was Carl Yaztrzemski in 1967. He went on to win the 2012 AL Most Valuable Player Award. He also won this year's AL Hank Aaron Award, and the AL Silver Slugger award.
• Starters Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer finished first and second among the American League strikeout leaders, with 239 and 231, respectively. Verlander finished second in a very close AL Cy Young Award race for 2012, collecting 149 points (12 first-place votes) to 153 points (13 first-place votes) for Tampa Bay Rays starter David Price.
• On October 13, during Game 1 of the ALCS, Delmon Young hit his sixth career post-season home run, setting a new franchise record. Young later won the ALCS MVP Award.
• Outfielder Austin Jackson won the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award.

All-Stars

The Tigers sent three players to the All-Star Game: pitcher Justin Verlander (fifth appearance), third baseman Miguel Cabrera (seventh appearance, third with the Tigers), and first baseman Prince Fielder (fourth appearance, first with the Tigers). Fielder was voted in as a starter, and won the Home Run Derby with 28 home runs, the second time in his career and his first with the Tigers. Fielder also won a Silver Slugger Award.

Standings

American League Central

AL Central	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
Detroit Tigers	88	74	.543	—	50–31	38–43
Chicago White Sox	85	77	.525	3	45–36	40–41
Kansas City Royals	72	90	.444	16	37–44	35–46
Cleveland Indians	68	94	.420	20	37–44	31–50
Minnesota Twins	66	96	.407	22	31–50	35–46

Game Log

Postseason

American League Division Series

Main article: 2012 American League Division Series

American League Division Series vs Oakland Athletics (Tigers win series 3–2) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Crowd Record 1 October 6 Athletics W 3–1 Verlander (1–0) Parker (0–1) Valverde (1) 43,323 1–0 2 October 7 Athletics W 5–4 Alburquerque (1–0) Balfour (0–1) 40,684 2–0 3 October 9 @ Athletics L 2–0 Anderson (1–0) Sánchez (0–1) Balfour (1) 37,090 2–1 4 October 10 @ Athletics L 4–3 Cook (1–0) Valverde (0–1) 36,385 2–2 5 October 11 @ Athletics W 6–0 Verlander (2–0) Parker (0–2) 36,393 3–2

American League Championship Series

Main article: 2012 American League Championship Series

American League Championship Series vs New York Yankees (Tigers win series 4–0) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Crowd Record 1 October 13 @ Yankees W 6–4 (12) Smyly (1–0) Phelps (0–1) 47,122 1–0 2 October 14 @ Yankees W 3–0 Sánchez (1–0) Kuroda (0–1) Coke (1) 47,082 2–0 3 October 16 Yankees W 2–1 Verlander (1–0) Hughes (0–1) Coke (2) 42,970 3–0 – October 17 Yankees Postponed (rain). Rescheduled for October 18. 4 October 18 Yankees W 8–1 Scherzer (1–0) Sabathia (0–1) 42,477 4–0

World Series

Main article: 2012 World Series

World Series vs San Francisco Giants (Giants win series 4–0) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Crowd Record 1 October 24 @ Giants L 8–3 Zito (1–0) Verlander (0–1) 42,855 0–1 2 October 25 @ Giants L 2–0 Bumgarner (1–0) Fister (0–1) Romo (1) 42,982 0–2 3 October 27 Giants L 2–0 Vogelsong (1–0) Sánchez (0–1) Romo (2) 42,262 0–3 4 October 28 Giants L 4–3 (10) Casilla (1–0) Coke (0–1) Romo (3) 42,152 0–4

Record vs. opponents

Team	BAL	BOS	CWS	CLE	DET	KC	LAA	MIN	NYY	OAK	SEA	TB	TEX	TOR	NL
Baltimore	–	13–5	6–2	4–4	3–3	5–4	2–7	5–2	9–9	4–5	8–1	10–8	2–5	11–7	11–7
Boston	5–13	–	6–2	5–3	5–5	4–3	0–6	4–3	5–13	1–8	5–4	9–9	2–6	7–11	11–7
Chicago	2–6	2–6	–	11–7	6–12	6–12	3–5	14–4	5–2	3–3	8–1	4–3	6–3	6–4	9–9
Cleveland	4–4	3–5	7–11	–	10–8	8–10	5–4	6–12	1–5	2–8	4–4	4–4	4–5	2–4	8–10
Detroit	3–3	5–5	12–6	8–10	–	13–5	5–5	10–8	4–6	4–3	1–5	5–2	3–7	4–2	11–7
Kansas City	4–5	3–4	12–6	10–8	5–13	–	4–5	7–11	3–4	5–4	1–7	4–2	4–5	2–6	8–10
Los Angeles	7–2	6–0	5–3	4–5	5–5	5–4	–	6–3	4–5	9–10	11–8	1–9	10–9	4–4	12–6
Minnesota	2–5	3–4	4–14	12–6	8–10	11–7	3–6	–	3–4	4–5	2–8	1–5	2–8	2–5	9–9
New York	9–9	13–5	2–5	5–1	6–4	4–3	5–4	4–3	–	5–5	6–3	8–10	4–3	11–7	13–5
Oakland	5–4	8–1	3–3	8–2	3–4	4–5	10–9	5–4	5–5	–	12–7	5–4	11–8	5–4	10–8
Seattle	1–8	4–5	1–8	4–4	5–1	7–1	8–11	8–2	3–6	7–12	–	4–6	9–10	6–3	8–10
Tampa Bay	8–10	9–9	3–4	4–4	2–5	2–4	9–1	5–1	10–8	4–5	6–4	–	5–4	14–4	9–9
Texas	5–2	6–2	3–6	5–4	7–3	5–4	9–10	8–2	3–4	8–11	10–9	4–5	–	6–3	14–4
Toronto	7–11	11–7	4–6	4–2	2–4	6–2	4–4	5–2	7–11	4–5	3–6	4–14	3–6	–	9–9

• Source: MLB Standings Grid

Roster

2012 Detroit Tigers
Roster
Pitchers 62 Al Alburquerque 31 Collin Balester 64 Duane Below 53 Joaquin Benoit 40 Phil Coke 45 Casey Crosby 20 Octavio Dotel 38 Darin Downs 58 Doug Fister 49 Luis Marté 56 José Ortega 48 Rick Porcello 36 Luke Putkonen 19 Aníbal Sánchez * 37 Max Scherzer 55 Daniel Schlereth 33 Drew Smyly 50 Jacob Turner * 46 José Valverde 35 Justin Verlander 60 Brayan Villarreal 54 Thad Weber 57 Adam Wilk		Catchers 13 Alex Avila 19,50 Bryan Holaday  9 Gerald Laird 18 Omir Santos * Infielders 24 Miguel Cabrera 28 Prince Fielder  4 Omar Infante * 15 Brandon Inge * 27 Jhonny Peralta 34 Hernán Pérez * 39 Ramón Santiago 29 Danny Worth Outfielders 18 Jeff Baker * 52 Quintin Berry 26 Brennan Boesch 12 Andy Dirks 34 Avisail García 14 Austin Jackson 32 Don Kelly 25 Ryan Raburn 36 Clete Thomas * 21 Delmon Young 38 Matt Young * Other batters 34 Brad Eldred *		Manager 10 Jim Leyland Coaches 17 Rafael Belliard (infield) 61 Tom Brookens (first base) 51 Jeff Jones (pitching) 22 Gene Lamont (third base)  8 Lloyd McClendon (hitting) 99 Scott Pickens (bullpen catcher) 59 Mike Rojas (bullpen)

(*) = Was on team for part of 2012 season.

Player stats

Batting

Note: G = Games played; AB = At Bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; AVG = Batting average; SB = Stolen bases

Player	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	AVG	SB

Pitching

Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts

Starters

Player	W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	R	ER	BB	K

Bullpen

Player	W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	R	ER	BB	K

External links

• Detroit Tigers official site

Preceded by Detroit Tigers 2011	AL Central Championship Season 2012	Succeeded by Current
Preceded by Texas Rangers 2011	American League champion 2012	Succeeded by Current