One of the big differences between Verlander/Zumaya in 2006 and Porcello/Perry in 2009, aside from the foundation of the club, is the question of experience. Verlander was a collegian who had already made two cameo starts in 2005. Zumaya had more than three seasons of minor league experience (mostly as a starter) after being drafted out of high school.

Porcello was a high school pitcher in 2007, and his pro experience consists of 125 innings last year when he won the ERA title in the high Class A Florida State League. Perry, a product of Arizona's solid college program, has less than 15 innings of pro experience, at the rookie league and Class A level.

But what both have in common is uncommon ability, poise and a penchant for getting hitters out.

Porcello is showing that his curve and changeup need refinement. But he also shows he knows how to keep runners off home plate. Leyland says he will carefully monitor Porcello's innings and pitch counts to avoid overuse.

Perry probably will advance to pressure situations as quickly as he shows he can handle it.

Right-hander Jeremy Bonderman is healthy after his two in-season surgeries to remove a blood clot and restore circulation to his right shoulder, but his fastball is sick. He will open the season on the disabled list as he tries to get his fastball back to the low 90s by the end of the month.

Left-hander Nate Robertson was removed from the rotation last September and couldn't win the spot back in the spring. He'll open the season in the bullpen, but the Tigers, who couldn't deal him because of his high salary and high numbers, will keep trying to peddle the dissatisfied ex-starter.

Left-hander Dontrelle Willis was found through a blood test to have an anxiety disorder and was placed on the disabled list for an indefinite period. He may have walked himself out of more chances anyway, even though he's owed big bucks for the next two seasons.

Right-hander Zach Miner, consigned to the bullpen in mid-spring, was returned to the rotation to cover for Bonderman.

A mish-mash of starters last year overworked Detroit's bullpen, and after closer Todd Jones saw his career come to an end when his right shoulder broke down in August, the Tigers' season collapsed with it.

Right-hander Brandon Lyon was brought in to compete with right-hander Fernando Rodney to close games for Leyland, but the rest of the bullpen remains in flux. Retread righty Juan Rincon went through the first three weeks of exhibition games unscored upon to make the team. Bobby Seay joined Robertson as the only southpaws on the staff.

More injury problems for Zumaya, plagued by health concerns the last two seasons, made him remain behind on the disabled list when Detroit broke camp, opening the way for Perry and his high-velocity stuff to make the roster. Perry has closer stuff but won't be used in that role this year unless circumstances dictate he earn a trial.

Verlander made some adjustments to his mechanics and seemed by mid-March to be back to the form that made him a 17-game winner in 2006 and an 18-game winner in 2007. He lost 17 games last year. A return to dominance by Verlander is a must if the Tigers are to be an AL Central contender.

Right-hander Edwin Jackson has quietly put up a lot of scoreless innings in the spring and looks as if he'll be a stabilizing force on the staff. Righty Armando Galarraga, a surprising 13-game winner as a rookie, was slotted fifth in the rotation -- but only so he could have the honor of starting Detroit's home opener.

Helping the staff by shoring up the defense, particularly the left side, was an offseason goal of general manager Dave Dombrowski, and spring results seem to indicate he was successful.

The decision was made last September to return Brandon Inge to third base, where his defense is spectacular. A shortstop with extreme range, veteran Adam Everett, was signed as a free agent to replace Edgar Renteria, whose range was unsatisfactory in his only season with the Tigers.

Taking Inge out from behind the plate and dumping Ivan Rodriquez at the trade deadline meant Dombrowski entered the winter in the market for a new catcher, and he obtained what he felt was a good two-way backstop, getting Gerald Laird from Texas. Free agent Matt Treanor was signed to back up Laird and permit the club to send Dusty Ryan out to sharpen his skills.

Carlos Guillen went from first to third to left, back to third and then to the bench in September to rest a bad back. The left field experiment lasted just two games, but Detroit is confident Guillen can handle yet another transition. He was signed as an outfielder but moved to the infield his first pro season.

Having first baseman Miguel Cabrera settled at his new position should let him continue to improve; he has good hands and solid infielder skills.

Detroit should have enough offense to compete, if not excel, but next year the team will have to seriously address getting younger in the field. Right fielder Magglio Ordonez, though a skilled hitter, is in his mid-30s, as are Guillen and second baseman Placido Polanco. Inge just turned 30, and Everett will never see his 20s again.

The presence of Cabrera will let the club turn over its roster with complementary players instead of forcing it to go in search of a big thumper. There are few position players in the minors of any note, but Detroit hopes shortstop Cale Iorg is one of them -- and that he'll be ready some time in 2010.

Infielder/outfielder Jeff Larish made the club to provide left-handed pop off the bench. He can play first, third and the corner outfield spots without a great deal of embarrassment. Detroit obtained outfielder Josh Anderson from Atlanta in the last week of spring training, giving the team a player who can give center fielder Curtis Granderson an occasional rest. Anderson is a left-handed hitter with some speed.

As it usually does, though, the season will come down to how well Detroit's starters can do their job, whether they can turn a lead over to the bullpen and whether the relievers can do their part.

THE TIGERS WILL CONTEND IF ...: RHP Justin Verlander returns to form, RHP Jeremy Bonderman returns to health with a solid fastball, RHP Edwin Jackson makes another step forward, RHP Armando Galarraga continues his rookie showing and rookie RHP Rick Porcello pitches beyond his 20 years of age. The bullpen looks weak at the end, and that has to be shored up. It must protect leads as it did in the World Series year of 2006 and not fritter them away as in 2008. Pitching is pivotal for the Tigers. Shedding DH Gary Sheffield gives manager Jim Leyland some much-needed flexibility in making out his lineups.

PRIMED FOR A BIG SEASON: RHP Edwin Jackson, squeezed out of Tampa Bay's rotation, was acquired by Detroit to be a reliable starter, and he could turn out to be much more than that. Jackson went from five wins for Tampa Bay in 2007 to 14 last season, increased his innings from 161 to 183 1/3 and cut his walks down to 77 from 88 the year before. This is the first spring when Jackson didn't have to wonder whether he was going to make the team, and his confidence in his considerable ability is showing. Big innings, especially the first, have been one of his problems in the past, and he's working to overcome that.

ON THE DECLINE: LHP Dontrelle Willis has gone from 22-game winner for Florida in 2005 to 24 major league innings for Detroit in 2008. He was placed on the disabled list with an anxiety disorder, and his return is very uncertain. Willis walked 35 batters in those 24 innings, and this spring he was only marginally better as he struggled to throw strikes. In his first 8 2/3 spring innings, Willis allowed 17 hits with seven walks for an ERA of 12.46. Detroit is committed to paying him $24 million over the next two seasons.