Detroit Tigers 2008 MLB All-Stars

Last year, five Detroit Tigers went to the All-Star game on top of the coaching staff, led by manager Jim Leyland. 2008 was supposed to be a World Series-caliber year, but most of the Tigers' big names have struggled.

The 2008 MLB All-Star Game will likely only feature one or maybe two Detroit Tigers this year despite the team having a combined 11 former All-Star players on the roster.

The most obvious and likely All-Star Game candidate is Magglio Ordonez. Ordonez has remained above the .300 batting average mark all season long, has shown very good power again, and has continued to be a clutch hitter. His defense is also pretty solid, something he has improved upon a lot in the past couple years.

Ordonez makes one participant for the 2008 MLB All-Star Game in New York, but who else will make it or has a chance to make it as a Detroit Tiger All-Star?

Todd Jones has nailed down 11 of 11 saves and gone from goat to fan favorite in Detroit at Comerica Park. But his ERA is nothing special and he hasn't had a whole lot of opportunities to get saves or even to pitch with the Tigers doing so poorly most of the year.

Miguel Cabrera wilted under early expectations, but the former All-Star is quietly keeping his average near the .300 mark and starting to get acclimated to the Detroit Tigers and Comerica Park. He had a walk-off home run against the Chicago White Sox and he has been hot of late, playing All-Star caliber baseball for the Tigers. Cabrera's defense hasn't been so good but All-Star teams usually don't take defense into account all that much.

We just might see Miguel Cabrera in New York for the 2008 MLB All-Star Game for the Tigers if he continues his hot streak. Even when he was doing badly at the start of the year, his average and power numbers surprisingly never looked all that bad. He is very much like Alex Rodriguez in that regard. Cabrera could easily have a good 15 or more home runs by the time the 2008 MLB All-Star Game in New York rolls around and it would be hard to keep him off the All-Star team if that were the case and his average were above .300. The Detroit Tigers might have to have a .500 record or better for him to get All-Star Game consideration at that point, however.

Placido Polanco is the final candidate. He has been hot lately as well after recovering from some injury problems. Polanco will most likely have his average up above the .300 mark by the All-Star Game again this year as it has been going up most of the season. Polanco doesn't have a lot of All-Star Game competition at second base and that works in his favor. Ian Kinsler of Texas and Robinson Cano of New York are two guys who are ahead of him in All-Star Game balloting but they are both surpassable if Polanco keeps hitting well.

The Detroit Tigers might not get as many All-Star Game participants as expected but they could get two or maybe even three if they continue their recent hot streak. The 2008 MLB All-Star Game will probably be dominated by Red Sox and Yankees but if the Detroit Tigers get more than one player in, they should be happy considering the way the MLB season began.

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