Who will win the 2008 baseball World Series?

The Detroit Tigers came close to a World Series title two years ago. Now they are back with a roar and have assembled quite possibly the greatest offensive line-up of all time. Here are six of the characters who will all have a part to play if the Tigers are to go all the way.

1. Jim Leyland
The Tigers manager sports a smoker’s cough and a razor-sharp baseball mind and has an ocean of experience, going to the World Series twice and winning it once. Leyland, and his vast knowledge of the sport will be essential if the Tigers want to translate good signings into tangible success.

2. Miguel Cabrera
The 25-year-old third baseman, signed on an outrageous $153.3million eight-year contract extension with the Tigers, is an extremely exciting batter, tipped to hit as high as .340, which would turn the Tigers into offensive Leviathans. The news from training camp in Florida is that he is also extremely fit, more so than last season, which bodes well for his abilities as a third baseman.

‘Ordonez was hitting like a maniacal loon with a fly swat last season, bagging a brilliant 54 doubles, again rising above everyone in MLB.


3. Bradon Inge
The fact that this talented hitter is still with the Tigers can be seen as a glorious bonus as a slew of clubs, including the Giants and the Dodgers seemed intent on making a move for him. Inge has been impressive during the Tigers’ pre-season and is working on cutting down on his strikeouts. Inge has been shunted out at third base by Cabrera but if he accepts a switch to catcher this hugely popular player could yet perform a crucial role for the Tigers.

4. Rick  Porcello
The right-handed pitcher has had a sensational pre-season, even more remarkable that he is just 19 years of age. Manager Leyland has drizzled his protégé in praise saying: "This is a different cat, he's not in awe of anything." The $7.28million deal penned by Porcello in August last year – the most lucrative contract ever given to a high schooler – shows just how good the Tigers think he will become.

5. Gary Sheffield
The designated hitter recorded his lowest average since 1991 last year, but if he can recover from some niggling injury problems, expect him to come back in a major way this season reaching the halcyon heights of previous All Star seasons.

6. Magglio Ordonez
Along with Cabrera and Sheffield, Ordonez completes a fearsome batting triumvirate and if he can mirror last season when he smashed and slugged his way to .363, the highest batting average in Major League Baseball, he will become a Tigers legend. In fact Ordonez was hitting like a maniacal loon with a fly swat last season, bagging a brilliant 54 doubles, again rising above everyone in MLB.