The Year of Monroe

MLB.com's Jason Beck reports that Criag Monroe is confident and feeling better than he has before any other seasons. With his legal woes behind him, the only obstacles left are other guys in contention for the outfield positions.

This season Monroe has the chance to beat out his fellow Tigers for the starting positions of left or right field. The task at hand could also include putting the longest tenured Tiger on the bench, Bobby Higginson.

"I heard some positive things from [manager] Tram. The team has been over-supportive, so I'm very confident going into Spring Training and this season that I'm going to be fine," said Monroe before TigerFest.

The Tigers have added another potential obstacle to Monroe's plans. Power-hitting Magglio Ordonez is in negotiations with the Tigers. Ordonez would likely come into the mix in right field. That would be put Monroe in contention for the job in left field where he'd have to battle Rondell White for left field innings.

Monroe is at the crossroads of his career. He's not a rookie anymore and he's not a veteran. He's quietly improved each of the last two seasons with the Tigers, but is he poised to make this year a break out year?

All the pieces are there. He has the hitting, and he mostly has the fielding. He'll need to work hard to prove that he belongs out there each day the Tigers take the field.