So I need some help. Perhaps this isn’t the right place to go looking for it because this is usually a place where I, the writer, provides a service to you, the reader. But I have nowhere else to turn at this moment, so I’m hoping you’re okay with the reverse arrangement for this one particular post.

My problem is this. I don’t know which Tigers player shirt to buy this year.

Every year for the last probably seven or eight years, I’ve added one player to my repertoire and I’m just not sure which way to go. So I need some advice.

First, let me tell you which players I have. So we can obviously leave them out.

1) Brandon Inge

2) Curtis Granderson

3) Justin Verlander

4) Rick Porcello

5) Alex Avila

6) Doug Fister

7) Ryan Raburn

8) Don Kelly

My basic criteria are these. When I buy the shirt, I want some sense of security that the player will be around for at least another season, so I usually shy away from players in contract years or on the trading block. I want the player to have earned my love and affection. Which means I don’t buy a player’s shirt until they’ve contributed in some way, meaning that I can’t buy Torii Hunter just yet. I also place more weight on players who are less popular, because I like to support players who have fewer fans.

As many of you know, I’m something of a die-hard fan who loves even the worst players on the team. Miguel Cabrera is an amazing hitter, but I have a lot more fun cheering for Don Kelly. Put simply, I’m attracted to players who are blessed with heart and hustle over hits and homeruns, but that is not an exclusive relationship. I’m not against buying the best players, I would just rather pick a more obscure player all else being equal.

So without further ado, here are the choices I’m considering this year in the rough order I’m thinking.

1) Andy Dirks

2) Max Scherzer

3) Victor Martinez

4)Austin Jackson

5) Prince Fielder

6) Drew Smyly

7) Anibal Sanchez

Help me out by making a case for a player on this list, or for any other player in the comments section below or on Facebook or Twitter (@NeilWeinberg44). Or you could help me out by buying me all seven.

I need to order a new player shirt soon and I just have no idea which player to choose.