CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A pair of menacing tigers, mid stride, stalk the top of the left-field scoreboard at Comerica Park.

Their tails are curled, the ends pointing to the sky. They appear as if they're ready to pounce on their prey. Then again, so do the players in the home dugout and the fans who fill the place, who eagerly anticipate another division title and an end to their hunger for a World Series triumph.

The Detroit Tigers are living like the Cleveland Indians of yesteryear. No, not the deplorable Indians that tallied three winning seasons between 1969-1993 and became the parody of the mocking film Major League. Of course, Tigers fans suffered through similar valleys; Detroit established a modern American League record with 119 losses in 2003.

The Indians stuffed Jacobs Field to capacity in the '90s. They pocketed AL Central crowns like the royalty they were. The franchise developed an unbreakable bond between its star players and its supportive fan base.

The Tigers, with a lavish payroll, a roster littered with household names and a relatively new ballpark that hosts crowds that spill out onto Woodward Avenue, are experiencing a comparable run of fortune. They own four consecutive division titles. Just like those Indians, though, none has translated into a World Series victory.

Of course, the seasons pass and the years roll. Over time, conditions change. Superstars age. Their performances decline. Their overinflated salaries do not. Contenders rebuild. Consistent winning becomes a distant memory.

For now, the Tigers and Indians both aim to contend for an AL Central title and a shot in October's dark. They will do so in vastly different ways, organizationally, from top to bottom.

Tigers owner Mike Ilitch pours nearly $200 million onto the desk of team president and general manager Dave Dombrowski, who must parcel it out to the proper players. The Indians' front office -- namely president Mark Shapiro and general manager Chris Antonetti -- must determine the most opportunistic deployment of the $85 million or so budgeted by owner Paul Dolan. Those totals also factor into a much larger equation that considers revenue and market and fan interest, of course.

The Indians have restocked and developed what was, a few years ago, a barren farm system. The Tigers have traded away a plethora of top prospects in order to land major-league talent in recent years.

The teams operate in different markets, different cities with different populations and economies, different priorities and different philosophies. But is it really that different? Are the two organizations playing on the same, level field?

With spring training at hand and a fresh, new season on deck, we'll examine the two franchises and all that is encompassed in what goes into building a winner, given that the two do attempt to do so in such contrasting styles. We'll delve into the strategies and philosophies of each owner and each front office. We'll explore the statistics that relate to market size, attendance, TV/radio ratings and more. We'll also assess the perception of each team based on these factors and the results they have produced. Will either organizational setup produce a championship?

Tuesday: Everything starts at the top: How do the managing tactics used by owners Paul Dolan and Mike Ilitch shape how the Indians and Tigers operate?

Wednesday: What role do market size, attendance, ballpark factors, city size and population and TV/radio ratings play in determining how each organization attempts to field a winner?

Thursday: What are the philosophies of each front office and how does each operate, given the resources with which they are provided?

Friday: How do the exploits of each organization shape public perception about the franchises? Is that perception a fair reflection of the circumstances?