Thursday, October 30, 2008
For the Love of God....Play Drew Stanton!
Duante Culpepper? Are the Lions serious? Does this make absolutely no sense to anybody else? It’s nice that the Lions have realized that Dan Orlovsky (once considered potentially their quarterback of the future) sucks. It is not so nice that now they have decided that the best course of action for a franchise that is completely in rebuilding mode is to go after a washed-up 300-pound statue who left his last NFL gig after he couldn’t beat out Andrew Walter. Looking at this situation from a distance, one would think that the Lions must be desperate; they must have no other option at quarterback. Well, one would be wrong. In actuality, there is a second round pick who has spent the first 8 weeks of the season carving out a 4-inch deep ass groove on the Lions’ bench. I’m not saying that Drew Stanton is going to save the Lions’ season, but why not see what the guy can do? In my humble opinion, Stanton should have been in the lineup as soon as Dan-O started scoring points for the opposing team. I understand that playing Stanton is the equivalent of waving the white flag to the rest of the NFL (mercifully) and this is a hard pill for a fighter like Rod Marinelli to swallow, but this season is a lost cause. I appreciate that they guy works hard and wants to win, but he has entered coaching senility at this point. His press conferences are like presidential debates, no matter what questions the reporters ask, Marinelli just spews the same crap about “pounding the rock” and how great the team looks in practice. Of course they look good in practice, everybody looks good when they play the Lions! He is about one more loss away from pulling a Mike Singletary and dropping trow in a team meeting. By the way, can somebody please make sure that the 49ers hire Singletary full time? What he gives up in intelligence, he makes up for in sheer comedic genius. This dude makes Dennis Green look like Bill Belichick. His sound byte after the Niners loss last Sunday is already in the pantheon of ridiculously great coach speeches, and Singletary has only coached in one game! Can you imagine the hilarity that will ensure after a week of having Shaun Hill as his starting quarterback? Anyway, back to the Lions. Marinelli has stressed time and again that Stanton is not ready to be a starter in the NFL. Is anyone surprised? How many other Lions are ready to be starters in the NFL? By my calculations, Stanton fits right in! All jokes aside, the Lions need to figure out what they have in Drew Stanton. Based on Matt Millen’s past draft record, Stanton is probably not very good, but the Lions might as well confirm that suspicion. Who knows, maybe Stanton is the second coming of Randall Cunningham, rather than the second coming of Mike McMahon. Mr. Ford has to be curious, right?
Friday, October 24, 2008
If I ran the NHL Part Trois
By Pete McGrath
This edition will cover some of the league's marketing and its TV Deals. Through the years I've always heard people say about hockey on TV "But I can't see the puck." Nothing made me cringe as much as those words (until I saw the stupid light up puck the league tried out). I don't follow that logic. I have never had that problem my entire hockey watching life. So if you can't see the puck, I am not writing this for you.
The NHL has always been a distant fourth in the four major professional team sports in the United States. What the NFL shows every league out there is that dragging your season out all year is not the key to success. The NFL thrives on TV money because every game is a big deal, and seeing as how their TV contract is bigger than all of hockey's revenue put together, it safe to say they were right. So what the NHL needs to do is get more people to watch the game, both in person and more importantly on TV (that's where the money really is). Here are my ideas.
First thing the NHL needs to do is grow the game at a grassroots level. I went to college in Cleveland, and I was shocked at how little people knew about hockey there. Steve Yzerman who is basically canonized here in Detroit is unheard of in Cleveland. People who are rabid Browns, Indians, and Cavs fans (it's not that they don't like sports) literally do not know who he is. Aside from the occasional Sabres fan, the only people that cared about hockey that were not from Detroit were people that had actually played the game through high school.
For this reason, I believe the best thing the league can do for its long term success is get kids to play hockey. Kids in America usually play Little League as a right of passage, high school football is a big deal all over the country, and often people play at least intramural basketball through their college years. The NHL needs to sponsor and facilitate the construction of as many rinks and the formation of as many youth leagues as possible. In Canada, the game of choice is always hockey, weather its watching or playing. The United States will never be as hockey crazy as Canada, but part of the reason people appreciate their NHL clubs so much in Canada, Minnesota, Detroit, and other Northern American cities is that a large part of the populous played the game "back in the day," or still plays in a weekend beer league. Long story short, the nicest arena in America occasionally full of fans won't be worth much in the long run if there aren't a bunch of little rinks in the area full of kids playing the game.
Getting back to putting the game on TV, the NHL made a terrible mistake by signing the TV contract with Versus. Versus is rookieball compared to ESPN. The camera is too close to the ice,
the set looks like a high school doing the video announcements, and Brian Engbloom's mullet sucks compared to Barry Melrose's. Mullets notwithstanding, the global reach of ESPN is simply incredible. ESPN's brand name is worth more than any other channel out there. ESPN is in every basic cable package, is on in every sports bar, and every college guy's dorm room is tuned to ESPN. Versus simply isn't always available.
I realize that Versus offered 60 Million year instead of revenue sharing- but that comes out to 2 million a team, which is for all practical purposes pocket change. This is like turning down the unpaid internship at the best company in your field to work for McDonald's and make some money. Yeah you get a little money upfront, but you are killing your future. Get back on ESPN because that way fans who have never seen you before might. People watching something else on ESPN like Sports Center might forget to change the channel and give hockey a shot. Versus generally has hunting shows on all day, so the NHL isn't getting a whole lot of lead in viewers. Also, Versus simply isn't as widespread channel as ESPN. Any basic cable package has ESPN and ESPN 2. The same cannot be said for Versus, which has left a lot of people who actually want to watch hockey shit out of luck because their cable package does not carry the channel. In conclusion, the NHL needs to pad its resume and take its unpaid internship. The exposure gained from being on ESPN can only help the league.
The league needs to realize that it shouldn't try to out NBA the NBA. Instead the league should embrace and market those quirky things that make the NHL and its players so great. One of my favorite traditions in hockey is the playoff beard. However, come playoff time you hardly ever hear about it. They should market the hell out of this. My product placement gears were turning on this one- why don't they have Gillette sponsor a contest for the best beard in the playoffs? That seems like a no brainer for me.
I was also upset when Bettman changed the Wales and Campbell conference to East and West, along with directional names for the divisions as well. I thought it was cool that the divisions were named after people, and it was unique to hockey. While they can keep the current alignment of teams, think of two people to name two divisions after and bring the old way back. If anything it'll put the league in the news for a bit and will generate publicity just like David Stern did with the NBA dress code a few years back.
These days, when I watch a baseball team celebrate in the locker room I can't tell if they won their division or the World Series. However, hockey players know whats up. They don't touch the Campbell Bowl or the Wales Trophy, because the Stanley Cup is the only true championship. The league needs to let the folks out there know about this great superstition. Market the conference championships as the "Don't Touch the Trophy/Bowl" series.
The NBA is expanding aggressively throughout the world, and the NHL needs to do the same. I don't think the league needs to put teams in different countries, because due to travel that wouldn't be prudent. Players will go to play in the league with the best competition, and that will be the NHL for some time. For example, while Brazil and Argentina produce the world's best soccer players, and their national teams compete for the World Cup (and win it often), nearly all of the players play professionally in Europe. So I do not foresee the need for European teams in hockey (or basketball for that matter).
What the NHL could do though is have each NHL team partner up with a European or Asian city and play a series of games there before the season begins. It would be like having a sister city or a pen-pal for fans from both towns. Have each club play two or three games in one city, that way people can connect to one team, and this way the league can really expand its international footprint. The league already has international players, why not make more money off the international fans.
Back here in America, the league should do something similar by playing more neutral site games, or have some teams have a secondary city. The example that always comes to mind is Green Bay playing one game in Milwaukee every year. Obviously clubs like Detroit, Montreal, Toronto, etc, do not need to do this. However, it would be good for Columbus (if they don't move the team) to maybe play a couple games a season in Cleveland or Cincinnati. Maybe have the Blues play a couple games a year in Kansas City, the Kings in San Diego, the Sharks in Portland etc. If you're having trouble filling up your arena, you might as well take your act on the road where the novelty of a pro hockey game might give you a sellout at the gate. Also, you can get people in those cities to become fans of your club as well, selling more merchandise and getting more people to watch the games on TV.
The league needs to also think a little outside the box in terms of marketing. I got this idea from the World Series of Poker. Relatively speaking the winner's share of any modern trophy really isn't that much (compared to their contracts). For instance, the winner's share of the World Series Trophy was $308,235.75. Now three hundred grand ain't bad, but for guys with the contracts they have now that's chump change. Here's the idea, the league should have every team, and perhaps the NHLPA, ante up for the right to play for the cup in the beginning of the season. Have a couple sponsors (I'm talking about you Labatt) match the money, so this way the winner's share is around 3-4 million bucks per player. And no losers share either- just like the superstition says, conference championship does not count, only by winning the Stanley Cup are you a true champion. I realize that the Cup itself should be a worthy enough goal for any player, but this is really meant to motivate the owners just as much as the players. There are many owners that are doing a terrible job running their teams and are happy to just sit back and collect the revenue sharing. They won't be anymore. Lastly, World Series of Poker style, try to bring all the cash out on the ice as a photo op. I really feel this would be a great publicity stunt for the league, and will help the league out on the operational level by getting more teams to compete as well.
The league needs to do a better job of promoting its video games. While NHL 94 on Sega is widely considered to be a masterpiece, the games since have failed to have that sort of crossover success. Video games are big business these days, and hockey is a sport that translates very well to video games. The league needs to use its flagship game as one of its chief marketing tools the way the NFL does with Madden. If you're not going to play the sport, you should at least play the video game. Also, for an old school guy like me, package the most modern game with an emulator for the 94 version with today's players and rosters. Show the pizza boy/Sega scene from Swingers in the commercial then cut to a similar scene of guys hanging out and giving each other shit playing the modern game, and give a tag about how hanging with the guys never changes no matter what game you're playing.
Also, put Don Cherry on TV. People in Detroit and Buffalo love watching Ron McLean try to keep Don in check. Weather people love Don Cherry or think he's a moron, people still watch Coach's Corner. Also, I love his Fu Manchu playoff beards and crazy suits. Some of what he says I don't agree with, but there is no question that he cares deeply about hockey. Also, in a world of vanilla sportscasters, Don Cherry is refreshing as someone who speaks his mind. Perhaps the NHL should name it's aforementioned video game franchise after Don Cherry. Perhaps EA Sports should call the game Rock 'em Sock 'em Hockey. Just a thought.
Anywho, that's all I got for now. I'll cover game rules, rivalries and schedules next time.
This edition will cover some of the league's marketing and its TV Deals. Through the years I've always heard people say about hockey on TV "But I can't see the puck." Nothing made me cringe as much as those words (until I saw the stupid light up puck the league tried out). I don't follow that logic. I have never had that problem my entire hockey watching life. So if you can't see the puck, I am not writing this for you.
The NHL has always been a distant fourth in the four major professional team sports in the United States. What the NFL shows every league out there is that dragging your season out all year is not the key to success. The NFL thrives on TV money because every game is a big deal, and seeing as how their TV contract is bigger than all of hockey's revenue put together, it safe to say they were right. So what the NHL needs to do is get more people to watch the game, both in person and more importantly on TV (that's where the money really is). Here are my ideas.
First thing the NHL needs to do is grow the game at a grassroots level. I went to college in Cleveland, and I was shocked at how little people knew about hockey there. Steve Yzerman who is basically canonized here in Detroit is unheard of in Cleveland. People who are rabid Browns, Indians, and Cavs fans (it's not that they don't like sports) literally do not know who he is. Aside from the occasional Sabres fan, the only people that cared about hockey that were not from Detroit were people that had actually played the game through high school.
For this reason, I believe the best thing the league can do for its long term success is get kids to play hockey. Kids in America usually play Little League as a right of passage, high school football is a big deal all over the country, and often people play at least intramural basketball through their college years. The NHL needs to sponsor and facilitate the construction of as many rinks and the formation of as many youth leagues as possible. In Canada, the game of choice is always hockey, weather its watching or playing. The United States will never be as hockey crazy as Canada, but part of the reason people appreciate their NHL clubs so much in Canada, Minnesota, Detroit, and other Northern American cities is that a large part of the populous played the game "back in the day," or still plays in a weekend beer league. Long story short, the nicest arena in America occasionally full of fans won't be worth much in the long run if there aren't a bunch of little rinks in the area full of kids playing the game.
Getting back to putting the game on TV, the NHL made a terrible mistake by signing the TV contract with Versus. Versus is rookieball compared to ESPN. The camera is too close to the ice,
the set looks like a high school doing the video announcements, and Brian Engbloom's mullet sucks compared to Barry Melrose's. Mullets notwithstanding, the global reach of ESPN is simply incredible. ESPN's brand name is worth more than any other channel out there. ESPN is in every basic cable package, is on in every sports bar, and every college guy's dorm room is tuned to ESPN. Versus simply isn't always available.
I realize that Versus offered 60 Million year instead of revenue sharing- but that comes out to 2 million a team, which is for all practical purposes pocket change. This is like turning down the unpaid internship at the best company in your field to work for McDonald's and make some money. Yeah you get a little money upfront, but you are killing your future. Get back on ESPN because that way fans who have never seen you before might. People watching something else on ESPN like Sports Center might forget to change the channel and give hockey a shot. Versus generally has hunting shows on all day, so the NHL isn't getting a whole lot of lead in viewers. Also, Versus simply isn't as widespread channel as ESPN. Any basic cable package has ESPN and ESPN 2. The same cannot be said for Versus, which has left a lot of people who actually want to watch hockey shit out of luck because their cable package does not carry the channel. In conclusion, the NHL needs to pad its resume and take its unpaid internship. The exposure gained from being on ESPN can only help the league.
The league needs to realize that it shouldn't try to out NBA the NBA. Instead the league should embrace and market those quirky things that make the NHL and its players so great. One of my favorite traditions in hockey is the playoff beard. However, come playoff time you hardly ever hear about it. They should market the hell out of this. My product placement gears were turning on this one- why don't they have Gillette sponsor a contest for the best beard in the playoffs? That seems like a no brainer for me.
I was also upset when Bettman changed the Wales and Campbell conference to East and West, along with directional names for the divisions as well. I thought it was cool that the divisions were named after people, and it was unique to hockey. While they can keep the current alignment of teams, think of two people to name two divisions after and bring the old way back. If anything it'll put the league in the news for a bit and will generate publicity just like David Stern did with the NBA dress code a few years back.
These days, when I watch a baseball team celebrate in the locker room I can't tell if they won their division or the World Series. However, hockey players know whats up. They don't touch the Campbell Bowl or the Wales Trophy, because the Stanley Cup is the only true championship. The league needs to let the folks out there know about this great superstition. Market the conference championships as the "Don't Touch the Trophy/Bowl" series.
The NBA is expanding aggressively throughout the world, and the NHL needs to do the same. I don't think the league needs to put teams in different countries, because due to travel that wouldn't be prudent. Players will go to play in the league with the best competition, and that will be the NHL for some time. For example, while Brazil and Argentina produce the world's best soccer players, and their national teams compete for the World Cup (and win it often), nearly all of the players play professionally in Europe. So I do not foresee the need for European teams in hockey (or basketball for that matter).
What the NHL could do though is have each NHL team partner up with a European or Asian city and play a series of games there before the season begins. It would be like having a sister city or a pen-pal for fans from both towns. Have each club play two or three games in one city, that way people can connect to one team, and this way the league can really expand its international footprint. The league already has international players, why not make more money off the international fans.
Back here in America, the league should do something similar by playing more neutral site games, or have some teams have a secondary city. The example that always comes to mind is Green Bay playing one game in Milwaukee every year. Obviously clubs like Detroit, Montreal, Toronto, etc, do not need to do this. However, it would be good for Columbus (if they don't move the team) to maybe play a couple games a season in Cleveland or Cincinnati. Maybe have the Blues play a couple games a year in Kansas City, the Kings in San Diego, the Sharks in Portland etc. If you're having trouble filling up your arena, you might as well take your act on the road where the novelty of a pro hockey game might give you a sellout at the gate. Also, you can get people in those cities to become fans of your club as well, selling more merchandise and getting more people to watch the games on TV.
The league needs to also think a little outside the box in terms of marketing. I got this idea from the World Series of Poker. Relatively speaking the winner's share of any modern trophy really isn't that much (compared to their contracts). For instance, the winner's share of the World Series Trophy was $308,235.75. Now three hundred grand ain't bad, but for guys with the contracts they have now that's chump change. Here's the idea, the league should have every team, and perhaps the NHLPA, ante up for the right to play for the cup in the beginning of the season. Have a couple sponsors (I'm talking about you Labatt) match the money, so this way the winner's share is around 3-4 million bucks per player. And no losers share either- just like the superstition says, conference championship does not count, only by winning the Stanley Cup are you a true champion. I realize that the Cup itself should be a worthy enough goal for any player, but this is really meant to motivate the owners just as much as the players. There are many owners that are doing a terrible job running their teams and are happy to just sit back and collect the revenue sharing. They won't be anymore. Lastly, World Series of Poker style, try to bring all the cash out on the ice as a photo op. I really feel this would be a great publicity stunt for the league, and will help the league out on the operational level by getting more teams to compete as well.
The league needs to do a better job of promoting its video games. While NHL 94 on Sega is widely considered to be a masterpiece, the games since have failed to have that sort of crossover success. Video games are big business these days, and hockey is a sport that translates very well to video games. The league needs to use its flagship game as one of its chief marketing tools the way the NFL does with Madden. If you're not going to play the sport, you should at least play the video game. Also, for an old school guy like me, package the most modern game with an emulator for the 94 version with today's players and rosters. Show the pizza boy/Sega scene from Swingers in the commercial then cut to a similar scene of guys hanging out and giving each other shit playing the modern game, and give a tag about how hanging with the guys never changes no matter what game you're playing.
Also, put Don Cherry on TV. People in Detroit and Buffalo love watching Ron McLean try to keep Don in check. Weather people love Don Cherry or think he's a moron, people still watch Coach's Corner. Also, I love his Fu Manchu playoff beards and crazy suits. Some of what he says I don't agree with, but there is no question that he cares deeply about hockey. Also, in a world of vanilla sportscasters, Don Cherry is refreshing as someone who speaks his mind. Perhaps the NHL should name it's aforementioned video game franchise after Don Cherry. Perhaps EA Sports should call the game Rock 'em Sock 'em Hockey. Just a thought.
Anywho, that's all I got for now. I'll cover game rules, rivalries and schedules next time.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Vince Young to the Lions?
I was listening to radio today and the discussion was about who might start next season under center for my beloved Honolulu Blue and Silver. Normally, I would make a joke here about how sad it is that we are already considering next season and it’s only Week 8, but at this point, it’s not funny anymore. Anyway, the possibility of trading the Dallas Cowboys’ first round pick to the Titans for Vince Young was brought up and it very much intrigues me. The trade could definitely help both sides. By benching Young, the Titans have all but killed VY’s career in Tennessee. Young has lost the trust of that coaching staff and I think both sides know that, barring an injury to Kerry Collins this season, Young will not be back under center for the Titans again in his career. The best solution for both parties is for Young to be traded and the Titans will not get a better offer than a mid-first round pick that’s getting higher and higher with every snap that Brad Johnson takes. From the Lions’ point of view, it is obvious that they need a quarterback. Hell, for the sake of comedy, let’s run down the Lions current QB situation. They have Jon Kitna, who apparently tweaked his back because he has been sleeping with Mike Martz’s playbook under his mattress, Dan Orlovsky, who obviously struggled to color within the lines as a child, Drew Stanton, who seems to have proved to the coaches that he is unequivocally worse than Orlovsky, and Drew Henson, who was once beaten out for a QB job by Quincy Carter. The Lions have nothing close to an NFL starting quarterback and will probably use one of their two first rounders next year to get one. No matter who they hire as the new GM, I do not trust the Lions to draft a quarterback in the first round (see Andre Ware and Joey Harrington for reasons why) and trading for Young would eliminate the possibility of using their inevitable top-5 pick on risky quarterback (read: Tim Tebow). I would rather see the Lions use their higher picks to build from the trenches and trading for Young would go a long way toward ensuring this. Young would also help the Lions to be more successful right away, as his mobility would take pressure off of Detroit’s terrible offensive line. On the surface, it looks like a win-win, no-brainer move, but I think that this whole situation rides on how Young is reacting to his benching and the Titans’ subsequent success. My feeling on Young is that he puts too much pressure on himself. He knew how good this Titans team was and when we felt that he was dragging them down, he flipped out. I don’t think hearing the fans booing would have bothered him if he didn’t know in his heart of hearts that he deserved those boos. Now has been benched and his team is rolling without him. Does he feel sorry for himself? Or is he determined to validate his status as a top-5 draft pick? Based on Mr. Young’s work at Texas, I would lean toward the latter. Much like his first couple of years with the Titans, Young struggled early in his career at Texas, but with time and hard work, he turned himself into one of the greatest college football players of his generation. Now, I’m not saying that Vince Young is going to become a transcendent NFL quarterback, but I think that he has the tools to be a damn good one. I know that he has struggled in the NFL, but I just find I hard to believe that somebody who was so dominant against elite competition in college (he beat Michigan and USC by himself in consecutive Rose Bowls) could turn out to be a dud as an NFL player. Who knows, maybe I’m wrong and Young just peaked too early, but I have a feeling that the talent, poise and leadership and VY showed in Austin is going to translate to success in the NFL eventually. Long story short, the Lions need to take risks if they’re going to dig themselves out of Matt Millen’s grave, and this is certainly a risk that is worth taking.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
If I Ran the NHL Part Deux
By Pete McGrath
NHL Sweaters and Mascots Edition
As the NHL has expanded a lot recently, I think choosing cool team names and designing effective logos is key to getting a town to rally around its team, and the NHL’s poor choices has hampered their progress in certain cities. I’m going to go team by team in this column and provide my two cents on their mascot/team colors/jerseys/logo/ and feel free to comment.
I am old school when it comes to uniforms in sports. I believe in simple uniforms, simple color combinations, and simple logos that stand the test of time.
Here are some pitfalls that many uniforms fall into:
Too Many Colors- Pick two colors for your team color and stick with them. Notre Dame, the Yankees, the Lakers, and the Celtics have simple color schemes, and that’s why their unis work.
The house team effect- If you’ve ever played house hockey, one year your sweater might be green, while the next year it might be blue, so it was always prudent to buy black pants and gloves. However at the NHL level, you should be able to afford gear that matches your jersey.
Black proliferation- If black was not originally one of your two colors, do not all the sudden make it one. Do not make it part of your jerseys piping or trim. Also, the black alternate jersey thing has become a bit tiresome. This is kind of similar to the house team effect.
The Rbk system effect. Reebok re-designed a lot of jerseys recently, adding stupid piping at the top of the sweaters and taking the trim off the bottom. Trim on the bottom is important though, because hockey sweaters are meant to be un-tucked. With no trim on the bottom it looks like an un-tucked button down dress shirt- A.K.A. bad.
The Clip art effect- When a logo is obviously computer generated, and looks cheaply done; like a school kid doing a project for class. Clip art logos generally have too many colors as well, corresponding to an earlier pitfall.
Generic/stupid mascots- A cool mascot to me is one that embraces the town’s heritage or is unique in general. Not one that sounds focused grouped or like an arena football team.
Teal- Teal sucks.
Without further adieu, here are the teams:
Anaheim Ducks – I remember when I first saw the jerseys in D2, back when the team was the Mighty Ducks. While I’m glad the team is just the Ducks now and have gotten rid of that terrible early nineties color combo of purple and teal, the current uni’s could use some work. The logo is still a bit cartoony and cheesy. However, at least Charlie Conway doesn’t have to take on the Hawks and Iceland wearing this anymore.
Atlanta Thrashers – I for a while was of the belief that the team name Thrashers was stupid. However, upon doing research I’ve learned that the Thrasher is the state bird of Georgia and was selected by the fans, so I guess that can stay. But the logo and the current jerseys got to go. The logo has too many colors for it to be effective, and it too falls into that clip arty category. The jerseys, with the word Atlanta going down one shoulder are terrible, and the person who designed them should be shot.
Boston Bruins – Any original six team automatically has a cool mascot to me. This team is a case study of why you only need two colors besides white. The simple color scheme and simple logo is all you need. Also, give the club kudos for the new alternate jerseys with the throwback logo.
Buffalo Sabres - I was glad to see they got rid of the black and red jerseys from the 90s. But the Sabres really need to go back to their old logo of the crossed swords with a buffalo in the middle. Simple, effective, with a unique color combination of blue and yellow made their old jersey a beauty. The current slug/Donald Trump’s hair logo is stupid. Also, get rid of the dumb pit stripes, and give me the jersey that Pat Lafontaine wore.
Calgary Flames – Flames is a solid name for a team, and the flaming C logo is effective as well. However, this is a classic example of black getting in the way of a perfectly fine uniform. The black pants and gloves make the club look like a house team, and the black trim is obnoxious. Go back to the red and yellow uni’s of Mike Vernon’s day (or at least give me an update). Also, maybe have some fun with the trim. Maybe have flame trim at the bottom of the jersey or on the socks.
Carolina Hurricanes – I really wish there weren’t so many weather related mascot’s in this league, but of the three I like the Hurricanes the best. The logo is really simple, and has only two colors. I could do without their current alternate jerseys. The triangle behind the logo is stupid, and the hockey stick flagpole looks dumb as well. I like where their heads at though with the hurricane flag idea for an alternate logo, but that is actually a gale flag. Tweak this a bit, put it on a red jersey, and it could work. The black jersey thing is a little played out at this point.
Chicago Blackhawks – Great mascot, great logo, great alternate logo, great jerseys, even cooler throwback jerseys, and as a Wings fan, it pains me to say this, but I think they have the best unis in the league.
Colorado Avalanche – To go from the Quebec Nordiques’s kickass unis to this ugly ass uniform was a disaster. They have maroon and blue with jerseys, maroon and blue and grey socks, but black gloves, pants, and helmets making them a victim of the house team effect and the too many colors effect. The logo is kind of clip arty as well, but at the same time I don’t have any better ideas for an avalanche logo. The trim on the jerseys really needs to be fixed up though. Maybe they could just start all over and name the team the Colorado Turtles.
Columbus Blue Jackets – I always assumed a blue jacket was a type of bumblebee, and never understood why their logo has all the stars on it. Evidently the Blue Jacket name comes from the Civil War soldiers from Ohio, which actually makes it a decent mascot if the logo reflected this. They need to make this part of the logo and embrace the civil war heritage (it would be nice to see a northern based Civil War mascot to combat the Rebels and Vols of the world). If that doesn’t work, just change the team name to the Buckeyes to fool Columbusians into showing up to the games.
Dallas Stars – Not a bad mascot, not bad colors, but it just could’ve been so much cooler. Remember, this team is descendant from one of the all time great team names in sports, the Minnesota North Stars. While I really think it was the height of stupidity for the NHL to move a team out of Minnesota, I will give Dallas its props for embracing its team and hockey as a sport. But how cool would it have been if they were the Dallas Lone Stars, not just the Stars?
Detroit Red Wings – Number two in the league for my money- a great simple logo with just two colors and a simple jersey design. This jersey just shows how less is more sometimes. All logo designers and jersey color picker outers need to pay attention to this jersey.
Edmonton Oilers – A good mascot that makes sense in the oil rich area of Edmonton. The logo has always been simple and effective to me, but I could do without the piping on their current jerseys. They changed from blue and orange to navy and burnt orange a few years back, but word on the street is that they’re wearing their old throwback unis for a few games. I think they should go back to these all the time because after all, if you won five cups in them, why change the unis?
Florida Panthers – A middle of the road mascot, and not a bad logo. The red, navy and gold color scheme is a bit busy however. Just black and white would look pretty badass if you ask me.
Los Angeles Kings – The LA Kings have a solid mascot with a solid color scheme. Purple is the color of royalty after all. The current crown logo isn’t bad, but I have to say I liked the coat of arms logo they just changed from a little bit better.
Minnesota Wild – This team name sort of prompted this column. What the fuck is a Wild? Evidently it’s some saber tooth tiger shaped thing with trees on it, which looks eerily similar to the Nashville logo. They should’ve gone with the Minnesota Fighting Saints as a tribute to the WHA team, or furthermore stuck it to Dallas for moving by calling the team the North Stars. Anything but the Wild- it sounds like an Arena Football League team. Once again, there are two many colors and too much crap going on in the logo. Get rid of the gold, change the logo, and change the team name. However, the Wild’s success (every single game sold out) despite their atrocious logo and sometimes lackluster play on the ice illustrates the need for the league to put teams in hockey cities, and further proves my theory from my last post.
Montreal Canadiens – Great team name, great logo, great sweater, no further discussion or links needed.
Nashville Predators – Predators isn’t a bad mascot, but it’s very generic. Once again I wish the league did a better job of embracing a city’s culture and was more creative with the team mascot. Nashville is known for its music, so the Nashville Musicians or something along those lines would’ve been pretty cool. The uniform is a bit busy for my tastes, and I won’t even bother providing a link to the deplorable alternate jersey.
New Jersey Devils – This club made a wise decision changing its colors from green and red to black and red. The Christmas decorations ensemble did not look very tough, and was kind of contradictory to naming the club the Devils. The logo is actually deceptively cool. The NJ with the stylized horns and tail is simple but nicely done.
NY Islanders – This is one of the cooler team names in the league. Jets, Mets, and Islanders fans are generally Long Island folks, so the team name and the logo really embraces the community. There was a brief period where the club fell victim to the teal craze of the nineties, but now their unis are for the most part back on track. Once again, the uniform is a little busy with the lines on the shoulders, but I can live with that. The Chevron patch on the shoulder representing the club's four Stanley Cups is really cool. In any event, I guess a solid uniform still does not prevent you from signing Alexei Yashin to a terrible contract.
NY Rangers – Once again it’s an Original Six team, so of course the unis and the team name are cool. The classic Rangers script across the front of the sweater hasn’t been changed in years, and it doesn’t need to be. The alternate sweater has to go though. A marquis franchise with classic uniforms should not have to resort to selling alternate jerseys. Also, extra kudos for pulling off the collar laces so well.
Ottawa Senators – The league had the right idea for this club by reviving the Senators mascot from back in the day. The color scheme of red and black works well, and I liked the original logo as well. While technically speaking the logo is of a Centurion, not a Senator, it still fits and was a good logo. The new logo is a bit cartoony to me. Also, once again the pit stripes have got to go. A team with an old school crest and an old school history deserves a simple straightforward jersey. This old bumblebee sweater isn’t have bad either.
Philadelphia Flyers – The logo and the mascot are classics. They’re original and name rolls off the tongue because it features alliteration. I have one request- go back to the orange jerseys. The black jersey is very played out, and the orange was sharp and unique– very few clubs in any sport have orange jerseys. Plus you can’t see the black logo on the black background.
Phoenix Coyotes – While I do mind hockey in Phoenix, I do not mind the mascot or the team colors. The Coyotes wisely changed their color scheme from black, green, red, tan, and a bunch of other colors on the crest to a simple dark red and white. The logo is also much simpler and better. This may come as a surprise thought but I actually liked their old Native American style trim on the old sweater (just the trim though). I thought it was unique to the team and a cool tribute to the Native population in the area. This sweater also fell victim to the RBK edge uniform though by losing its bottom of the jersey trim. Fix that, and you got a really cool jersey, but I would rather this team move back to Winnipeg.
Pittsburgh Penguins – Pittsburgh has a cool thing going with all their clubs being black and gold in color scheme, in tribute to the City of Pittsburgh’s flag. This club did a terrible thing when they got rid of the skating penguin logo for the more streamlined flying penguin logo with the stripes. Just like how Pat the Patriot is cooler than the Flying Elvis logo that the Patriots use on their helmets now, the skating penguin was better and needed to come back. It’s back, but the Penguin’s gold isn’t the yellow gold it used to be. They should go back to those colors to match the Steelers and Pirates, and add some trim at the bottom of the jersey.
San Jose Sharks – You can thank this team for kicking off the teal craze of the nineties. I loved seeing my beloved Pistons where teal. Thanks.
St. Louis Blues – One of the coolest and most unique mascots in all of sports. This team and the former New Orleans Jazz are the only two big league clubs named after a type of music. With their current sweater, they have shades of navy and royal blue. Pick a shade of blue, and stick with it. Also, maybe use those alternate jerseys with the Gateway Arch on the crest full time.
Tampa Bay Lightning – The last of the weather related mascot clubs in the league. Not a terrible name, but not that good of one. It would have been really cool to me if they did some sort of cigar related theme with Tampa being nicknamed Cigar City, but I guess that wouldn’t fly in this day and age. The logo itself is a little clip arty again, and I could do without the lightning bolts on the pants, but I can live with it. What I’m really pumped for is the new alternate sweater, which is blue instead of black, and features a script bolts across the chest like the Rangers jerseys. Nicknames and abbreviations on jerseys are always cool to me, and I like this jersey a lot.
Toronto Maple Leafs – A great mascot that is unique to hockey, a simple two color scheme (or should I say colour scheme), and a simple jersey. Simply timeless and classic, and no links required.
Vancouver Canucks – Every league has one I guess, Oregon in NCAA football, the Houston Astros in MLB, and of course the Vancouver Canucks in hockey. They have gone through more ugly uniforms than any other team in the league, and still haven’t gotten it right. The notorious V stripes, the Star Wars/spaghetti bowl/flying skate logo, the atrocious orca logo, and now back to the hockey rink logo with the atrocious orca logo with a script Vancouver over the top. This club just doesn’t get it, but they should go back to the ugly V stripe sweaters. At least those were so bad they were good. You Google the Canucks unis on your own- I’m getting lazy and I don’t want to find twenty links to all of their god-awful jerseys. By far and away the worst unis in the league.
Washington – I always liked the pick of Capitals as the team mascot- a solid nod to the team’s hometown. For the new Rbk unis, they did a really nice update of their old sweaters. The pit stripes for whatever reason look good on this sweater, and the team was wise enough to add some trim at the bottom of the jersey, which really makes them look like game jerseys, not practice jerseys. I think on this particular entry I proved that I am not a complete curmudgeon when it comes to jerseys.
While it was fun for me to come up with all the links and bullshit about all the unis/team names in the league, at the end of the day this series of entries is about the business end of the NHL. Strong mascot choices and merchandise sales are good business, and the league has done a poor job of making these choices over the years. Some choices have been missed opportunities, and some have been flat out awful. However, this is also one of the easiest things the league can fix. My next article will cover the league’s exposure on TV and marketing, which will be critical to the league’s future success.
NHL Sweaters and Mascots Edition
As the NHL has expanded a lot recently, I think choosing cool team names and designing effective logos is key to getting a town to rally around its team, and the NHL’s poor choices has hampered their progress in certain cities. I’m going to go team by team in this column and provide my two cents on their mascot/team colors/jerseys/logo/ and feel free to comment.
I am old school when it comes to uniforms in sports. I believe in simple uniforms, simple color combinations, and simple logos that stand the test of time.
Here are some pitfalls that many uniforms fall into:
Too Many Colors- Pick two colors for your team color and stick with them. Notre Dame, the Yankees, the Lakers, and the Celtics have simple color schemes, and that’s why their unis work.
The house team effect- If you’ve ever played house hockey, one year your sweater might be green, while the next year it might be blue, so it was always prudent to buy black pants and gloves. However at the NHL level, you should be able to afford gear that matches your jersey.
Black proliferation- If black was not originally one of your two colors, do not all the sudden make it one. Do not make it part of your jerseys piping or trim. Also, the black alternate jersey thing has become a bit tiresome. This is kind of similar to the house team effect.
The Rbk system effect. Reebok re-designed a lot of jerseys recently, adding stupid piping at the top of the sweaters and taking the trim off the bottom. Trim on the bottom is important though, because hockey sweaters are meant to be un-tucked. With no trim on the bottom it looks like an un-tucked button down dress shirt- A.K.A. bad.
The Clip art effect- When a logo is obviously computer generated, and looks cheaply done; like a school kid doing a project for class. Clip art logos generally have too many colors as well, corresponding to an earlier pitfall.
Generic/stupid mascots- A cool mascot to me is one that embraces the town’s heritage or is unique in general. Not one that sounds focused grouped or like an arena football team.
Teal- Teal sucks.
Without further adieu, here are the teams:
Anaheim Ducks – I remember when I first saw the jerseys in D2, back when the team was the Mighty Ducks. While I’m glad the team is just the Ducks now and have gotten rid of that terrible early nineties color combo of purple and teal, the current uni’s could use some work. The logo is still a bit cartoony and cheesy. However, at least Charlie Conway doesn’t have to take on the Hawks and Iceland wearing this anymore.
Atlanta Thrashers – I for a while was of the belief that the team name Thrashers was stupid. However, upon doing research I’ve learned that the Thrasher is the state bird of Georgia and was selected by the fans, so I guess that can stay. But the logo and the current jerseys got to go. The logo has too many colors for it to be effective, and it too falls into that clip arty category. The jerseys, with the word Atlanta going down one shoulder are terrible, and the person who designed them should be shot.
Boston Bruins – Any original six team automatically has a cool mascot to me. This team is a case study of why you only need two colors besides white. The simple color scheme and simple logo is all you need. Also, give the club kudos for the new alternate jerseys with the throwback logo.
Buffalo Sabres - I was glad to see they got rid of the black and red jerseys from the 90s. But the Sabres really need to go back to their old logo of the crossed swords with a buffalo in the middle. Simple, effective, with a unique color combination of blue and yellow made their old jersey a beauty. The current slug/Donald Trump’s hair logo is stupid. Also, get rid of the dumb pit stripes, and give me the jersey that Pat Lafontaine wore.
Calgary Flames – Flames is a solid name for a team, and the flaming C logo is effective as well. However, this is a classic example of black getting in the way of a perfectly fine uniform. The black pants and gloves make the club look like a house team, and the black trim is obnoxious. Go back to the red and yellow uni’s of Mike Vernon’s day (or at least give me an update). Also, maybe have some fun with the trim. Maybe have flame trim at the bottom of the jersey or on the socks.
Carolina Hurricanes – I really wish there weren’t so many weather related mascot’s in this league, but of the three I like the Hurricanes the best. The logo is really simple, and has only two colors. I could do without their current alternate jerseys. The triangle behind the logo is stupid, and the hockey stick flagpole looks dumb as well. I like where their heads at though with the hurricane flag idea for an alternate logo, but that is actually a gale flag. Tweak this a bit, put it on a red jersey, and it could work. The black jersey thing is a little played out at this point.
Chicago Blackhawks – Great mascot, great logo, great alternate logo, great jerseys, even cooler throwback jerseys, and as a Wings fan, it pains me to say this, but I think they have the best unis in the league.
Colorado Avalanche – To go from the Quebec Nordiques’s kickass unis to this ugly ass uniform was a disaster. They have maroon and blue with jerseys, maroon and blue and grey socks, but black gloves, pants, and helmets making them a victim of the house team effect and the too many colors effect. The logo is kind of clip arty as well, but at the same time I don’t have any better ideas for an avalanche logo. The trim on the jerseys really needs to be fixed up though. Maybe they could just start all over and name the team the Colorado Turtles.
Columbus Blue Jackets – I always assumed a blue jacket was a type of bumblebee, and never understood why their logo has all the stars on it. Evidently the Blue Jacket name comes from the Civil War soldiers from Ohio, which actually makes it a decent mascot if the logo reflected this. They need to make this part of the logo and embrace the civil war heritage (it would be nice to see a northern based Civil War mascot to combat the Rebels and Vols of the world). If that doesn’t work, just change the team name to the Buckeyes to fool Columbusians into showing up to the games.
Dallas Stars – Not a bad mascot, not bad colors, but it just could’ve been so much cooler. Remember, this team is descendant from one of the all time great team names in sports, the Minnesota North Stars. While I really think it was the height of stupidity for the NHL to move a team out of Minnesota, I will give Dallas its props for embracing its team and hockey as a sport. But how cool would it have been if they were the Dallas Lone Stars, not just the Stars?
Detroit Red Wings – Number two in the league for my money- a great simple logo with just two colors and a simple jersey design. This jersey just shows how less is more sometimes. All logo designers and jersey color picker outers need to pay attention to this jersey.
Edmonton Oilers – A good mascot that makes sense in the oil rich area of Edmonton. The logo has always been simple and effective to me, but I could do without the piping on their current jerseys. They changed from blue and orange to navy and burnt orange a few years back, but word on the street is that they’re wearing their old throwback unis for a few games. I think they should go back to these all the time because after all, if you won five cups in them, why change the unis?
Florida Panthers – A middle of the road mascot, and not a bad logo. The red, navy and gold color scheme is a bit busy however. Just black and white would look pretty badass if you ask me.
Los Angeles Kings – The LA Kings have a solid mascot with a solid color scheme. Purple is the color of royalty after all. The current crown logo isn’t bad, but I have to say I liked the coat of arms logo they just changed from a little bit better.
Minnesota Wild – This team name sort of prompted this column. What the fuck is a Wild? Evidently it’s some saber tooth tiger shaped thing with trees on it, which looks eerily similar to the Nashville logo. They should’ve gone with the Minnesota Fighting Saints as a tribute to the WHA team, or furthermore stuck it to Dallas for moving by calling the team the North Stars. Anything but the Wild- it sounds like an Arena Football League team. Once again, there are two many colors and too much crap going on in the logo. Get rid of the gold, change the logo, and change the team name. However, the Wild’s success (every single game sold out) despite their atrocious logo and sometimes lackluster play on the ice illustrates the need for the league to put teams in hockey cities, and further proves my theory from my last post.
Montreal Canadiens – Great team name, great logo, great sweater, no further discussion or links needed.
Nashville Predators – Predators isn’t a bad mascot, but it’s very generic. Once again I wish the league did a better job of embracing a city’s culture and was more creative with the team mascot. Nashville is known for its music, so the Nashville Musicians or something along those lines would’ve been pretty cool. The uniform is a bit busy for my tastes, and I won’t even bother providing a link to the deplorable alternate jersey.
New Jersey Devils – This club made a wise decision changing its colors from green and red to black and red. The Christmas decorations ensemble did not look very tough, and was kind of contradictory to naming the club the Devils. The logo is actually deceptively cool. The NJ with the stylized horns and tail is simple but nicely done.
NY Islanders – This is one of the cooler team names in the league. Jets, Mets, and Islanders fans are generally Long Island folks, so the team name and the logo really embraces the community. There was a brief period where the club fell victim to the teal craze of the nineties, but now their unis are for the most part back on track. Once again, the uniform is a little busy with the lines on the shoulders, but I can live with that. The Chevron patch on the shoulder representing the club's four Stanley Cups is really cool. In any event, I guess a solid uniform still does not prevent you from signing Alexei Yashin to a terrible contract.
NY Rangers – Once again it’s an Original Six team, so of course the unis and the team name are cool. The classic Rangers script across the front of the sweater hasn’t been changed in years, and it doesn’t need to be. The alternate sweater has to go though. A marquis franchise with classic uniforms should not have to resort to selling alternate jerseys. Also, extra kudos for pulling off the collar laces so well.
Ottawa Senators – The league had the right idea for this club by reviving the Senators mascot from back in the day. The color scheme of red and black works well, and I liked the original logo as well. While technically speaking the logo is of a Centurion, not a Senator, it still fits and was a good logo. The new logo is a bit cartoony to me. Also, once again the pit stripes have got to go. A team with an old school crest and an old school history deserves a simple straightforward jersey. This old bumblebee sweater isn’t have bad either.
Philadelphia Flyers – The logo and the mascot are classics. They’re original and name rolls off the tongue because it features alliteration. I have one request- go back to the orange jerseys. The black jersey is very played out, and the orange was sharp and unique– very few clubs in any sport have orange jerseys. Plus you can’t see the black logo on the black background.
Phoenix Coyotes – While I do mind hockey in Phoenix, I do not mind the mascot or the team colors. The Coyotes wisely changed their color scheme from black, green, red, tan, and a bunch of other colors on the crest to a simple dark red and white. The logo is also much simpler and better. This may come as a surprise thought but I actually liked their old Native American style trim on the old sweater (just the trim though). I thought it was unique to the team and a cool tribute to the Native population in the area. This sweater also fell victim to the RBK edge uniform though by losing its bottom of the jersey trim. Fix that, and you got a really cool jersey, but I would rather this team move back to Winnipeg.
Pittsburgh Penguins – Pittsburgh has a cool thing going with all their clubs being black and gold in color scheme, in tribute to the City of Pittsburgh’s flag. This club did a terrible thing when they got rid of the skating penguin logo for the more streamlined flying penguin logo with the stripes. Just like how Pat the Patriot is cooler than the Flying Elvis logo that the Patriots use on their helmets now, the skating penguin was better and needed to come back. It’s back, but the Penguin’s gold isn’t the yellow gold it used to be. They should go back to those colors to match the Steelers and Pirates, and add some trim at the bottom of the jersey.
San Jose Sharks – You can thank this team for kicking off the teal craze of the nineties. I loved seeing my beloved Pistons where teal. Thanks.
St. Louis Blues – One of the coolest and most unique mascots in all of sports. This team and the former New Orleans Jazz are the only two big league clubs named after a type of music. With their current sweater, they have shades of navy and royal blue. Pick a shade of blue, and stick with it. Also, maybe use those alternate jerseys with the Gateway Arch on the crest full time.
Tampa Bay Lightning – The last of the weather related mascot clubs in the league. Not a terrible name, but not that good of one. It would have been really cool to me if they did some sort of cigar related theme with Tampa being nicknamed Cigar City, but I guess that wouldn’t fly in this day and age. The logo itself is a little clip arty again, and I could do without the lightning bolts on the pants, but I can live with it. What I’m really pumped for is the new alternate sweater, which is blue instead of black, and features a script bolts across the chest like the Rangers jerseys. Nicknames and abbreviations on jerseys are always cool to me, and I like this jersey a lot.
Toronto Maple Leafs – A great mascot that is unique to hockey, a simple two color scheme (or should I say colour scheme), and a simple jersey. Simply timeless and classic, and no links required.
Vancouver Canucks – Every league has one I guess, Oregon in NCAA football, the Houston Astros in MLB, and of course the Vancouver Canucks in hockey. They have gone through more ugly uniforms than any other team in the league, and still haven’t gotten it right. The notorious V stripes, the Star Wars/spaghetti bowl/flying skate logo, the atrocious orca logo, and now back to the hockey rink logo with the atrocious orca logo with a script Vancouver over the top. This club just doesn’t get it, but they should go back to the ugly V stripe sweaters. At least those were so bad they were good. You Google the Canucks unis on your own- I’m getting lazy and I don’t want to find twenty links to all of their god-awful jerseys. By far and away the worst unis in the league.
Washington – I always liked the pick of Capitals as the team mascot- a solid nod to the team’s hometown. For the new Rbk unis, they did a really nice update of their old sweaters. The pit stripes for whatever reason look good on this sweater, and the team was wise enough to add some trim at the bottom of the jersey, which really makes them look like game jerseys, not practice jerseys. I think on this particular entry I proved that I am not a complete curmudgeon when it comes to jerseys.
While it was fun for me to come up with all the links and bullshit about all the unis/team names in the league, at the end of the day this series of entries is about the business end of the NHL. Strong mascot choices and merchandise sales are good business, and the league has done a poor job of making these choices over the years. Some choices have been missed opportunities, and some have been flat out awful. However, this is also one of the easiest things the league can fix. My next article will cover the league’s exposure on TV and marketing, which will be critical to the league’s future success.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Detroit Tigers 2009 Wish List: Part 5
To finish up the Detroit Tigers’ shopping list, we consider the situation in the bullpen:
Bullpen
Personally, I would give the lack of starting pitching the most blame for the 2008 debacle, but the bullpen certainly deserves its fair share. Coming off of last year’s seemingly successful off-season, the one area that the fans and pundits were still critical of was the Tigers’ bullpen. Dave Dombrowski chose to stick with what he had and count on Fernando Rodney and Joel Zumaya to regain their 2006 form, rather than chase after free agent relievers. In retrospect, it looks like Dombrowski was crazy, but I really do see why he did what he did. More than any other position in sports, relief pitcher is an absolute crapshoot. It is incredibly hard to determine what a reliever will do from year to year. I mean, if these guys were consistently good pitchers, they would be starting or closing (which I will address later). So I understand why Dombrowski chose not to waste prospects and money chasing after guys who might not pan out. But it has become plainly obvious that the game has changed and a great bullpen is an absolute necessity for a team that wants to make a World Series run. Needless to say, standing pat will not be acceptable in this off-season.
In House:
The usual suspects here are obviously Zumaya and Rodney. Both have electric stuff, but both have trouble staying on the field. Both can dominate, but both also struggle to throw strikes consistently. Both were brilliant and 2006, but both were awful in 2007. All that said, Zumaya and Rodney still have terrific arms and certainly deserve a shot to earn their place in the Tiger’s pen. Beyond that, it’s wide open. The Tigers have a few lefties (Casey Fossum, Macay McBride, Bobby Seay) and a few righties (Aquilino Lopez, Gary Glover, Virgil Vasquez) that are really nothing special. Out of these, only Seay is a guy that I would really like to see back on the team next year. Kyle Farnsworth is a free agent, but I really don’t foresee him wanting to come back to Detroit, so I think it would be best for the Tigers to let him walk. Beyond Rodney and Zumaya, there is really only one pitcher from the 2007 version of the Tigers’ bullpen that I would like to see come back. Freddy Dolsi. Dude has the potential to be lights out. This might not be the best comparison, because I will advise against going after this player in the next paragraph, but Dolsi reminds me of Frankie Rodriguez. He wants the ball in big situations and he usually delivers in those situations. Dolsi handed out too many free passes last season, but once he starts to harness his electric stuff, those walks will start to turn into strikeouts. One important stat to consider with Dolsi, right-hander batters hit only .215 against him last season. If Dolsi can cut down on the walks, and I believe that he can, he will be a lights-out setup man for the Tigers next season.
On the Market:
First of all, let me say that I was elated to hear Dave Dombrowski say that the Tigers would not pursue Frankie Rodriguez in free agency. Closer is by far the most overrated position in baseball and saves are by far the most overhyped stat. Anybody who plays fantasy baseball knows, closers are a dime a dozen, so there is no need to shell out millions of dollars for a guy because he racked up a few saves. Do you need somebody with good stuff to shut the door in the 9th? Definitely. But that doesn’t make it necessary to break the bank. Rodriguez, Jason Isringhausen, and Brian Fuentes lead the list of free agent closers, but I would not recommend that the Tigers pursue any of these players. As much as Tiger fans hated Todd Jones, The Rollercoaster was a perfect closer. He had the mental stability to get the final three outs, and opened the door for Joel Zumaya to play the most important role in the bullpen: Fireman. One of the reasons that Tigers’ bullpen was so great in 2006 was that their best pitcher, Zumaya, was not stuck in the 9th inning. Jim Leyland was free to use him the situations where he needed his best reliever. I will save my rant on the stupidity of bullpen management for another time, but suffice it to say that I don’t think the best pitcher in the bullpen should not be the closer. Given that, I have a list of non-closers that I think would fit well in the Tigers’ pen next season: Juan Cruz is a flamethrower who has posted a K/9’s above 12 in the past two seasons. A great reliever has to be able to get a strikeout in a tight situation and Cruz can most certainly do that. Cruz should be the Tigers’ #1 target. After Cruz, Guillermo Mota, Dennys Reyes, and Bobby Howry are solid options, but I would rather that that Tigers didn’t overpay for any relievers other than Cruz.
Let's Make a Deal:
I really don’t advocate trading for relievers, given that their skills tend to fluctuate so much from year to year. There might be some low-level deals available, but the Tigers shouldn’t pursue anything major.
Pie in the Sky:
Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney return to form, Freddy Dolsi makes the leap to stardom, and the Tigers sign Juan Cruz.
Down to Earth:
Zumaya and Rodney are occasionally effective, Dolsi is better, but still erratic, and the Tigers overpay for a few veteran relievers to fill out the ranks.
Final Word:
Here’s what the Tigers need to do. Build a bullpen full of as many good arms as possible, let the pitchers earn their roles. Make no promises, give everybody a shot in Spring Training, and let the chips fall where they may. Not everybody is going to pan out, but all Dombrowski can do is line up the best collection of talent that he can and hope that he guesses right enough for his bullpen to be successful. There is no established closer on my list, so at this point, I am going to consider the Tigers a closer-by-committee team, which I think would serve them best. Here’s where I hope the bullpen ends up:
MR: Aquilino Lopez
MR: Clay Rapada
MR: Bobby Seay
SU: Freddy Dolsi
SU/CL: Fernando Rodney
SU/CL: Joel Zumaya
SU/CL: Juan Cruz
Bullpen
Personally, I would give the lack of starting pitching the most blame for the 2008 debacle, but the bullpen certainly deserves its fair share. Coming off of last year’s seemingly successful off-season, the one area that the fans and pundits were still critical of was the Tigers’ bullpen. Dave Dombrowski chose to stick with what he had and count on Fernando Rodney and Joel Zumaya to regain their 2006 form, rather than chase after free agent relievers. In retrospect, it looks like Dombrowski was crazy, but I really do see why he did what he did. More than any other position in sports, relief pitcher is an absolute crapshoot. It is incredibly hard to determine what a reliever will do from year to year. I mean, if these guys were consistently good pitchers, they would be starting or closing (which I will address later). So I understand why Dombrowski chose not to waste prospects and money chasing after guys who might not pan out. But it has become plainly obvious that the game has changed and a great bullpen is an absolute necessity for a team that wants to make a World Series run. Needless to say, standing pat will not be acceptable in this off-season.
In House:
The usual suspects here are obviously Zumaya and Rodney. Both have electric stuff, but both have trouble staying on the field. Both can dominate, but both also struggle to throw strikes consistently. Both were brilliant and 2006, but both were awful in 2007. All that said, Zumaya and Rodney still have terrific arms and certainly deserve a shot to earn their place in the Tiger’s pen. Beyond that, it’s wide open. The Tigers have a few lefties (Casey Fossum, Macay McBride, Bobby Seay) and a few righties (Aquilino Lopez, Gary Glover, Virgil Vasquez) that are really nothing special. Out of these, only Seay is a guy that I would really like to see back on the team next year. Kyle Farnsworth is a free agent, but I really don’t foresee him wanting to come back to Detroit, so I think it would be best for the Tigers to let him walk. Beyond Rodney and Zumaya, there is really only one pitcher from the 2007 version of the Tigers’ bullpen that I would like to see come back. Freddy Dolsi. Dude has the potential to be lights out. This might not be the best comparison, because I will advise against going after this player in the next paragraph, but Dolsi reminds me of Frankie Rodriguez. He wants the ball in big situations and he usually delivers in those situations. Dolsi handed out too many free passes last season, but once he starts to harness his electric stuff, those walks will start to turn into strikeouts. One important stat to consider with Dolsi, right-hander batters hit only .215 against him last season. If Dolsi can cut down on the walks, and I believe that he can, he will be a lights-out setup man for the Tigers next season.
On the Market:
First of all, let me say that I was elated to hear Dave Dombrowski say that the Tigers would not pursue Frankie Rodriguez in free agency. Closer is by far the most overrated position in baseball and saves are by far the most overhyped stat. Anybody who plays fantasy baseball knows, closers are a dime a dozen, so there is no need to shell out millions of dollars for a guy because he racked up a few saves. Do you need somebody with good stuff to shut the door in the 9th? Definitely. But that doesn’t make it necessary to break the bank. Rodriguez, Jason Isringhausen, and Brian Fuentes lead the list of free agent closers, but I would not recommend that the Tigers pursue any of these players. As much as Tiger fans hated Todd Jones, The Rollercoaster was a perfect closer. He had the mental stability to get the final three outs, and opened the door for Joel Zumaya to play the most important role in the bullpen: Fireman. One of the reasons that Tigers’ bullpen was so great in 2006 was that their best pitcher, Zumaya, was not stuck in the 9th inning. Jim Leyland was free to use him the situations where he needed his best reliever. I will save my rant on the stupidity of bullpen management for another time, but suffice it to say that I don’t think the best pitcher in the bullpen should not be the closer. Given that, I have a list of non-closers that I think would fit well in the Tigers’ pen next season: Juan Cruz is a flamethrower who has posted a K/9’s above 12 in the past two seasons. A great reliever has to be able to get a strikeout in a tight situation and Cruz can most certainly do that. Cruz should be the Tigers’ #1 target. After Cruz, Guillermo Mota, Dennys Reyes, and Bobby Howry are solid options, but I would rather that that Tigers didn’t overpay for any relievers other than Cruz.
Let's Make a Deal:
I really don’t advocate trading for relievers, given that their skills tend to fluctuate so much from year to year. There might be some low-level deals available, but the Tigers shouldn’t pursue anything major.
Pie in the Sky:
Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney return to form, Freddy Dolsi makes the leap to stardom, and the Tigers sign Juan Cruz.
Down to Earth:
Zumaya and Rodney are occasionally effective, Dolsi is better, but still erratic, and the Tigers overpay for a few veteran relievers to fill out the ranks.
Final Word:
Here’s what the Tigers need to do. Build a bullpen full of as many good arms as possible, let the pitchers earn their roles. Make no promises, give everybody a shot in Spring Training, and let the chips fall where they may. Not everybody is going to pan out, but all Dombrowski can do is line up the best collection of talent that he can and hope that he guesses right enough for his bullpen to be successful. There is no established closer on my list, so at this point, I am going to consider the Tigers a closer-by-committee team, which I think would serve them best. Here’s where I hope the bullpen ends up:
MR: Aquilino Lopez
MR: Clay Rapada
MR: Bobby Seay
SU: Freddy Dolsi
SU/CL: Fernando Rodney
SU/CL: Joel Zumaya
SU/CL: Juan Cruz
Detroit Tigers 2009 Wish List: Part 4
Another edition of the Tigers' wish list for 2009:
The Rotation
Thought by many to be a strength coming off of the 2006 World Series run, the starting rotation proved to be the Tigers’ undoing in 2008. It cost the Tigers the division and cost pitching coach Chuck Hernandez his job. Justin Verlander, thought to be the ace of the staff and guaranteed at least 15 wins, struggled throughout the season. JV was hurting, but the rest of the rotation was crippled. Jeremy Bonderman went down with a mysterious injury, Dontrelle Willis lost his command (and possibly his mind along with it), Kenny Rogers continued to show his age, and Nate Robertson was well…Nate Robertson. Armando Galarraga was the lone bright spot. Coming out of nowhere to become the best pitcher on the staff. For next year, I am penciling in Verlander, Bonderman, and Galarraga as locks to make the rotation. The rest of this post will deal with the other two spots.
In House:
The Tigers have plenty of options in house, but many of them are just not every good. One quick note on Bonderman, I have him in the rotation on the assumption that he is healthy for the start of Spring Training. If this is not the case, I have no problem with the Tigers looking at other options for that spot. Anyway, on to the other options. Nate Robertson is a fan favorite and is personally a guy that I would really like to see succeed…but I just don’t see it happening. Robertson does not have the kind of consistent stuff to get Major League hitters out every fifth day. I’m sure that Dave Dombrowski has considered shopping Robertson, but he just doesn’t have a whole lot of value on the trade market. I think it would be best for both parties if Robertson was traded, but unless Robertson can be a throw-in in a larger deal, there is a very good chance that he will be back with the Tigers next season. Either way, I don’t think that Robertson will be able to stick in the rotation. Kenny Rogers is another holdover from 2006 who had a very disappointing 2008. Rogers is a free agent this season and the Tigers could probably re-sign him on the cheap, but I am hoping that Dombrowski just lets him walk. All in all, The Gambler has been solid for the Tigers, but he has reached a point in his career where he is just not capable of doing his job well enough to warrant a spot in a Major League rotation. Dontrelle Willis would have been a great story, but at this point, he barely deserves a mention in the post. Yes, he had Cy Young stuff in the past, but when you are walking upwards of 5 batters per 9 innings, it doesn’t matter how good your stuff is, you’re just not going to succeed. If Dontrelle can straighten his control out, he is definitely in the mix for a rotation spot, but I am not going to count on that happening. For now, I have him penciled in as the ace of the Toledo Mudhens. To me, the most interesting pitcher from the Tigers rotation last year is Zach Miner. Early in the season, he worked out of the bullpen and showed a fastball in the mid-to-high 90’s, something that he hadn’t shown before. He was fairly successful in a setup role, but was even more successful when he transitioned to starting. Part of me thinks that Miner would be more valuable to the Tigers coming out of the pen, but part of me would really like to see what he can do if given the opportunity to start the season as a starter. I could go either way on Miner, but no matter where he is, I think he will be very effective for the Tigers in 2009. Freddy Garcia showed some promise as a late season addition, but when you have been out of the league for over a year, it’s not surprising that hitters were having some trouble figuring him out. Garcia is a free agent and has the potential to be solid for the Tigers if they choose to re-sign him, but like Willis, I am not counting on him to do anything. There are a few pitching prospects in the Tigers’ system with some promise, most notably Rick Porcello, but I don’t see any of them being an immediate factor in the 2009 rotation.
On the Market:
There are a myriad of starters on the free agent market, but a few in particular that I would like to see the Tigers investigate. Obviously, if the Tigers can get in the running for CC Sabathia, he would be a fantastic addition to the rotation, but I think his lawyers might already be negotiating his $200 million contract with the Yankees. Oliver Perez is a longshot, but it would be phenomenal if Dombrowski could lure him to Detroit. Perez is only 27 and seems to have overcome his control issues for good. If he chooses to opt out of his contract, and he almost certainly will, AJ Burnett would also be a target for the Tigers. Burnett has proved time and again that he has the stuff of an ace, but has also proved that he has the durability of an 85 year-old. If Mike Illitch is willing to put up the cash, I think that Burnett is a risk worth taking, but if not, I would completely understand. Along the same lines, Ben Sheets would be a great fit for the Tigers, but there is substantial injury risk. Sheets has Cy Young stuff when healthy and if I were running the show, he would be my top target this offseason. The Tigers have a realistic shot at getting him and he could really help to take pressure off of Justin Verlander at the top of the rotation. There are some solid veterans that could interest the Tigers (Paul Byrd, Derek Lowe, Ryan Dempster, etc.) but I don’t think that Dombrowski will make the mistake of overpaying for any of these guys. The one player that seems to be flying under the radar is Sergio Mitre. He was highly regarded coming up through the Marlins system, but has been cast off after undergoing Tommy John surgery. There is certainly a high risk of failure with Mitre, but considering that he will come on the cheap, there’s no harm in signing him to a one-year deal and seeing what he can do in the Spring.
Let's Make a Deal:
Again, the Tigers just don’t have enough in their farm system to make a big deal, especially for starting pitching. Established starting pitchers tend to command inflated prices on the trade market and I would rather see the Tigers stand pat then deplete their farm system further to trade for a starter. Unless a great, unforeseen deal comes along at the Winter Meetings, I think that the Tigers will have to address the starting rotation mostly through free agency.
Pie in the Sky:
The Tigers sign Oliver Perez and Ben Sheets to fill out the starting rotation. Jeremy Bonderman comes back healthy, Verlander regains his form from ’06-07, and Armando Galarraga continues his improbably rise to dominance.
Down to Earth:
The Tigers sign Sheets and Zach Miner steps in the fill the 5th spot in the rotation. Bonderman struggles to come back from inury, Galarraga comes back down to earth, and Verlander wins 14 games…but loses 13.
Final Word:
I think that it is an absolute necessity for the Tigers to sign Sheets, Perez or Burnett. Assuming that they are able to get one of those three, Zach Miner is ready to step in to the fifth spot, but also ready to step into the bullpen if Willis is able to turn it around. Bonderman will get healthy, Galarraga will be solid and Verlander will show that he really is an ace in the making. Here is what I think the rotation will ultimately look like for 2009:
1. Ben Sheets
2. Justin Verlander
3. Jeremy Bonderman
4. Armando Galarraga
5. Zach Miner
On Deck: The Bullpen
The Rotation
Thought by many to be a strength coming off of the 2006 World Series run, the starting rotation proved to be the Tigers’ undoing in 2008. It cost the Tigers the division and cost pitching coach Chuck Hernandez his job. Justin Verlander, thought to be the ace of the staff and guaranteed at least 15 wins, struggled throughout the season. JV was hurting, but the rest of the rotation was crippled. Jeremy Bonderman went down with a mysterious injury, Dontrelle Willis lost his command (and possibly his mind along with it), Kenny Rogers continued to show his age, and Nate Robertson was well…Nate Robertson. Armando Galarraga was the lone bright spot. Coming out of nowhere to become the best pitcher on the staff. For next year, I am penciling in Verlander, Bonderman, and Galarraga as locks to make the rotation. The rest of this post will deal with the other two spots.
In House:
The Tigers have plenty of options in house, but many of them are just not every good. One quick note on Bonderman, I have him in the rotation on the assumption that he is healthy for the start of Spring Training. If this is not the case, I have no problem with the Tigers looking at other options for that spot. Anyway, on to the other options. Nate Robertson is a fan favorite and is personally a guy that I would really like to see succeed…but I just don’t see it happening. Robertson does not have the kind of consistent stuff to get Major League hitters out every fifth day. I’m sure that Dave Dombrowski has considered shopping Robertson, but he just doesn’t have a whole lot of value on the trade market. I think it would be best for both parties if Robertson was traded, but unless Robertson can be a throw-in in a larger deal, there is a very good chance that he will be back with the Tigers next season. Either way, I don’t think that Robertson will be able to stick in the rotation. Kenny Rogers is another holdover from 2006 who had a very disappointing 2008. Rogers is a free agent this season and the Tigers could probably re-sign him on the cheap, but I am hoping that Dombrowski just lets him walk. All in all, The Gambler has been solid for the Tigers, but he has reached a point in his career where he is just not capable of doing his job well enough to warrant a spot in a Major League rotation. Dontrelle Willis would have been a great story, but at this point, he barely deserves a mention in the post. Yes, he had Cy Young stuff in the past, but when you are walking upwards of 5 batters per 9 innings, it doesn’t matter how good your stuff is, you’re just not going to succeed. If Dontrelle can straighten his control out, he is definitely in the mix for a rotation spot, but I am not going to count on that happening. For now, I have him penciled in as the ace of the Toledo Mudhens. To me, the most interesting pitcher from the Tigers rotation last year is Zach Miner. Early in the season, he worked out of the bullpen and showed a fastball in the mid-to-high 90’s, something that he hadn’t shown before. He was fairly successful in a setup role, but was even more successful when he transitioned to starting. Part of me thinks that Miner would be more valuable to the Tigers coming out of the pen, but part of me would really like to see what he can do if given the opportunity to start the season as a starter. I could go either way on Miner, but no matter where he is, I think he will be very effective for the Tigers in 2009. Freddy Garcia showed some promise as a late season addition, but when you have been out of the league for over a year, it’s not surprising that hitters were having some trouble figuring him out. Garcia is a free agent and has the potential to be solid for the Tigers if they choose to re-sign him, but like Willis, I am not counting on him to do anything. There are a few pitching prospects in the Tigers’ system with some promise, most notably Rick Porcello, but I don’t see any of them being an immediate factor in the 2009 rotation.
On the Market:
There are a myriad of starters on the free agent market, but a few in particular that I would like to see the Tigers investigate. Obviously, if the Tigers can get in the running for CC Sabathia, he would be a fantastic addition to the rotation, but I think his lawyers might already be negotiating his $200 million contract with the Yankees. Oliver Perez is a longshot, but it would be phenomenal if Dombrowski could lure him to Detroit. Perez is only 27 and seems to have overcome his control issues for good. If he chooses to opt out of his contract, and he almost certainly will, AJ Burnett would also be a target for the Tigers. Burnett has proved time and again that he has the stuff of an ace, but has also proved that he has the durability of an 85 year-old. If Mike Illitch is willing to put up the cash, I think that Burnett is a risk worth taking, but if not, I would completely understand. Along the same lines, Ben Sheets would be a great fit for the Tigers, but there is substantial injury risk. Sheets has Cy Young stuff when healthy and if I were running the show, he would be my top target this offseason. The Tigers have a realistic shot at getting him and he could really help to take pressure off of Justin Verlander at the top of the rotation. There are some solid veterans that could interest the Tigers (Paul Byrd, Derek Lowe, Ryan Dempster, etc.) but I don’t think that Dombrowski will make the mistake of overpaying for any of these guys. The one player that seems to be flying under the radar is Sergio Mitre. He was highly regarded coming up through the Marlins system, but has been cast off after undergoing Tommy John surgery. There is certainly a high risk of failure with Mitre, but considering that he will come on the cheap, there’s no harm in signing him to a one-year deal and seeing what he can do in the Spring.
Let's Make a Deal:
Again, the Tigers just don’t have enough in their farm system to make a big deal, especially for starting pitching. Established starting pitchers tend to command inflated prices on the trade market and I would rather see the Tigers stand pat then deplete their farm system further to trade for a starter. Unless a great, unforeseen deal comes along at the Winter Meetings, I think that the Tigers will have to address the starting rotation mostly through free agency.
Pie in the Sky:
The Tigers sign Oliver Perez and Ben Sheets to fill out the starting rotation. Jeremy Bonderman comes back healthy, Verlander regains his form from ’06-07, and Armando Galarraga continues his improbably rise to dominance.
Down to Earth:
The Tigers sign Sheets and Zach Miner steps in the fill the 5th spot in the rotation. Bonderman struggles to come back from inury, Galarraga comes back down to earth, and Verlander wins 14 games…but loses 13.
Final Word:
I think that it is an absolute necessity for the Tigers to sign Sheets, Perez or Burnett. Assuming that they are able to get one of those three, Zach Miner is ready to step in to the fifth spot, but also ready to step into the bullpen if Willis is able to turn it around. Bonderman will get healthy, Galarraga will be solid and Verlander will show that he really is an ace in the making. Here is what I think the rotation will ultimately look like for 2009:
1. Ben Sheets
2. Justin Verlander
3. Jeremy Bonderman
4. Armando Galarraga
5. Zach Miner
On Deck: The Bullpen
Detroit Tigers 2009 Wish List: Part 3
Another edition of the Tigers' wish list for 2009:
Left Field
Gary Sheffield, Jacque Jones, Marcus Thames, Clete Thomas, Matt Joyce...The Tigs tried quite a few options in left field in 2008, but no player really took ownership of the position. The one trait that was overlooked in most of these players was defense. Curtis Granderson is a great centerfielder; he is fantastic at covering up the mistakes of his corner outfielders, but he can't cover up for both sides. Magglio Ordonez is serviceable as a rightfielder, but having Granderson to his right certainly cuts down on Ordonez's defensive responsibilities. Since Ordonez probably isn't going anywhere soon (quick note: I do not advocate trading him this winter), the Tigers need a leftfielder who is not a liability in the cavernous confines of Comerica Park. A gold glove is certainly not a prerequisite, but Manny Ramirez-like defense isn't going to cut it. Much like shortstop, the Tigers should eschew the glamour stats in their search for a leftfielder and instead look for a solid all-around player.
In House:
As mentioned at the beginning of this post, the Tigers already have quite a few options available in left field. First off, Gary Sheffield is not one of those options. At this point in his career, Sheff is simply not capable of playing anywhere in the outfield. Quite frankly, I don't believe he is capable of doing anything at the major league level. This is not likely to happen, but I would like to see Dave Dombrowski bite the financial bullet and just cut Sheffield loose. At this point, his presence is going to hurt the team more than it will help it, both in the clubhouse and on the field. As for the more likely in-house options, Marcus Thames is a name that tends to come up pretty often, but as much as people want to give Thames the opportunity to prove himself, I believe he has already proven exactly what kind of player he is. Thames has great power, but is not consistent enough at the plate or in the field to be an everyday player. I would love to see the Tigers ship Thames to the National League, where he would be perfect as a source of power off the bench. The Padres come to mind as a perfect partner, with their deep bullpen and lack of power hitting. I think the ideal result for both parties would be for the Tigers to send Thames to the Padres for a reliever, maybe Cla Meredith or Clay Hensley, but regardless of whether Thames can be traded, I do not see him as a viable option in left. Perhaps the most intriguing in-house option is Carlos Guillen. There has been talk of Guillen moving out to left field, with Sheffield staying at DH. I have already stated by views about Mr. Sheffield, so no need to rehash that. Needless to say, I think that Guillen would be a much better option at DH. Truth be told, I think that Guillen would be a devastating force as a designated hitter. DHing would preserve Guillen's knees and maybe even allow him to flash a bit of speed on the basepaths. As a hitter, Carlos is perfectly suited for Comerica Park, but as a defender, Guillen has become a liability and a move to leftfield would only amplify Guillen's struggles. Beyond those veteran options, there are a few youngsters that have shown some real promise for Detroit. The oldest of the young guns is Ryan Raburn. He has proven himself to be a solid major leaguer, but he has been so effective as a utilityman that I would be hesitant to move him out of that role. Matt Joyce showed prodigious power after a mid-summer call-up, doing his best Magglio Ordonez impression while patrolling right field. With Ordonez cemented into the lineup, Joyce moved over to left on many nights, showing decent skills in the outfield and continuing to showcase his pop at the plate. Clete Thomas, another youngster, came out of nowhere to make the team out of Spring Training and filled in admirably for Granderson in centerfield, so admirably in fact, that he gained some additional playing time in left as the season went on. Thomas plays great defense and is a scrappy hitter with a little bit of speed. All told, there are plenty of in-house options to fill the void in left field, but no player has really separated himself from the pack at this point.
On the Market:
Obviously, Manny Ramirez is the star of the 2009 free agent class, but he is not a fit for the Tigers, nor are the Tigers a fit for him. Adam Dunn, the next biggest name in left, is an even worse fit for the Tigers. Moving on down the list, there are even more slugging leftfielders that aren't exactly famous for flashing the leather. Pat Burrell, Luis Gonzalez and Wily Mo Pena are not viable options here. The only available player that really entices me is Juan Rivera. The odd man out in a crowded Angels outfield, Rivera will almost certainly be testing the waters in free agency. Like Thames, Rivera has never proved himself over an entire season, but in the two seasons in which he played more than 125 games, he posted OPS's of .829 and .887, respectively, the highest of his career. Rivera has some power, but is more of a gap-to-gap hitter, perfect for the capacious outfield of Comerica Park. A solid defender and a good contact hitter, Rivera would be a perfect fit for the Tigers.
Let's Make a Deal:
Similar to the situation at shortstop, there aren't a whole lot of options on the trade market, given the Tigers' depleted farm system. But one player that I would like to see the Tigers make a run at is Endy Chavez. The Mets might be willing to move him, with the late-season emergence of Daniel Murphy, and Chavez would bring some much needed speed to the Tigers lineup, as well as terrific defense in left field. Although I am not in a hurry to see this particular player traded, Zach Miner could be enough to pry Chavez away from the Mets. Along the same lines, Juan Pierre could be on his way out of Los Angeles if the Dodgers are able to re-sign Manny, but he would likely command a higher price than the Tiger would be willing to pay (rightfully so). Overall, a trade here is not likely, but if it does happen, Chavez would be a great fit.
Pie in the Sky:
Clete Thomas turns in a Dustin Pedroia-like season and becomes the glue guy that the Tigers need in left. The Tigers trade Marcus Thames to the Padres for a reliever named Cla(y).
Down to Earth:
The Tigers refuse to part with Gary Sheffield and move Carlos Guillen out to left field, platooning him with Thames and Sheffield between the leftifeld and DH roles.
Final Word:
I would love to see either Thomas or Joyce take this job and run with it, but I think the safer bet would be to go after Rivera in free agency. There is a strong possibility that Rivera will be a forgotten man this winter, lost in a good crop of big name free agent outfielders. This should help the Tigers to get him a a fair price and lock him in long-term. Given their depth with the youngsters in the outfield, I think trading Thames would be a great complement to signing Rivera.
On Deck: The Rotation
Left Field
Gary Sheffield, Jacque Jones, Marcus Thames, Clete Thomas, Matt Joyce...The Tigs tried quite a few options in left field in 2008, but no player really took ownership of the position. The one trait that was overlooked in most of these players was defense. Curtis Granderson is a great centerfielder; he is fantastic at covering up the mistakes of his corner outfielders, but he can't cover up for both sides. Magglio Ordonez is serviceable as a rightfielder, but having Granderson to his right certainly cuts down on Ordonez's defensive responsibilities. Since Ordonez probably isn't going anywhere soon (quick note: I do not advocate trading him this winter), the Tigers need a leftfielder who is not a liability in the cavernous confines of Comerica Park. A gold glove is certainly not a prerequisite, but Manny Ramirez-like defense isn't going to cut it. Much like shortstop, the Tigers should eschew the glamour stats in their search for a leftfielder and instead look for a solid all-around player.
In House:
As mentioned at the beginning of this post, the Tigers already have quite a few options available in left field. First off, Gary Sheffield is not one of those options. At this point in his career, Sheff is simply not capable of playing anywhere in the outfield. Quite frankly, I don't believe he is capable of doing anything at the major league level. This is not likely to happen, but I would like to see Dave Dombrowski bite the financial bullet and just cut Sheffield loose. At this point, his presence is going to hurt the team more than it will help it, both in the clubhouse and on the field. As for the more likely in-house options, Marcus Thames is a name that tends to come up pretty often, but as much as people want to give Thames the opportunity to prove himself, I believe he has already proven exactly what kind of player he is. Thames has great power, but is not consistent enough at the plate or in the field to be an everyday player. I would love to see the Tigers ship Thames to the National League, where he would be perfect as a source of power off the bench. The Padres come to mind as a perfect partner, with their deep bullpen and lack of power hitting. I think the ideal result for both parties would be for the Tigers to send Thames to the Padres for a reliever, maybe Cla Meredith or Clay Hensley, but regardless of whether Thames can be traded, I do not see him as a viable option in left. Perhaps the most intriguing in-house option is Carlos Guillen. There has been talk of Guillen moving out to left field, with Sheffield staying at DH. I have already stated by views about Mr. Sheffield, so no need to rehash that. Needless to say, I think that Guillen would be a much better option at DH. Truth be told, I think that Guillen would be a devastating force as a designated hitter. DHing would preserve Guillen's knees and maybe even allow him to flash a bit of speed on the basepaths. As a hitter, Carlos is perfectly suited for Comerica Park, but as a defender, Guillen has become a liability and a move to leftfield would only amplify Guillen's struggles. Beyond those veteran options, there are a few youngsters that have shown some real promise for Detroit. The oldest of the young guns is Ryan Raburn. He has proven himself to be a solid major leaguer, but he has been so effective as a utilityman that I would be hesitant to move him out of that role. Matt Joyce showed prodigious power after a mid-summer call-up, doing his best Magglio Ordonez impression while patrolling right field. With Ordonez cemented into the lineup, Joyce moved over to left on many nights, showing decent skills in the outfield and continuing to showcase his pop at the plate. Clete Thomas, another youngster, came out of nowhere to make the team out of Spring Training and filled in admirably for Granderson in centerfield, so admirably in fact, that he gained some additional playing time in left as the season went on. Thomas plays great defense and is a scrappy hitter with a little bit of speed. All told, there are plenty of in-house options to fill the void in left field, but no player has really separated himself from the pack at this point.
On the Market:
Obviously, Manny Ramirez is the star of the 2009 free agent class, but he is not a fit for the Tigers, nor are the Tigers a fit for him. Adam Dunn, the next biggest name in left, is an even worse fit for the Tigers. Moving on down the list, there are even more slugging leftfielders that aren't exactly famous for flashing the leather. Pat Burrell, Luis Gonzalez and Wily Mo Pena are not viable options here. The only available player that really entices me is Juan Rivera. The odd man out in a crowded Angels outfield, Rivera will almost certainly be testing the waters in free agency. Like Thames, Rivera has never proved himself over an entire season, but in the two seasons in which he played more than 125 games, he posted OPS's of .829 and .887, respectively, the highest of his career. Rivera has some power, but is more of a gap-to-gap hitter, perfect for the capacious outfield of Comerica Park. A solid defender and a good contact hitter, Rivera would be a perfect fit for the Tigers.
Let's Make a Deal:
Similar to the situation at shortstop, there aren't a whole lot of options on the trade market, given the Tigers' depleted farm system. But one player that I would like to see the Tigers make a run at is Endy Chavez. The Mets might be willing to move him, with the late-season emergence of Daniel Murphy, and Chavez would bring some much needed speed to the Tigers lineup, as well as terrific defense in left field. Although I am not in a hurry to see this particular player traded, Zach Miner could be enough to pry Chavez away from the Mets. Along the same lines, Juan Pierre could be on his way out of Los Angeles if the Dodgers are able to re-sign Manny, but he would likely command a higher price than the Tiger would be willing to pay (rightfully so). Overall, a trade here is not likely, but if it does happen, Chavez would be a great fit.
Pie in the Sky:
Clete Thomas turns in a Dustin Pedroia-like season and becomes the glue guy that the Tigers need in left. The Tigers trade Marcus Thames to the Padres for a reliever named Cla(y).
Down to Earth:
The Tigers refuse to part with Gary Sheffield and move Carlos Guillen out to left field, platooning him with Thames and Sheffield between the leftifeld and DH roles.
Final Word:
I would love to see either Thomas or Joyce take this job and run with it, but I think the safer bet would be to go after Rivera in free agency. There is a strong possibility that Rivera will be a forgotten man this winter, lost in a good crop of big name free agent outfielders. This should help the Tigers to get him a a fair price and lock him in long-term. Given their depth with the youngsters in the outfield, I think trading Thames would be a great complement to signing Rivera.
On Deck: The Rotation
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Detroit Tigers 2009 Wish List: Part 2
Continuing on with the Tigers rebuilding plan (Yes We Can!), we run down the shopping list at shortstop:
Shortstop
The Tigers thought they had shored up this position with last year's acquisition of Edgar Renteria, but that obviously has not been the case. Renteria had an even worse year than his numbers would indicate, given that he played his best baseball after the Tigers were well out of the divisional race. But every cloud has a silver lining, and the silver lining here is that the Renteria debacle has reminded Dave Dombrowski of the paramount importance of having a good defensive shortstop. Renteria's lack of range dragged down the entire defense and crippled the Tigers' pitching staff. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that Renteria was the sole reason for the embarrassing 2008 season, but he was certainly a key contributor. Renteria was an antiquated player with declining skills who could not perform the duties of a Major League shortstop in this era of baseball. As the power hitting phase of the late 90's has subsided, shortstop has returned to a position where speed and defense are most important. Hopefully, the Tigers brass will remember this as the begin the search for their 2009 shortstop.
In House:
Ramon Santiago is a very interesting player for this team. He showed a much improved stroke this season, posting a .282 batting average and, even more impressively, a career-high .460 slugging percentage in limited duty. Santagio has terrific range short and a solid throwing arm. He has become much more consistent offensively over the past couple of years. Santiago is not going to win any individual awards, but he is just the kind of grinder that the Tigers were missing this season. He plays good defense, holds his own at the plate, and can occasionally provide a bit of speed of the basepaths. If given that chance to play every day, I think Santiago could post a line somewhere in the neighborhood of .275 BA, 85 R, 8 HR, 45 RBI, 8 SB at the plate, but most importantly, he would shore up the Tigers' defense up the middle. Santiago has been a backup for most of his career, but is definitely a viable option for the Tigers, and just might be exactly what they need.
The Tigers do have prospects at shortstop, Cale Iorg, Michael Hollimon, and Danny Worth to name a few. It would be fantastic if any of these guys could step up and grab the position, but I just don't see it happening.
On the Market:
There is one name available that stands out above all others: Rafael Furcal. Great range, cannon arm, blazing speed....creaky back. If not for the Renteria disaster last year, I might recommend taking a shot at Furcal, but at this point I really don't think that it is worth the risk. I wouldn't be completely opposed to this move, I just think that Mike Illitch's money could be better spent elsewhere. Beyond Furcal, there aren't really any exciting options on the free agent market. Cesar Izturis or Adam Everett could stabilize the defense, but neither player provides any upside at the plate.
Let's Make a Deal:
I'm going to be honest here, there is not a deal out there for the Tigers. There just aren't enough prospects in the system for the Tigers to pry a starting shortstop away from any other team. The Tigers can't reach here, they need to let their system reload.
Pie in the Sky:
Cale Iorg earns the job in spring training and turns into the second coming of Troy Tulowtizki.
Down to Earth:
Tigers stand pat and start Ramon Santiago at shortstop.
Final Word:
I think sticking with Santiago is the right choice in this situation.
On Deck: Left Field
Shortstop
The Tigers thought they had shored up this position with last year's acquisition of Edgar Renteria, but that obviously has not been the case. Renteria had an even worse year than his numbers would indicate, given that he played his best baseball after the Tigers were well out of the divisional race. But every cloud has a silver lining, and the silver lining here is that the Renteria debacle has reminded Dave Dombrowski of the paramount importance of having a good defensive shortstop. Renteria's lack of range dragged down the entire defense and crippled the Tigers' pitching staff. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that Renteria was the sole reason for the embarrassing 2008 season, but he was certainly a key contributor. Renteria was an antiquated player with declining skills who could not perform the duties of a Major League shortstop in this era of baseball. As the power hitting phase of the late 90's has subsided, shortstop has returned to a position where speed and defense are most important. Hopefully, the Tigers brass will remember this as the begin the search for their 2009 shortstop.
In House:
Ramon Santiago is a very interesting player for this team. He showed a much improved stroke this season, posting a .282 batting average and, even more impressively, a career-high .460 slugging percentage in limited duty. Santagio has terrific range short and a solid throwing arm. He has become much more consistent offensively over the past couple of years. Santiago is not going to win any individual awards, but he is just the kind of grinder that the Tigers were missing this season. He plays good defense, holds his own at the plate, and can occasionally provide a bit of speed of the basepaths. If given that chance to play every day, I think Santiago could post a line somewhere in the neighborhood of .275 BA, 85 R, 8 HR, 45 RBI, 8 SB at the plate, but most importantly, he would shore up the Tigers' defense up the middle. Santiago has been a backup for most of his career, but is definitely a viable option for the Tigers, and just might be exactly what they need.
The Tigers do have prospects at shortstop, Cale Iorg, Michael Hollimon, and Danny Worth to name a few. It would be fantastic if any of these guys could step up and grab the position, but I just don't see it happening.
On the Market:
There is one name available that stands out above all others: Rafael Furcal. Great range, cannon arm, blazing speed....creaky back. If not for the Renteria disaster last year, I might recommend taking a shot at Furcal, but at this point I really don't think that it is worth the risk. I wouldn't be completely opposed to this move, I just think that Mike Illitch's money could be better spent elsewhere. Beyond Furcal, there aren't really any exciting options on the free agent market. Cesar Izturis or Adam Everett could stabilize the defense, but neither player provides any upside at the plate.
Let's Make a Deal:
I'm going to be honest here, there is not a deal out there for the Tigers. There just aren't enough prospects in the system for the Tigers to pry a starting shortstop away from any other team. The Tigers can't reach here, they need to let their system reload.
Pie in the Sky:
Cale Iorg earns the job in spring training and turns into the second coming of Troy Tulowtizki.
Down to Earth:
Tigers stand pat and start Ramon Santiago at shortstop.
Final Word:
I think sticking with Santiago is the right choice in this situation.
On Deck: Left Field
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Detroit Tigers 2009 Wish List: Part 1
The Tigers were embarrassing this season, but I have faith. Dave Dombrowski will realize now that in order to win in the Majors, you have to build a baseball team...not a softball team. Unfortunately, due to his spending spree last off-season, Dombrowski doesn't have a whole lot in the way of trade bait. This is my attempt to make a shopping list for Mr. Dombrowski. This list will tackle only the positions that are up for grabs, so First Base (Miguel Cabrera), Second Base (Placido Polanco), Center Field (Curtis Granderson), Right Field (Magglio Ordonez), and 3 Starting Pitchers (Justin Verlander, Armando Galarraga, and Jeremy Bonderman) will not be covered in this space. I will propose a trade or two in this shopping list, but the Tigers will mostly have to look to their farm system and the free agent market. As Kurt Russell said, on behalf of Herb Brooks, in Miracle, "I'm not looking for the best players, I'm looking for the right ones." In my humble opinion, these are the right ones:
Catcher
We start out with a curveball, perhaps the most overlooked position on the field. Catcher is the one position, more than any other, where intangibles can outweigh the stat sheet and the one position that will be the toughest to fill in the off-season.
In House:
Brandon Inge has made it quite clear that he is not the answer behind the plate. He doesn't want to be there, and at this point, the Tigers don't want him there either. Dane Sardinha does not belong on a Major League roster. Dusty Ryan could be a nice player down the road, but he is not ready for a starting job at this point.
On the Market:
The pickings here are pretty slim. If Randy Smith was the GM, I would assume that Brad Ausmus would be on his way to Detroit, but since someone with an IQ over 40 is now running the team, I don't have to worry about that. Pudge Rodriguez is available...maybe we can throw back Kyle Farnsworth. Realistically, the most intriguing free agent option is Michael Barrett. He has proven that he can be a starting catcher in the past, but his career has taken a 180 ever since he socked Carlos Zambrano in the Cubs dugout. Barrett is by no means an ideal option for the Tigers, but he could give them a little bit of offense, not to mention the chance of him punching out AJ Pierzynski again. Other than Barrett, Johnny Estrada is also mildly interesting, but there really isn't much here.
Let's Make a Deal:
This would be the ideal solution for the catcher dilemma. The Texas Rangers, who are absolutely stacked at catcher, would be the ideal trade partner. Gerald Laird, Max Ramirez, Taylor Teagarden, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia can't all fit behind the plate at the same time. Ramirez and Teagarden have the best futures of the bunch, so those two are probably off-limits. Token offers will be made, but I don't think the Rangers will be listening. Laird will almost certainly be traded this off-season, so he is a likely target, but if I were Dombrowski, I would first set my sights on the man they call Salty. It had been rumored the Saltalamacchia, who is 6'4", would eventually move to first base, but with the way Chris Davis and Hank Blalock performed in the second half of the season, combined with Saltalamacchia's struggles in the first half of the season, it seems that the Rangers might be set at the corner infield spots for the forseeable future. This make Saltalamacchia expendable. The problem here is that the Rangers will almost certainly want pitching in return for a catcher, whether it is Laird or Saltalamacchia, so Marcus Thames, the most likely trade target for Detroit, isn't really an option here. For Laird, somebody like Zach Miner might be enough, but if Saltalamacchia is the target, it's going to take somebody with a bit more pizazz. How about Joel Zumaya? At this point, there are very few untouchables on the Tigers big league roster and Zumaya is not one of them. (For the record, the untouchables are Miguel Cabrera, Curtis Granderson, Justin Verlander, and Placido Polanco, in that order) Zumaya for Saltalamacchia would give the Rangers a great arm and give the Tigers a catcher to build around for the next 10 years. This trade would be by no means a slam dunk, but a swap of disappointing, yet promising prospects would make sense for both teams. I realize that the bullpen is a huge area of need for the Tigers and that trading from a weakness is not normally a good idea, but until I see differently, I don't think that Zumaya can stay healthy enough to help the Tigers bullpen. I hate to give up on a guy with a supersonic heater, but I think this trade would be a risk worth taking.
Pie in the Sky:
Tigers trade Joel Zumaya to Texas Rangers for Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
Down to Earth:
Tigers trade some combination of Zach Miner, Marcus Thames, Nate Robertson, or pitching prospects not named Rick Porcello to Texas Rangers for Gerald Laird.
Final Word:
I don't think that the Tigers 2009 starting catcher is on the roster right now. Dusty Ryan as the starter wouldn't be a disaster, but it would certainly be a disappointment. Laird could be a nice fit, and would solidify the position, but I would love to see Dombrowski take a shot with Saltamacchia.
On Deck: Shortstop
Catcher
We start out with a curveball, perhaps the most overlooked position on the field. Catcher is the one position, more than any other, where intangibles can outweigh the stat sheet and the one position that will be the toughest to fill in the off-season.
In House:
Brandon Inge has made it quite clear that he is not the answer behind the plate. He doesn't want to be there, and at this point, the Tigers don't want him there either. Dane Sardinha does not belong on a Major League roster. Dusty Ryan could be a nice player down the road, but he is not ready for a starting job at this point.
On the Market:
The pickings here are pretty slim. If Randy Smith was the GM, I would assume that Brad Ausmus would be on his way to Detroit, but since someone with an IQ over 40 is now running the team, I don't have to worry about that. Pudge Rodriguez is available...maybe we can throw back Kyle Farnsworth. Realistically, the most intriguing free agent option is Michael Barrett. He has proven that he can be a starting catcher in the past, but his career has taken a 180 ever since he socked Carlos Zambrano in the Cubs dugout. Barrett is by no means an ideal option for the Tigers, but he could give them a little bit of offense, not to mention the chance of him punching out AJ Pierzynski again. Other than Barrett, Johnny Estrada is also mildly interesting, but there really isn't much here.
Let's Make a Deal:
This would be the ideal solution for the catcher dilemma. The Texas Rangers, who are absolutely stacked at catcher, would be the ideal trade partner. Gerald Laird, Max Ramirez, Taylor Teagarden, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia can't all fit behind the plate at the same time. Ramirez and Teagarden have the best futures of the bunch, so those two are probably off-limits. Token offers will be made, but I don't think the Rangers will be listening. Laird will almost certainly be traded this off-season, so he is a likely target, but if I were Dombrowski, I would first set my sights on the man they call Salty. It had been rumored the Saltalamacchia, who is 6'4", would eventually move to first base, but with the way Chris Davis and Hank Blalock performed in the second half of the season, combined with Saltalamacchia's struggles in the first half of the season, it seems that the Rangers might be set at the corner infield spots for the forseeable future. This make Saltalamacchia expendable. The problem here is that the Rangers will almost certainly want pitching in return for a catcher, whether it is Laird or Saltalamacchia, so Marcus Thames, the most likely trade target for Detroit, isn't really an option here. For Laird, somebody like Zach Miner might be enough, but if Saltalamacchia is the target, it's going to take somebody with a bit more pizazz. How about Joel Zumaya? At this point, there are very few untouchables on the Tigers big league roster and Zumaya is not one of them. (For the record, the untouchables are Miguel Cabrera, Curtis Granderson, Justin Verlander, and Placido Polanco, in that order) Zumaya for Saltalamacchia would give the Rangers a great arm and give the Tigers a catcher to build around for the next 10 years. This trade would be by no means a slam dunk, but a swap of disappointing, yet promising prospects would make sense for both teams. I realize that the bullpen is a huge area of need for the Tigers and that trading from a weakness is not normally a good idea, but until I see differently, I don't think that Zumaya can stay healthy enough to help the Tigers bullpen. I hate to give up on a guy with a supersonic heater, but I think this trade would be a risk worth taking.
Pie in the Sky:
Tigers trade Joel Zumaya to Texas Rangers for Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
Down to Earth:
Tigers trade some combination of Zach Miner, Marcus Thames, Nate Robertson, or pitching prospects not named Rick Porcello to Texas Rangers for Gerald Laird.
Final Word:
I don't think that the Tigers 2009 starting catcher is on the roster right now. Dusty Ryan as the starter wouldn't be a disaster, but it would certainly be a disappointment. Laird could be a nice fit, and would solidify the position, but I would love to see Dombrowski take a shot with Saltamacchia.
On Deck: Shortstop
If I Ran the NHL
By Pete McGrath
As a hockey fan, I will always watch my beloved Detroit Red Wings. However, the NHL still has its problems. This will be an ongoing series of my proposals for building a stronger NHL.
League Alignment/Team Locations
The NHL has made some questionable team location calls over the years. Cities that have a large hockey friendly populations (Minnesota’s twin cities, Quebec, Hartford, and Winnipeg) lost their teams. The league moved or added expansion franchises in many places with no snow and no history of ice hockey, and small cities at that. Here is my team-by-team analysis of which clubs need to move, and where they should go.
Columbus-
Ohio is not really a hockey state. Despite being up north, despite being close to Hockey loving cities like Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and Detroit, folks in Ohio pretty much think about football and the Buckeyes all the time. However, what really makes no sense about the Blue Jackets is putting it in a city with so much sports competition already there. Columbus is the home of The Ohio State University. OSU has a huge football program, and pretty high profile Hockey and Basketball programs all competing during the NHL’s season. Only the Bruins have more in city competition for Hockey fans dollars, and Boston has a much larger hockey fan base, and the Bruins have a much longer tradition. Columbus as a location was always a stumper for me.
Atlanta-
Atlanta is a terrible sports city. I think it has something to do with a lot of people recently moving there. People didn’t grow up Atlanta fans, so they really haven’t embraced any of their teams. The Braves have empty seats during the playoffs for crying out loud. The Thrashers need to be in a city that will truly embrace them, and Atlanta is not that city.
Florida-
Miami is a city that only cares about the Dolphins, and football in general. Sure people showed up for the Heat when Shaq was in town, but you could tell that the American Airlines center was packed with fair-weather fans. People in Miami can go to the beach, go to the club, go to fashion show, and if they do want to see sports, it’s football they want to see. In any event, the state of Florida does not need two hockey teams.
Nashville-
Nashville has fielded some decent teams over the past couple years. However, filling up their arena has been an uphill battle for the Predators. Nashville is a relatively small metro area with very little hockey history, and it shows. To be honest, I don’t see why the team was put here in the first place. There are lots of bigger metro areas with more hockey interest, and with better arenas that would have made more sense.
Anaheim/Los Angeles-
The Los Angeles metro area does not need two hockey teams. Los Angeles is not a good sports town. Dodger fans are known for showing up late and leaving early. If So Cal really cared about sports, wouldn’t they have an NFL team by now? Here’s the tough part- which team to move? Anaheim has had some success, but I highly doubt that anyone in Anaheim really cares. The Kings are the team that needs to stay in town. They play downtown at the Staples Center, and if they were halfway decent they could be somewhat of a glamour franchise of the league, much like the Lakers are for the NBA. While the NHL needs to have a presence in this market, they do not need two.
Phoenix-
The Coyotes have not really caught on in Phoenix, as with the rest of the clubs in town. Phoenix is seemingly western version of Atlanta- a growing city where no one is actually from there. Maybe people care about the Suns, but I doubt anyone gives a shit about the other teams. Hockey in the desert is just a stupid idea, and the club’s abysmal attendance record over the years makes the evidence very clear.
Carolina-
I never really understood this move. Hartford to Carolina seemed like a lateral if not a downgrade of a move by owner Peter Karmanos. To go from one small city in the North where it snows and people actually care about hockey to another small city in the South where people do not care about hockey (or know what it is) was a bit of a stumper to me. Carolina has hovered in the bottom half, usually the bottom third of league attendance even though the team brought home a cup. This points to a team that should relocate.
Where to?
Winnipeg-
A new arena downtown, a rabid and starved hockey fan base, and it’s in Canada where people actually care about hockey. If you ever saw the white outs the Jets fans pulled off in the playoffs, you knew this town loved its team. It has the arena now, so give them a shot. Phoenix had their chance and they blew it. Give Winnipeg their Jets back.
Hamilton-
Another city in Canada that would be a great fit for a big league club is Hamilton. While it’s close to Buffalo and Toronto, Hamiltonians used to have an NHL club way back in the day, and would assuredly embrace another if it moved to town. Once again while it’s a smaller area, it is in Canada where hockey is king and faces competition from no other sports. The arena would need renovation, but that wouldn’t be a problem here.
Cleveland-
If keeping a team in Ohio, Cleveland would be a better location because it is a bigger metropolitan area and would be more receptive to a professional club. Natural rivalries could be created with Pittsburgh, Detroit, and Buffalo. Also, this old Cleveland Barons logo is pretty cool. Perhaps an arrangement could be worked out where they play a few home games in Columbus and Cincinnati, much like the Packers playing a few home games in Milwaukee, which was successful in making the Packers not just Green Bay’s team but Wisconsin’s team. The Cleveland Barons need to become Ohio’s team, but they will always be second fiddle in Columbus to the Buckeyes. A nice arena in downtown Cleveland doesn’t hurt either.
Houston-
This may seem like a stupid idea to some, but hear me out. While Houston Texas is not exactly a hockey hotbed, Houston is actually a big city. If trying to expand the footprint of the league to cities that are not traditional hockey markets, they should at least be big markets. Houston is a large metro area full of cash and sponsorship opportunities from oil companies, and a nice arena is already in place. An interstate rivalry with Dallas could and should spring up. Name suggestions: Houston Aeros, the name of the current AHL team and former WHA team.
Portland-
Portland is an affluent, growing metro area with only one other professional team in town. Portland is not located in the middle of a desert. While town residents were weary of building a new stadium for a potential Florida Marlins move, it has an arena currently in place. This arena also has a cool name- the Rose Garden. Not a lot of people know this, but the Portland Rosebuds were the first American hockey team to compete for Lord Stanley’s Cup in 1915. Portland Rosebuds would be a cool name for the current team as well, as I think it would be nice to see a new team without some sort of stupid animal logo or natural disaster motif.
Seattle-
Seattle as a city gets a bad wrap. Many a columnist, including S.I.’s Rick Reilly, mailed in a “Seattle is a town of wine and latte drinking, Volvo driving, smug elitists especially up against blue collar archetype Pittsburgh” type column. But look at the music this town has given us – Jimi Hendrix (the best to ever pick a guitar up), Alice in Chains, Heart, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Duff McKagan of Guns’n’Roses, among many others. A town that rocks this hard would enjoy a hockey team, especially after the Sonics took off for Oklahoma City. Maybe Key Arena isn’t perfect, but within a few years, Seattle would probably be willing to renovate or build a new one. Another brief history lesson- while the Portland Rosebuds were the first American club to compete for the Stanley Cup, the Seattle Metropolitans a year later in the 1916 were the first American team to win it. One last bit of advice- try to get Bill Gates to own the team.
Kansas City-
Hockey tried and failed once in K.C. in the form of the Kansas City Scouts. While it didn’t work out in the seventies, Kansas City deserves another chance. Kansas City is a good sports town, with Arrowhead Stadium known for being one of the NFL’s loudest. I’m sure when the Royals were halfway decent, people showed up at Kauffman Stadium too. Anyway, the Sprint Center has been built downtown and the city does not have a tenant. This means any team that wishes to become the new Kansas City Scouts (please stick with that name) can hammer out a sweetheart lease, which is pivotal to any franchise’s success. Also, since there are no hoops teams in K.C., the hockey team will have winter sports options all to itself.
Thanks for reading. My next entry will be on team names/logos/jerseys and come with a ranking of NHL uniforms.
As a hockey fan, I will always watch my beloved Detroit Red Wings. However, the NHL still has its problems. This will be an ongoing series of my proposals for building a stronger NHL.
League Alignment/Team Locations
The NHL has made some questionable team location calls over the years. Cities that have a large hockey friendly populations (Minnesota’s twin cities, Quebec, Hartford, and Winnipeg) lost their teams. The league moved or added expansion franchises in many places with no snow and no history of ice hockey, and small cities at that. Here is my team-by-team analysis of which clubs need to move, and where they should go.
Columbus-
Ohio is not really a hockey state. Despite being up north, despite being close to Hockey loving cities like Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and Detroit, folks in Ohio pretty much think about football and the Buckeyes all the time. However, what really makes no sense about the Blue Jackets is putting it in a city with so much sports competition already there. Columbus is the home of The Ohio State University. OSU has a huge football program, and pretty high profile Hockey and Basketball programs all competing during the NHL’s season. Only the Bruins have more in city competition for Hockey fans dollars, and Boston has a much larger hockey fan base, and the Bruins have a much longer tradition. Columbus as a location was always a stumper for me.
Atlanta-
Atlanta is a terrible sports city. I think it has something to do with a lot of people recently moving there. People didn’t grow up Atlanta fans, so they really haven’t embraced any of their teams. The Braves have empty seats during the playoffs for crying out loud. The Thrashers need to be in a city that will truly embrace them, and Atlanta is not that city.
Florida-
Miami is a city that only cares about the Dolphins, and football in general. Sure people showed up for the Heat when Shaq was in town, but you could tell that the American Airlines center was packed with fair-weather fans. People in Miami can go to the beach, go to the club, go to fashion show, and if they do want to see sports, it’s football they want to see. In any event, the state of Florida does not need two hockey teams.
Nashville-
Nashville has fielded some decent teams over the past couple years. However, filling up their arena has been an uphill battle for the Predators. Nashville is a relatively small metro area with very little hockey history, and it shows. To be honest, I don’t see why the team was put here in the first place. There are lots of bigger metro areas with more hockey interest, and with better arenas that would have made more sense.
Anaheim/Los Angeles-
The Los Angeles metro area does not need two hockey teams. Los Angeles is not a good sports town. Dodger fans are known for showing up late and leaving early. If So Cal really cared about sports, wouldn’t they have an NFL team by now? Here’s the tough part- which team to move? Anaheim has had some success, but I highly doubt that anyone in Anaheim really cares. The Kings are the team that needs to stay in town. They play downtown at the Staples Center, and if they were halfway decent they could be somewhat of a glamour franchise of the league, much like the Lakers are for the NBA. While the NHL needs to have a presence in this market, they do not need two.
Phoenix-
The Coyotes have not really caught on in Phoenix, as with the rest of the clubs in town. Phoenix is seemingly western version of Atlanta- a growing city where no one is actually from there. Maybe people care about the Suns, but I doubt anyone gives a shit about the other teams. Hockey in the desert is just a stupid idea, and the club’s abysmal attendance record over the years makes the evidence very clear.
Carolina-
I never really understood this move. Hartford to Carolina seemed like a lateral if not a downgrade of a move by owner Peter Karmanos. To go from one small city in the North where it snows and people actually care about hockey to another small city in the South where people do not care about hockey (or know what it is) was a bit of a stumper to me. Carolina has hovered in the bottom half, usually the bottom third of league attendance even though the team brought home a cup. This points to a team that should relocate.
Where to?
Winnipeg-
A new arena downtown, a rabid and starved hockey fan base, and it’s in Canada where people actually care about hockey. If you ever saw the white outs the Jets fans pulled off in the playoffs, you knew this town loved its team. It has the arena now, so give them a shot. Phoenix had their chance and they blew it. Give Winnipeg their Jets back.
Hamilton-
Another city in Canada that would be a great fit for a big league club is Hamilton. While it’s close to Buffalo and Toronto, Hamiltonians used to have an NHL club way back in the day, and would assuredly embrace another if it moved to town. Once again while it’s a smaller area, it is in Canada where hockey is king and faces competition from no other sports. The arena would need renovation, but that wouldn’t be a problem here.
Cleveland-
If keeping a team in Ohio, Cleveland would be a better location because it is a bigger metropolitan area and would be more receptive to a professional club. Natural rivalries could be created with Pittsburgh, Detroit, and Buffalo. Also, this old Cleveland Barons logo is pretty cool. Perhaps an arrangement could be worked out where they play a few home games in Columbus and Cincinnati, much like the Packers playing a few home games in Milwaukee, which was successful in making the Packers not just Green Bay’s team but Wisconsin’s team. The Cleveland Barons need to become Ohio’s team, but they will always be second fiddle in Columbus to the Buckeyes. A nice arena in downtown Cleveland doesn’t hurt either.
Houston-
This may seem like a stupid idea to some, but hear me out. While Houston Texas is not exactly a hockey hotbed, Houston is actually a big city. If trying to expand the footprint of the league to cities that are not traditional hockey markets, they should at least be big markets. Houston is a large metro area full of cash and sponsorship opportunities from oil companies, and a nice arena is already in place. An interstate rivalry with Dallas could and should spring up. Name suggestions: Houston Aeros, the name of the current AHL team and former WHA team.
Portland-
Portland is an affluent, growing metro area with only one other professional team in town. Portland is not located in the middle of a desert. While town residents were weary of building a new stadium for a potential Florida Marlins move, it has an arena currently in place. This arena also has a cool name- the Rose Garden. Not a lot of people know this, but the Portland Rosebuds were the first American hockey team to compete for Lord Stanley’s Cup in 1915. Portland Rosebuds would be a cool name for the current team as well, as I think it would be nice to see a new team without some sort of stupid animal logo or natural disaster motif.
Seattle-
Seattle as a city gets a bad wrap. Many a columnist, including S.I.’s Rick Reilly, mailed in a “Seattle is a town of wine and latte drinking, Volvo driving, smug elitists especially up against blue collar archetype Pittsburgh” type column. But look at the music this town has given us – Jimi Hendrix (the best to ever pick a guitar up), Alice in Chains, Heart, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Duff McKagan of Guns’n’Roses, among many others. A town that rocks this hard would enjoy a hockey team, especially after the Sonics took off for Oklahoma City. Maybe Key Arena isn’t perfect, but within a few years, Seattle would probably be willing to renovate or build a new one. Another brief history lesson- while the Portland Rosebuds were the first American club to compete for the Stanley Cup, the Seattle Metropolitans a year later in the 1916 were the first American team to win it. One last bit of advice- try to get Bill Gates to own the team.
Kansas City-
Hockey tried and failed once in K.C. in the form of the Kansas City Scouts. While it didn’t work out in the seventies, Kansas City deserves another chance. Kansas City is a good sports town, with Arrowhead Stadium known for being one of the NFL’s loudest. I’m sure when the Royals were halfway decent, people showed up at Kauffman Stadium too. Anyway, the Sprint Center has been built downtown and the city does not have a tenant. This means any team that wishes to become the new Kansas City Scouts (please stick with that name) can hammer out a sweetheart lease, which is pivotal to any franchise’s success. Also, since there are no hoops teams in K.C., the hockey team will have winter sports options all to itself.
Thanks for reading. My next entry will be on team names/logos/jerseys and come with a ranking of NHL uniforms.
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