Granderson Trade

I am distraught. The more I think about this trade, the better I feel about the player-for-player end of things. Coming out of this deal, the Tigers will control Max Scherzer and Phil Coke for 5 years each, and Austin Jackson and Daniel Schlereth for 6 years each. Curtis Granderson is 29. He has peaked. He is not going to get appreciably better than he is right now. In Yankee Stadium, he will be a 35-homer guy who hits .275 and struggles against lefties. He is a gold-glove caliber centerfielder and has good, but not great, base-stealing ability.  I liked Edwin Jackson, but I think I like Max Scherzer just as much. I need to think about this more, but right now, I am depressed that we are losing Curtis, but I feel good about the direction of the team moving forward.

Please Keep Curtis

I am very worried. Scratch that, I am downright depressed. If the Tigers trade Curtis Granderson, I don't know what I'm going to do. Just reading about the possibility today, it got a bit dusty in my cube at work...

I understand that financial implications, I really do, but I just can't fathom how you can trade a guy who has made a connection to a community that craves interaction with its sports stars. It has been such a long time since Detroit had an elite player (truthfully, that might be a slight overstatement for Grandy) that actually had the desire to be in the public spotlight. Nothing against Barry Sanders or Steve Yzerman, but the last two great athletes that played in Detroit tended to shy away from the public eye. Granderson provides the Tigers with a unique opportunity to build a relationship with the city on a whole new level. Anybody who saw a game at Comerica Park this summer can vouch, there was a special connection between the team and its fans, and much of that is built because of Granderson's role and the face and voice of the organization. There is not a better ambassador for baseball playing in MLB today, and it would be a terrible shame for the Tigers to lose that. For baseball reasons, I don't want to see the Tigers trade away any of their promising young players, Jackson, Verlander, et. al., but losing Granderson would be an even more crippling hit to the PR side of things, something that is of paramount importance for a team battling for its chunk of Detroit's waning disposable income.

Most importantly, it would spell the end for "The Rio Granderson", the only fantasy baseball team name that I have ever known.

AL Gold Gloves

Mark it down, at 3:13 PM Central Standard Time on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009, I have officially given up on the Gold Glove. It has now joined the Grammys, Emmys, and every other non-Oscars entertainment award in the "Promise Ring Memorial Home for Irrelevant Awards". It's shiny and it's a nice gesture, but when that hot girl across the party winks at you, that ring doesn't mean shit. After hearing the AL winners today, that's how I feel about the Gold Glove. Derek Jeter won? Seriously? The guy plays three steps on to the outfield grass, and still has no chance on anything in the hole. He is bailed out by having a former shortstop with fantastic range at third, and a tremendous defensive first baseman across the diamond. Jeter's defense is the equivalent of Adrian Grenier's acting in Entourage; he sucks, but you don't notice how crappy he is because of the talent surrounding him.

Ok, I'm getting too riled up. I should lay off Jeter, he did have a very good all-around year and I really shouldn't be surprised that his defense continues to be overrated. That rant was probably a bit uncalled for, and I apologize to any Jeter-lovers out there (especially you, Lyla Garrity). The real reason that I am bringing this up is that multiple Tigers were wronged here.

First off, just to show that there is no homerism in this post, I will admit that Placido Polanco probably stole one. His defense was solid this year, but he was not the best second baseman in the league. Polanco is exceptionally steady, and makes all of the plays that he is supposed to make, but at this point in his career, he doesn't make enough spectacular defensive plays to warrant the Gold Glove. I'm glad that he was recognized, but this award is a bit questionable.

Homer time: Curtis Granderson and Gerald Laird got screwed! Granderson has more ground to cover than any centerfielder in the AL and in addition, is almost always flanked by at least one crappy corner outfielder that needs a bit of extra help. Watching other centerfielders struggle with the wide expanses of Comerica Park's outfield is a daily reminder of how important Granderson is to the Tigers' defense. There is no way that Torii Hunter is a better defensive outfielder at this point in his career. Laird's gripe is even more warranted. What more could he have done? He completely shut down the running game, throwing out well over 40% of opposing base-stealers, he was a rock behind the plate, routinely blocking errant balls in the dirt, and he brilliantly handled a very young pitching staff, coaxing double-digit wins out of both Edwin Jackson and Rick Porcello. The fact that his average didn't top .250 for the season has no bearing on his defense. The Gold Glove award is a DEFENSIVE award, although the fact that it went to AL batting champ Joe Mauer seems to indicate otherwise...

Ok, for real this time

Shit, I need to write more often...

I realize that at this point I am making promises to a nonexistent audience, but I promise that I am going to pick this back up again and write shorter, more frequent posts. I really like writing this blog, I just feel the need to perfect everything that I write, it ends up taking forever, and I never have time to do it. It's a vicious cycle. Anyway, a few quick thoughts today on the Aubrey Huff acquisition:

1. Love it. Get a guy who can really help the team for just the cost of a low-level prospect and $1.5 million.
2. I read Drew Sharp's column today and I am horribly disappointed. I understand, and frankly agree with, the sentiment, but nobody has ever gotten ahead by pissing off the baseball player's union. What future free agent is going to want to sign with the Tigers if we screw Mags out of 18 million bucks this year? Of course it sucks that we have to overpay him in his twilight years, but I still maintain that it was a great contract. Had he gotten hurt, the Tigers would have been completely off the hook. He ended up not getting hurt and giving the Tigers 3 fantastic years, including a trip to the World Series. I would say that's worth overpaying a bit on the back end.
3. I think the Tigers will win the division this year, and with the pitching staff that we have, we can certainly make some noise in the playoffs, but for the future, the gaping hole in left field must be filled (preferably with a left-handed power bat). Marcus Thames has proven that he is not an everyday player and the Tigers need to accept it. Whether it's Clete Thomas or someone from outside the organization, the Tigers need somebody new to man left field.

Here's where we stop, for now...

Wings and Kitties

Wings won game 7, so I still have my job at the Anchor for another series. Also, gotta talk a bit about my Motor City Kitties. Without further adieu, here it goes.

First - glad to see the Wings win game 7, and more importantly glad to see the game winner goal was a garbage goal by Dan Cleary. It wasn't even a rebound, he more so just pushed Hiller's pad into the puck. Who cares though. As any coach says, good things happen if you throw the puck on net and crash the crease, and that's how the Wings got that goal. I would like to see more of this and I would like to see Pavel and Hank show up in the upcoming series.

Second - I really like Darren Helm. Every shift he makes a good play. Its not always a goal. Sometimes its a big check, a takeaway in the neutral zone, or a strong forecheck where he gets the puck back. Either way, the man is scoring a bit now and I couldn't be happier for anyone else on the team. His goal in game 7 showed on grand display his speed, which will be his greatest asset as his career blossoms as a Wing. Weird and depressing to know that he's two years younger than me.

Third - so we're playing the Hawks. Finally we have a good old fashioned Original 6 match up. And as much as I hate the Hawks, I'm glad to see their relevant again. Getting liqueured up at Marge's over the Preds and Blue Jackets just wasn't the same. Either way, I'm happy that I can hate the Hawks again without feeling guilty about how shitily run an organization (say it in Canadian: Org inn I zaa shun) they are. Fuck Chicago and fuck the Hawks. Fuck Eddie the Eagle, fuck Steve Larmer, fuck Chicago style dogs(not as good as Coneys), fuck Old Style (never as good as Stroh's), fuck Fall Out Boy (from Chicago), but don't fuck Chris Chelios. Never thought I'd ever say such nice things about Chelios.

Quick hits - in regards to the Tigers, it appears Dombrowski is back to his old tricks. He is getting undervalued players for nothing, and watching them blossom into stars. Edwin Jackson appears to be the heist of the century so far. I realize he loaded the Tigers up with some big contracts that weren't worth the paper they were signed on (Sheff, Dontrelle, Big League Nate), but he knows how to spot talent in the lower levels, and the Tigers have a good one in Edwin Jackson.

Great series for the Tigers

I cannot imagine watching a more confidence-inspiring series than the one that the Tigers just played in Cleveland.

Think, in general terms, about what happened this weekend. The starters allowed 1 run in three games (20 innings). The ace of the staff pitched a 2-hit, 11-strikeout, complete game shutout. The bullpen was solid, except for a hiccup from the closer, who was pitching in a non-save situation on back-to-back days. The offense was far from spectacular, but provided timely hits and just enough run support. The prospective gold-glove centerfielder was outstanding, especially with an otherworldly, game-saving catch. Throw in that the series was on the road, against a division rival, and there really isn't much more that you can expect from a baseball team hoping to compete for a playoff spot.

I feel great about the Tigers. The pitching and defense are leaps and bounds ahead of last year and although the offense has struggled, the fact that the Tigers can win in spite of it just give me more confidence. The leaders (Verlander, Cabrera, Granderson) are out front, and this team is coming together.

The Cure for Rabies

In the past, I have always been a fan of Ryan Raburn, but unfortunately, my man-love for Rabies burns no longer. He needs to go back to Toledo. Now.

Raburn doesn't have much talent in terms of raw power, speed, or athleticism, but he was useful in the past because although he didn't bring a whole lot to the table, he never took anything off of it. Quick aside, Rod Allen just quoted MC Hammer, I feel that it is necessary to point this out. Anyway, Raburn is now removing items from the table faster than Wojo (I miss WDFN...) at an all-you-can-eat buffet. He isn't hitting, which would be acceptable if he was providing his usual steady defense in the infield and outfield, but he has been nothing short of atrocious this season on the defensive side of the ball. He has cost the Tigers at least one game so far by simply dropping routine fly balls and in a division that will almost certainly come down to a few games in October, you can't afford to give away games in April. Raburn used to be valuable because of his ability to play in the infield and the outfield, but with Gary Sheffield gone, the Tigers have room to keep both a strong defensive outfielder, Josh Anderson, and a strong defensive infielder, Ramon Santiago, on their bench, which significantly cuts down the value of Raburn's versatility. With his defensive usefullness accounted for by other players (who are both outhitting him by the way), Raburn must earn his keep with his bat. Excuse me for impugning somebody's job performance in this tough economy, but 1/11 with 4 strikeouts is just not going to get it done.

This whole discussion might seem like a moot point, because Marcus Thames will eventually take this spot back when he recovers from his injury, but with so many divisional games coming up in the next couple of weeks, it is absolutely paramount that the Tigers send their best 25 on to the field every night. Until Thames gets healthy, wouldn't Jeff Larish be a hell of a lot more useful for the Tigers? Assuming that he can at least equal the job that Raburn has done defensively, which at this point I think could be handled by a drunk chimpanzee, Larish provides left-handed power off the the Tigers' bench, something that the Tigers really lack with their current team. Don't get me wrong, I would love to see Rabies succeed, but that this point, he looks like the definition of a 4A player and somebody who is not capable of helping a big league club.

On second thought...

Think about this possible trade:

Team A gives up a 24-year old outfielder who has 20+ homer power, but hasn't yet proven he can hit consistently against big league pitching.

Team B gives up a 25-year old starting pitcher who has high-90's heat with a power breaking ball and won 14 games in the toughest division in the baseball the year before.

Wouldn't this trade be a no-brainer win for Team A?

If you haven't noticed by now, the above hypothetical is the Matt Joyce for Edwin Jackson trade that Dave Dombrowski and the Tigers pulled off this winter. My first reaction to this trade was to mourn the loss of Joyce (and the arrival of Carlos Guillen to leftfield), but I don't think I ever put the acquisition of Jackson into proper perspective. In terms of raw stuff, Jackson at this best is on the level of 'Stang, and the Tigers only gave up an unproven fourth outfielder to get him. Don't get me wrong, young left-handed hitters with Joyce's raw power aren't exactly a dime-a-dozen, but they are certainly easier to find than 25 year-old pitchers with high-90's heat (as I type this, Jackson just hit 97 on the radar gun) and a big league breaking ball who have been successful on the major league level. The real thing that changed my perspective on this trade was the move to acquire Josh Anderson, giving the Tigers another young lefty to play the outfield, albeit with a vastly different skill set, and bringing the E-Jax deal full circle.

The more I see of Jackson, the more I love his makeup almost as much as I love his stuff. He has been excellent so far in his first season as a Tiger, and it doesn't exactly hurt Double D's reputation when Joyce gets off to a 1-10 start in Tampa, although his one hit was a home run. What do you think it would take to get him back in a Tiger uniform....

I totally called it

How about the 'Stang? 7 strong with 9K's? Not too shabby. Mustang had it all working tonight. Fastball in the upper 90's (he touched 99 at least 5 times) and a knee-buckling curveball. This is hopefully what the Tigers are going to get from him for the rest of the year. Yea, I don't really have a whole lot to say, just that I TOTALLY CALLED IT!

Jimmy is pleased

I love the way that Jim Leyland is managing the Tigers so far this season. With last year's team, there was really nothing to do but set the lineup and the beginning of the day and hope for a couple of big innings. With a nice mix of power, speed, and average sprinkled throughout this year's everyday lineup, Jim Leyland is managing like a stoner in a 711; there are so many options, why not take advantage of all of them? Hit-and-runs, squeeze bunts, pinch runners; Leyland is happily emptying his bag of tricks on a daily basis. And it's working. The bottom of the Tigers' order is manufacturing runs and providing a perfect complement to the thump at the top of the order. I am certainly a subscriber to sabermetrics and preserving as many outs as possible, but I can still appreciate the stuble excellence of a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt. The Tigers are playing the game the way Leyland wants it to be played and it's led to the best run differential in the division.

Why I'm not worried about Justin Verlander

Quick Note: I'm pretty sure I'm wasting my time because nobody reads this fella anyway, but I am going to write more often. I promise. Pete will write more too. Right Pete? Also, we might rename the blog, but that probably won't happen anytime soon. Ok, on to the delicious content...

First of all, Justin Verlander needs a nickname. Power pitchers are not great until they are referred to as "The Rocket" or "The Express", and at this point, all Verlander has is JV, which is a pitiful intersection of unoriginality and general teribbleness (which Firefox kindly just told me isn't a word, but I'm going to keep it in here anyway). The point is, we Tiger fans can no longer go on referring to our ace by the same initials that we use to categorize 5'2" unathletic 15 year-olds. My idea: "Mustang". I know it's not great and I welcome any suggestions, but the basic idea is that a power pitcher in the city that created the American muscle car had better have an nickname that can burn up a set of steel-belted radials. Mustang captures this and also has the added bonus of being easliy shortened to 'Stang, and it's always nice to have a one-syllable nickname option. For the record, the rest of my top 5 was "The Vette", "Camaro", "Model V", and "GT". From now on I will refer to Mr. Verlander as Mustang in this space.

The Mustang hasn't exactly sprinted out of the starting gate this year, as evidenced by his not-so-stellar 9.00 ERA and 1.71 WHIP through three starts. These numbers paint a pretty terrible picture, but there are certainly some mitigating circumstances. Last night, Kendry Morales' 3-run homer never would have happened, but Ryan Raburn horribly misplayed a routine line drive a couple of batters earlier. Even then, Raburn's misplay was scored as a hit, and Verlander was charged with 3 earned runs in the inning. Overall, the Tigers have played poor defense behind Verlander, leading to his bloated ERA. Look at his periferals, 10.71 K/9, 2.73 K/BB. This guy is missing bats and pounding the strike zone at the best rates of his career. His opposing BABIP is an absurd .387, which is nearly 100 points higher than his career average. Over the course of the season, it's going to even out.

But for the most convincing argument in favor of a Verlander comeback, just watch the dude pitch. Last night, Rod Allen was mistifyed by how well opposing hitters were doing against the "stuff that Verlander was featuring" and rightly so. Mustang's fastball was consistently in the 93-95 mph range, and he touched 96-97 mph when he needed it. Uncle Charlie was definitely in the house, especially for one knee-buckling strikeout that made Torii Hunter look like a young Carlos Pena. I know it sounds crazy to say that the starter in a 12-10 game pitched well, but Mustang really did.

Anyway, I'm not worried. This is not a Chien-Ming Wang situation in which a pitcher just loses his stuff, Verlander has simply been unlucky. 'Stang is ready to be an ace, believe it.

Sign Ben Sheets

Last week, Jim Leyland announced the Tigers’ starting rotation: Justin Verlander, Armando Galarraga, Edwin Jackson, Jeremy Bonderman, and either Nate Robertson, Zach Miner, or Dontrelle Willis. In simple terms, the Tigers’ current 2009 rotation consists of a solid young pitcher, a ground bal machine, a Rick Vaughn-esque talent with crappy control, a first inning nightmare/injury risk, and one hell of a question mark. Do you know what’s missing from that list? An ace. I, along with every other diehard Tigers fan hope and pray that Justin Verlander will turn into the anchor that stabilizes the Detroit rotation for the next 10 years, but based on what happened last season, that is far from guaranteed. At this point, it is certainly not a stretch to say that Detroit has the worst rotation in the Central division. The offense will be strong again and the bullpen will be improved, but the Tigers are not winning the Central if their starters don’t carry their weight.

I read a great piece today on espn.com in which Buster Olney talks about how the economy has hurt the value of pitchers like Ben Sheets. Three years ago, Sheets would probably have already signed a 4-year $60 million contract with somebody, but this year, he is left teamless going into February. The only team that is taking a hard looks at signing Sheets is the chronically pitching-starved Texas Rangers, who have made a 2-year $16 million offer. Pardon my crass language, but are you fucking kidding me? I understand that Sheets is an injury risk, but when A.J. Burnett, who has the pain threshold of a teething infant, gets $84 million, Sheets is certainly worth more than $16 million. That said, his worth is whatever that market says it is and the Tigers need to take advantage. Sheets’ agent is probably too smart to allow his client to be locked in at a discount for any more than 2 years, but even so, this is a move that Dave Dombrowski needs to make. I don’t think he will make it, and I completely understand his rationale for doing so, but I must disagree with it.

Sheets will not be a Tiger because he is a type-A free agent, which means that the team who signs him must hand over a first or second round draft pick to his former team, in the case, the Milwaukee Brewers. An argument can be made that a first round pick is more valuable for the Tigers than an injury-prone ace, as the Detroit farm system is in dire need to replenishing and Dave Dombrowski has a long and distinguished draft record. For the future, the better move is pass on Mr. Sheets, but looking at how the America League Central division lays out for 2009, it’s anybody’s game. The White Sox, Twins, Indians, and Tigers are all bunched at the top and adding a proven ace like Sheets could be the additional push that catapults Detroit to a division title. Generally, I am always in favor of what’s best for the future, but with a team with key players that only have a few years left (Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen), you can’t walk away from a move that could win you the division and get your team into the playoffs where as the Phillies and Rays showed last season, anything can happen.

Lyon and Tigers

I have decided that this year’s Tiger offseason is the absolute antithesis of last year’s. Last year, the Tigers failed to address needs and tossed cash around like Pacman Jones at a strip club. This year, they have shied away from huge contracts and are addressing the biggest problems from last year’s embarrassing failure of a squad (I’m a little bitter…). The Brandon Lyon acquisition is a perfect example. It’s true, Lyon certainly had his flaws last season for Arizona, but even so, he is a great fit for the 2009 Tigers. Lyon has experience as both a closer and a setup man, something that can’t be said for the Tigers’ former closer, Todd Jones. I will always defend Jonesy, he was a solid pitcher who got a bad rap from the Detroit fans, but he was far from versatile last season. With pitchers like Fernando Rodney, Joel Zumaya, and Freddy Dolsi showing flashes of closer potential, Jones was a roadblock on the position. Moving another pitcher into the closer’s role would have rendered Jones useless. Brandon Lyon demonstrated last season that he can still be a useful cog in a bullpen, even if he is replaced as the closer. Picking up Lyon eases the pressure on Zumaya and Rodney, while adding to the overall depth of the bullpen. Needless to say, I love this move. The one-year contract gives Lyon incentive to perform, while adding minimal financial risk for a team whose payroll already far exceeds the market value of its roster. Along with Lyon, the Tigers seem to be pursuing a few similar moves, signing Scott Williamson to a minor league contract and talking with Juan Rincon about a minor league deal. There types of low-risk moves are exactly what this franchise needs right now. There is a very good chance that Williamson and Rincon will be contribute absolutely nothing for this team, but a one-year minor league contract is certainly worth the risk. Overall, it looks like Dave Dombrowski has learned his lesson, namely that the bullpen problems need to be his top priority. Jim Leyland has said that he does not think that the Tigers are finished making moves this offseason, and given how the Tigers have executed their offseason plans so far, I hope he’s right.

The E-Jax Era

I have spent the last 20 or so minutes trying to talk myself into the Edwin Jackson era in Detroit and honestly, I'm not there yet. I'm sorry, but I really liked Matt Joyce. I understand that the Tigers need to trade offense for pitching, but why did it have to be Matt Joyce for Edwin Jackson? And I know, "You can't teach 97 mph". That's fine, as long as you can teach him to keep his BB/9 in single digits. There is no debate that Jackson has great stuff, but so did Ricky Vaughn before he got glasses. Who knows, maybe E-Jax is just one visit to Dr. Yaldo (anyone who listens to the radio in Detroit should know who this is) away from a 20-win season. Honestly, this really isn't the part of the trade that I am struggling with. Jackson has great stuff and he's only 25 years old, I understand the potential for greatness here. The thing that really gives me problems is this: Who is going to play left field next year? Carlos Guillen? Please Mr. Dombrowski, do not make me endure a season of the Guillentine putzing around in left. I am a huge Carlos Guillen fan and I think he would be perfect as a DH, but that arm and those knees would be an unmitigated disaster in the outfield.

Let me take a step back here, I like this trade... relatively. At least the Tigers got something useful in return for Joyce. You have no idea how happy I was when I heard that JJ Putz is the newest member of the New York Metropolitans. Matt Joyce AND Jeff Larish for a "closer" who spent the entire second half of last season proving how unreliable his health is? No thank you. I guess this trade is just the lesser of two evils for me. My hope is that it leads to one more move, trading Gary Sheffield. I literally leapt with joy when I read that the Rangers had interest in acquiring Sheff. Unloading him would pave the way for Carlos Guillen to move to where he belongs: in the dugout whenever the Tigers are in the field. Maybe give Jeff Larish a shot in leftfield, or platoon Ryan Raburn and Marcus Thames; either of those options would be preferable to no-cartilage Carlos roaming the expanses of the Copa's outfield.

Tigers Off to a Solid Start

Today, Dave Dombrowski traded for Gerald Laird, signed Adam Everett and restored my faith in his team construction skills. After spending last offseason building the world’s greatest slow-pitch softball team, Dombrowski’s budget was cut, forcing him to go back to basics and build his team the right way. He addressed two needs with players who are perfect fits and committed only $4 million to next year’s payroll. He has plugged two of the holes in the Tigers’ ship, surprisingly without making any major long-term commitments. The Laird trade is a perfect example. Dombrowski gave up 2 pitching prospects for a catching sure thing. Laird may not be an all-star, but going into the season, the Tigers know exactly what they are going to get from him. There’s always risk in a trade, I would be lying if I wrote that I wasn’t afraid that trading Guillermo Moscoso might come back to bite the Tigers, but there is a damn good chance that neither Moscoso, nor 17-year-old Carlos Melo will amount to anything useful in the Majors. Laird is exactly the kind of player that the Tigers lacked last season. He plays solid defense, hits the ball to the gaps, and doesn’t make stupid mistakes. I’m not going to say that he is a better player than Pudge Rodriguez, but he is definitely a better fit for this Detroit team. He knows his role and he will perform admirably in it. Ditto for Adam Everett. He will be a perfect stopgap for the next year until Cale Iorg is ready to take over. Everett has a bit of a checkered injury history, but when healthy, he is an elite defensive shortstop. Sure, he can’t hit is way out of a paper bag, but neither could Edgar Renteria. Personally, I would like to see when Ramon Santiago could do with 500 at-bats worth of playing time at shortstop, but I understand his value as a speed/defense guy coming off of the Tigers’ bench. Overall, these moves are a nice start to the offseason for Detroit. Dombrowski has already said that he would like to add some bullpen depth and I would like to see him go after another starting pitcher as well. The 2009 season is a marathon, not a sprint, and although I can’t say that the Tigers are ahead of the pack, at least they haven’t stumbled coming out of the gate.

My First AI Experience: A Running Diary

I have purposely not commented on the Allen Iverson trade because I didn’t want to pass judgment until I saw how the Pistons played with AI. I thought it would be fun the do a running diary of my first AI experience. Ernie Johnson is signing off from Atlanta, and here we go…

9:44PM: Kevin Harlan tells me that this game is brought to me by the United States Marines. Where is the US Military getting all of this money to sponsor sporting events? Is this where my tax dollars are going?

9:46PM: Kwame Brown is starting? This is going to be a long night…

9:49PM: Corey Maggette is guarding Rasheed Wallace? Maybe this night won’t be so long…

9:50PM: Hamilton hits a signature jumper from the baseline. Good to see Rip hit his first shot. Nice dish from Tayshaun Prince. I like Tay Tay at the point forward position. He played it a lot in college and was very effective. Just in general, Prince is a much better offensive player than he gets credit for.

9:52PM: First bucket from Iverson, he owns that mid-range pull-up. He’s had that shot for his whole career, but he has never been considered as one of the better mid-range players. Why is that?

9:57PM: The Google phone is awesome.

9:58PM: How ironic is it that the NBA Store commercial features Chauncey Billups in Piston shorts and Allen Iverson in a Nuggets headband. You can’t script this stuff.

10:01PM: Marcus Williams enters the game for Golden State. This guy couldn’t start over DeMarcus Nelson and CJ Watson? Did he swipe Don Nelson’s laptop or something?

10:05PM: Monta Ellis has to be really embarrassed about that injury. I mean, at least Ben Roethlisberger was riding a Harley. Come on Monta, you’re not 14 anymore, lose the moped.

10:08PM: Jason Maxiell misses an alley-oop, but gets it right back with a thunderous dunk on the next possession. Maxiell has incredibly long arms, but they look too big for his body. It’s like someone put him in one of those medieval torture chambers or something.

10:10PM: 23-21 Warriors at the end of the 1st. AI has 7 points in the quarter. No question, this Pistons team is different, I haven’t quite decided yet if I think they are any better. There are definite gains on the offensive side, but Iverson and Kwame are weaknesses on the defensive end. AI struggles on the ball, and Kwame just looks generally confused.

10:14PM: Craig Sager is off his game tonight; his suit is not distorting the color on my TV, I am unimpressed.

10:17PM: I love me some Will Bynum. I don’t know if they will ever be able to find any minutes for him in the long term, but he reminds me of a young Lindsey Hunter. He’s quick, a decent shooter, and tough as nails. Not a coincidence that he played in a Final Four in college.

10:19PM: Iverson steals and streaks the other way to draw a foul. He is terrible on the ball, but his anticipation for steals is like Ben Wallace’s anticipation for blocks. He does a great job of clogging up the passing lanes and turning steals into easy buckets. Along with Rip Hamilton, the Piston guards are very opportunistic defenders. AI splits two at the line, DET 26 – GS 28.

10:22PM: Bynum attacks the rack for an easy hoop. This guy can learn a lot from Iverson. I don’t know if it will be on the Pistons, but he definitely has a place in the league.

10:23PM: Any commercial that features LeBron dancing to Kid N Play is all right by me. Excuse me for a minute while I call my State Farm agent.

10:25PM: The Pistons are missing way too many free throws. You can’t give back free points against a team like the Warriors. I have a bad feeling that this might come back to bite them.

10:28PM: Will Bynum just did his best Spud Webb impression. He missed the dunk, but holy shit that kid has some hops. Once again, I love me some Will Bynum.

10:30PM: It is fascinating to watch Amir Johnson going up against Brandan Wright. Somewhere, Jay Bilas is drooling over the “long length” and “upside potential” of this matchup.

10:33PM: Iverson and Bynum seem to have this weird want to drive inside, elevate, and just when you think they are going up for a shot, kick it outside to a not-quite-open-enough shooter. I really don’t see how this helps the offense. Why not just keep attacking the basket early in the game, and then kick the ball out later once the defense starts to collapse on you? It’s really not that difficult.

10:37PM: Doug Collins makes a good point about the Pistons lack of bulk. They have length and quickness, but a strong team (like the Celtics) can push them around. Hopefully, they can figure out how to use their athleticism to compensate, but lack of girth could definitely hurt down the road.


10:42PM: The Piston big guys are not adjusted to Iverson yet. There have been at least three times already that Iverson as dished off to a big inside who either fumbled the pass or missed the layup because he wasn’t ready for it.

10:45PM: CJ Watson just withstood three AI crossovers and took a charge. Maybe I should be worried about Iverson losing a step, but mostly, I am impressed with Watson’s defense.

10:46PM: Crazy Stephen Jackson hits a nice jumper to end the half. The Pistons shot the ball terribly and played absolutely awful on defense, but it’s only 53-46. I am cautiously optimistic.

HALF TIME

11:09PM: The Pistons are off to a terrible start. Everyone is standing around watching Iverson on offense and Golden State is hitting all of their open jumpers. Detroit needs to get some energy into the game before it slips away.

11:11PM: Sheed scores over Maggette and screams “AND 1” all the way back down the court. I’ve said it before and I will say it again, I would pay to listen Sheed mic’ed up for a whole game. If everything else he says is half as good as what the floor mics pick up, it would be comedy gold.

11:15PM: AI has already hit 2 threes in the second half. This is a great sign. One of my biggest worries about losing Billups is that the Pistons really don’t have any true three-point shooters. If Iverson can just shoot in the high 30% range from downtown, it will really help to open up cutting lanes for his teammates, specifically Rip.

11:17PM: Walter Herrmann is doing his best Mark Madsen impression, 3 fouls in under one minute. If the Pistons can’t get a hold of Corey Maggette, this game is going to be over fast.

11:21PM: Andris Biedrins blows an easy dunk. There was nobody within 6 feet of him and he bricks it off the heel. Layup for AI, three-ball for Afflalo, and the Pistons are back in the game. DET 63 – GS 69.

11:25PM: The Piston bigs are getting killed in the pick-and-roll. There is no weak side help, but Sheed and Kwame Brown just look lost trying to play guards coming off ball screens.

11:28PM: The Pistons look very reactionary on defense. They are not anticipating cuts and stepping in front, they are chasing and giving up too many open looks.

11:30PM: One of the first times that Iverson controls the offense in the half court leads to a bad shot from Prince. Afflalo makes a great play to finish off of a steal, but it is painfully obvious that the Pistons are not ready to run their team offense through Iverson yet.

11:33PM: Apparently the Pistons heard my critiques of their defense. The guards are flying to the ball and creating turnovers. This is how they can make up for their lack of size. A nice run puts Detroit ahead 75-71.

11:35PM: Iverson with a fantastic finish, but he stands under the rim celebrating by himself after the bucket. I think that the team and the city of Detroit are going to love Iverson, but it seems like it hasn’t really happened yet.

11:37PM: It seems that the Piston bigs are adjusting to AI on the fly. Wallace makes a great catch and finish after a sweet dime from Iverson. That was a turnover in the first half. Great adjustment from Sheed.

11:41PM: I know that this is not my original idea, but can we please make some kind of a law against aerial shots of basketball areas. How does seeing a bird shit on the top of Oracle Arena enhance my viewing experience?

11:44PM: Sheed gets a technical out of nowhere! Another reason why he needs a microphone at all times.

11:45PM: Ball don’t lie.

11:46PM: Doug Collins makes a great point about the Pistons being impatient against Golden State’s zone. At this point, their half-court offense is predicated on dribble penetration, let’s see what happens when the zone takes that away.

11:49PM: I really don’t get the whole phenomenon of the free credit report. If you know that you have crappy credit, how does that help? It doesn’t make your crappy credit any better. It’s just another reminder of how screwed you are. I don’t get it, but maybe that’s because I have impeccable credit.

11:51PM: I think that the best-case scenario for the Iverson Pistons might be something like Villanova’s team a few years ago. A bunch of quick perimeter guys that can shoot and/or get to the rack and a few athletic big guys who can provide a presence on defense and finish around the rim. If this is going to happen, they really need Maxiell and Amir Johnson to step up.

11:53PM: Curry takes a good timeout as Detroit is getting slaughtered on the glass. Golden State is not shooting the ball particularly well, but they are scoring on offensive rebounds. The Pistons need to block out the Warriors’ wings.

11:57PM: Wallace chokes after a Piston offensive rebound, then taps one into his own hoop to give Golden State the lead. Yikes.

11:58PM: Sheed follows it up by missing two free throws. Oh boy.

12:00AM: It’s midnight in Chicago and I am officially worried.

12:01AM: Rip splits a pair at the line. I said it at the beginning of the game, you can’t miss free throws against a team like Golden State, they are coming back to bite the Pistons now. 2-point game.

12:03AM: Wow, I had never seen Andris Biedrins shoot free throws before and I am amazed. He has one of the most awkward strokes I have ever seen. I would love to see Biedrins face off against Shaq in an “Awkward Motion Championship of Darts”, just make sure to pass out safety goggles to everyone in the bar.

12:05AM: Sheed drains 2 HUGE threes. Congratulations Mr. Wallace, welcome back to my good graces.

12:07AM: Amy Adams is hot.

12:09AM: Nice hard foul by Wallace on Biedrins. Send that guy back to the line…

12:10AM: Prince makes a nice defensive play to finally stop Maggette. Rip hits a jumper and I am starting to get comfortable.

12:11AM: Fantastic dish from Afflalo to Sheed for a dunk. Afflalo has been really impressive offensively in this game. He runs the floor well and is not settling for jumpers.

12:14AM: The Pistons are beginning to put this one away with old-school Piston rebounding and defense. The offense is coming along, but if they can keep playing defense like this in crunch time, they will be in every game.

12:17AM: It’s coming down to free throws, but it looks like the Pistons are going to escape with a nice win in Oakland. They played a pretty good game overall, but showed flashes of greatness with the attacking defense in the third quarter and the end of the fourth.

12:22AM: My overall view of the Iversonian Pistons is this: They will be fine offensively after the adjustment period passes, but their season is going to be defined by whether or not the young guys in the front court can step up. I think they can, but we’ll see what happens.

12:23AM: Thanks for sticking with me…Now it’s bedtime.

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

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

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

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