I have been asked to comment on the current state of the Detroit professional baseball club known as the Tigers. Surprisingly I have done very little of that in this forum. So I will make a few comments.
This team has improved over last years performance. In the context of two years ago it is almost unbelievable the amount that they have been able to improve themselves. This is a credit, in no small part, to Dave Dombrowski the Tigers general manager. Without him I don’t think we would have signed Pudge or Mags or any of the other free agents we have.
Much of the first half of this season we were without our ‘complete’ lineup, due mainly to injuries. In spite of that we were still able to hover around the .500 mark and play competitively. Around the All-Star break we got all our guns in place and had the pitching staff running quite efficiently. I was feeling pretty good about my pre-season prediction of at least 82 wins and not being taken lightly in the wild card race. However something has gone foul.
As of July 25 we were 49-49, and within 4 games of the wild card spot (granted, with many teams to climb over). Well on the way, I thought, to fulfilling both of my predictions. Immediately after that we went on a west coast road trip which turned out to be very bad. Then just before the trading deadline we traded away our third closer of the season. At the start of the season we had, arguably, one of the better bullpens in the division if not the league.
We had two experienced closers and one good setup guy. I wasn’t surprised when we traded the first one to Philly. It actually turned out good because we got a good infielder for Urbina. I just wish they had traded Percival instead. Then a few weeks ago Percival suffered a season ending, and possibly career ending injury. That promoted Farnsworth to the closer role. Most Tigers fans were surprised when Farnsworth was traded to the Braves, leaving us with no experienced closers at all.
Since July 25 the team has gone 4-9 and slid into the outter reaches of the wild card race. Derek can attest to the fact that I was not one of the people getting their hopes up for a wild card berth into the playoffs, even after the team got off to their first respectable start in recent years. However, the performance over the past two weeks is going to make fulfilling my predictions much more difficult. The general conscensus, after the Farnsworth trade, was that the Tigers 'gave up' on their shot at a playoff spot. I don't think that was really ever in the minds of the management. However, it could be argued they gave up their chance at getting over .500.
I still believe this team has what it takes to finish the season with at least 81 wins. Which would give them the first .500 season in more than a decade. Now, whether or not I believe they will do this is another story. I’m not convinced anymore. Fortunately the moves they made this year will help in the long run, and the guys we have in AAA will help a lot in the near future. I’m not sure the goals I saw for this year will be met.
Enough about that.
There isn’t too much else I want to talk about today. So,….until next time…
5 comments:
Well, since people seem to be waiting for someone to post a comment, I'll get this going.
I've mentioned this in other conversations, but the Tigers are now at a point where if they want to substantially improve, they will need to make a major move. I'm defining this as a multi-player trade that involves at least one "starter" (this may be a position player or a pitcher) and either a good young player, or a top level prospect. You've got a good base to work from. Now you have to translate it into something.
For example, you're sitting on two centerfielders: Nook and Granderson. In order to acquire an "impact" player outside of free agency (and this year's crop is looking thin), one of them will likely need to be dealt, probably along with a minor league pitcher.
I also agree with you that management wasn't really looking at a playoff spot this year. However, players are ALWAYS (unless you play for the Devil Rays) thinking about the playoffs, and I suspect the Tiger clubhouse was no different. The Farnsworth trade pretty much ended those hopes, regardless of how slim they were just a day before.
Being on record as saying 78 wins should be the goal for this season, I'm standing by that.
I agree with much of what you're saying. Although, when you add in the latest factor of Rondell White getting hurt AGAIN, I'm not sure I'm readly to part with either Granderson or Nook Logan, unless the return is significant.
So does that mean you're willing to part with Monroe? Nobody's going to take Mags off your hands without the Tigers picking up a lot of that promised salary.
It all depends on the return offer. I suppose I'd be willing to give up either Nook or Granderson, but it depends on what we get. I wouldn't be broken up if we sent Monroe packing, again, as long as we get something respctable for him. But I see no point in even attempting to trade Magglio right now. I think that would be a futile effort...with respect to his salary.
I can't believe we couldn't get anyone else to post anything. OK, time for a new topic.
Post a Comment