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IF I Was Dumbrowski ?
I would take the broom to the Tigers clubhouse
and
GET YOUNGER, FASTER, MORE ATHLETIC NOW:
Sign JJ Putz for 2 years 10M
year 1 4M (incentives)
year 2 6M (incentives)
year 3 7M (incentives and club option).
2010 improved lineup
1)Casper Wells/Brennan Boesch RF
2)Sizemore 2B
3)Magglio DH
4)Cabrera 1B
5)Granderson CF
6)Avila C
7)Wilken Ramirez/Ryan Strieby LF
8)Larish/Inge 3B
9)Dlugach/R Santiago SS
Pitching
1)Verlander
2)Jackson
3)Porcello
4)Trade for young LH SP (Clete Thomas)
5)Gallaraga or Bonine or other rookie
Bullpen
Closer JJ Putz
Resign Lyon to set up 4M
Ryan Perry
Ni
Fien
Rapada
Sadderwhite
Best of the rest
trade for another LH reliever or free agent
If I were Dombrowski/ Tigers
Tigers will need a closer (so does Philadelphia, it appears). I'd go after MacDougal or Wagner (cheap), or Soriano. Rich Harden might not be a bad play. O Cabrera? Can't argue that one. What about Juan Uribe at SS? The Tigers need O!
What I would do...
...if I was Dombrowksi would be to change my name to Dombinowski or Dombrinski.
Signed, Dave DOMBROWSKI
If I Were Dombrowski...
I'd admit that I'm a bungling dope with a spending problem and quit.
$20 million on free agents?
release guillen and inge then put the seawolves in romulus !
if you were dombrowski
verlander instead of one of the porcello's
if you were dombrowski
trade carlos guillen for milton bradley
trade curtis granderson and scott sizemore for ben zobrist
sign brandon lyon 2yrs/10million
sign jj putz 1 yr/3million
sign chone figgins 4 yr/48 million
Lineup:
2B Figgins S
RF Bradley S
DH Ordonez R
1B Cabrera R
SS Zobrist S
LF Raburn R
C Avila L
3B Inge R
CF Wells R
BN Thomas OF, BN Santiago IF, BN Laird C, BN Kelly IF/OF
SP Porcello, Jackson, Porcello, Robertson, Bonderman
Galarraga/Bonine/Figaro
RP Miner, Lyon, Zumaya, Perry
LP Ni, Seay
CP Putz
8M??
Tony, I don't think Polanco will command 8M a year for 2 years from anyone. If the Tigers paid him that, to me, they'd just be bidding against themselves. I say he deserves a 2 year deal, with a club option for a third year and I've said that all along. I might do 6.5 M the first year, 7.5M the second and 7M if the club picks up that final year option. That averages out to 7M a year if they pick up the third year option. Lets face it, for what he's done in a Tiger uniform, he's been grossly underpaid the past 3 years at 4.5M a season.
The only caviat as far as demand for his services, is if he wins his second Gold Glove in 3 years, then, there may be more than the Tigers and Dodgers bidding for him AND, I do believe a Gold Glove for Polly this season, is a very good possibility, despite the bleatings of many here about Polly's "declining range" over the past 4 years. Offensively, you can't do any better, unless of course, you sacrifice defense for a 30 homer a year guy like Uggla. Polly has plenty of pop in his bat, including good gap power, he can hit double digits in homers, he's always among the league leaders in fewest strikeouts and you can't beat him with runners in scoring position and two outs. He was third on the Tigers this year in total bases, behind Cabrera and Granderson. He is the prototype for a 2 hole hitter, IMO.
Hey Troy,
In regard to the Gold Glove, I'll be absolutely stunned if Placido Polanco doesn't win another one for '09. Folks can quote all the geek stats they want -- oh, and if they do, they'll be forced to realize Polly passes just about any test there, too -- but I know what I see when I watch the Tigers 150 times a year: A top-tier defender who can handle the bat with the best of 'em.
You were absolutely right when you said he's been grossly underpaid. He won't be anymore.
There is going to be demand for his services, no doubt.
Complete Overhaul
Boston got kicked out of playoffs fast and they are old. Chone Figgins has bad playoffs so he might be down a percent or two.
In order to free up Verlander dollars I suggest:
Trade to Boston:
Inge/Granderson/Cabrera/Perry & throw in Thames
To Detroit:
Pedroia/Bay/Ellsbury/Prospective arm
Sign Chone Figgins at 3B
Give Verlander his $$$
Brandon Lyons gets some $$$
Line up:
Ellsbury CF
Pedroia 2B
Bay LF
Figgins 3B
Ordonez DH
Guillen 1B
Avila C
Raburn RF
Santiago SS
Speed/base running injected into lineup. Less Strikeouts with Granderson/Inge/Cabrera gone.
Verlander/Jackson/Porcello/Bonderman /Robertson/Bonine/ or other warm body works 4th/ 5th spot. Convert Dontrelle into outfielder/DH
Verlander needs to get paid.
Boston has holes at the corners, Inge will swing for green monster and hit 32 HR's, Granderson and Cabrera drive down avg age of team and Dombrowski looks like a genuine hero.
Bay/Ellsbury and Pedroia add dimension that Leyland likes and it takes Strikeouts out of line up....Play like the Twins and win like the Twins.....
If Tigers tank early bring in Bobby Valentine.
Saves payroll, gets more speed and fundamentals on field and if Boston is not willing the Mets will be. Not as off the wall as possible.
Hey Jay,
I love it! And if it goes down, I don't hesitate to guarantee you two things will be happen: Dave Dombrowski gets general manager of the year and Theo Epstein gets fired.
Tony
I would like your idea of Cabrera a lot, but I wonder if they could get him that cheaply. Good ballplayer, though and worth looking into.
As for Polly, maybe, but could they get another LH alternative like Iwamura or Kelly Johnson (in a trade) and work into some sort of platoon with Sizemore until he grabs the job? I think the world of Polanco, but I remember when Jim Campbell hung onto people from the '68 world champions too long and paid the price in the mid-1970s. Is it time to make a gesture of change here?
Hey Will,
I look at it this way ... Orlando Cabrera got $4 million from the A's last offseason, so $4 million should be the starting point in any negotiations this year. That said, I agree there should be a bit more demand for him this year, just cuz of the energy he brought to the Twins this year -- not to mention the guy's a proven winner, making the playoffs everywhere he goes.
But in regard to Polanco, I don't think you can do any better than him on the open market when it comes to defense -- yes, his geek stats are good, too -- and bat-handling. Take him out of an already-putrid lineup, and frankly, I'm afraid to see just how few runs this club manages to score next year.
That said, I am an Akinori Iwamura fan and believe he has a bright future. His services definitely are worth exploring, assuming he's fully recovered from a pretty bad injury.
$20 million on free agents?
In this order:
Ben Sheets - 1 year, $15 million, with the hopes that in 2010 once Willis, Ordonez, etc, come off the books there'd be enough to sign him to a longer deal - or, if he can't stay healthy, at least you aren't on the hook too long...
Plan B:
John Lackey - $9 million, 2 year deal.
The Tigers, in my humble opinion, need one more established, veteran starter - the guy that Washburn was supposed to be. Sheets would be ideal, but Lackey is no slouch either.
Verlander, Porcello, Jackson is a fine front 3. Adding Sheets or Lackey and a healthy Bonderman (or Galarraga) would make for a fine rotation.
I would not bring Polanco back, he's starting to diminish in ability (as we all do in our 30's), and I've got to believe that Dlugach / Santiago can give you what Everett does offensively (which isn't much). With Wil Rhymes or Don Kelly or Ryan Raburn as fall backs, I'm not the least worried about Scott Sizemore at 2B.
Hey Tex,
I definitely like pursuing Ben Sheets, though I think your money is too much. I also like pursuing John Lackey, though being the biggest pitcher on the market this offseason, $9 million a year is way low.
And if you decide to go with Santiago/Duglach and Sizemore up the middle instead of Adam Everett and Placido Polanco, be prepared to suffer the consequences big time on defense and quite a bit on offense.
Cabrera's Collapse
Right on Tony. Sounds like you were taught right from wrong at an early stage. There can be no excuses for his poor choices. He let his team down and much less all of the thousands of loyal fans that stayed with them through this season-long rollercoaster ride. Leyland and Dombrowski are to blame as well. They knew the score but didn't act. I wonder what all of the reserve players thought when Cabrera (with an .08 blood alcohol level) was inserted into the starting lineup. They did Cabrera no favor by letting it slide when they did. My respect for both has been diminished. What a major let down. On a brighter note, keep up the good work.
scoopsdad
Tigers will lose: handwritting is on the wall
Tony,
I hate to say I told you so, but I told you so. In my strong opinion, the Tigers were destined to loose because of the lack of leadership, discipline, and mental toughness it takes to be a champion. With Cabrera, the Tigers have built their franchise around "sinking sand" and its only a matter of time before this late season failure happens again.
Miggy's messup
Mr. Cabrera went out and had a few drinks. He wasn't arrested (I hope for the sake of others on the road he wasn't driving.) I suppose if what he did is a crime we should blame MLB for importing it from South America, as well as Mr. Ilitch for contributing. But if Cabrera's condition prevented him from producing commensurate with his exorbitant pay rate (this WAS within his control) he should be heavily fined. I doubt this is written in his contract. But wait, Dombrowski knew of Cabrera's condition at game time. (Did he tell Ilitch or Leyland?) Dombrowski facilitated implementation of flawed material in that day's product. He should be fined (if not dismissed); and the Tigers ought to refund a percentage (1/9?) to all fans who attended the game. Facetiousness aside, what accountability should we expect from sports?
Tigers will lose: handwritting is on the wall
Tony,
With all the controversy with Cabrera, the Tigers are going to loose. Worse, this season which should have been a real positive for JL will be his last; someone is going to have take the fall for this season and Jim is going to be the one. The worst part is that Miggy will still be here next year and he will still be drinking until something really bad happens. The Tigers loosing the race and not going to the WS isn't enough to stop him from drinking.
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