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Yooper
The weather - for November - was incredible. Great day.
I read back and saw the post on Rogers from ESPN saying the Cubs shouldn't give up Castro for Granderson. Jim Callis - in his chat on the Cub's prospects - basically said that if the Cubs can give up Castro to get Granderson it would be a tough - but they would have to do it. So opinions very on that one.
Charlie Weis
Just got back from the game.
We had a great time on campus - and the game was pretty much what I expected it would be. U Conn has taken just about every team they've played this yr right down the wire - and ND can't put anyone away - so I figured it would be close with the potential for another bad loss - and it was.
ND has tremendous skill players - but cannot control the line of scrimage on either side of the ball (terrible special teams too). How much of that is Weis' fault - I don't know - but it's been a problem he's been unable to fix for three yrs now - so he needs to move on. It's surreal watching the Navy's and UConn's of the world's offensive lines just do whatever they want with the ND defense - while our offense can't get a first down unless our quick timing passing game is clicking to perfection (which it does often enough to make every game close).
But other than that - you can't beat that Notre Dame campus experience man - (if you're a catholic school kid from the mean streets of Maumee Oh anyway). As I said yesterday - Comerica Park and the campus at South Bend are my two favorite places in the world.
Ciaraco
I think his being added to the 40 man is mainly a sign that the Tigers would feel more comfortable losing a potential relief pitcher than a SS from their group of glove only SS prospects. Marte is the only guy the Tigers should be afraid of losing of those left unprotected - and he probably projects better to the pen long term - and the Tigers have a lot of other pen possiblities - so they are willing to take that chance.
The Tigers shopping freekin Curtis Granderson for a potential SS of the future - however - tells you everything you need to know about how the Tigers feel about their potential SSs of the future internally - (not to mention the state of the payroll budget right now). Of the Dlugach, Worth, Iorg, Ciaraco, Nunez group - Nunez is the only potential two way player of value in the group - and he's "fringy" offensively as well - although his contact skills and plus speed - at least give give him a couple offensive skills of ingrigue.
Fly Dog
Well - there was that one time - uh well I guess I was wrong then too. OK a couple.
A lot of this stuff is not about right and wrong anyway. It's opinions and takes - and you back it to try to explain why you feel that way - or you don't - but there's no one way to do anything in baseball. And sometimes you tag the ball - and it ends up right in someone's mit for an easy out. And sometimes the blooper falls in and wins the World Series. It's not really a game about right and wrong. It's a game about overcoming failure and enduring.
53 Steve
I'm wrong all the time - and have no problem admitting it. Bring On Benitez. Defending the Renteria trade when it happened. The list of things I've been wrong about on this forum wouldn't fit here. Been right a few times too though.
Tigerdog
Renteria's 2nd half in 08 was better than Polanco's 2nd half in 09 - and it didn't translate for what type of hitter he ended up being in 09. Polanco's regression as a hitter and age make it very unlikely that's he's still a .350 OBA guy - and he certainly didn't play like a "stellar" defensive 2b much in the 2nd half (the gold glove is a joke) - and was close to a downright defensive problem in the last month - when ball after ball that needed to be kept in the infield went up the middle. What I see in Polanco right now is a very slight upgrade to Ramon Santiago - both don't walk or SLG - both can handle the bat well situationally - Polanco is a little better hitter and fielder at 2b. No need to give him another contract with a potentially better young player ready to begin his learning curve and Santiago here as a fallback.
You're right - a 1yr deal to Polanco would not cause "major damage" to the Tigers - but it would be senseless and show that they haven't learned a thing in the last couple yrs - imo.
Aubrey Huff
had a .576 OPS for us playing mainly against RH pitching which was supposed to be his strong suit - and he was "confused" about why he wasn't in the lineup v LH pitching?
Suggestion for Aubrey Huff
Don't go 0-fer everytime you're name is penciled in the lineup - and maybe you'll play more. Don't cry about not playing v LH pitching - when you can't even hit RH pitching.
Leyland's lineups
The Tigers win a lot of those games when Leyland has trotted out strange lineups. I think Leyland did Clete a disservice by hitting him 3rd in the lineup - he's not a SLG % guy and never will be - much better fit for the top of the lineup or bottom half - but I remember looking at the Tigers record in games in which Clete hit 3rd - and it was actually pretty good.
Tigerdog
When I say opportunity buyer - I mean - he took advantage of the M's wanting to dump Carlos Guillen in a trade after the M's trade with the Tribe fell through. Boras presented him with opportunities to land Pudge and Mags if he would give them long term contracts that no one else in the marketplace would - and after everyone else passed on them - and he took advantage of the opportunity. The Cabrera trade fell into his lap. The paying overslot for draft pics stategy is kind of "an opportunity buyer" strategy. He's employed all kinds of different strategies depending on the off-season - gone heavy on free agents - heavy on trades - high profile pick ups - low key pick ups - need based decision making from yr to yr. There's not been a "style" of team he's tried to create. It's been grab talent that's willing to come here - and adjust on the fly. And that's created a certain level of success - but it's been a lacking in some areas as well.
On Polanco - overextending yrs to players past their prime has been a problem here. The Guillen and Mags deals - too long on the end. One yr too many for Rogers and T Jones. One yr too many for Pudge. Renteria proved too old - and Polanco had a nearly identical in a lot of ways disappointing decline season in 09 to Renteria's 08. You don't have to agree - but to me - brining Polanco back in any way shape or form for 2010 is a sign that the DD just hasn't learned from the primary thing that's largly gone wrong for him.
53 Steve
Where I agree with you is - I think overall DD has been good for the franchise. I think the last four years - three years of contending - one improbable WS trip - a lot of top quality players have rolled through here - some tremendous drafting - the team has been very marketable and the fan base has bought in - the best stretch in franchise history at the box office... those are all good things.
Where I disagree with you is - I think DD is paying for some things that have blown up on him right now - and I don't think things are going "to plan" for him. I think DD thought he had a built a "super power" going into 08 - like guys like Jayson Stark were saying - and I think he "blew his wad" (can I say that) that off-season with all the extentions and dollars given out - basically thinking the team was pretty much set for a 3yr run of contention - with little to do but tinker. He left himself very little flexiblity for the 09 and 2010 off-seasons.
DD has been an opportunity buyer in terms of adding talent here - he's taken what's been in front of him - without much thought to how it all fits. There's no overriding "style of play" in the team that he's tried to put together - it's been increase the talent level by an means available - and take who we can get - when we can get them. They aren't the Angels or the Twins who always value speed and defense. They aren't the Yankees or Red Sox who place a premium on plate patience and power. You say DDs big thing is "big hard throwing" pitchers - but give me one GM that doesn't value big hard throwing pitchers - that's not a style of play - or any type of unique way to build a team.
The one unique strategy that DD has been successful with here is the paying overslot for draft pics and not being afraid to draft the best available player in the first round (not scared off by signability concerns). That's paid off big time for him - as the Tigers have used the #1 pick to net them Verlander - Cabrera - Porcello - Perry - Turner from the last five drafts. No team has done better in the first round in the last five yrs.
I also don't really agree that the Tigers are likely to remain in the upper tier payroll wise. They may attempt to keep spending if certain scenerios play out - but a tear down and start over could well be in the near future - based on what happens with Verlander. They could easily have a 70-80mm payroll going into 2011 - and if Verlander forces their hand in a trade - they might well strip the whole thing down again and start over. I don't think DD left him self much wiggle room payroll wise in each of the last two off-seasons - and if things go really south this yr - Verlander's going to want out of here - and it's blow it up time. They might be able to rebuild quickly. At the same time - maybe they will stay in contention in 2010 - and Verlander will decide to stay long term - and they will spend some money for 2011. We'll see.
I do think DD recovered pretty well in 2009 after the disaster of 2008. He was limited - but to me - the adding cheap defensive players and grinders was actually needed - and worked pretty well. I'm open minded to what he will do this off-season - whatever it is. But I just don't think it's time to be singing his praises too loudly right now. He's been part success part failure here - and his legacy could be teetering on what happens next. No GM bats 1000. I'm not surprised - he's made some mistakes and had some reasonable things blow up on him too - and I give him more credit than many for what I do think overall has been a good run for the franchise. I'm still pretty much in his corner - but I can see scenerios - where I could want him gone at some point this yr or next off-season. Bringing Polanco back would be a huge sign to me that he's not learned a thing from what's primarily gone wrong for him - but I doubt that will happen though. I think he's smarter than that.
The Tigers win 90 games
in 09 (everything else being equal) if Raburn could just catch fly balls like a normal OF.
Marc
Maybe DD needs a body guard.
I'd crash the Winter Meeting with Torch anytime.
6 Toledo
THX - Indy hmm? I might be able to swing that. I thought they had decided to do Vegas every yr now.
We had this guy on here DMatt who went one yr and just hung out in the hotel bar all week and talked baseball with all kinds of people - met Kaline - Gammons I think. It would be kind of cool. I'd like to take Moe Yale with me - he'll approach anybody and ask them anything he wants to know.
Knock
Payroll opened 09 at 128-130 last yr.
You lop off all the free agents - and everybody else gets their raises - and the Tigers are already sitting at 122-123mm right now - with no SS - no back end of the bully - no Polanco. So if the plan is keep payroll the same or decrease it - there's little room for any adds - without subtraction first. The only four potentially movable contracts they've got are Cabrera, Verlander, Jackson, and Granderson.
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