I tried to be positive yesterday, now I’m positively sickened by this team.
Failed experiments of 2008:
Cabrera at third
Guillen at first
Jones in left
Renteria at short
Sheff in left, Sheff at DH, Sheff batting 5th, Sheff batting 6th, Sheff batting 7th.
Rodney ANYWHERE
Nate as a starter (Of course, I don’t know if he could relieve either.)

Now you all know that I haven’t felt that the Tigers had a realistic chance for the playoffs for quite a while. Sure, there’s a slim chance, but not with the players that they have now. It’s time for a new SS and a new DH, and about five new pitchers.

That said, should Leyland (who is probably feeling like he did in Colorado, btw.) decide to keep Sheff around, why not bat him lead-off? He’s actually got a fairly decent OBP with the bases empty (.343) and is a lot less likely to kill off rallies from that spot.

Peter

But why not Seay for closer?

The dude has been the most reliable relieve over the past 6 weeks, give him a shot.

I don’t know if I’d like to see Zumaya close this year, he just doesn’t seem right, and could maybe use some more Toledo seasoning.

I like the idea of Sheff batting lead-off, but also why not 9th? At least until he gets his act together (if that happens).

Also, release Renteria and play Santiago at SS. Every day. For the rest of the year. Then sign another SS.

Nate..I too would like to see Aquilino or Fossum in there over Nate.. I mean, the guy has an era over 6.00 and is just way too inconsistent. Send Nate to the ‘pen, try him out there in long relief.

I am dreading tomorrow’s game, Nate vs Gavin Floyd.. It’s gonna be 7-0 in the 2nd inning..

Anyway, positives:

Miggy! Maggs. Polly. C-grand. Joyce. Guillen. Seay. Dolsi? Fossum? .. Clete when he was here. Larish when he was here. Even Clevlen when he was here.

Let’s bring the kids back up and see what happens!

For this season

1. Renteria needs a DL stint. Maybe a break will help?
2. Try Farnsworth as a closer? He had a bad outing, but still a mid 90s fastball and better control than Zoom or Gas Can. (Not a great idea, but better Farns than Rodney, I guess).
3. Let’s be agressive and steal some bases! (Nothing to lose!).
4. Still technically in it with a sweep of ChiSox (It’s happened before! Look at how the NL East race ended last year, we could still do that…).

Offseason

1. Dombrow needs to make magic happen again and sign / trade for a big name closer (K-Rod? Please?)
2. Sheff and Edgar both gone…
3. Get a good fifth starter or D-Train back to 2006 status.
4. New pitching coach?

As much as yesterday’s meltdown has me ready to throw in the towel, the rest of this month features 3 games against Oakland, 3 with Cleveland, 3 with Baltimore, and 6 with the Royals. That’s 15 games against rebuilding teams on top of the three with the White Sux. They shouldn’t and can’t panic just yet.

Rodney doesn’t have the heart to close. It’s that simple. Zumaya doesn’t have the brain. Farns doesn’t have the courage. Unless Jim has a wizard’s hat in his smoking jacket, I don’t think the bullpen can help us this year, other than Seay. But he’s no closer, either. It’s up to JV and Armando to carry us and Nate and Kenny to somehow get back on track. Let Fossom be the fifth and see what happens. The starters and the offense are our only hope. Anything else is a bonus.

There are a few free agent starters out there. Starting pitching in the free agent market comes at steep cost but some of the names out there are Jon Garland (10-6, 4.30), Derek Lowe (8-9, 3.70), Sabathia (11-8, 3.28) and Ben Sheets (10-5, 3.14). Garland would be the best option as far as I’m concerned because he wouldn’t be in the same price range as Sabathia and Lowe and has pitched in the AL (and more specifically, in the AL Central until this season) his whole career, unlike Sheets, who is fantastic when healthy but happens to be made of paper mache.

The Tigers could take a chance on some guys that are really injury-prone and try to nurse them back to health, like Mike Hampton or Mark Prior. That isn’t the best option unless you get them for a bargain-basement price and you aren’t relying on them in the rotation.

A couple other names out there are Paul Byrd (38 years old), Mike Mussina (40) and Pedro (37 and all but done) and Braden Looper (lifetime NL pitcher – possibly better-suited as a reliever). John Lackey, A.J. Burnett and Brad Penny all have options in their contracts for next year, they could possibly be available.

Shortstop also presents a couple of posibilities. Number one shortstop on the market will be Orlando Cabrera. After that it gets kind of thin. There’s David Eckstein, Rafael Furcal and a whole bunch of crap. Renteria is owed $12 million next year, but has a $3 million buyout. Hell, I’ll pick that buyout up myself if I don’t ever have to look at him again.

For those who aren’t interested in a Joyce/Thames platoon in left next year or just one of the two as the everyday starter, the outfield produces few solid options. Milton Bradley is going to get paid pretty well, Manny is, well, let’s just mark that down as a “no.” Raul Ibanez will be out there, Mike Cameron will probably not get his option picked up ($10M or $750K buyout), Adam Dunn, Jay Payton and Bobby Abreu will all be free agents. Abreu is the most appealing in that group, but is 35, looking for a 4-5 year deal and is a right-fielder.

Relievers is obviously the key for the Tigers this offseason. I wouldn’t be completely opposed to throwing a ton of money at K-Rod, even if they would be overpaying (let’s face it, Mr. Illitch is really effing rich, and it’s not our money). Other closers are Kerry Wood (took way less money to stay with Chicago last year), Salomon Torres (pretty good numbers), Brian Fuentes (meh – not really electric stuff) and Joe Borowski (I’m kidding – calm down). Possible middle relievers are Juan Cruz, Chad Durbin, the Farns, LaTroy Hawkins, Will Ohman and Dennys Reyes. Damaso Marte has a club option.

Every time I watch I want to shoot myself in the face.

I propose we make a massive trade: Sheff, Renteria, Robertson, Rodney, D-train, Jones to whoever will take them for, uh, players to be named later.

Idk, I just feel defeated as a Tigers fan…

Dombrowski is not sentimental. He’ll make the hard moves if he needs to. I think this means that Sheffield may not be around next year unless he shows something the remainder of the season.

If the Tigers are more definitively out of it come the end of August, you may see a few deadline trades. I wouldn’t be surprised if Farnsworth’s time in Motown is short. The Rockies have been trolling for a 5th starter, maybe they’d take Robertson if the Tigers eat some of the $. I could see Thames dealt at the deadline as well, he’s really a spare part. I also don’t expect Jeff Larish to be with the 2009 Tigers, as he’s pretty obviously blocked, and has some trade value.

Porcello has been holding his own in Single A, I wouldn’t be shocked if they got his feet wet in the majors after the minor league season ended, just so they have a better idea whether he has any chance of breaking camp with the 2009 team (I doubt he will be ready, but what’s one meaningless September start?)

In the offseason, I wouldn’t be shocked to see Dontrelle dealt back to the NL. Kenny won’t be back, neither will Todd Jones. Bondo supposedly should be healthy. I could see them taking a chance on AJ Burnett, if he became available, because of the Marlins’ connection. Could trade Zumaya before he picks up more of the injury prone label than he already has.

I could see the Tigers making a huge run at KRod, maybe even Sabathia. In order to do that, they probably have to play Hollimon (or Santiago) at short and put Joyce/Clete/Clevlen in left.

I would not object at a big run at K-Rod. We have the money, make it happen.

the guy I want the Tigers to go get is Chin-lung Hu, who has apparently fallen out of favor with the Dodgers after a poor showing in the big leagues.

We don’t neccesarily need a SS yet though. Give Ramon a shot.

Trade Renteria for Clay Bucholz.
Trade Sheffield for P(s)TBNL and $$$.
Sign K-Rod.
Sign Derek Lowe.

The Cubs and Astros game is on ESPN and got a rain delay so the station is jumping back and forth showing different teams playing tonight. So now they got the Yankees and Rangers with joba pitching and all I needed was one look to know Pudge was catching. BTW, joba just left the game holding his shoulder. Pudge looks so good and so happy. Can’t help it, I miss him!