Ian, I have been checking BYB a few times here and there this off season..I have got to tell you every time I come to the site there is an article about getting a closer? you know I love the site and everything…BUT!!!!!!!!!!!! dude you got to get used to the fact that they are sticking with what they got…Fernando Rodney or someone else you already know is your 2009 Closer…Would this Lyon guy really get you THAT excited anyways? and WHERE THE HELL is my countdown to srping training clock I asked for months ago? I have been busy moving my family to Florida, I now call home Bradenton, FL so I will be making it to a hand for of spring training games GO TIGERS!!!

What makes you think the Tigers are for certain sticking with Rodney as their closer in 2009?

We have two problems as it pertains to a closer:

#1, The Tigers aren’t interested in paying top dollar for a premier closer like KROD or Fuentes. Take a look at what those guys signed for and you can see it’s a lot more than what Detroit is willing to pay (reports have indicated around $5 million a year).

#2, Lyon is probably the best option left on the free agent market. There have been rumblings about Jason Isringhausen, but Lyon is seven years younger and isn’t coming off major surgery. As far as getting excited about Lyon is concerned, the guy did save 26 games with Arizona last season, 19 of those in the first half. Anyone else think Rodney or Zumaya is gonna save that many this year? They might blow that many saves…

Just because Lyon hasn’t signed yet doesn’t mean he won’t eventually. Back in 1984, the Tigers didn’t get their closer until mid-March. Some guy named Willie Hernandez. Turned out to be a pretty good closer that season. In other words, I can be patient as it pertains to the Tigers getting a closer.

TG

My God you just hit the hammer on the head, your quote " they got some guy name Willie Hernandez". Willie had very little closing experience. Cruz has the best stuff and beside once upon a time Lee Smith never closed either. Again with Lyon, what happen in the second half? Getting 19 sv is not that difficult to do, look at the rollercoaster he had 18sv last year. Sound like the Tigers are going to get what they paid for.

You’re right about Willie and I remember at the time questioning whether that trade made sense for the Tigers. As it turns out, Bill LaJoie either knew what he was doing or just simply hit the jackpot.

I would also agree Cruz has better stuff and I’m not saying the Tigers shouldn’t go after him. But if the Yankees are involved, and they’re serious about the guy, chances are he is gonna be wearing pinstripes long before the English D.

What happened in the 2nd half last year with Lyon is the D-Backs traded for Jon Rauch. 19 saves may not be that difficult to do over the course of an entire season, but Lyon accomplished that in one half, which would equate to 38 saves had he remained the closer the entire year. I’ll take 38 saves no questions asked.

I think history has proven the best setup guys (such as Cruz) don’t always make the best closers; Fernando Rodney being just one example. Here is the question I would ask: if Cruz has such great stuff, why did Arizona feel the need to go trade for Rauch instead of simply handing him the closer job? Serious question, and the only thing I can think of is they didn’t think Cruz could handle it.

TG