Off-season mumbling

Friends of the BYB community, I hope you all had a good Thanksgiving last weekend. The Winter Meetings are about to begin on Monday and I would like to share some thoughts as we all get ready to watch some serious action.

This post is not about one specific issue but more about a variety of issues that we all are aware about and which I would like to have your thoughts and comments.

So here are in no particular order:

1. MLB realignment

Yes it won't actually happen until 2013 (so if you believe the theories about 2012 and the end of the world it won't happen at all) but I have been considering for quite some time whether an expansion would not be a better move. The biggest issue for us Tigers fans is that Interleague play will take place the whole season. I would rather suggest another measure, i.e. the increase of doubleheaders. It would help shrink three-game series to two days and teams could balance the heavier workload of the multiple doubleheaders with more days off. This of course is a matter of careful planning but would you think it is worth the try?

2. 40-man roster

Ramon Santiago signed so this means that the 40-man roster is full. So if the team is going to add players through the Rule 5 draft or free agency some players will be inevitably DFAed. My take is that the team still needs a starting pitcher, a reliever and 2B and a 3B, so it would need to unload four players from the current roster. How many players do you think are necessary and which of the existing are more likely to be DFAed?

3. Yoennis Cespedes and the unwritten rules of baseball

The video that some of you enjoyed about Mr Cespedes allegedly shows him staring at one of his homers for 7 or 8 seconds. This may imply that the Cubans do not uphold certain unwritten baseball rules like the Americans (like Jered Weaver for example). I also do not think he will dare do such a thing in the US but just for the sake of debate would anyone prefer him doing it while playing for or against Detroit? Take note that the Angels fans are really worried about their players when (if) they face Verlander next season because one of them may get a 100 mph fastball in his ribs. Moreover almost all the Tigers pitchers can hit at least the mid-90s so they are no slouches either.Say what you want about command and control issues but these guys can really bring the heat.

4. Down on the farm (personal request)

Dear Matt, I really miss your series of recaps for the farm teams. It makes such a good read. Will you also be making a projection series for next season?

Thoughts and comments will be always welcome.