What's Wrong with the Tigers? Easy as one, two, three.

What happened to him, I thought he would be back the the DL by now…

I’m not sure how much of a chance he’ll get if Maggs comes back healthy, but he’s been decent. I like how he handles the bat. I was at the game today and Dirks did a good job of moving AJax over in the 1st. Beyond that, the two hits are nice and I’ve liked the defense I’ve seen from him.

Unfortunately, we don’t have much production from 2B, 3B, or CF right now. Hence, I think Dirks will lose playing time to Maggs in hopes of finding more OF production.

We really need some new blood at 2B that can produce in the top of the lineup. Unfortunately, I don’t think it’s inside the organization and right now, there aren’t many sellers that could help us too much.

The Tigers are in the middle of the pack for runs scored. The MLB average is 219 and the Tigers are at 220, or 14th out of 30 teams. I am not saying that scoring runs isn’t an issue, I just don’t think it is “What’s Wrong”.

Pitching on the other hand…. Tigers have a team ERA of 4.26, MLB average is 3.87, or 24th out of 30. Looking at strictly runs, Tigers have given up 23, MLB average is 219, or 21 out of 30.

Again, I am not saying that the problems you mentioned are problems (they are). Boesch has been a big improvement over what we have gotten in the 3 spot, and his numbers are approaching league average. The same with Dirks in the 2 spot. Ajax has been hitting much better the last month or so and is also approaching league average (although after the crap start he has a LONG way to go). I think they have been addressing the lack of offense and the steps they have taken are working.

However, unless you are going to have a top three league wide offense (we aren’t going to no matter what we do this year) then the pitching needs to improve, and drastically. Luckily, they are making moves to try and improve that as well.

Long story short, they have been addressing the deficiencies much more rapidly than in years past. Hopefully, the moves they make are going to be enough to overtake the indians and hold off the sox.

My guess is we’ll see someone bitch about “not being respected” or something of the like in the next 12 hours. Or they’ll just call Tigerdog a meathead again. He seemed to like that.

Also, I like the new avatar pic Patrick. You’re giving me and Don a run for our money over here.

Jose Reyes, SS- Makes $ 11 mil this season (5.5MM deadline acquisition), but thinks he’ll get “Crawford money”, according to his team owner. I don’t think he’ll get 142 mil, but he’ll get more than he’s worth, as several big money clubs (Bos, LAA, LAD, SF, DET, MIN, STL) could be or (NYY) should be looking for shortstops. Jimmy Rollins is eligible for free agency as well, but Philly will push hard to keep him. The Mets can just offer arbitration, let him walk, and collect two comp picks. Start the bidding there. Oliver and Francisco Martinez for Reyes rental and two comp picks? I think DD will stick with Peralta.

David Wright- suggested by many fans and followed by Lynn Henning. Wright is on the DL, but is a solid hitting 3B when healthy. He’d be a massive upgrade at 3B, a middle of the order bat to hit third or fifth. He makes $ 14.25 MM this season, $ 15.25MM in 2012, and a club option for 2013 worth $ 16 MM or a $ 1 MM buyout. Problem: Brandon Inge has full no trade protection as a five and ten player. He’d have to approve any trade and is owed 5.5 MM per season through 2012.

Carlos Beltran: $ 18.5 MM annual contract expires after this season. He won’t be offered arbitration because he’d accept and make way more than he’d get as a free agent, so there are no comp picks involved here, and the club agreed not to offer arby after this season anyway. Beltran is a switch hitting outfielder with power and a good glove, or he used to have anyway. He’s been on the DL quite a bit, getting 308 and 220 AB the past two seasons, so he is a definite health risk. He’s an .850- .900 OPS guy when healthy, but then so is Magglio. Beltran would have to approve a trade, the Mets would have to kick in some cash, and the cost in players may not be that much depending how much cash. $ 5.5 MM of his salary is deferred so start with that amount.

Francisco Rodriguez- K Rod- A pretty good closer when he’s not busting up his pitching hand by beating up his girlfriend’s dad in the press box. K Rod makes $ 11.5 MM this season and there is a club option for $ 17.5 MM for next year with a 3.5 MM buyout. That option vests automatically with 55 games finished (saved or blown) this season. He’d help any team’s bullpen, but no GM is insane enough to pay $ 17.5 MM, so he is likely to be moved to a set up role. He can veto a trade to a list of ten unknown clubs. He said that he’d be willing to waive the NTC and the option in exchange for a multi year deal. Probably still too much, but there are 19 clubs he CAN be dealt to. He would also come with one or two high draft picks.

Jason Bay- probably not going anywhere. He makes $ 16MM per year through 2013, plus a $ 17 MM option for 2014 that vests with 600 PAs in 2013 or 500 PAs in both 2012, 2013, and there’s a $ 3 mil buyout. Bay also has a full no trade clause. He has also been banged up and not producing as hoped when healthy. He was a solid lefty bat in the OF, once upon a time

Link. We have the worst lead-off and three-hole hitters in the AL.

David Wright: According to the New York Daily News, David Wright’s 2013 team option “belongs only to the Mets,” and could not be exercised by any other team.
Wright has been viewed as a particularly attractive trade target ahead of this summer’s non-waiver deadline because it was believed he would be under any acquiring team’s control for two more seasons, but that is apparently not the case. He will still have plenty of value as July 31 draws nearer, but the Mets were already going to have to be overwhelmed to move their franchise player, and this only increases the chances that they’ll sit tight until the winter.

Jose Reyes: According to the New York Daily News, the Mets are more likely to try and re-sign Jose Reyes than they are to trade him this summer.
Interesting, since the assumption that Reyes is as good as gone in New York has been growing across baseball, particularly after owner Fred Wilpon’s dunderheaded comments to The New Yorker. Unless the team’s financial situation dramatically changes in the next six months, it’s hard to envision Reyes will still be in an Amazins uniform in 2012.

On Wright, that would make a difference to me. Wright becomes a one and a half year buy, with two draft picks compensation on the end if he is not extended. The timing may suit the Tigers if Martinez or Castellanos can be ready to go in 2013, but giving up Andy Oliver and a guy like Martinez, for example, could be steep. I still think it would take at least that to get Wright.

On Reyes, I think this is just damage control. Maybe the Mets do extend Reyes, but Wilpon put his foot in his mouth by running down his own players. To extend Reyes after those comments would seem odd.

I think that the Mets are still going to be in payroll slashing mode. That is Alderson’s M.O. Churn em and burn em, keeping the payroll down.