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Around SBN: Trent Richardson Interviews Fellow Brown Brandon Weeden

FoxSports.com's Jon Paul Morosi is rumor mongering via Twitter:

#Tigers are indeed pursuing Johnny Damon, source says. At this point, he's a stronger possibility than Derrek Lee.

As to how well Damon (and some of the other rumored usual suspects) would replace Victior Martinez's production, Lee Panas breaks it down by WAR at Tiger Tales.

4 months ago Meatcomputer-1_tiny BigAl 119 comments 0 recs  | 

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lol

like, OMG we should totally sign Prince for 1 year, 45M… why is DD not doing this RIGHT NOW?!?

Raburn-Santiago '12

by tigers22 on Jan 22, 2012 2:41 PM EST up reply actions  

Wow

I’ll say this surpassed your expectations.

"I believe in a good kick in the ass. This— I believe. " -- Walker Percy

I tweet about stuff sometimes @jackhitts.

by jhitts08 on Jan 23, 2012 12:58 AM EST up reply actions  

There was an implied parenthetical

(until this thread starts going downhill.)

That’s about when Tigerdog mentioned the possible interest in Juan Pierre, so I feel quite vindicated.

by lesmanalim on Jan 23, 2012 3:04 AM EST up reply actions  

Damon

This would be a huge mistake. The only “good” thing to come out of the VMart injury is the possibility of putting Delmon Young at DH while improving the defense. Damon adds a little bit of speed but nothing else. He doesn’t hit for any power at Comerica, his fielding skills are dubious (especially his throwing) and he’s going to be 38. Whatever skills he still retains are eroding. This is a guy who’s going to stop pitchers from walking Miggy? I am a Damon fan. He’s smart, durable, a winner and supposedly a great guy in the clubhouse. But there’s no fit here. He should return to the Yankees.

by Chisoxstink on Jan 22, 2012 2:32 PM EST reply actions  

We bat Jackson first and we throw Don Kelly in the 3 hole...

…and still walk away with the division.

Damon just moves the fail up to the top of the lineup.

by Thorpac on Jan 22, 2012 4:50 PM EST up reply actions  

Ugh...

not my first choice, but once Pena got signed by the Rays it really doesn’t matter to me who we get now.

Raburn-Santiago '12

by tigers22 on Jan 22, 2012 2:40 PM EST reply actions  

I take that back

I think I’d rather get Ibanez than JD

Raburn-Santiago '12

by tigers22 on Jan 22, 2012 2:46 PM EST up reply actions  

I wouldn't

He’s older (slightly) and has a much worse OPS+.

by nicolas08 on Jan 22, 2012 3:00 PM EST up reply actions  

meh!

We upgrade the No. 2 slot in the lineup, with a .326 OBP and little power.
Delmon stays in left field
Raburn stays at second base
Still no lead off hitter
meh!

"King of Minutiae"

by Tigerdog1 on Jan 22, 2012 2:51 PM EST reply actions  

Maybe so

But even as a DH, Betemit is better.
Betemit 2011 .285 .343 .452 .795
Damon 2011 .261 .326 .418 .744

Betemit 3 years .284 .354 .467 .821
Damon 3 years .271 .348 .436 .784

More importantly, Betemit could put Inge or Kelly out of the lineup, is even better batting just left, and isn’t 38 years old.

Betemit batting left, 3 years: .292 .363 .486 .849

"King of Minutiae"

by Tigerdog1 on Jan 22, 2012 3:22 PM EST up reply actions  

3 year average

Betimet only played 20 games (50 PAs) in 2009 and the last two years he has put up .360 and .390 BABIPs compared to his .340 career average.

by rif23 on Jan 22, 2012 4:46 PM EST up reply actions  

I'd only consider Betemit as a last resort

but just using him as an example. If we’re doing the DH thing, which I would not do, what’s the point of Damon? His power is gone. Probably give us decent OBP in the 2 slot, and that helps, but even Betemit does as much and gets Inge out of the lineup vs RHP’s.

"King of Minutiae"

by Tigerdog1 on Jan 22, 2012 4:51 PM EST up reply actions  

Neither are good options

I think Damon gives us as much surplus value subbing in the outfield and moving Delmon to DH as Betimet would subbing for Inge. If you only think of Betimet as a last resort you should probably stop ragging on DD for not offering him arbitration.

by rif23 on Jan 22, 2012 6:12 PM EST up reply actions  

Not really ragging, at least not yet

He’s a last resort, but a clear upgrade over what we have, which is entirely inadequate.

"King of Minutiae"

by Tigerdog1 on Jan 22, 2012 6:17 PM EST up reply actions  

We have a leadoff hitter, technically speaking

Jackson will hit leadoff, no matter how much we would like to think otherwise.

by Rob Rogacki on Jan 22, 2012 3:20 PM EST up reply actions   1 recs

Uhhhhgh

"I believe in a good kick in the ass. This— I believe. " -- Walker Percy

I tweet about stuff sometimes @jackhitts.

by jhitts08 on Jan 23, 2012 12:58 AM EST up reply actions  

I'd rather go internally than sign Damon

Save the money, be creative. I don’t think Damon has much left to offer.

The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel, 1981

by momotigers on Jan 22, 2012 3:37 PM EST reply actions  

I think this is when you go after Prado

A package of Oliver, Fields and Garcia enough to get it done?

Delmon moves to DH.

Raburn, Jackson, Boesch in the OF.

Prado at 2nd, batting 2nd.

by ShaneShirey on Jan 22, 2012 4:31 PM EST reply actions  

Include at least one player that fills an immediate need for them

If they were interested in a Raburn or Delmon, that would do it. Prado has value because he can play the infield and he can hit, but he’s not the type of bat they want in a corner OF spot.

"King of Minutiae"

by Tigerdog1 on Jan 22, 2012 4:54 PM EST up reply actions  

I feel like

This is subtraction through addition.

Signing Damon doesn’t make sense. We already have a DH in Delmon Young, and Raburn can get back to left field where he belongs. Sign a mediocre second basemen and run with it.

by metatron5369 on Jan 22, 2012 5:33 PM EST reply actions  

In his defense

He said “mediocre,” not decent. And according to MLBTR, Ryan Theriot is available.

by Rob Rogacki on Jan 22, 2012 5:58 PM EST up reply actions   1 recs

They could've gotten a decent 2B from Boston..

but now he’s in Colorado playing 2B. Wasn’t much of a prospect the Rox gave up.

by BayesLaw on Jan 22, 2012 8:20 PM EST up reply actions  

I figure that Mortensen is about like Andy Oliver

a former supplemental first round pick, just breaking into the majors and struggling. Nobody knows what the Boston scouts thought about Mortensen, or what they’d think about AO (or Smyly or whomever), but it seems like Scutaro could’ve been had. I’m beginning to believe that, sadly, DD is content with the platoon that we have at 2B, just like he and JL said.

"King of Minutiae"

by Tigerdog1 on Jan 22, 2012 8:34 PM EST up reply actions  

Scutaro would've been serviceable

at the top of the lineup as well. If the move would’ve meant Delmon to DH and Raburn to LF…there would’ve been a lot to like about that trade.

by BayesLaw on Jan 22, 2012 9:06 PM EST up reply actions  

I know he ain't the slickest 3B, but.....

I don’t get why we don’t go back after Betemit. I really don’t. The guy murders LH pitching, and he does come up with the occasional “lookie what I found” when playing 3B, but he really doesn’t need to play there unless Inge or Kelly is injured.

by EriePATigersFan on Jan 22, 2012 5:35 PM EST reply actions  

The whole point would be to get Inge and Kelly out of the lineup vs RHP's.

and still use Inge as a defensive replacement with a late lead.

This scenario doesn’t get much better next year. There are a few free agent infielders- Maicer, O Dog, I’m sure that Aybar and Kinsler are extended.

"King of Minutiae"

by Tigerdog1 on Jan 22, 2012 6:02 PM EST up reply actions  

You've got it backwards actually

Betemit kills right handed pitching (career OPS of .817), but he can’t hit lefties (.684 career OPS). This is why he and Inge made such a great platoon at the plate once Inge-y returned from Toledo.

by Matt Snyder on Jan 23, 2012 9:20 AM EST up reply actions  

damon,pierre

i dont think either of these two is who id want us to get.juan pierre is horrid! damon is declining.i still say we stay internal and try for cespedis and go from there,if we dont land him im sure there will be an option available in the free agent market.and as i seen from another post,why arent we going after betemit if all we wanna do is add a somewhat cheap 1 year dh? although if we get cespedis,he wont be close till half way in the season,but,we have time in season to make trades.

by tigerfaninboston on Jan 22, 2012 6:41 PM EST reply actions  

At least JD has a war #, but let do a trade for either

2B or 3B or LF that smashes right hand pitching. Let pick up another bullpen arm such as Wheeler.

by Barry2 on Jan 22, 2012 10:24 PM EST reply actions  

What the Tigers should do

Without dealing any of the better prospects we must realize there is no player available that comes close to Victor as a run producer.

The most useful way to improve the Tiger offense is to forget “run production” and go for the one player out there with the .394 OBP vs. righties in 2011 — Kotchman. If the Tigers think he can come anywhere close to that number this year bat him leadoff for those 120 or so games and hope that others can drive him in.

Even better would be to go hard after Oswalt. Boston traded Scutaro to free up money to make their play this week. Rumors are that he will take 8 million or less on a one year deal. Heck, that’s Damon money from a couple of years ago. Remember that 5th starter we don’t talk about anymore?

by Elmer Valo on Jan 22, 2012 11:31 PM EST reply actions  

Kotchman's career OBP is .336

Last season was an outlier due to an incredible ground ball success rate, no doubt buoyed by the turf at Tropicana Field. Baseball Nation outlined this way better than I ever could:

Kotchman, though, has a career .280 batting average on balls in play, and he posted a .335 mark in 2011. The turf helped this extreme groundball hitter — Kotchman has the kind of groundball-to-flyball ratio that makes pitchers jealous — pick up more infield hits than usual. More than that, though, his grounders just had eyes: his career BABIP on grounders was brought up to .194 in 2011, in part due to the .250 mark he posted last year. Grounders were a problem in the past — Kotchman has been nearly 90 percent worse on grounders relative to his other batted-ball types over the years — but in 2011 he was 10 percent better on them.

Kotchman had a slight jump in walk rate, but not enough to justify the fact that his OBP was 40 points higher than his career average; and hey! So was his batting average! Imagine that…

If we’re going to simply go by OBP, then Damon is the man that we want. His career OBP is .353, and unless you put a ton of stock into his 2011 season, it’s not really trending downward.

Call me a complicated individual, but I’d rather consider a multitude of factors and end up with Carlos Lee. He’s not a total butcher in the field, he plays multiple positions, he’ll hit for average and power, he’ll draw a few walks, and he might even make people think twice about pitching to Miguel Cabrera if he gets hot.

by Rob Rogacki on Jan 22, 2012 11:42 PM EST up reply actions   1 recs

Agreed

But there’s no chance we get Lee either. Makes too much sense.

"You, on the other hand, make Eeyore look like Rainbow Brite." -johnmoz

"I think of you more as the blue book style essay of sports journalism."-Kurt Mensching

by David Tokarz on Jan 23, 2012 12:06 AM EST up reply actions  

Whatever

As long as we don’t sign Juan Pierre, I will live.

by Rob Rogacki on Jan 23, 2012 12:18 AM EST up reply actions   1 recs

Yep, my vote is Lee (or Fukudome)

And I bet if the Tigers pay about 8-10M of his contract, he can be had for minimal prospects. The Astros know that they won’t contend in 2012. If they can dump Lee and save 8-10M, open the OF spot for a kid, and even pick up a marginal prospect, it should be a win for them. I bet Jay Voss gets it done…or Jamie Johnson.

As sad as this is to write, most metrics show him being worse than Young in the OF. It wouldn’t help alleviate our defensive liability.

The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel, 1981

by momotigers on Jan 23, 2012 8:16 AM EST up reply actions  

When you get to be that bad, it's pretty much all the same

I like Lee because he’s played 100 games at 1B in his three years in Houston, and theoretically could give Cabrera some days off in the field.

by Rob Rogacki on Jan 23, 2012 8:38 AM EST up reply actions   1 recs

But that's what Don Kelly is for!

"You, on the other hand, make Eeyore look like Rainbow Brite." -johnmoz

"I think of you more as the blue book style essay of sports journalism."-Kurt Mensching

by David Tokarz on Jan 23, 2012 8:45 AM EST up reply actions  

Carlos Lee

He had a horrid .715 OPS vs. RHP"s in a hitter’s park last year. Outlier? HIs three year composite vs. RHP’s (120 plus starts a year, typically) was .741 with a .311 (!!) OBP. Kotchman for the last three years was .760 vs. RHP’s with a .347 OBP. When you factor in that Kotchman is an excellent defensive player at 1B (pitchers like that) and will eventually sign for about 3 million vs. Lee even with Houston absorbing part of it, costing about 8 million, I have to say no thanks.

Hey, if they sign Damon (like Lee poor defensively) for 1 to 2 million I will put a clothespin on my nose and accept that they at least tried to improve. I still think the right answer is to improve the pitching and make replacing Victor the 2nd priority. The stats you produce on Kotchman make me believe that even more.

by Elmer Valo on Jan 23, 2012 9:45 AM EST up reply actions  

That's all well and good, but there are left-handed pitchers too

Lee’s total 3-year composite is a .325 OBP with a .776 OPS. Kotchman’s is a .336 OBP with a .718 OPS. And since we’re talking about parks, Lee’s OPS+ was 109 while Kotchman’s was 99.

Kotchman might be a better defender, but we’re not trying to replace our first baseman. This signing needs to be about offense first. Any defense that comes out of it is just a nice bonus.

And I don’t care about salary because none of my money goes towards it. I trust that Mr. Illitch and Dave Dombrowski will make the best financial decision for all parties involved.

by Rob Rogacki on Jan 23, 2012 11:53 AM EST up reply actions   1 recs

Combining Lee's good offense vs LHP's with his

awful performance vs RHP’s doesn’t change the fact that if you acquire Lee all you get that truly helps your team are about 40 good starts, the ones vs. lefties. That is not worth 2 million, let alone 8 plus.

The best baseball move, possible bruised egos (Cabrera) aside, would clearly be Kotchman at 1B vs. RHP’s, Cabrera at DH vs. RHP’s. Then you sit Kotchman vs. LHP’s (whom he doesn’t hit) while Cabrera plays 1B and the defensively challenged Raburn goes to DH. It is the platoon system. It utilizes the player’s strengths for maximum results.

To the degree the offense , for whatever reason, is less productive than 2011, it makes defense even more important.

As for the money, Tigers management knows the value of having an extra 5 to 7 million available at the July trade deadline to absorb a player or two for a stretch run. The cost of having to absorb a Lee could seriously limit the team’s financial flexibility. I would keep the money and make no addition whatsoever rather than add Carlos Lee.

by Elmer Valo on Jan 23, 2012 10:33 PM EST up reply actions  

There is no way that Kotchman is "clearly" the best move

Kotchman is no longer the defensive wonder he once was. He posted a UZR of -0.4 in 2010 and 1.6 in 2011. While this is still better than Cabrera, it’s not the massive upgrade that you seem to think it is.

Second, I’ve already illustrated how Kotchman’s 2011 numbers should basically be thrown out of the equation entirely. His .838 OPS vs. righties last season was largely due to a .394 OBP against them, which, under the circumstances, is utter shenanigans. His OPS numbers in 2008-10 against righties were as follows: .708, .760, .670.

You can have the cheaper guy who hits OK against righties, sits on the bench for 40-50 games, plays average defense (don’t forget, we still have like 6 holes out there), and is completely useless in late game situations when a lefty reliever comes in. I’ll take the more expensive guy who hits about the same as Kotchman against righties and isn’t very good in the field, but completely dominates lefties and isn’t a liability with the game on the line.

by Rob Rogacki on Jan 23, 2012 11:06 PM EST up reply actions   1 recs

Hey, it's all gonna be okay

On MLB 11: The Show, through the first 2 games Raburn is batting over .500 with 3 HRs, 9 RBIs, a double and a triple. We got this. Of course it could all be a coding error, but whatever.

by TartanElk on Jan 23, 2012 12:46 AM EST via mobile reply actions  

Hey, this was with updated rosters that I did myself

Boesch, Raburn and Cabrera shelled Kuroda for 3 home runs. Avila added 2 on his own. Even Andruw Jones got one in. This just goes to show you that I really hate playing in Yankee stadium. Everything goes out for a home run in the game.

by TartanElk on Jan 23, 2012 1:55 AM EST up reply actions  

Johnny Damon!??!?!

ugh

Your 2k11 Detroit Tigers "World Series Contenders" So get over it.

by Detroitchik on Jan 23, 2012 7:32 AM EST reply actions  

"Purely" DH

It was hard to argue with the success enjoyed by Victor Martinez last year. Nonetheless, when it was apparently decided that he would occupy a “purely” DH roster spot, I advocated trading him. It goes against trendy wisdom to trade a guy after a huge season, but, IMO, a guy is worth a good deal less if all he can do is hit.

I’m no Ordonez fan, but I’d prefer Magglio over Damon or Pierre. The point is, why look for a guy who is purely DH? Why not get a left fielder, or third baseman, or second baseman, who can defend AND hit? With Leyland’s mini-mania about the need for flexibility, why go after a DH-only candidate, who LIMITS options?

by Bigpaw on Jan 23, 2012 7:49 AM EST reply actions  

2 problems with trades

One, teams that have assets are demanding a large haul in return. Look at the Latos and Gio Gonzales deal, and at what the asking prices for Prado and Garza are.

Two, you have to have someone who wants the trade. We can say all day “Oliver for Scutaro or Lee, etc…” but if the other team doesn’t want Oliver, the trade is not getting done. And frankly outside of Turner and Castellanos the Tigers do not have what a lot of teams are looking for.

"I'm a simple man. I like pretty, dark-haired women and breakfast food" - Ron Swanson

by rock n rye on Jan 23, 2012 11:42 AM EST via mobile up reply actions  

Are you trying to tell me

That people outside of Detroit don’t realize that Smyly is the next Greg Maddox? Or that Brantly and McCann are the next Bench and Fisk? What is wrong with these scouts!

by wilsonm24 on Jan 23, 2012 12:27 PM EST up reply actions  

here's where you're wrong

Smyly is the next John Smoltz.

just as soon as the tigers trade him!

by Kurt Mensching on Jan 23, 2012 1:18 PM EST up reply actions  

OK

Free agents are lousy, and nobody will trade. We surrender. Is that a fair summary? I’m searching for a reason with folks who hold such attitudes – why keep track of the off season?

by Bigpaw on Jan 23, 2012 12:48 PM EST up reply actions  

The guys left who can field can't hit

"You, on the other hand, make Eeyore look like Rainbow Brite." -johnmoz

"I think of you more as the blue book style essay of sports journalism."-Kurt Mensching

by David Tokarz on Jan 23, 2012 8:46 AM EST up reply actions  

Yawn.

Somebody please try to sell me on DD “having a plan” and “just waiting for the right moment.”

I have been so dumbfounded by how this offseason has played out so far. I don’t see any reason that we don’t regress this year and watch a team like Cleveland (who is at least trying to get better) or Minnesota (they shouldn’t contend, but they are a thorn in our side) really test us this year.

Verlander is not going to win 24-25 games this year; Fister will probably not be top five in the AL in ERA and Cabrera may still hit .325+, but it would likely be 75 hits on 230ish AB’s and a ton of walks.

Not only have we not filled needs, but it’s like we are not even looking into them at all— unless you happen to be a huge Octavio Dotel fan, then you may be living a dream.

Jesus don't love me, no one's ever carried my load. I'm too young to feel this old. - Caleb Followill

by Nich on Jan 23, 2012 8:50 AM EST reply actions  

I've come to the conclusion if we do win the division this season

It will be solely because of JV and his awesomeness. I really don’t think there is anyone available out there to bat behind Miguel that would put fear into the heart of an opposing pitcher, not even Johnny Damon (lol)

Your 2k11 Detroit Tigers "World Series Contenders" So get over it.

by Detroitchik on Jan 23, 2012 11:52 AM EST up reply actions  

Carlos Lee is the closest option

If he gets hot, he is capable of putting up huge numbers.

by Rob Rogacki on Jan 23, 2012 11:54 AM EST up reply actions   1 recs

for a 2 letter word

“if” is so big. Don’t get me wrong, I’d take him. He seems better than any of the other options (names) I’ve heard. I don’t think the organization will do anything to please us though.

Your 2k11 Detroit Tigers "World Series Contenders" So get over it.

by Detroitchik on Jan 23, 2012 11:58 AM EST up reply actions  

Same here

I think we end up with Damon

by Rob Rogacki on Jan 23, 2012 1:07 PM EST up reply actions   1 recs

Sarcasm, his handsomeness

My point was just that Cabrera is going to given a lot of free passes to 1B this upcoming season…

Jesus don't love me, no one's ever carried my load. I'm too young to feel this old. - Caleb Followill

by Nich on Jan 23, 2012 1:37 PM EST up reply actions  

I have no doubt that he will

My point was that if Cabrera gets hurt at any point, whatever free agent signing we make to replace V-Mart will not matter.

by Rob Rogacki on Jan 23, 2012 1:42 PM EST up reply actions   1 recs

Still missing it

Nich was saying he’ll get 230AB’s because he’ll have like 600 PA’s and 370 IBB’s.

The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel, 1981

by momotigers on Jan 23, 2012 2:46 PM EST up reply actions  

Not missing it

Just pointing out an alternative reason why he might only have 200-some ABs.

by Rob Rogacki on Jan 23, 2012 2:54 PM EST up reply actions   1 recs

Tori Hunter ?

Angels may be interested in moving salary given they committed so much to the King of Pujols. I wonder if Tori Hunter could be had for a nominal price tag? He says he is done after 2012 but it IS a contract year. He ain’t the Tori of old but he still has some pop in the bat and could spell Jackson in Centerfield from time to time. I wonder if he would DH full time?

by Jim Bunn on Jan 23, 2012 12:19 PM EST reply actions  

Angels won't trade for prospects.

"You, on the other hand, make Eeyore look like Rainbow Brite." -johnmoz

"I think of you more as the blue book style essay of sports journalism."-Kurt Mensching

by David Tokarz on Jan 23, 2012 12:31 PM EST up reply actions  

They'd probably trade Abreu for prospects

but he isn’t worth his salary to most clubs, and they have a log jam replacements for a DH
Izturis or Callaspo for just prospects? Not likely.

"King of Minutiae"

by Tigerdog1 on Jan 23, 2012 12:56 PM EST up reply actions  

Hey, an Angles trade line

My favorite!

If the Tigers were good trade partners (they’re not), I’d love to get Hunter…and he’s much better than Young on defense. I’d make him the LF and bat him #2. We’d be in substantially better shape than we are now.

The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel, 1981

by momotigers on Jan 23, 2012 12:48 PM EST up reply actions  

I would even be willing to extend his contract for a year or two

at a reasonable cost of course, until we have a better internal option.

by wilsonm24 on Jan 23, 2012 1:37 PM EST up reply actions  

Free Agents that are left have little to offer

Other than Prince I cannot see the Tigers bringing in ANY of the guys mentioned in the thread so far. Perhaps TRADE is the way to go in finding a DH. I mentioned Hunter in above comment only because I saw his name on 2013 free agent tracker. There are a lot of names hitting free agency. Why not see if we can pry one of them loose before July 31

by Jim Bunn on Jan 23, 2012 12:22 PM EST reply actions  

If White Sox would pay HALF of Adam Dunn's remaining salary I'd look at him

The guy hit 40 home runs in 2010. Last year was an anomaly -

Adam Dunn could be the 2012 Comeback Player of the Year in the right situation.

Or he could be Adam Done (sorry)

If the Sox would pay half of his contract would you give him a shot??

by Jim Bunn on Jan 23, 2012 12:34 PM EST reply actions  

Side Note:

Oswalt reportedly turned down the Tigers, even after JV made a recruiting call. So there goes that.

Burned.

by Oberon on Jan 23, 2012 12:56 PM EST reply actions  

Turned down what?

$ 3 million? $ 6 million? 9 million?
Inquiring minds want to know!

"King of Minutiae"

by Tigerdog1 on Jan 23, 2012 1:12 PM EST up reply actions  

Good Luck Roy

I hope you enjoy your third place finish with Boston this season (assuming that is where he signs)…

Jesus don't love me, no one's ever carried my load. I'm too young to feel this old. - Caleb Followill

by Nich on Jan 23, 2012 1:40 PM EST up reply actions  

I'm fine with this

I don’t really want him on the team if it’s going to take a boatload of money to get him. I’d rather have a guy committed to winning a championship rather than one simply looking for a paycheck. It’s nothing against Oswalt, just a general philosophy.

by Rob Rogacki on Jan 23, 2012 1:44 PM EST up reply actions   1 recs

Annoyed but Oswalt has his reasons.

Next!

I have a grand idea: let's win a game.

by 13194013 on Jan 23, 2012 1:53 PM EST up reply actions  

Yup

I wouldn’t take a job in Detroit right now either, I like where I am at.

Now, if they were willing to double my salary I might consider it. So if that is what it takes, then no thanks.

by wilsonm24 on Jan 23, 2012 1:58 PM EST up reply actions  

If Boston wins Oswalt

they will join the Yankees, Angels, Rays, and Rangers as teams who now appear to be better than the Tigers going into Spring Training. this bolsters the argument to just try to be good enough to win the weak AL Central, be one and done in the playoffs and try your best to land Michael Bourn as a free agent for 2013.

by Elmer Valo on Jan 23, 2012 2:30 PM EST reply actions  

Maybe Atlanta gets pounded and wheels him at the deadline

I’d be a buyer if he’s available. He’s like Pierre, but way better.

The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel, 1981

by momotigers on Jan 23, 2012 2:53 PM EST up reply actions  

Yeah, and what happens if the Tigers win that weak Central

and then Verlander, Scherzer, and Cabrera get hot in October? Right now, the postseason is a crapshoot (which is why Vegas offers odds on every single team in the majors). The front office has this team in a position to win the division, which is all that can really be asked at this point.

by Rob Rogacki on Jan 23, 2012 2:56 PM EST up reply actions   1 recs

Amen

Worry about the playoffs when you get there

by rif23 on Jan 23, 2012 3:02 PM EST up reply actions  

I will be just as happy as the next guy

if the Tigers make the playoffs but I also know objectively that this team finishes fourth in the AL East as they are put together now. Their position in the Central has more to do with the quality of the competition than the great moves they have made this off season.

by Elmer Valo on Jan 23, 2012 3:35 PM EST up reply actions  

they should have lost to the yankees the past two playoff appearances, too

but they didn’t. And the Phillies didn’t meet the Red Sox in the World Series either. Great thing about baseball, should doesn’t mean will.

by Kurt Mensching on Jan 23, 2012 3:47 PM EST up reply actions  

I guess the Tigers "should" win the Central.

Minnesota has made their fan base very happy until very recently by being just good enough to be a power in a very weak division and exiting the playoffs almost immediately year after year when their shortcomings are exposed.

Or, to look at it another way, we can choose to enjoy our good fortune to not live in the unending gloom of a decent franchise like Toronto, who will never sniff the playoffs because of the division in which they play.

The best teams should make the playoffs. But in this case should doesn’t mean will.

by Elmer Valo on Jan 23, 2012 4:34 PM EST up reply actions  

That's the exact same as last year at the end of the season

We get no respect from anyone and that’s the way, uh-huh uh-huh,I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh.

by Keith-Allen on Jan 23, 2012 3:12 PM EST up reply actions  

The Cards had one of the worst playoff teams last year

Hell, I would have put them dead last. Proof positive that preseason expectations matter so much.

Man, that Philly/Boston World Series was riveting.

"You, on the other hand, make Eeyore look like Rainbow Brite." -johnmoz

"I think of you more as the blue book style essay of sports journalism."-Kurt Mensching

by David Tokarz on Jan 23, 2012 8:41 PM EST up reply actions  

To anyone who believes that we should sign Magglio or Carlos to DH

As Olivia Newton-John said, let’s get physicals, physicals.

by TartanElk on Jan 23, 2012 4:16 PM EST via mobile reply actions  

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