Can we finally lay these Julio Lugo rumors to rest?  According to the Boston Herald, the deal created in the minds of sportswriters might be dead:

Industry sources report that momentum for such a swap has slowed.  The possibility of a deal is now considered remote.

No word as to what may have killed whatever momentum the trade presumably had.  The headline of the Herald article says the Tigers lost interest in making such a deal, but the rest of the article doesn't detail why.  Was there any attempt by either side to complicate the deal with additional players or contract provisions?  

The idea of a challenge trade with Lugo's remaining $18 million of salary going to Detroit for either Dontrelle Willis's $22 million or Nate Robertson's $17 million seemed intriguing, as it would allow the Tigers and Red Sox to shed unwanted contracts.  But ultimately, neither team would seem to benefit in such an exchange. 

Could the Tigers get a better shortstop (at a cheaper price) than Lugo?  Could the Red Sox get a better starting pitcher than Willis or Robertson?  With the answer such an obvious yes for both sides, why make such a trade, if for no other reason than Dave Dombrowski and Theo Epstein said they made a deal this winter?

So what's next?  San Diego says they don't anticipate trading Khalil Greene now, though perhaps Kevin Towers is just waiting for the shortstop market to clear up.  There's also talk the Tigers could now be interested in Orlando Cabrera, though he doesn't seem to fit the short-term criteria they're looking for.

SI.com's Jon Heyman is the latest writer to throw another log into the Julio Lugo-to-Detroit ring of fire.  (It burns, burns, burns...!) 

But perhaps the most interesting nugget in his blog post is the rumored reason why the Tigers might be looking at making this deal. 

One more thing to consider: Tigers manager Jim Leyland is said not to be all that fond of Willis.  Maybe it's just his pitching because he always seemed to me to be a gentleman.

Uh-oh.  Looks like one Tiger has claws.  Mee-YOW!

Just don't tell Samara.  The poor girl is kicking over appliances.  Gonna break your toe like Brandon Inge if you keep that up, kiddo.

And didn't I just finish lamenting the Tigers being thought of as the Red Sox trash heap?

Even Pittsburgh Pirates fans have thoughts on the rumored Julio Lugo-for-Dontrelle Willis or Nate Robertson trade.  Of course, they kind of have their own agenda in not wanting the deal to take place.

From Bucs Dugout:

This is relevant to the Pirates, of course, in that it would prevent Detroit from trading for Jack Wilson.  Wilson is a better player than Lugo at this point, but the cost to the Tigers would be steeper--the Pirates would want prospects.

Unloading an unwanted shortstop to Detroit has suddenly become a popular pastime, it appears.  Catchers, too.  Maybe the Pirates could throw Ronny Paulino into the mix?

Is this why Samara hates trade rumors?

What is it about that Julio Lugo-for-Nate Robertson or Dontrelle Willis rumor that is so appealing to the baseball media?  Is it that the deal seems so clever, with salaries that match up so closely?  Is it a fascination with a "swap deal" or challenge trade?  Whatever it is, this is the trade rumor that just isn't going away. 

For the second time in two weeks, Nick Cafardo has mentioned the deal in the Boston Globe, this time taking it further than just a suggestion between himself and Jon Paul Morosi.

They're also contemplating a deal with Boston to send either Nate Robertson or Dontrelle Willis for Lugo, but some money issues must be resolved.

So... this is something that could really happen?  MLB.com picked up the rumor too, making it one of their headline stories on the front page today.  (Hat tip to our friend pfuhrmeister for the alert.)

I feel like I've already written about this deal enough times - and was all for it when in full "Dump Dontrelle!" mode - but just in case it needs repeating, Lugo batted .268/.355/.330 with one home run and 22 RBIs in 82 games with the Red Sox this past season.  And it's highly arguable as to whether or not he'd be a defensive upgrade.

Oh, and there's this nugget Cafardo also included in his Notes column:

The worst hitter in baseball with runners in scoring position last season?  Drum roll . . . Julio Lugo (.139).

Well, there's something the Tigers could use more of.  Would he be as good at grounding into double plays as Magglio Ordonez, Gary Sheffield or Edgar Renteria were?  (Actually, Lugo grounded into 13 double plays, fewer than each of those three.) 

Red Sox Nation doesn't seem to like this deal either, judging by the comments at our fellow SB Nation site, Over the Monster.  It's interesting to compare their dislike to Tiger Town's, however.

In today's Boston Globe, Nick Cafardo stumps for baseball's general managers to make "swap deals," to get together and exchange their unwanted players amongst each other, hoping that the ol' "change of scenery" might yield some positive results.

One National League owner encourages his GM to make these types of deals because owners hate dead payroll.  They'd rather swap bad contracts to see if a change of scenery works.  But GMs fear they'll be ridiculed if the deals flop.

One match Cafardo tries to make is a trade the Freep's Jon Paul Morosi suggested a few weeks ago (and Matt brought up in the comments yesterday): Boston would send shortstop Julio Lugo to the Tigers for either Dontrelle Willis or Nate Robertson.

Such a deal seems like a great fit because the salaries match up closely, with Lugo owed $18 million on his remaining contract, Robertson set to earn $17 million, and Willis $22 million.

Lugo played 82 games for the Red Sox this year, batting .268/.355/.330 with one home run and 22 RBIs, along with 12 stolen bases.  He also had as many errors (16) as Edgar Renteria, playing in 56 fewer games.

  The work Eddie has been doing at Detroit Tigers Thoughts in cracking the Elias Rankings code that determines Type A or B status for free agents has gotten rightful attention from MLB Trade Rumors and The LoHud Yankees Blog.  But today, he got some local love from the Freep, as Jon Paul Morosi cites Eddie's research in explaining what the Tigers won't be getting in return for Kyle Farnsworth after the season.

Not only is it gratifying to see a blogger's hard work acknowledged, but it's nice for traditional media to show what the blogosphere can offer.

  The Boston Herald's Michael Silverman says the Tigers are the biggest bust of 2008.

  Jerry Green of the Detroit News actually one-ups Silverman, calling the 2008 Tigers "the most shameful failures" in franchise history.

  Gary Sheffield has some advice for Miguel Cabrera.  Relax, it has nothing to do with demanding respect or remembering cheap shots.  It's all about extending his career.

  Would you trade Dontrelle Willis for Julio Lugo?  That's a suggestion Jon Paul Morosi makes in today's Detroit Free Press.  The Tigers need a shortstop, while the Red Sox have shown a willingness to take risks on starting pitchers.  Both players are signed through 2010, with Willis set to be paid $22 million and Lugo $18 million.

Lugo played in just 82 games for Boston this season, compiling a .268/.355/.330 average with one home run and 22 RBIs.  His range factor of .784 is also worse than Edgar Renteria's .800.  Lugo also has more errors in 40 fewer games.

Shedding Willis' salary for a big league shortstop is intriguing, but Lugo sounds like a bad idea.  At least Morosi's not suggesting Jack Wilson this time.

  Morosi also put together a Tigers' all-prospect team. 

  The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo repeats the J.J. Hardy and Derek Lowe speculation that was tossed out there this week by Ken Rosenthal and John Lowe.

  Since I already mentioned The LoHud Yankees Blog, if you haven't read Peter Abraham's "day in the life" of a Yankees beat writer, it's an extremely insightful look into how work typically goes for a guy covering a major league baseball team.

  Your non-Tigers note for today: Apparently, the Kansas City Royals are interested in acquiring Jeff Francoeur from the Braves.  Is that a move that gets your attention?  (via MLB Trade Rumors)

Anybody else need to take a long drag on an oxygen tank after that one?  No?  Then a cigarette, perhaps?  Hoo, baby.  Trying to describe everything that happened in this game could take 2,000 words and I'm not sure I have it in me after going from a warm, fuzzy feeling to gut punch nauseous to hug and kiss anyone nearby. 

The sickening gut punch came from Francisco Cruceta who gave up a game-tying, three-run homer to Mike Lowell, turning a sure win into possible tears-inducing loss.  Will it be a while before Cruceta gets to put on his cape again in a key late-inning situation?  Well... Jim Leyland doesn't exactly have a bunch of other guys he can trust right now.  Cruceta will probably be out there again soon.

Actual vomiting may have been induced by Leyland's decision to send Magglio Ordonez running on contact in the eighth inning when the Tigers had men on first and second with one out against Hideki Okajima.  Gary Sheffield neglected to contribute the contact part of the equation and Maggs was mowed down at third for a seemingly morale-crushing double play. 

With the Red Sox having a closer that hadn't blown a save so far this season, it looked like game over, and one seriously bleak 20-hour wait until Thursday night's series finale.  Fortunately for the Tigers, Julio Lugo apparently didn't get the memo.  Even watching on TV, you could feel the air go out of Comerica Park when Edgar Renteria hit a ground ball to Lugo in the ninth inning for what looked like a sure double play ball.

Except Lugo muffed it, giving the Tigers a chance they probably never thought they'd see.  And this time, they pounced on it, moving runners along and driving them in.  Lugo was involved in the final play, as well, with Placido Polanco (who gets The Big Roar with a 5-for-6 night) blooping a broken-batted ball just over his outstretched glove to score Renteria - the runner who never should've reached base to begin with.

Let's go over that ninth inning again, in case you just joined us.  Check-swing bouncer, error, sacrifice bunt, ground-out, broken-bat blooper.  Tigers win.  Tigers win!

Anyone else need some Dramamine?  Whew!

Roll Call

We had a great GameThread tonight, with so many ups and downs.  But these are the men who rode it out.  It's always so much more fun when it's for a winning cause.

Thanks to pfuhrmeister, Germantiger, Zappatista, Fats Fothergill, Tony K, spotstarters, Grant E., Matt in Toledo, miggy4mvp, MackAveKurt, BigAl, rock n rye, ThaWalrus9, SonOfGibby, and Tigsfan, all of whom helped us through suffering and celebration in solidarity.