OFF-SEASON MISHAPS COSTING THE TIGERS
While Jim Leyland continues to play musical chairs with his lineup, Dave Dombrowski sits and wonders, "Where did I go wrong". Of the changes he made in the off-season, it seems only 1 or 2 are actually working.
Jacque Jones, who is still owed several million dollars was released 40 games into the season. Miguel Cabrera, who we all heard was going to be the third baseman of the future didn't even last a month there. Dontrelle Willis was hurt early in the season and struggled with his control. The Tigers have yet to move Brandon Inge, who now seems like he could play everyday the way some guys are hitting. Kenny Rogers is holding on by a string, seemingly every outing could be his last.
Guillen's move to first hasn't panned out. Gary Sheffield should have retired last week and the list goes on and on.
The Tigers urgency to win now may have cost them a very good starting pitcher in Jair Jurrjens. Though he is not burning it up, he has looked better than most of the Tigers starting pitching staff.
Who knows what's in store for the Tigers. The "win-now" attitude has led them to a sub .500 record with 6 games left on this home stand.
Nobody is willing to say the season is over, not by a long stretch and not by the way many of the teams in the Central are playing.
But as it stands today, this is not a playoff team.
7 comments:
The only reason we can't say the season is over, is because of how crappy the AL Central is. It's a 5 team race.
The Tigers would have to win ~63% of their remaining games to finish with 95 wins and having a chance at making the post season. As of right now we are on pace to win 69 games(69!). Unfortunately, I don't see any hint of this team improving.
They can only lose about 19 more series before they are mathematically ruled out.(basing this on 3 game series and losing 2.5 games out of 3)
I may sound negative, but I want the Tigers in the post season. I guess I'm just keeping it real(as my fellow brothers would say).
i dont even think they will need 95...but with this pitching, they will be lucky to get 85
Bonderman should have been the guy that was dealt for a shortstop.
You can't really knock the Jacque Jones deal. They gave up next to nothing (Omar Infante) to get him. And, the Cabrera trade/extension is still a no-brainer. Cameron Maybin and Andrew Miller will never be top flight Major Leaguers. Maybin will be good, but give me Cabrera any day of the week. In order to get Cabrera, the Tigers had to accept D-Train's contract. Their hands were tied.
The two moves that I questioned (when they happened) and continue to question are the extensions they gave to D-Train and Nate Robertson. Yes, D-Train's arbitration years were bought out, but he'll be owed $10M next year $12Min 2010 (the final year of his deal). I'll pass. Nate Robertson will make $7M next year and $10M in 2010. For what? That guys is the most average pitcher out there. He has a career 4.69 ERA. One season under 4.49! Good guy? Certainly. But you don't pay guys $10M to be good citizens. Horrendous extension.
Plus, Jeremy Bonderman's development has been severely stunted/killed. He was never able to develop a third pitch because it's extremely rare for a guy to do it at the Major League level. His fastball is as straight as an arrow and hitters can sit on hanging sliders because they know nothing else is coming.
Rant over. The Tigers are still the best team in the AL Central. I don't care how many games a usual division winner wins. The Tigers just have to win more than anyone else in their division. Do I think they will do that? Yes. The Royals don't stand a chance. The Twins aren't a good team. The White Sox will probably pose a decent threat, but they don't have the horses to stay in it. The Indians are the second best team, but their offense is in shambles and they need Sabathia to get right in a hurry.
I'm pretty darn confident that the Tigers will make the playoffs, barring unforeseen circumstances. You can't name me four teams in the AL that are better than the Tigers.
Not only could Inge be playing everyday, he SHOULD be playing everyday. I knew Inge was a great third basemen before, but this year has proven just how good he is. The defense at 3rd base has been absolutely awful It seems to me that he has twice as much range as both Cabrera and Guillen at 3rd base. Why are the Tigers dicking with this? Inge saves a ton of runs and chokes off innings. The left side of their infield has been suspect all year, (Renteria's range at SS isn't great either.) Guillen can't throw. The guy couldn't get it to first from Short. How is he gonna get it there from 3rd? I don't blame Inge for stewing about this. The guy has to be watching the other 3rd basemen from the dugout and thinking, "I would have made that play. I would have made that throw. These guys suck compared to me. What the fuck?"
I honestly think this is a big deal for this team. The sooner Inge is restored, the better. I can give up a little bit in average to get that glove on the field.
dude, inge sucks
Inge sucks, my ass...wait...no, that's right.
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