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Then it will be another rough season for the Tigers in 2009 unless they do something about the rotation and bullpen. I think the lineup is fine, just get rid of Scheffield and get some pitching help. Re-signing Mags will take some cash, too.

I agree, you don't spend money without adding value to your team, but I think you got to be willing to dump salary. As much as I love Mags, it is clear that we have needs far greater needs.

We had over 15 blown saves this year. If you have a guy like K-rod on our team, that number dwindles. Of course this is only part of the problem, but add 12-14 more wins from these saves, suddenly Tigers are in the thick of the AL Central... PLus, you get a few more wins, guys play more relaxed, less pressure, etc... so all the problems are inter-related.

The one move I wish the Tigers had back is the Renteria move. Jurjiens has been good, really good. However, if we didnt dump Jurjiens, we probably don't end up landing Galarraga. Lets hope Galarraga can return to form, and Garcia's start this season was a sign of things to come.

Forgive me an advance but I am gonna preach anywhays???
1. Trade Sheff somewhere... Anywhere.
2. Trade Thames (Go ahead and boo but realize he holed better value to another team than ALOT of players) to a team like the Mets that would covet his bat and in a NL league he would probably be a huge contributor for some relief.
3. Shift Guillen to DH.
4. Move Inge to 3rd
5. Let Ryan start... Yeah I said it. The kid is young but calls a great game, and his bat will develop- I mean his bat is filling in for Inge and Inge, when at 3rd is a better batter. It is not a down grade.
6. Make Joyce an every day outfielder.
7. Fire Chuck Hernandez. Hire Kenny Rogers
8. Make next seasons rotation Verlander, Bonderman, Galarraga, Garcia, and the 5th spot can be duked out for by Miner, Robertson, and if he EVER figures himself out, Willis.
9. May as well p.i.s.s. everyone off and say it- trade Maggs to a possibly contending team for prospects (Relief or young SS)
10. Do not renew Renteria option and then buy him for less again in free agency (unless we get a SS ready for the bigs in a Maggs trade).
11. With all the money from Rogers, Pudge, Jones, (possibly) Maggs, (possibly) Sheffield, and a cheaper Renteria- go after a good relief core. Especially a closer. K-Rod is not out of talks with just Rogers, Pudge, and Jones gone already. Keep that in mind- they wouldn't be spending that much more money in the short term.
12. Finally the end, give the kids a chance. Leyland has been too preferential in treatment to the vets- and if my entire plan was carried out- there would hardly be any left period, but the MudHens, WhiteCaps, and Flying Tigers have been some of our best assets this season when FINALLY called upon. Use them better and more frequently...

And on that note I will get off my soap box now.

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 08:30 AM ET  09.22 by biminator

The one move I wish the Tigers had back is the Renteria move. Jurjiens has been good, really good. However, if we didnt dump Jurjiens, we probably don't end up landing Galarraga. Lets hope Galarraga can return to form, and Garcia's start this season was a sign of things to come.

Can a brother get an amen?!

A Fact, I forgot to mention that Chuck Hernandez HAS TO GO... He has ruined enough careers already... We have the young pitching talent. There is no reason a rotation of Verlander, Bonderman, Galarraga, Garcia/Willis, and Robertson/Miner can't get the job done. The talent is there, the coaching apparently is not.

Pitchers come up, do well, but at the first sign of a struggle (ie when Chuck has to step in and really start coaching) we see massive failure. Dombrowski has got to be noticing this, right?

QUOTE(#5):

Originally posted 08:55 AM ET  09.22 by biminator

Dombrowski has got to be noticing this, right?

You would hope right? Someone is gonna have to take the fall for this abysimal season- and pitching has been the worst part of it at all time. Either the starter blows up early and the relievers get overworked- or the Starters pitch great and the relief let it all trickle away. It's pitching- and they all are blowing up left and right. Dave- if he really is the great GM he is made out to be will do something. Has to do something.

PS. Firing Chuck Hernandez should have been my number one priority but I got on a player tangent before anything else and didn't feel like re-doing all my numbers for the first 6... Ha!

I agree, Ryan has looked really good. Let's be honest, Inge looks too good at 3rd to make him anything but a 3rd basemen in this league... We've won with his bat in our line-up before, we can do it again. Its all pitching. It is always pitching.

QUOTE(#8):

Originally posted 09:04 AM ET  09.22 by biminator

I agree, Ryan has looked really good. Let's be honest, Inge looks too good at 3rd to make him anything but a 3rd basemen in this league... We've won with his bat in our line-up before, we can do it again. Its all pitching. It is always pitching.

Exactly. I think we should go turn in an application to Illich. I think we could job share Daves job for half the price! Ha!

The farm is still there and is a great contributer- we need to restock it some. Maybin was and will be our greatest loss. No doubt. Miller is a good back of the rotation kid but no ace- not even in the making. Especially not in the AL. I won't miss him. But also- somrthing to think about- by 2nd half if not 40 man roster next year, worst case, we should be seeing Porcello! Whoot!

Ryan Perry should be interesting to see as well. I watched him pitch when Arizona came to Ann Arbor for the tournament, he looked very impressive.

I spent the entire weekend in Cleveland. Brutal. Embarassing.
I agree with much of what has been said above, but here are some thoughts:
We can't trade Sheffield. We are stuck with him and his salary. Either he hits next year, or by the end of May at the latest we have to release him.
Ryan looks promising, but I don't believe he is ready to be the man every day. However, we don't need a Pudge behind the plate. A servicable catcher with a couple of years of Major League experience who is not an automatic out at the plate would do fine, while working Ryan in next year.
Inge should be at third base. Since he can't contribute at the plate, may as well let him make plays in the field. He is a good, not great catcher. We don't lose much by not having him behind the plate.
Zach Minor has earned a good long look next spring as a starter.
Hernandez has to go, and Leyland needs to kick some butt. I'm tired of him always saying "I'm not blaming anybody" or "I'm not mad at anybody" B.S.!! Get mad! You don't have to name names in the media, but make sure everyone knows that you are NOT HAPPY with the effort or the results. The team looked like they quit in Cleveland, and Willis cannot hit the broad side of a barn.

This is what we're reduced to? I was hoping to see a thread on the terms of A-Rod's dicorce ... ;)

QUOTE(#13):

Originally posted 09:26 AM ET  09.22 by Atro Steals Yer Base

This is what we're reduced to? I was hoping to see a thread on the terms of A-Rod's dicorce ... ;)

Sorry Atro- I know- the biggest thread being a Detroit on means a terrible day for you yankees and your Boston archnemisis... And is a "DICorce" where the spouse get everyting including that too?

QUOTE(#12):

Originally posted 09:24 AM ET  09.22 by TGRFAN1

I spent the entire weekend in Cleveland. Brutal. Embarassing.

It was terrible- But we might have to agree to disagree on wto things, one- there is no chance of trading Sheff. I truelly believe it is possible but we need to do it. It will be for little or nothing in return and probably some cash but it's gotta happen. Two- Is Ryan ready for full time? i still think more yes than no. A job share would be good for him to get ready but I still think he could do that with Inge at third and being his share partner. No need to bring in someone else. But regardless- Is JJ Hardy free this off season?

Perhaps the saddest thing here is that Tiger senior management doesn't seem to have a clue about what is happening with the team.

(Neither do I, but I am not applying for a front office position.)

I agree that Sheff might be a tough sell. I think this was another ill-advised signing for the Tigers. He only has one more year on his contract anyways, right? Hopefully? Please?