(06-22-2012 11:45 PM)EMUAARON Wrote:  Steve, do you think they would move Castellanos? every article i've ever read about him, they stress the fact that he's going to stay at 3rd. i've always thought that was a bizarre stance to take since so many young players switch positions. do you think it was just posturing for some reason?

EA3 - i agree with you on most of those, but i'll puke twice if Nick Swisher puts on a Tigers uniform. i cannot handle that guy.

Totally agree.

Swisher is in group 2 in regards to my most disliked players.

Group 1 consists of A Rod and Pierzynski....and nobody else.

U don't like Swisher because he's a bucknut... There are plenty of guys I hate more than him. Youkilis, Punto, and Giambi.

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120...|FRONTPAGE

Henning on upgrades.

I still say the biggest upgrades would be, and they are already collecting an Ilitch check, V-Mart and Dirks.

That essentially leaves 2B the hole if Santiago can't handle it on an everyday basis.

Otherwise, help could come from the farm namely Turner and maybe Crosby, maybe Brantly (or probably next year if Laird isn't around), etc.

Nick C is for '13. Crosby is green and may be ready for a good showing in 2013.

With Turner, Crosby, and Nick C. slated for delivery by 2013, I wouldn't spend trade chips to bring in a P or OF this year (this is where Dirks is critical and Symly and Turner need to complete the 2012 rotation).

Tiger problems in a few sentences (Detroit Free Press):

"Between Valverde's sore wrist and Smyly's blister and Andy Dirks' hamstring -- among others -- Leyland said in all his years of managing he'd never seen more injuries or more movement between the majors and the minors.

"I don't really call it turmoil, because it's just part of the game you deal with," he said, "but I don't think I've ever managed this short a span -- what 2 1/2-to-three months into the season? -- and seen the traffic come and go quite as much as it has this year."

(06-24-2012 04:21 AM)emu steve Wrote:  Tiger problems in a few sentences (Detroit Free Press):

"Between Valverde's sore wrist and Smyly's blister and Andy Dirks' hamstring -- among others -- Leyland said in all his years of managing he'd never seen more injuries or more movement between the majors and the minors.

"I don't really call it turmoil, because it's just part of the game you deal with," he said, "but I don't think I've ever managed this short a span -- what 2 1/2-to-three months into the season? -- and seen the traffic come and go quite as much as it has this year."

Oh boo hoo Leyland. Boston's had way more injuries, the Twins had more injuries last year. The Rays have had more injuries, but they have a great manager. The biggest problem is that Leyland doesn't stress basic fundementals and situational hitting. He should be embarrassed for being under .500 with the amount of talent he has to work with. But then again, he is under .500 for his career as a mediocre manager.

I like Leyland. It's not his fault Rayburn is the best he has to work with as a fill in.... The Tigers have Cabrera who is slightly slumping batting .300. Prince, Berry, and Jackson hitting well. Avila and Laird are good enough for as injury prone as they are for a catcher.

Peralta, Boesch, Young, Rayburn, Santiago, and Worth are all below average for their positions. Outside of 4 guys I really don't think Leyland has that much to work with. It hurts without having dirks in the lineup.... but to get the guys who are struggling to perform, the COACHING has to be better. Not the MANAGING. Gene Lemont is the worst 3rd base coach in the history of the world... Prince got thrown out today after trying to take third on an RBI by young. Boesch, and Young need to take pointers from Jackson as to field. And Rayburn has to hit sooner or later. They sent him Toledo where he didn't bat .200 and brought him back up. Not Leylands fault no-one is producing but the first 4 in the lineup and Verlander...

(06-24-2012 03:51 PM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  I like Leyland. It's not his fault Rayburn is the best he has to work with as a fill in.... The Tigers have Cabrera who is slightly slumping batting .300. Prince, Berry, and Jackson hitting well. Avila and Laird are good enough for as injury prone as they are for a catcher.

Peralta, Boesch, Young, Rayburn, Santiago, and Worth are all below average for their positions. Outside of 4 guys I really don't think Leyland has that much to work with. It hurts without having dirks in the lineup.... but to get the guys who are struggling to perform, the COACHING has to be better. Not the MANAGING. Gene Lemont is the worst 3rd base coach in the history of the world... Prince got thrown out today after trying to take third on an RBI by young. Boesch, and Young need to take pointers from Jackson as to field. And Rayburn has to hit sooner or later. They sent him Toledo where he didn't bat .200 and brought him back up. Not Leylands fault no-one is producing but the first 4 in the lineup and Verlander...

Um, have you taken a look at Pittsburgh's roster? I wonder if Clint Hurdle would want to trade his team with Leyland. If he did, I guarantee you, Detroit would be over .500. As far as the Prince Fielder baserunning blunder, that was on him, not Lamont. He's a terrible baserunner.

(06-24-2012 03:02 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  

(06-24-2012 04:21 AM)emu steve Wrote:  Tiger problems in a few sentences (Detroit Free Press):

"Between Valverde's sore wrist and Smyly's blister and Andy Dirks' hamstring -- among others -- Leyland said in all his years of managing he'd never seen more injuries or more movement between the majors and the minors.

"I don't really call it turmoil, because it's just part of the game you deal with," he said, "but I don't think I've ever managed this short a span -- what 2 1/2-to-three months into the season? -- and seen the traffic come and go quite as much as it has this year."

Oh boo hoo Leyland. Boston's had way more injuries, the Twins had more injuries last year. The Rays have had more injuries, but they have a great manager. The biggest problem is that Leyland doesn't stress basic fundementals and situational hitting. He should be embarrassed for being under .500 with the amount of talent he has to work with. But then again, he is under .500 for his career as a mediocre manager.

I wouldn't cite the Twins unless you are trying to make my point.

They had many key injuries last year and look at their record... Weren't they about a 1,000 games behind the Tigers?

(p.s. I think they were 31 games worse than 2010).

I still like Leyland... 2007 was the year we had tremendous tallent and underachieved. As far as I'm concerned we're an overweight team with zero range, but a lot of hitting potential. Detroit is 2 back of .500 and will win the division by the end of August. The Tigers are turning it around. They have great support and enough good pieces to do great things, once the average guys pick up the slack. Papa Grande isn't helping our cause though.

(06-24-2012 03:02 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  

(06-24-2012 04:21 AM)emu steve Wrote:  Tiger problems in a few sentences (Detroit Free Press):

"Between Valverde's sore wrist and Smyly's blister and Andy Dirks' hamstring -- among others -- Leyland said in all his years of managing he'd never seen more injuries or more movement between the majors and the minors.

"I don't really call it turmoil, because it's just part of the game you deal with," he said, "but I don't think I've ever managed this short a span -- what 2 1/2-to-three months into the season? -- and seen the traffic come and go quite as much as it has this year."

Oh boo hoo Leyland. Boston's had way more injuries, the Twins had more injuries last year. The Rays have had more injuries, but they have a great manager. The biggest problem is that Leyland doesn't stress basic fundementals and situational hitting. He should be embarrassed for being under .500 with the amount of talent he has to work with. But then again, he is under .500 for his career as a mediocre manager.

leyland doesn't complain about injuries. he answers questions when reporters ask them.

It looks like the SCOTUS (AKA Supreme Court) will announce their decision on the health care law Thursday.

It appears the Tigers will announce their medical evaluation of V-Mart also on Thursday.

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120...|FRONTPAGE

And for NBA fans, the draft (I think).

Very interesting day, indeed.

(06-26-2012 03:31 AM)emu steve Wrote:  It looks like the SCOTUS (AKA Supreme Court) will announce their decision on the health care law Thursday.

It appears the Tigers will announce their medical evaluation of V-Mart also on Thursday.

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120...|FRONTPAGE

And for NBA fans, the draft (I think).

Very interesting day, indeed.

BTW, the news on V-Mart wasn't very good. I think this season isn't possible for him.

He isn't running yet.

Tigs take 3 of 4 from Tampa Bay. One game behind .500 with the Twins and the Royals come to Comerica.

(07-01-2012 03:51 PM)emu steve Wrote:  

(06-26-2012 03:31 AM)emu steve Wrote:  It looks like the SCOTUS (AKA Supreme Court) will announce their decision on the health care law Thursday.

It appears the Tigers will announce their medical evaluation of V-Mart also on Thursday.

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120...|FRONTPAGE

And for NBA fans, the draft (I think).
Steve is a happy camper
Very interesting day, indeed.

BTW, the news on V-Mart wasn't very good. I think this season isn't possible for him.

He isn't running yet.

Tigs take 3 of 4 from Tampa Bay. One game behind .500 with the Twins and the Royals come to Comerica.

Tigers now at .500.

Making progress heading into the 2nd half.

(06-10-2012 06:02 AM)emu steve Wrote:  I always tell folks that the essence of intelligence is to predict the UNPREDICTABLE or UNEXPECTED.

If someone predicted the Nationals to be in first place on July 4 (and it happens) they deserve kudos.

If someone predicted the Tigers to be below .500 today in the weak AL Central they deserve credit.

Steven Pearlstein in the Washington Post predicted, in December 2007, the September 2008 meltdown. He was right as to the meltdown and had the credit swaps, sub-prime mortgages, etc. etc. nailed.

That said:

Are the Tigers, who are starting to get healthy, about ready to turn it around OR does their lineup have too many holes?


I'll predict the Tigers are about to turn it around.

Your predictions?

I guess I'll leaving basketball recruiting to Dennis (he knows the PPG for GLIAC targets) and I'll stay with Tigs base a ball and roulette numbers

I think my original post was a month ago and look what happened:

"We played very well last week," Dombrowski said."But I think if you look over the last 30 games we're 19-11. The difference is that we put a little streak together after we had gone 5-5 on a tough road trip (Pittsburgh, Texas, Tampa Bay).

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120...z20PUFA5JR

(06-10-2012 08:34 AM)Dennis Hoopster Wrote:  skeptical!

too many guys having bad years
defense is porous, worst defense in baseball, the big leagues anyway
leave too many men on base , can't bunt, can't advance runers - no small ball capabilities, minor league system has been depleted of talent

starting pitching has been poor for the most part - what's with Sherzer, Porcello????

Bullpen needs to be more oonsistent

what else??
Steve is the eternal optimist
Leyland?
Poor Mike Ilich - he has spent a lot of money wth poor results to date

Patience, my friend.

Q. Berry has solved some of your concerns.

The Prnice and his buddy, Miggy, are hitting the ball really hard these days.

Scherzer has become a strikeout king again.

Closers have been closing out games.

And even though I really don't expect any more significant call ups, the MilB teams are not bad.

Turner could be called up if needed (i.e., if Smyly needed replacing).

We should see Turner, Brantley (catcher) in '13 and maybe Nick C. late in '13 as a corner OF.

And to me, Turner and Nick C. are untouchables.

I'd trade Turner to the Phillies to rent Cole Hamels for the next 3-4 months. Straight up...

(07-12-2012 11:58 AM)EA3 Wrote:  I'd trade Turner to the Phillies to rent Cole Hamels for the next 3-4 months. Straight up...

I'm not sure I see a trade at all.

With a 19 - 11 run, Dombrowski might not be a gullible buyer.

Chicago W.Sox lucky to get their man from the BoSox.

As hard as it is to believe, the Tigs are very close to the SECOND AL wild card slot and might be the favorite for it.

Assuming NYY, CWS, Texas and LAA (1st wild card), everyone else near or above .500 is in the race for the 2nd AL wild card.

http://www.freep.com/article/20120714/SP...econd-half

Gee, he is only 5 WEEKS behind this thread.

I made the call June 10 that the Tigers would turn it around.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/standings/?tcid=m...s&c_id=det

For those not watching closely, the Tigers now lead the AL for it's 2nd wild card slot.

Tigers lead Balto and Oakland by a 1/2 game.

They today are 2.5 games behind Chi for the AL Central lead.