So, that was......quick. Guess it's pretty clear what this team needs first and foremost. O. And thats unfortunate considering the money spent. If V-Mart can get back to 80% of his 2010 production, that would be a nice start. Closer will be another glaring need. Then there's the new coaching staff to consider. Lots of changes coming for this under then over achieving team.
5. "There's definitely some changes that need to be made." In response to Reply # 0 Mon Oct-29-12 09:37 AM by soulfunk
I'm not sure what. V-Mart coming back is big, and it probably means that Delmon is out...no room at DH and we can't have him in the outfield. Garcia probably starts off in the minors so he can get consistent experience against rightys and leftys instead of platooning. I can't see Boesche on the roster. So we need to get a legit starting corner outfielder.
As far as the infield there probably won't be big changes there. I don't think there's anyone available better than Jhonny at short. Infante is already signed, right?
With starting pitching the question is with Sanchez...it's gonna be up to him because he could get more money signing elsewhere. If he comes back, we're set. If not, we're talking about either promoting someone like Smyly or having to sign someone.
A closer is a MUST have, and I have no idea who may be available. Probably need another setup guy too.
We also got a preview of what the back end of Prince Fielder's contract is gonna look like with his lack of production in this series.
6. "RE: There's definitely some changes that need to be made." In response to Reply # 5
>I'm not sure what. V-Mart coming back is big, and it probably >means that Delmon is out...no room at DH and we can't have him >in the outfield. Garcia probably starts off in the minors so >he can get consistent experience against rightys and leftys >instead of platooning. I can't see Boesche on the roster. So >we need to get a legit starting corner outfielder. > >As far as the infield there probably won't be big changes >there. I don't think there's anyone available better than >Jhonny at short. Infante is already signed, right?
yes, and id imagine Worth stays around to back both of them up
>With starting pitching the question is with Sanchez...it's >gonna be up to him because he could get more money signing >elsewhere. If he comes back, we're set. If not, we're talking >about either promoting someone like Smyly or having to sign >someone.
i have a feeling Sanchez will ask for more than what the Tigers will pay, but never doubt a desperate old man with a deep pockets. That being said i really liked the way porcello pitched in the second half, and if he's our 4th starter im ok with that to start off.
>A closer is a MUST have, and I have no idea who may be >available. Probably need another setup guy too.
i think Albuquerque is being groomed for closer
>We also got a preview of what the back end of Prince Fielder's >contract is gonna look like with his lack of production in >this series.
im not sure what to think about this. im gonna chalk that up to nerves because it makes me feel better.
The Detroit Tigers will not bring back closer Jose Valverde and outfielder Delmon Young after their contracts expired following the 2012 season.
General manager Dave Dombrowski said as much today after also announcing Jim Leyland and the coaching staff would be returning for 2013 and that the club would pick up the roster options on reliever Octavio Dotel and shortstop Jhonny Peralta.
Valverde tallied 110 saves in 118 opportunities in 2010-12 with the Tigers, but is coming off a postseason in which he gave up nine earned runs off 11 hits in 2.2 innings, drawing the ire of many fans.
Despite a strong postseason from Young (.313 average, three home runs and nine RBIs), he also had a tumultuous season as the team's designated hitter and occasional outfielder (.267 average, 18 homers, 74 RBIs).
Dombrowski said relief pitching prospect Bruce Rondon could be in the mix for 2013, but doesn't know if he'll be ready.
Free Press sports writer George Sipple contributed to this report.
14. "That guy should send the Tigers a fruit basket" In response to Reply # 13
The perception that he was an elite-ish pitcher was due entirely to participating in a pennant race this year.
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"Walleye, a lot of things are going to go wrong in your life that technically aren't your fault. Always remember that this doesn't make you any less of an idiot"
16. "Yes, but for a boring reason" In response to Reply # 15
We can quibble about where each one slots into a rotation. I kind of think Greinke is a soft #1 and a kickass #2, where Sanchez is more of a #3. But that matters less than their track record. They're basically the same age (Greinke is four months older) but Greinke has thrown four 200+ inning years and Sanchez has zero.
I think teams (usually to their detriment, but whatever) would ideally like to shop for high-end free agent pitchers like Edward Norton in "Fight Club" shopping for a sofa. You get one that you can slot into a known and stable front of the rotation spot and say to yourself "that problem is solved". In short, Greinke lets teams do that in a way which Sanchez doesn't.
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"Walleye, a lot of things are going to go wrong in your life that technically aren't your fault. Always remember that this doesn't make you any less of an idiot"
23. "The rotation slot was about their stuff, not just their durability" In response to Reply # 20
Do you think that Sanchez has ever had a year like Greinke's 2009 in his arm? Greinke got paid more because teams still see that kind of upside in him.
You're right about the 195 inning thing. Sanchez has dinged that mark a few times in a row now. I do think that Greinke gets extra marks for his health though. His only DL time that I can recall is to recover from an off-season rib injury. I doubt teams are as concerned about the anxiety issue as fans seem to be, and getting a guy who's been a real ace with a clean bill of health is kind of the free agent dream. Though now that I've written that, it seems like a certainty he'll get hurt. Sabathia is kind of the holy grail for free agent pitcher signings, and every season that goes by shows how rare he is.
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"Walleye, a lot of things are going to go wrong in your life that technically aren't your fault. Always remember that this doesn't make you any less of an idiot"
19. "Sure, but he wasn't any better than he was as a Marlin" In response to Reply # 17
He walked fewer. But he was well within the margins of the perfectly suitable Anibal Sanchez that's existed without so much as an All-Star appearance for the past seven seasons.
Where I land here is that I think if he deserves this contract now then he would have deserved if if he'd finished exactly the same season with the Marlins. But I don't think he'd have gotten it. That's sort of dumb but sort of awesome for him.
______________________________
"Walleye, a lot of things are going to go wrong in your life that technically aren't your fault. Always remember that this doesn't make you any less of an idiot"
22. "I don't know how much money I think that's worth" In response to Reply # 21
Nobody's pitched in meaningful games until they have.
The Tigers gave up two pretty good prospects in Brantly and Turner without any experiential certainty that he could pitch in meaningful games. I assume that, rather than using mushy psychology to worry themselves that he'd melt or shit himself when faced with a meaningful game, they asked a set of questions that have actual answers. About whether his stuff will play against superior AL hitters, etc.
I should be clear here that I like this signing much, much better for the Tigers than the two teams that were bidding against them. He was apparently only worth three million dollars less to the Cubs* and he wasn't going to pitch in a meaningful game in Wrigley for, perhaps, the life of that contract.
The Tigers window is now, and this is what a necessary part happens to cost. I'd have probably squinted a little if Edwin Jackson ends up signing for less than this, but I think he's the only other remaining pitcher on the market I like better than Sanchez and the Tigers are obviously better suited to make a direct comparison between those players than I am since they've both pitched for Detroit. So I wont even do that.
*has any free agent this winter had as specific salary rumors out there?
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"Walleye, a lot of things are going to go wrong in your life that technically aren't your fault. Always remember that this doesn't make you any less of an idiot"
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