Lou_Siffer

Here's the new look i'd like to see for the lineup: SS - Renteria 2B- Polanco CF- Granderson RF - Ordonez DH- Sheffield 1B- Guillen LF- Raburn C - Kendall 3B - Inge We keep the 13 or whatever million for Pudge and use that towards signing Renteria and Kendall. This would be sick! If we keep Pudge, then the SS of choice is Eckstein....as it would be highly unlikely theyd spend the money to get Renteria if Pudge is still being paid top dollar. But theres no doubt Renteria/Kendall > Pudge/Eckstein..and it would probably cost roughly the same. No need to sign a LF, Raburn's perfect to hold the job down till Maybin is ready.

I cant quite place his dad but he looks like somebody, he appears to be some cross between Scotty Bowman and Don Rickles?! Im at a loss.

Im not so sure Casey is leaving. Its already been mentioned by Leyland that Sheffield will be getting a good amount of days off, and the paper speculated that Casey could be a left handed DH option to replace him as well as spell Guillen at 1st. There does appear to be a role for him still there, if he wants to stay. If not, he'll probably go back to Pitt or Cincy...thats what my guess would be.

When its all said and done, the Yankees and Indians fully deserve those playoff spots over us. Yankees did what we couldnt do, kick KC's ass and also win a series against their top division foe on the road. And Cleveland just straight up was better and showed it the last few days. I'll root for them. Oh well, the way i look at is we hung on for as long as we could in what was destined to be a letdown year. Im still a little miffed that we didnt make any big bullpen move, as that might have been the difference in a few games, butl we most likely wouldve lost anyway. Time to look at the offseason now. I seriously wish we hadnt signed Sheffield to that f***in extension...as next year we'll be paying 15 mill (or is it 16) to someone who will be getting a good number of days off...not including injury. I felt this was a mistake by DD all along,...we could do alot with that cash, but what can ya do. As for Pudge, ive went back and forth as to whether we should keep him. Its hard to imagine him not being here on one hand, but on the other, that is so much money. Because we have Sheffield theres a good part of me that thinks it might be best to let him walk and just go with a cheaper alternative like Jason Kendall. Stunk in Oak this year but got back to normal with the Cubs, so i think he'd be fine. Use the difference in money between him and Pudge towards a SS so you can move Guillen to 1st. I know theres no cap in baseball, but i still doubt Illitch is just going to toss money around like the Yanks. There has to be some sort of limit, and for the benefit of the team overall Pudge may have to be the casualty.

Speaking of Garrett Stafford, if he was bad in the lockeroom, would you say the team is suffering from a Staff-infection?????

Would you say he needs to be put on a grigorous conditioning program? Also his hands just arent Downy soft if you ask me.

Yep, exactly. Management has made it a key point not to overspend and give away prospects and draft picks anymore. So the idea of them parting with what it would take to get Rolston through trade goes completely against that. ESPECIALLY when theres a decent chance he might sign here as a FA anyway. I mean, just because the overpayment moves teams like Nashville and Atl made last year didnt work out, wont stop other teams from doing exactly the same thing this deadline. Teams have short memories! Say a team like Philly for example came back and was looking strong, there is zero doubt if Rolston was the best guy out there that they would throw a boatload at Minny to get him. Somebody will always be willing to overpay these days. Now someone like Fedorov (who i do not want!), is more what people should be looking at. Guys that there wont be a big market for and Holland can float in with a mediocre offer and get. Detroit Fan - Thats going to have to be a big + though, cause the first alone wont be nearly enough.

Wow, sounds like there was a flurry of action on ticket sales.

Didnt stop him from handing Cam Janssen his ass twice last night though!

The space isnt the issue. You can have 10mill in cap space, but unless you are willing to outbid other teams you will not get that player at the deadline. When other teams are offering top prospects and 1st rd picks, we'll be offering middle of the road prospects and conditional picks. I dont know why people keep overlooking this. It is no longer the Wings style to overpay, which im not saying is necessarily a bad thing, just that you wont be getting these guys like Rolston. (unless he's injured) Now free agency in the offseason? Thats a totally different story. At that point its up to the player, who can take a discount, and not up to another team.

I agree very much so. People may say "who will sit out?" under that scenario, but you have to remember injuries. Somebody always seems to be out at one time or another. It would also benefit Kopecky, as he's one of those guys that plays a more physical game when he's with a fighter. Without one, he doesnt bring much at all as we seen in his time last year. If they were to keep Ellis or Hartigan over Downey i'll be seriously pissed!

Extensive stretching prior to lifting weights will effect your workout negatively. As MSUJJ said, stretching after is best.

Hey, when you're in a conference where being 7-7 entering the final weeks will most likely have you firmly planted in the playoff race...being 2-0 is a reason to be very excited even though its early. I like it!

Kitna and Roy had me on my feet yesterday hootin' and hollerin', the Detroit fans are going to fall in love with Kitna very fast if he keeps this intensity up. I thought i picked up on a Kitna chant late in the 4th. Of course as we know in Detroit that love for the QB can change fast lol, but its still great to watch so far. Roy WIlliams is absolutely hilarious, he's a nut and i love it! That first down sign with the helmet was almost as good as the one last year he made while lying on the ground! Cracks me up every single time. I'll be happy next week as long as its a tightly contested game...win or lose. This will be the true test. I hesitate to make this comparison, but I kind of have that '06 Tigers vibe with this team. That team always seemed to step up at the end and win in exciting fashion, so far thats been the Lions.

I normally dont watch the pregame stuff, but Frank's impersonation of Jim Rome was unbelievable! :rotflmao:

No thanks. I dont think i could handle everyone calling for his head for the next 14 years!!!!

Do you happen to know why Boulerice had no fights in the AHL last season after early November? Just curious if theres a concussion issue or some other major injury he suffered. Ive always kinda liked him, and wouldve actually preferred him over Downey (regardless of the famous knockout). Not that its a big deal one way or the other, but just curious about his status.

Not necessarily. Do they go by the standings of last season for the waivers? If they do, a team thats not way high up on the claiming order could very well make a minor deal for him. It would be for a very, very, low draft pick, but they'll take it cause its better than nothing.

Unless im mistaken, isnt this Samuelsson's last year under the 1.2 contract? If you're Minnesota, you arent dealing a guy every other playoff team is going to want unless you are getting the best youth and picks package in return you can get. It just doesnt make sense to do otherwise. Also consider that Minnesota would probably be pretty much out of the playoff race to deal him, so what value does Samuelsson bring to them? Why take less picks to have him for the rest of the season when your team isnt going anywhere? He's not a throw in most other trade scenarios, but in this case, he is one.

Why? Do you get "choked up" reading it?

A 1st, a 2nd, and a top 3 prospect. Or 2 1sts and a good but somewhat lesser rated prospect. You might as well just ask what will it take to get Rolston, as Samuelsson does nothing in that deal to bring down the asking price. He's basically just a throw in. Rolston would be one of the top 3 names available for sure if on the market, so unless he has a knee injury or something for most of the season, you're gonna have to pay a ton.

I think he's slightly overrated in the sense that alot of people peg him to become a top defenseman (which i dont think he will be), however, you could also make the argument he's slightly underrated given the way some people think friggin Lebda is actually better than him! So i guess they just cancel each other out and he's neither! At 3 mill per, he doesnt have to be Lidstrom. All he needs to be is a solid #3,...he'll be fine.

I understand completely what you're saying, but I dont believe thats Babcock's opinion. Afterall, he did carry guys like Garrett Burnett and Kevin Sawyer on his Ducks teams. I think thats Holland and Devellano's take on fighters, Babcock wants one i believe.

It may be false hope, but im starting to get a little excited about Downey's chances. At first i just assumed there was zero chance and he was strictly to replace Norton at GR, but now it sounds like he realistically has a shot. Theres better fighters they couldve brought in, as Downey is not a good fighter these days and will take lumps against the big boys, however one thing he isnt is boring like Norton. That in itself makes him 100x better.

Preseason hockey is good for one thing only.....fights!