2007 Baseball Season

[wingfanatic4alltime 32]

I like it. I dont love it i really liked jjurjens but in dave we trust. It does show the Tigers want to win now and i cant wait for 08. What do you guys think.

[mannysBETTER3434 1]

I don't know what to think on this A-Rod stuff, but why would he want to come here? I know his first reason (hopefully) is to win a ring, and Detroit is a good choice for that. If he also has a goal of passing Bonds (which I hope he does) he probably doesn't want to be batting in Comerica Park.

Another Yankee to watch possibly is Rivera if the Yankees hire someone he doesn't like. One of the ESPN guys talked about the Tigs if the Yankees make a move he doesn't like...

[Yzerfan1999 81]

I wonder what will become of Barry Bonds - he is headed for a DH job somewhere. Oakland maybe? Whats the contract on Piazza?

I also wonder what will become of my poor Coco Crisp. I wish Boston would keep him around but he needs to start somewhere and according me me, Ellsbury is the next big thing. I bet he hits .300 next year w/ 15+ HR. The kid is great in the leadoff spot and has some pop in the bat. Unfortunately for BoSox haters, they look like they will be contenders for some time.

Also, isn't Andruw Jones a FA? Those are some big names this offseason. Should be exciting huh!?

[Yzerfan1999 81]

I am suprised Atlanta gave him up. He fit in well there.

But he is a good bat - definitely a thumbs up for Tigers fans.

[timothy1997 0]

A-Rod is heading to the Cubs. They are giving him a ton of money and part ownership deal. A-Rod will retire a Cub, with no ring.

Unfortunately for BoSox haters, they look like they will be contenders for some time.

I actually like the way Boston developed their team. They got free agents like Papi, Manny, Lowell, Dice K but also homegrown some players like Pedoria, Ellsbury, Papelbon. Good mix.

[timothy1997 0]

espn is reporting that the Dodgers have fired Grady Little, and will hire Joe Torre as their manager...Don Mattingly might join Torre with his new staff there. Looks to me like the Yankees are heading to LA.

[RockyMountainWingGal 108]

Unfortunately for BoSox haters, they look like they will be contenders for some time.

It's more of hatred for MLB for allowing to league to become what it is. The Sox play within the practically non-existent rules - I dislike them, but really baseball has allowed this. I always rooted for them vs. the Yankees, but now they pretty much ARE the Yankees.

With all 3 other major sports leagues now adopting a salary system, it's time for baseball. I didn't go to games for 5 years until last year because of the way the league runs itself (payroll, steroid testing, etc). I came back last year when the Tigers got me into it, and my hometown team this year - the Rockies - were in it this year. But realistically, these teams have much less of a chance to compete in the league the way it is. Yes, even the Tigers cannot compete with the 2 big payroll teams. It's really a shame because it's a great game and it's time for MLB to take control of itself. The NFL did it and they are the most successful sports league.

[Lou_Siffer 1]

I wonder what will become of Barry Bonds - he is headed for a DH job somewhere. Oakland maybe? Whats the contract on Piazza?

I also wonder what will become of my poor Coco Crisp. I wish Boston would keep him around but he needs to start somewhere and according me me, Ellsbury is the next big thing. I bet he hits .300 next year w/ 15+ HR. The kid is great in the leadoff spot and has some pop in the bat. Unfortunately for BoSox haters, they look like they will be contenders for some time.

Also, isn't Andruw Jones a FA? Those are some big names this offseason. Should be exciting huh!?

Piazza is a free agent.

[Lou_Siffer 1]

See I disagree here. I am all for getting rid of Jones. IMO he's a ******* joke of a closer. Yeah he throws strikes, but he rarely ever strikes hitters out. He's a contact pitcher. Which basically means he throws the ball down the middle and prays to God that the hitter messes it up. Basically when you're facing Todd Jones, you're facing yourself and your own hitting abilities. IMO a closer should be a guy that can throw lights out. A guy that can throw some heat. A guy that has great movement on a pitch. Not a bum that comes out and throws the same s*** over and over. When Todd Jones wins games, its from lucky pop-ups, or good defensive play. That should NOT be the atributes of a closer. I remember quite a few gams where we were up several runs GOING INTO THE 9TH. And what happens?? We lose in regulation! Not even extra innings. We're talking, Jones lets the teams come back, and not just tie the Tigers, but overtake the lead on the Tigers. I have alteast 5 seperate memories of that happening. IMO Jones either needs to be put somewhere else in the bullpen, or he needs to get the hell outta town.

Funny, doesnt seam so "moot" at this point. Considering several baseball experts have already said the Tigers are a front-runner to sign him.

The thing is though theres not many other options. Jones certainly has his bad moments, but overall he really doesnt do that bad of a job i think. He doesnt strike anyone out, but you know, when you sit there watching other guys in our pen walk batter after batter its kind of refreshing to someone who doesnt give free passes left and right. Right now Zumaya is not an option this year because of the massive void it would leave. However with him being the supposed closer of the future we're pretty much limited to the guys who would sign 1 yr deals...or 2 at the very most. Here's the list of available closers:

Armando Benitez

Joe Borowski

Francisco Cordero

Octavio Dotel (has club and player option with Atl)

Eric Gagne

Todd Jones

Al Reyes

Mariano Rivera

Bob Wickman

I would take Todd straight up over Benitez, Borowski, Reyes, and Wickman. Gagne is probably still going to demand alot of money and obviously he's a risk with the way he sucked in Boston. Dotel if he leaves Atlanta will probably want a long term deal, and i dont think he's very good anyway. Francisco Cordero will absolutely be looking for a big multi yr deal, and again if you sign him that says Zumaya will not be your closer for a long while. That really just leaves Mariano Rivera (aside from Jones) as the one true stopgap to Zumaya. But would he really leave NY to come here? I doubt it. This is why i think Jones appears to be the best option.

Edited October 30, 2007 by Lou_Siffer

[timothy1997 0]

It's more of hatred for MLB for allowing to league to become what it is. The Sox play within the practically non-existent rules - I dislike them, but really baseball has allowed this. I always rooted for them vs. the Yankees, but now they pretty much ARE the Yankees.

With all 3 other major sports leagues now adopting a salary system, it's time for baseball. I didn't go to games for 5 years until last year because of the way the league runs itself (payroll, steroid testing, etc). I came back last year when the Tigers got me into it, and my hometown team this year - the Rockies - were in it this year. But realistically, these teams have much less of a chance to compete in the league the way it is. Yes, even the Tigers cannot compete with the 2 big payroll teams. It's really a shame because it's a great game and it's time for MLB to take control of itself. The NFL did it and they are the most successful sports league.

I disagree. The Indians are a similar market team like the Tigers and yet they beat the crap outta the Yanks and pushed the Red Sox to the brink. The Rockies had too long of a lay off and got stage fright, similar to what happened last year with the Tigers.

Baseball won't have a salary cap because the players make a killing in the league, owners..players dont want it.....but on the flip side, big payroll doesn't equal success.

Edited October 30, 2007 by timothy1997

[betterREDthandead 58]

It's more of hatred for MLB for allowing to league to become what it is. The Sox play within the practically non-existent rules - I dislike them, but really baseball has allowed this. I always rooted for them vs. the Yankees, but now they pretty much ARE the Yankees.

With all 3 other major sports leagues now adopting a salary system, it's time for baseball. I didn't go to games for 5 years until last year because of the way the league runs itself (payroll, steroid testing, etc). I came back last year when the Tigers got me into it, and my hometown team this year - the Rockies - were in it this year. But realistically, these teams have much less of a chance to compete in the league the way it is. Yes, even the Tigers cannot compete with the 2 big payroll teams. It's really a shame because it's a great game and it's time for MLB to take control of itself. The NFL did it and they are the most successful sports league.

In the other leagues with salary caps, those didn't come about until after a lengthy labor fight involving partially or completely lost seasons. If that's what it takes to institute a salary cap in baseball, I don't want it.

Besides, you'd have a hard time arguing that there isn't a reasonable amount of parity in baseball when this century's World Series winners look like this:

Red Sox

Cardinals

White Sox

Red Sox

Marlins

Angels

Diamondbacks

Yankees

And the list of losers.....

Rockies

Tigers

Astros

Cardinals

Yankees

Giants

Yankees

Mets

Pretty diverse list. It does suck that for the foreseeable future, the Red Sox and Yankees will be the dominant teams. But the Red Sox didn't even make the playoffs last year.

And since 2000, the only teams NOT to make the playoffs in that stretch are:

Blue Jays

Orioles

Devil Rays

Royals

Rangers

Nationals

Reds

Pirates

Brewers

That's only 9 out of 30. And the Brewers came damn close this year. Tough to make the playoffs, but once you're there, it's pretty clearly been proven that anyone can beat anyone. The only teams facing a real competitive imbalance are the three AL East teams not named Yankees or Red Sox.

[timothy1997 0]

The thing is though theres not many other options. Jones certainly has his bad moments, but overall he really doesnt do that bad of a job i think. He doesnt strike anyone out, but you know, when you sit there watching other guys in our pen walk batter after batter its kind of refreshing to someone who doesnt give free passes left and right. Right now Zumaya is not an option this year because of the massive void it would leave. However with him being the supposed closer of the future we're pretty much limited to the guys who would sign 1 yr deals...or 2 at the very most. Here's the list of available closers:

Armando Benitez

Joe Borowski

Francisco Cordero

Octavio Dotel (has club and player option with Atl)

Eric Gagne

Todd Jones

Al Reyes

Mariano Rivera

Bob Wickman

I would take Todd straight up over Benitez, Borowski, Reyes, and Wickman. Gagne is probably still going to demand alot of money and obviously he's a risk with the way he sucked in Boston. Dotel if he leaves Atlanta will probably want a long term deal, and i dont think he's very good anyway. Francisco Cordero will absolutely be looking for a big multi yr deal, and again if you sign him that says Zumaya will not be your closer for a long while. That really just leaves Mariano Rivera (aside from Zumaya) as the one true stopgap to Zumaya. But would he really leave NY to come here? I doubt it. This is why i think Jones appears to be the best option.

I agree. jones should be the closer next year. I look for middle relief help as an area of improvement. Get some veteran arms in the pen, some stoppers and the bully should be fine.

[Guest DetroitIan]

The thing is though theres not many other options. Jones certainly has his bad moments, but overall he really doesnt do that bad of a job i think. He doesnt strike anyone out, but you know, when you sit there watching other guys in our pen walk batter after batter its kind of refreshing to someone who doesnt give free passes left and right. Right now Zumaya is not an option this year because of the massive void it would leave. However with him being the supposed closer of the future we're pretty much limited to the guys who would sign 1 yr deals...or 2 at the very most. Here's the list of available closers:

Armando Benitez

Joe Borowski

Francisco Cordero

Octavio Dotel (has club and player option with Atl)

Eric Gagne

Todd Jones

Al Reyes

Mariano Rivera

Bob Wickman

I would take Todd straight up over Benitez, Borowski, Reyes, and Wickman. Gagne is probably still going to demand alot of money and obviously he's a risk with the way he sucked in Boston. Dotel if he leaves Atlanta will probably want a long term deal, and i dont think he's very good anyway. Francisco Cordero will absolutely be looking for a big multi yr deal, and again if you sign him that says Zumaya will not be your closer for a long while. That really just leaves Mariano Rivera (aside from Zumaya) as the one true stopgap to Zumaya. But would he really leave NY to come here? I doubt it. This is why i think Jones appears to be the best option.

Yeah I feel ya man. As much as I HATE Todd Jones as our closer. The pickins are slim. Very slim. So I see what you mean on Jones being the best option FOR NOW. But as soon as the crop thickens when it comes to closers. We have to make a move. I get scared almost everytime I see Jones warming up. I really do. So I think for the time being, he might have to be the guy(unfortunately), but as soon as Dombrowski can make a move for a somewhat reliable closer, he needs to act on it. Cause the kind of pitching Jones brings to the table, just isnt closer material. Middle relief maybe, but closer? No way IMO. Im still really crossing my fingers that we can somehow snag either Rivera, or Gagne.

[timothy1997 0]

anyone else starting to think that A-Rod will end up with the Dodgers alongside Torre? I thought A-Rod would head to the Cubs but i think the Dodgers are a better fit. Torre and A-Rod go to the Dodgers...LOOK OUT...that divison is theirs.

[BlakChamber 8]

What would y'all think of Schilling in the D? Maybe a 1 year deal.

[betterREDthandead 58]

I love Schilling, but I think one graybeard in the rotation is enough, if Rogers comes back. If Rogers doesn't return, then hell yeah.

[Lou_Siffer 1]

I love Schilling, but I think one graybeard in the rotation is enough, if Rogers comes back. If Rogers doesn't return, then hell yeah.

Agreed, cant have both. If Schilling wants to come here for a year, as much as ive enjoyed having Kenny...i'd say cut him loose. Schilling could also serve a mentor role for Bonderman, who really needs it i think....being that Schilling was a power righty like Bondo is. Dont get me wrong Kenny has been a great leader for the guys, but Bondo and Verlander are much more in the Schilling mold. Actually now that its hitting me as a type, Im starting to really want Schilling now!

Verlander

Schilling

Robertson

Bonderman

Miller (if he's good in the spring)

I like it.

[Guest DetroitIan]

What would y'all think of Schilling in the D? Maybe a 1 year deal.

As long as Kurt can keep his game going for another year, I would love to see Schill in the old english D. Pitching rotation would be extremely solid. And with the lineup we have, Schill could be a big piece to the championship puzzle.

[RockyMountainWingGal 108]

Baseball won't have a salary cap because the players make a killing in the league, owners..players dont want it.....but on the flip side, big payroll doesn't equal success.

I heard the same thing about the NFL, NBA and NHL and they still got it done. MLB has no excuse.

In the other leagues with salary caps, those didn't come about until after a lengthy labor fight involving partially or completely lost seasons. If that's what it takes to institute a salary cap in baseball, I don't want it.

The only teams facing a real competitive imbalance are the three AL East teams not named Yankees or Red Sox.

I would certainly take a labor strike for an equity-based league that doesn't favor two teams. Also, if you look at your list of teams, big money teams make the playoffs consistently (Yankees and now Sox now that they upped their payroll). That leaves the other teams less of a chance to even get into the playoffs.

Also, when the Wings, Rangers, Avs had the big NHL payrolls, we didn't win the Cup every year either - but we were always in the mix.

Lastly, only a few teams have a legitimate chance at landing an A-Rod. That's not fair to fans when their teams have no shot at landing super star players.

Realistically I know it probably won't happen for a long time, and the Tigers aren't even in a terrible spot with their owner's pocketboook, but it would be the bes thing for the game in the long run. Have teams pay 40 mill or whatever it was to buy out a foreign player's contract is just ridiculous.

[betterREDthandead 58]

I heard the same thing about the NFL, NBA and NHL and they still got it done. MLB has no excuse.

I would certainly take a labor strike for an equity-based league that doesn't favor two teams. Also, if you look at your list of teams, big money teams make the playoffs consistently (Yankees and now Sox now that they upped their payroll). That leaves the other teams less of a chance to even get into the playoffs.

Also, when the Wings, Rangers, Avs had the big NHL payrolls, we didn't win the Cup every year either - but we were always in the mix.

Lastly, only a few teams have a legitimate chance at landing an A-Rod. That's not fair to fans when their teams have no shot at landing super star players.

Realistically I know it probably won't happen for a long time, and the Tigers aren't even in a terrible spot with their owner's pocketboook, but it would be the bes thing for the game in the long run. Have teams pay 40 mill or whatever it was to buy out a foreign player's contract is just ridiculous.

Well, it's not fair to us Detroit fans that our town can't compete with the glitz and glamor of a New York or LA, or the weather of a Miami or San Diego, which has kept more than one free agent in various sports away from our city.

And you notice that the Wings and Avs are right there in the mix anyway, even in the third year of the cap. The NFL's cap hasn't prevented the Patriots from dominating for several years now, and it didn't keep the Cowboys and Packers from dominating the '90s. (Look who's on top of the NFC, by the way.)

[timothy1997 0]

I heard the same thing about the NFL, NBA and NHL and they still got it done. MLB has no excuse.

The player association is the difference. MLB players make a ton more than any other league.

Lastly, only a few teams have a legitimate chance at landing an A-Rod. That's not fair to fans when their teams have no shot at landing super star players.

Thats why you do what your team did and grew homegrown players in order to compete.

IMO, the Rockies were a fluke. They lost to a much more superior American League. I bet the Rockies don't even make the playoffs next year. Red Sox will tho.

[Guest jaytan]

The Rockies didn't look inferior to the AL during Interleague play when they rocked Boston. They just fell into the same trap that the Tigers did last year. They had a huge layoff and lost all of their momentum. Boston was the better team, but if the Rockies hadn't had such a long break in between their NLCS win and the start of the World Series, I think they would have at least won a couple against the Red Sox. After the first game, things looked a lot more even, but Boston got more breaks.

[timothy1997 0]

The Rockies didn't look inferior to the AL during Interleague play when they rocked Boston. They just fell into the same trap that the Tigers did last year. They had a huge layoff and lost all of their momentum. Boston was the better team, but if the Rockies hadn't had such a long break in between their NLCS win and the start of the World Series, I think they would have at least won a couple against the Red Sox. After the first game, things looked a lot more even, but Boston got more breaks.

#1 Boston is a better team now than during interleague. Same about Colorado too.

#2 Did you watch game 3 when Boston came out blazing and went up by 6 runs before they let Colorado back in the game. That game more than any, proved that the Red Sox were the better team.

[BlakChamber 8]

As far as having the Gambler and Schilling, I'd be alright with two greybeards if they each have a one year deal. A rotation of Bondo, Nate, JV, Kenny, and Schilling would be have to be in the top 3 in the league. I think it's pretty clear that Ilitch and Dombrowski are building this team to win right now, rather than in a few years.

Edit to add: I'm listening to The Sports Inferno right now, they'll saying that one of the cities Schilling wants to go to is Detroit. He's wanting 1 year, 13 million. Given that we paid Kenny 8 million last time around, it probably means one or the other.

[irishtemper14+25 11]

well a thumbs up for getting another good bat, thumbs down for tradin jurgens