2007 Baseball Season

[Lou_Siffer 1]

Alright, last year I campaigned for Casey and we got him. Im trying my luck again and officially starting the trade for Brad Lidge campaign! Seeing how i cant get anybody i want in hockey ( ), maybe baseball is where my luck lies! Would love to swap out Monroe for a lefty LF too, even if its just a platooner with Thames. Gotta see who might be available.

Lidge would look good in a Tigers uniform. I was reading something about him in ESPN the Magazine (got it for free, I'd never pay for that crap), I guess the Astros GM isn't a big wheeler dealer though, so who knows if he'll deal.

So i guess that rules out the Astros' Dan Wheeler! Too easy!

Edited July 15, 2007 by Lou_Siffer

[GoWings1905 2,694]

Brad Lidge would be sweet. The problem is everyone is looking for bullpen help at the trade deadline, and the demands in return start to get pretty high. That being said, hopefully Houston's season continues to spiral and they decide to sell at the deadline. Unfortunately, we will likely be blessed by the return of the ever-terrible Fernando Rodney.

[Lou_Siffer 1]

Brad Lidge would be sweet. The problem is everyone is looking for bullpen help at the trade deadline, and the demands in return start to get pretty high. That being said, hopefully Houston's season continues to spiral and they decide to sell at the deadline. Unfortunately, we will likely be blessed by the return of the ever-terrible Fernando Rodney.

Basically every reliever we look at Cleveland will have their eye on as well...so thats going to up the ante. Ive seen Octavio Dotel's name pop up, and I dont want him. We need a serious arm, like i said in the other post you have to act as if Zumaya is not coming back. That leaves a huge hole. We can afford to lose Trahern as we've already got 3 young dynamite arms in the rotation, and i think that will get Houston's attention. Of course i know theyll have to throw 1 or 2 other prospects in addition...but you just have to do it! A baseball season is too damn long to let all your effort go to waste cause of a shaky pen. I have all the confidence in the world that Dombrowski will get something big done.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

Basically every reliever we look at Cleveland will have their eye on as well...so thats going to up the ante. Ive seen Octavio Dotel's name pop up, and I dont want him. We need a serious arm, like i said in the other post you have to act as if Zumaya is not coming back. That leaves a huge hole. We can afford to lose Trahern as we've already got 3 young dynamite arms in the rotation, and i think that will get Houston's attention. Of course i know theyll have to throw 1 or 2 other prospects in addition...but you just have to do it! A baseball season is too damn long to let all your effort go to waste cause of a shaky pen. I have all the confidence in the world that Dombrowski will get something big done.

Agree. The offense and starting pitching on this team is too good to get wasted by the bullpen. I don't really care much for Otsuka and Gagne from Texas, and their names keep coming up quite a bit. Getting Lidge would be nice, but his price tag is going to be the highest out of all the "available" relievers. Above all else, Zumaya needs to come back, because no trade can replace his value.

[Airborn 0]

Quietly the bullpen has put together about 20 innings of scoreless relief. I think a lot of this has to do with Leyland's management. He's done a really good job of putting these guys in the right situations.

It makes me wonder now if Rodney coming back is a good thing. I don't want anything to upset the balance we now have.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

Quietly the bullpen has put together about 20 innings of scoreless relief. I think a lot of this has to do with Leyland's management. He's done a really good job of putting these guys in the right situations.

It makes me wonder now if Rodney coming back is a good thing. I don't want anything to upset the balance we now have.

Rodney coming back is by no stretch a good thing. I would prefer he stay on the DL ... forever.

[BlakChamber 8]

Rodney coming back is by no stretch a good thing. I would prefer he stay on the DL ... forever.

If Rodney is healed and can pitch like he did last year, we'll be in good shape.

[betterREDthandead 58]

I don't think Rodney will be quite as effective as last year. Nor Zumaya - coming off injuries like they are is rough. But then, I don't think Rodney, if actually healthy, will pitch anywhere near as poorly as he did to start the season.

The bullpen's a point of concern, but I think the rotation and lineup, if intact, is good enough to carry the Tigers to at least the ALCS.

[Airborn 0]

I didn't see the game last night, but we got 4 more good innings out of the pen, although it looked liked Leyland, once again, had to pull a circus act to get the job done.

With the Twins loading the bases with one out in the seventh, Leyland brought in Chad Durbin to replace Bobby Seay with a 1-2 count on pinch-hitter Mike Redmond. After Durbin's first pitch hit Redmond to load the bases, the Tigers got out of it on Jeff Cirillo's pop-up at the plate and Lew Ford's fly ball to center.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic...351/1004/SPORTS

That's now 1 earned run in about 24 innings. I'm not sure who gets the boot when Rodney comes back. My bet is either McBride or Grilli.

McBride but he's been pitching well (ERA in the 2s), but he still walks way too many guys. With everyone looking for relief help, I wonder if Grilli has any trade value. His numbers aren't great this year, but he's got good stuff. Honestly, that's who I'd like to see go.

Edited July 19, 2007 by Airborn

[Hockeytown Red Wings 245]

Thames goes onto the 15 Day DL. Nice to sweep the Twins. We dont usually play to well against them.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

This was a very impressive series sweep against the Twins. Nice to see the bullpen finally starting to come around. The schedule for the Tigers has been brutal lately, and yet they find a way to keep winning. The best record in baseball, and they probably are only going to get better by the end of the season.

Edited July 20, 2007 by GoWings1905

[Guest DetroitIan]

I feel alot better now that we have a 2 game lead on the tribe. We just gotta keep it going. We looked outstanding during the entire series against the Twins. Pitching, hitting, and defense all came together. I hope the Twins enjoyed that broom up their ass. Swwwweep!

[Hockeytown Red Wings 245]

...and then they get blown out by the Royals. It happens...

[Kp-Wings 3]

...and then they get blown out by the Royals. It happens...

Usually these games come around once or twice every season. They appeared to have shown their heads a little early this year, since the last blowout by KC came before the playoffs started last season.

Eh, oh well. We're still ahead of Cleveland by a game at least.

[Lou_Siffer 1]

Have you guys heard the small rumblings about the Tigers being interested in Dontrelle Willis? Supposedly the Tigers and Mets would be leading the charge if he's available. That one makes NO sense. They better not do something stupid like trade Andrew Miller for him or something...i'd go insane!

One name i'm eyeing aside from Lidge is another Astro in Mark Loretta. Release Neifi Perez and make a move for him. He's a hell of alot better hitter (career near .300 avg), and can play all infield positions. Perfect, reliable utility guy and as good as an insurance policy you can possibly have for the stretch run. That combo would cost us alot, but to me it feels like the last 2 pieces of the puzzle.

[Hockeytown Red Wings 245]

They tried to give on away tonite, Inge's walkoff homer won it in 10. Looks like C-Mo had a good game for a change. Homer and a double.

[Airborn 0]

Have you guys heard the small rumblings about the Tigers being interested in Dontrelle Willis? Supposedly the Tigers and Mets would be leading the charge if he's available. That one makes NO sense. They better not do something stupid like trade Andrew Miller for him or something...i'd go insane!

One name i'm eyeing aside from Lidge is another Astro in Mark Loretta. Release Neifi Perez and make a move for him. He's a hell of alot better hitter (career near .300 avg), and can play all infield positions. Perfect, reliable utility guy and as good as an insurance policy you can possibly have for the stretch run. That combo would cost us alot, but to me it feels like the last 2 pieces of the puzzle.

I think the Willis rumor has to be that - just a rumor. It's probably being propagated because we offered something like Verlander and another prospect for him last year. I think our interest in him has passed and If we trade for anything, it'll be bullpen help.

The problem is all the main guys out there have question marks. Lidge - confidence, Gagne - injury risk, Dotel injuries/performance, and Cordero - stuff.

Take into account what opposing GMs are asking for these guys, and I wouldn't be surprised if Dombrowski stands pat.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

I don't understand the Dontrelle Willis rumors. Starting pitching is not the Tigers problem. Tonight's game should be solid evidence that the bullpen needs some serious help.

I like Jones, but Gagne would be a major upgrade (if healthy) at closer. Dave Dombrowski will be making some move for a reliever by the deadline. He's smart enough to realize how good this team is, and how the bullpen should not be jeopardizing that every game. There is no way the Tigers don't make a move at the deadline.

Anyways, nice win tonight, despite the bullpen woes again. to Inge!

Edited July 22, 2007 by GoWings1905

[Lou_Siffer 1]

I think the Willis rumor has to be that - just a rumor. It's probably being propagated because we offered something like Verlander and another prospect for him last year. I think our interest in him has passed and If we trade for anything, it'll be bullpen help.

The problem is all the main guys out there have question marks. Lidge - confidence, Gagne - injury risk, Dotel injuries/performance, and Cordero - stuff.

Take into account what opposing GMs are asking for these guys, and I wouldn't be surprised if Dombrowski stands pat.

Dombrowski's not a stand pat guy though, I'd be shocked if he did. There's just no way he chances going into the late season without a big gun in the pen. (im not counting Zumaya, obviously) Especially when we do have assets that we can afford to trade like Trahern and a guy like Gorkys Hernandez.

[mannysBETTER3434 1]

I didn't watch much of last nights game, but who was our guy playing center field?? The only person I could think was Clevlan, but I don't think it was him.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

I didn't watch much of last nights game, but who was our guy playing center field?? The only person I could think was Clevlan, but I don't think it was him.

Ryan Raburn

Edited July 22, 2007 by GoWings1905

[Hockeytown Red Wings 245]

And the Tigers drop 2 of 3 to the Royals at home. I called that one...

At least C-Mo looks like he's starting to turn things around.

[Kp-Wings 3]

And the Tigers drop 2 of 3 to the Royals at home. I called that one...

At least C-Mo looks like he's starting to turn things around.

It's the typical Monroe "5-game flash of brillance" he shows every season. He's like the Nikolai Antropov of baseball.

I'd be surprised if he can keep it going on a consistant basis.

[Airborn 0]

Dombrowski's not a stand pat guy though, I'd be shocked if he did. There's just no way he chances going into the late season without a big gun in the pen. (im not counting Zumaya, obviously) Especially when we do have assets that we can afford to trade like Trahern and a guy like Gorkys Hernandez.

You could have said the same thing last year. There's no way we go into the post season without a big bat in the middle of the lineup, yet we passed on Abreu and Soriano because teams wanted too much.

I don't see us mortgaging the future for a guy like Lidge or Gagne. If anything, he'll make a deal for a guy under the radar, similar to what he did with Casey last year.

[Lou_Siffer 1]

You could have said the same thing last year. There's no way we go into the post season without a big bat in the middle of the lineup, yet we passed on Abreu and Soriano because teams wanted too much.

I don't see us mortgaging the future for a guy like Lidge or Gagne. If anything, he'll make a deal for a guy under the radar, similar to what he did with Casey last year.

True, but I dont believe the need for a big bat last season was as significant as the need for a big arm in the pen this season. Casey was all i even wanted last deadline. There wasnt a need for Abreu and Soriano. This year though, while the pen has pitched well lately, the wheels could easily fall off at any time. Its still shaky. I dont exactly like the idea of putting alot of stock into the arm of Zach Miner...considering how he fell off after a good start last year. Macay McBride i think is pretty good, as he was also pretty good for Atl, but the jury is really out on Capellan. Again, is this the kinda young guy you wanna instill faith into? Not me. If Zumaya doesnt come back, who's the go to stopper? There isnt one. Now, you may bring up Lidge's confidence issues, but I believe last year was an abberation coming off the loss of the '05 series. This year, his numbers are back to being really good. This team is in such a position that we arent mortgaging the future. We have 3 young stud arms on the big club, most teams are lucky to have 1. Barring serious injuries, we are all set there. Trahern or any other young arm not named Porcello can be cut loose for that reason. Gorkys Hernandez is supposed to be our #2 outfield prospect. We already have Cameron Maybin who i firmly believe is cant miss, plus we have Granderson up here who's getting better and better. Those are two guys right there who can fetch us something really good in return, and not even hurt us long term. Last deadline was different, because we didnt know for sure what we had in a guy like Andrew Miller. Now that we know he's the real deal, it makes other young pitchers in the minors expendable.

I havent heard yet whos starting the double header game tomorrow, i know Leyland said theyre calling somebody up. Ive got a feeling this could be a spot for a deadline showcase start for Jordan Tata.