Hey Will, 1st off I hate to say I told you so about Simon, but...... I was wrong about Shane Greene. The Tigers shortcomings really stand out when Miggy is absent from the lineup. He can make up for some mistakes with his hitting. You've got some nice players on that team, i.e. J. Martinez, Iglesias, and McCann. If Catellanos would start hitting, it might make up for his rough play at 3B. The biggest surprise to me overall is the very quick descent of Justin Verlander. I realize that injuries have take their toll, but I didn't think it was that bad. I really hope he can "reinvent" himself as a "control" type pitcher that can hit 95+ when he needs to rather than try to remain a fastball pitcher who has lost his stuff. He was too good of a player, and a person, to see him leave in a puff of smoke. As for a fire sale, the players the Tigers have that could bring anything back would be Price, Cespedes, J. Martinez, Kinsler, Iglesias & Cabrera. I wouldn't trade Iglesias as good SS's are hard to find these days. Price is a FA that you would at least get a draft pick, so if they can't get what they want, it would be better to keep him. I can't see Cabrera getting traded, but stranger things have happened. Martinez is just coming into his own and along with Iglesias make a good foundation for the team. IMHO, trading Cespedes and Kinsler would be a good start to rebuilding the team as well as if they can get at least 1-2 ML ready prospects for Price. At one time Sanchez would have brought back some talent, but he's fallen off the map also.
Your right on about Verlander. What a mystery and a shame. I hope for exactly what you pointed out and he can continue his career. Some of the Detroit Beat Writers have hinged the entire season on his shoulders by stating the Tigers only way back this season is on Verlander... I disagree. JV needs fixed for sure, but the team needs to hit and right now it seems to be a downfall of equal responsibility. The only pitching the Tigers are getting is from Sanchez now and Price. The Price situation is really going to be fun to see unfold as i dont see him wanting to come back. Simon is who you said he was... he sure started the season with a bang, then the brickwall turnaround happened. Tigers just didnt get a flat, they blew out all 4 tires at once. Kinda left me and a bunch really surprised and the Cabrera injury was the last straw. I dont think a fire sail is the right way to go personally, but some moves along the lines you mentioned i have no problem with. Some of the names being tossed around is laughable tho. The only thing certain to me is it certainly is a bloody mess...
been so busy havent been able to do my mid marking, anyhow Ill throw out there my thoughts. Dont have a ton of time but here goes. only breaking down the regular day guys OF Anthony Gose, B has batted much better than I anticipated, has some wheels and has done a solid job defensively which is what we needed most Yoenis Cespedes, B+ has been everything I figured hed be. solid bat and probably the best OF arm in the game. cracks me up every time I see hitters round first and the balls at the wall and they stop - thats respect. hes not Vlad Guerrero either who only had the great arm, Cespedes is deadly accurate. great pickup JD Martinez, A we knew he could hit but hes been even better than last year and as much as I hated to see Torii Hunter leave JD has done a good job in RF. his confidence is sky high right now and hes learned to not pull everything. hes more patient and has cut down on garbage swings. not sure what his AVG is with RISP but he always seems to get the timely hits. great story and glad the Stros let him go INF Miguel Cabrera, like hes gonna get anything less than an A+. If I have to type anything else on this guy you havent been paying attention Kinsler, D hes been crap at the plate, he cant get out of first base on the basepaths anymore and hes made his share of bad plays in the field. he gets paid way too much for what we are getting and I wonder if his shit attitude that always seems to surface is becoming a problem. I wanted fatty out of here so bad and as good as he is doing maybe I should be careful for what I wish for Iglesias, A Ive been telling anyone that will listen including you guys on here that this guy is the real deal. he can do everything. hes the best defensive SS in the league and it seems like I was the only one that thought he could hit - and hes done that in spades. hes the best SS the Tigers have had since Trammell and hes done things I never even seen Tramm do. this guy is a keeper and someone you build around, strength up the middle Castellanos, D Ive never been impressed with him. he makes waaay too many fielding blunders, cant hit and wastes at bats repeatedly. never understood the hype on him and hes proven me right James McCann, B+ love this kid. great defensivley and not a liability at the plate unlike 90% of the catchers in the league. sky is the limit here and hes another cornerstone piece PITCHERS David Price, A to paraphrase the great Dennis Green 'he is who we thought he was'. this guy is a horse in every sense of the word. top 3 lefty in the league and outside of Sale probably the best power lefty. never gets tired or complains, another keeper Anibal Sanchez, B- he started off like crap and was very inconsistent early on. hes more than capable of being a number 1 and his poise to me stands out. hes very competitive and has an excellent mix of pitches. when this guy is on hes lights out Justin Verlander, D the fat lady is warming up. just when I thought he turned the corner in the start before last he gives up a TD in a little over 3 innings.....again. I could write a 5 page story on this guy, Im not gonna say anymore than I think hes toast until he figures out how to pitch and not throw . its over JV the gas is gone which kills the strategy thats worked for you your whole life. best case scenario here, think Frank Tanana Alfredo Simon, C- hate to keep bringing up Dennis Green but I think we all knew what he was before we got him. a reliever who gets exposed/tired as a starter. no one was familiar with him in the AL so he looked great early on but hes easy to figure out. Ausmus and DBrow shouldve known better. put him in the pen and let him use that wicked splitter there, hed be muuuuuuch more productive trust me Shane Greene, D+ Im not giving up on this kid. hes got the stuff and his movement on the ball is really good. over time he'll learn not to hang so many pitches. thats what kills him everytime. hes not a flamethrower but I got faith in this guy. say what will but hes a keeper to me Bullpen Jaokim Soria, A this guy is perfect in his role as closer. I was so happy when Nathan got hurt because I knew this guy was the one we needed back there. great poise, doesnt get rattled and although he doesnt throw that hard, he does an excellent job of mixing up his pitches. probably the best guy we have at painting corners too, hate to see this guy go if the team decides to be sellers at the deadline DH VMart, A my fave Tiger and is a trooper. he plays hurt, gives it his all and although his body cant do what it used to do he strill trucks out there and plays good. never complains and the other guys love him. had a rough start but he was also hurt. he hits to all fields, is a switch hitter and has power - what more could you ask for in a DH I refuse to address the rest of the bullie because its been nothing short of an abortion
M's 1. Brad Miller (L) SS 2. Kyle Seager (L) 3B 3. Nelson Cruz (R) RF 4. Robinson Cano (L) 2B 5. Seth Smith (L) LF 6. Austin Jackson (R) CF 7. Mark Trumbo (R) DH 8. Logan Morrison (L) 1B 9. Mike Zunino (R) C _____________________Happ vs Simon_______________ Tigers 1. Rajai Davis (R) CF 2. Ian Kinsler (R) 2B 3. Yoenis Cespedes (R) LF 4. Victor Martinez (S) DH 5. J.D. Martinez (R) RF 6. Jefry Marte (R) 1B 7. Nick Castellanos (R) 3B 8. James McCann (R) C 9. Jose Iglesias (R) SS
Tigers get 2 HR's from Kinsler including a game winning 2-run shot in the 9th to beat Seattle, 5-4. Whew...
Word on the street is that David Price and Yoenis Cespedes are on the block. I am not too thrilled at this news. It almost makes it seem that the Tigers have no plans to bring back Price after this year as well. It's pretty dissapointing considering they gave up AJax and Smiley to get him with, essentially, no return on it.
Im having a hard time with the notion of Mr. I giving up on the current team. Im with you, i dont like what im hearing.
I was gonna wait but sounds like the cat is out of the bag. kills me to say this and its been a long time since the Tigers been here but its time to restock and reload. Price will net you a kings ransom and in a round about way hes said he wants to be with the Cubs. there have been tweets between him and Arrietta, and hes said when they played in Chicago how much fun it looked like the Cubs were having. If thats the case they have a ton of young talent, thats the way Id go with him. Stros have a lot too. Cespedes will be the best OF on the market and should bag a nice return, ditto for Soria. Were about to see how good DBrow really is in the next couple weeks. signing guys and drafting is one thing, his contract is up so he'll be looking to make it count but I also wonder if he'll just do whatever because he wont have to deal with the mess. If someone takes Avila they need their head checked
M's 1. Austin Jackson (R) CF 2. Kyle Seager (L) 3B 3. Nelson Cruz (R) DH 4. Robinson Cano (L) 2B 5. Seth Smith (L) RF 6. Dustin Ackley (L) LF 7. Brad Miller (L) SS 8. Logan Morrison (L) 1B 9. Mike Zunino (R) C ______________________Walker vs Greene____________________ Tigers 1. Ian Kinsler (R) 2B 2. Yoenis Cespedes (R) LF 3. Victor Martinez (S) DH 4. J.D. Martinez (R) RF 5. Marc Krauss (L) 1B 6. Nick Castellanos (R) 3B 7. Alex Avila (L) C 8. Andrew Romine (S) SS 9. Anthony Gose (L) CF
You know these things and they make some sense, but Holland and DD seem to be cut from the same cloth at times. I really dont know what they should do. I think their a good club, just short a couple pieces, so im not sure blowing it all up is the right course to take.
Tigers battled all the way back to take the lead only to blow it in the 9th. 11-9, final. Tigers are now 46-47.
M's 1. Austin Jackson (R) CF 2. Kyle Seager (L) 3B 3. Nelson Cruz (R) RF 4. Robinson Cano (L) 2B 5. Seth Smith (L) DH 6. Mark Trumbo (R) 1B 7. Dustin Ackley (L) LF 8. Brad Miller (L) SS 9. Mike Zunino (R) C ______________________Montgomery vs Sanchez_________________ Tigers 1. Rajai Davis (R) CF 2. Ian Kinsler (R) 2B 3. Yoenis Cespedes (R) LF 4. Victor Martinez (S) DH 5. J.D. Martinez (R) RF 6. Nick Castellanos (R) 3B 7. James McCann (R) C 8. Jefry Marte (R) 1B 9. Jose Iglesias (R) SS
Im not gonna put Dbrow in w Holland, Holland does very few things I actually like. theyre a decent club right now and I by no means am saying 'blow it up' but all those guys are UFA's so get something while you can. the payroll is already over 100 mill just for 3 players next year. I think you can retool and restock the farm system and instead of having the bottom fallout next year or the year after, get yourself set up and make another run maybe as soon as next year.
One thing for certain... its a mess and truly a shame. Man, i had high hope coming in to this season. Shot down in flames... [video]https://youtu.be/ifzshEIEysM[/video]
Tigers have the 3rd-worst starter ERA in baseball (5.96) over the last 30 days, and the 5th-worst (4.57) this season.
