Forget the Lions, GO TIGERS!

[dashaver63]

Now that the Tigers have one of the top 3 teams in all of baseball, this winter may never end. This might be the best year ever to be a Tigers fan. 1984 was an awesome season, Jack Morris no-hits Chicago, 35-5 for the best start ever, Sparky Anderson, Kirk Gibson and the blast off Goose to ice the series. But this coming year has all the makings to be very special. Arguably the best hitting order ever assembled, a very,very solid starting staff, only question is the bullpen middle men. If the starters can go 6 plus like they did 2 years ago, the pen might not come into question. Just get by untill Zumaya gets healthy. I've been a Tigers fan since 1968,( I was 5 when they won the series and I still remember Lolich winning game 7)and this is the first time I can remember them building a team like this that will be competing for many years. I am stoked and can't wait. Maybe Illich should just buy the Lions too?

[Skulley]

I have got to agree with you.  The Tigers have just put together a lineup that boasts nothing but 300 hitters.  Imagine having to face a lineup where everyone hits at least 300.  They acquired Dontrell Willis and that should pretty well round out the starting rotation.  Now the big question is the bullpen.  Zumaya is out at least until..........what did they say.....June maybe July.  They need some middle relief and Zumaya is key when it comes to that.

At least the Tigers Organization is serious about winning.  Unlike the Lions who have been the laughing stock of the NFL for the last 30 or so years.


BD           

[dashaver63]

I believe Zumaya is to be ready at least by the all star break. I agree about the Lions, there is a lot of tradition in that franchise that goes back to the 40's and 50's. Greedy owners that don't want to pay the price to have a play-off contender. That and I don't know who the talent scouts are for them, but they need to be re-evaluated. Lions drafts have not produced much of anything for them for a long time.

[Skulley]

We can only hope that Zumaya will be ready by next years All-Star break.  I don't believe he was ready when he came back at the end of this past season.  I think they rushed him......but that is only my opinion.  I am a little disappointed that they let that one kid go in the trade to Florida.  Apparently he threw in the high 90's, however this is where the gamble comes in when you are banking on Zumaya coming back by July.  I hope he can make it or we will have lost a young pitcher to the trade. 

For so many years the Tigers have done nothing up until '06.  At least the management is trying to make something happen.  If you don't take chances.....you won't have successes or make mistakes.  I would rather make a mistake trying than just be a "do nothing".  Hats off to Dave Dombrowski.  Maybe Millen and the Ford Family can take a few lessons on getting good personnel and making good trades and drafts from Dombrowski.

BD             

[dashaver63]

The biggest difference I see in this trade over the one in '87, they didn't really mortgage their future like they did then. Remember Doyle Alexander for John Smoltz? Alexander was at the back end of his career and Smoltz was a prospect. This trade, they gave up 5 prospects and got 2 guy's that haven't reached their prime years yet. The kid your'e thinking of is that De Le Cruz kid. He throws hard but he's unproven. As far as Zumaya goes, all the reports I have read are positive and I think the Tigers are bankung on some of their younger arms to fill the gap. They acquired a kid named Cruceta that has big league experience and can really bring it. Man I can't wait for spring!

[Dan]

I heard today on Sports Radio that the move the Tigers made was because Ron Sheffield will likely be suspended from baseball when the steroid investigation comes to the forefront in the very near future. They still should be in good shape, but the new steroid stuff is suppose to hit the press soon and there are a number of big names that are about to be implicated, according to the talk show that I listened to today.

[dashaver63]

Gary Sheffield? I hadn't heard his name come up in any of the steroid-HGH stuff. Paul Byrd and and the outfielder from Seattle( I can't think of his name ) but I know 2 guy's got 15 gome suspensions as of right now. Wow, I'm going to have to check into that.

[Skulley]

Inge signed as a utility catcher, infield, outfield anywhere player and Curtis Granderson on board with a 5 year deal, the Tigers are the best team on paper in Major League Baseball.  What do you think???  They got the squad.  Best line-up in baseball.  Can they do it???

BD           

[dashaver63]

Barring the injuries they had last year they should win the division going away. I'm really interested to see what Dontrell Willis does and what kind of shape Cabrera will be in. Also Kenny Rogers will be a key part. Then you have the bullpen... Jim Leyland said it best when he said it all looks good on paper, but they still have to perform. I really don't think the Indians can do what they did last year, they aren't that good, they just all had career years last year. But, yes, the Tigers are the team to beat in the Central and very easily could win the series. I CAN'T WAIT! When do pitchers and catchers report?

[motocross269]

Baseball games are won with pitching. All of the great teams have had a deep pitching staff.  I am a little concerned about the Tiger's rotation...Should be a great year.

[5alive]

I have to agree with Moto. The Tigers will fall short again, you can not win games with the closers (I use that very loosely) they have. Jones- joke at best, Zumaya- injury really hurt him, Rodney- too many mistakes, how many times did these guys not get it done? All of their closers have an ERA over 4 !!!! This is terrible; they only throw 1-2 innings. When they first had success, no AL hitters had really seen them, now everyone is aware of them and they have added no extra pitches to their game. The starting pitchers, other than Verlander and Bonderman, will need to have success from Willis. Rodgers is starting to show his age, and Robertson is a question mark. I really hope I am wrong, their offense looks fantastic, and I hope Inge gets the playing time he deserves.

[dashaver63]

I really have to disagree about the Tigers pitching. No, they were not as effective last year as the year before but there are several reasons for that. They pitched an extra month in 2006 and being their first experiance in the post season, I don't think that they understood what it really takes out of a pitcher and how to effectively use the off season to recover from the extra work. Todd Jones might not be the overpowering closer other teams have, but look at his save totals over the last 3 years, 40, 38, 37. He scares me most times, but he usually gets the job done. As for the bullpen, as long as the starters go at least six and the bullpen doesn't to account for 4 plus innings per game, they will be as dominant as they were in 2006. Joel Zumaya will be missed and I hope he regains his old form when he returns. I look for them to be the best staff in baseball again as they were in 2006, but this time with the offense to take the pressure off thinking they have be perfect to win. They'll be able to just relax and pitch and that will make them better.

[5alive]

Again this is just my opinion, but you are correct that they did not have the success as the previous year due to the fact that the hitters in the league have seen all their pitches (you can't survive on fastballs, especially bad location fastballs).  How many of his saves were against quality teams? How many hits did he give up? Look at his hits to strike out ratio, just terrible to call this guy a closer! Yanks, Indians, Red Sox pretty much handle the Tigers pitching.The closers just don't get it done! They really need to take a look at the middle relievers too, they do not give the starters much help, that is why the offensive power has to be increased, and as they have shown in the past, the stars of the team are showing their age again. This not the young team everybody thinks it is. I hope Willis can give them something, Miller was a great young arm.

[dashaver63]

Of more encouragement for Detroit was Jones' second half. His ERA fell from 5.82 heading into the All-Star break to 1.82 afterward. Opponents' batting average fell from .302 to .243, OPS from .795 to .571, and he allowed one home run over 30 second-half innings. The statistical difference stemmed in part from no disastrous outings like June 1 at Cleveland, where manager Jim Leyland paid dearly for breaking his own rule and using Jones in the eighth inning of a save situation.

This is an exerpt from the MLB.com website. I really think the Tigers staff is better than you believe it is.

[5alive]

I don't beleive those numbers are correct, from the stats I have seen, his ERA is around 3 (2.88), after the break, but those numbers could be from save opportunities not total appearances. Again my opionion only, and I hope I am wrong, but this staff is not as strong as it looks. Jones just does not throw enough strikes or strike out many batters for him to be called a closer.

After All-Star

W  L  ERA  G  GS CG SHO SV SVO  IP    H   R  ER  HR HBP BB SO
0  0 2.88  25  0   0     0  16  18  25.0  22  8   8    2    0   8 13

Again these numbers are from non playoff type teams too, the Tigers second half, and the games he appeared in were not strong teams. When you look at the best closers in the game their ERA and strike to ball counts are much better. Yes I know this is who the Tiger's are relying on, and I cringe everytime the game is on the line and Jones appears, but without the awesome offense this team has, this pitching staff is weak. they have no lefty to close or go too either, maybe there aren't any out there to get or maybe just maybe this system has another Verlander/Miller in the wings. Well I am a Tiger fan and I always want my team to be the best!!!!!!

[LAPORTE]

I'm impressed on how close you guy follow the team ... I just enjoy watching the game  (when I get a chance)

Don L

[dashaver63]

I'm not going to try to convince you, 5ALIVE, that the Tigers staff is not near as bad as you think it is. As far as Jones goes, he scrares me at times also, but with over 35 saves each of his last 3 years, he is capable. You can't compare him to the elite closers in baseball since there are only a half dozen or so that are as dominant as a Gossage was in his day. Those numbers I posted are straight from major league baseball so I didn't question them. I have lived and breathed Tigers baseball since 1968 and this is a great time to be a Tigers fan. Watch for Francisco Cruceta to make an impact, as well as Byrdak and Seay to be big role players. I would think that if Dombrowski would have thought there was a big concern in the 'pen, they would have addressed that also. I'm confident they will perform as needed. The addition of Willis, Cabrera, Renteria and Jacque Jones will raise the level of play of everyone on this team. It's gonna be a good year.

[motocross269]

Sounds like the makings of a GLB Day at Comerica park outing....
Tourney in the AM and a Ball game and maybe Casinos that PM.

[dashaver63]

When I was in the Navy in San Diego, a bunch of us would do that at Jack Murphy Stadium for the Padres game. Memorial Day weekend they would always have a double header with a Beach Boys concert between games. Bikini's and baseball, great combination!

[motocross269]

I am not going to jump on the Anti-Tiger bandwagon..I love the team, but if their pitchers don't get going it could be a long season...