It's obvious, Tigers need another arm.
Hello, this is Kyle Bauer, new member and blogger of the WXOU sports department. Unlike Corey's fine blog which is centered around Oakland University athletics, my blog will be more oriented towards the Tigers, Pistons, Red Wings and the Lions.
For the next week Im going to post a 2 part blog on what weaknesses can hinder the Tigers from making it back to the World Series and what they should do to curve them. I can't be all negative, in the second part of the blog which will come later this week, I will include some thoughts on what has impressed me with this team and why they're in first place and have the capability to stay there.
There isn’t too much to be concerned about at this point, riiiiight? Think about it. Currently tied for the A.L. Central division lead, only a couple games shy of Boston for the best record in all of baseball. Many members of the always fickle sports media declared Magglio Ordonez the first half A.L. mvp. Well how could you complain, hell, we should be begging for this after all the years of the Tigers being 20 games out at this point, shouldn’t be spoiled after last years dream season. Its inappropriate to say that any complaints directed towards this team is complacent or unwarranted because 2006 shouldn’t had been a "dream" season, but a reality and that's why there’s some serious concerns with this team that needs to be addressed soon if we want to see the Tigers repeat as Worl-...uh excuse me American League champions.
First concern is an obvious one that has every sportswriter and fan from Rob Parker to my girlfriend in a panic. The bullpen. It's easy to say we need a reliever to cure the Tigers of their woes that have already cost them 14 games this relatively young season. The real answers lie in two question; In what role and at what expense?
In what role?
From the time he graced Tiger Stadium with his presence to his second run in Comerica Park, Todd Jones has been the whipping boy of Tigers fan. Some criticism deserved but most unrealistic. His inflated era. occasional blown save and really every nail baiting outing (which rarely goes 1-2-3) has left Tigers fans crying that he is the reason for the bullpen trouble and that if the Tigers want to solidify their bullpen, we need him demoted and Eric Gangne in his place.
Reality check, Todd Jones is one of the most consistent closers in the game and his ability to get the ball down and over the plate is something you want to see out of a closer because he'll get ground balls and not give too many free passes. The argument to contest that has been that he’s walking many batters and giving up more homeruns and line drives. That is because Leyland not having a reliable set-up man is having to go to Jones more often when its a fact that Jones era. dramatically climbs and his pitch count exceeds 25. Once Jones, who is 39 and fat to begin with, gets tired he cant get his fastball down or his cutter to break, leaving him with a shotty curve that normally cant find the plate and if it does it will then find the seats.
That’s where the role needs to be filled, not with a closer to replace Jones but a set up man so Jones wont ever have to be used as an option for the 8th or have to go in on consecutive nights fallowing a high pitch count the previous appearance. Also Jones fallowed the heat of Zumaya and Rodney last season. This year its Bobby Seay, Tim Byrdak and occasionally McKay McBride or Cappelean. You weigh the difference...not that Rodney has been anything better this season. I believe Jones capitalized off of hitters making timing adjustments to the contrast of facing Rodney or Zumaya in the 7th who run it up in the high 90's to low 100's, then Jones puts it over 85 to 92 mph. Batters haven’t had to make such drastic adjustments to Jones style of pitching.
From the practical side, Zumaya may not come back 100% by September this year and with his injury I wouldn’t count on him to go every night and save this ball club. Also the Tigers have 6 losses in the 9th inning or later, 4 of those due to Jones hanging fastball but as I mentioned earlier the Tigers middle relief has cost this team an additional 7 games in between the 5th and 9th inning. So which would you rather improve upon, 4 losses or 10?
Everyone wants Eric Gange and I believe the Tigers should be looking at a different Texas Ranger. Set-up man, Akinori Otsuka should be topping our wish list. 2.51 era, 1.07 whip in 34 innings pitched would sound good to me right now. The problem with Otsuka is that he has similar stuff compared to Jones. He delivers an accurate but lower velocity fastball for strikes but offers one of the more late biting sliders in the game. His numbers speak for any concerns though. This would most likely be rented help though. He has a moderate high price at 3 million, also he is 35 and it is a valid question on whether it is worth giving up any youth such as Virgil Vaquez or Dallas Trehan.
A player out of the National League the Tigers may want to try to make a bid for is from the lowly St.Louis Cardinals who have had one diamond in the rough of their nightmare season. That diamond is Ryan Franklin who has a 1.20 era in 39 appearances with 13 holds and only 4 walks. A negative regarding him is a 32 /17 hit to strikeout ratio but he doesn’t give up walks which has been damning trait to this bullpen and a 1.20 era is a 1.20 era.
Those are just a couple pitchers that I hope the Tigers have their eye on as Leyland and Dombrowski have both stated that they need a set-up man. We'll see but I believe the Tigers have to make a move for a set-up man at the deadline but
At what expense?
As I previously mentioned would it be worth giving up any of the Tigers core of minor league talent to possibly rent a reliever that may put this team over the top. Would the teams minor league prospects even be enough? There’s a lot of possibilities to what constitutes trade bait with this ball club and it certainly depends on who they talk with. You have to figure a team like Texas would be looking for a starting pitcher who could come up as soon as next year such as the afore mentioned Vaquez or Trehan, maybe they would want some with a little more experience with versatility on a major league level like Miner or Durbin. Maybe they want a package deal that includes a prospect pitcher and Infante or Monroe. Either way its something to be thought about. The Tigers can afford to give away some young pitcher talent at this point certainly if it improves on their only true weakness. When you have 3 studs under 25 in Verlander, Bonderman and Miller who are all under contract, you can afford to take that risk right now. That’s another reason why I’m hoping the Tigers are in talks with Texas because they would be a team that’s easier to deal with, while most teams would want young gun outfielder Cameron Maybin who many believe is a potential 5 tool player and perennial all-star. I believe Maybin is a deal breaker (even though I love Granderson) and that most teams will be requesting him in trades for reliever.
In my mind Craig Monroe is expendable but I don’t believe you could get more than a bullpen catcher for Monroe at the moment. I’ve heard from so many sources that teams are interested in him but I just don’t buy that the Astros are willing to take him straight up for Brad Lidge. Monroe has the potential that I suppose is still there to be a above average player in this game but this was due to be his break out year and he’s shown nothing but lackadaisical out fielding and horrible mechanics, focus and discipline at the plate. If he goes, he'll be a small piece in a package deal.
Omar Infante is a player whose name is being throw around as the biggest non-prospect trade bait. In my opinion Omar is too valuable. Even for a reliever I would rather hold onto him because I see him as a pretty good insurance policy despite his recent struggles. If anything happens to Inge, Guillen or Polanco, those are 3 vital parts to this Tigers machine and he could fill all three of their roles adequately, at least to the point where their absence wont hurt as bad and we wont be seeing post steroids Neifi Perez in the line-up. There’s a chance that Omar may not get off the bench down the stretch but I’m so paranoid that one of our 3 big infielders might go down again that I wouldn’t feel comfortable taking the risk of not having a backup for them outside of Santiago, Perez or Rayburn.
Marcus Thames is this teams best non-prospect trade option right now. I love Marcus and have defended his hitting talents many times in the past because he’s always seemed to have been an underrated player when I think he’s a stockier more focused Craig Monroe. Right now he’s putting everything into the ball and it hasn’t made for the best average but he is showing his 25 to 30 homerun power potential and showing it better than Monroe. If I were a GM I would be looking at Thames to serve as a strong hitting outfield that could be a piece to building a ball club, he could also provide leadership as this is a man who has perservered in tough situations on and off the field. I would hate to lose him but I think he has some value and he’s more expendable than Infante because there is the sloth, Chris Shelton, who is patiently waiting for a roster spot. The question regarding Thames is, would you trade him and make Monroe you’re once again every day left fielder? Obviously I think you can trade Thames if the deal is right and hope Monroe gets his head on straight, catching fire for the stretch run such as he did last season. If Monroe continues to struggle, you always have the option of putting Sheffield back in the outfield which I don’t think it would be too hard of an adjustment to return out there every day.
Chad Durbin and Zach Miner names have been tossed around a little bit but I doubt that any teams would be that interested in them as starting pitchers. They both were just good enough to get the job done when they've been called upon to fill the fifth starter role but not overly impressive. Not only do I doubt any teams would really be interested in them but coming out of the bullpen they can be great for the Tigers. I think both Durbin and Miner feel more comfortable working long relief than starting and their numbers out of the bullpen show that. Long relief is one of the most under appreciated roles in baseball. A good long reliever can keep a team in the ball game and give them a chance to win. Durbin and Miner can both keep the Tigers in the game, certainly better than Grilli. We need to improve the bullpen and getting rid of either of them would not not resolve the problem just leave a questionable gap.
The Tigers do have some trade options that they should take because this team is in mine and many peoples opinion, just one arm away. The difference in my opinions are that it needs to be a set-up man not a closer, a team isn’t going to want Monroe straight up for anybody and that Maybin, Durbin and Infante are the only players that maybe considered trade bait, that I wouldn’t let go of.
Check back later this week for the second part where I give my thoughts on the Tigers inability to produce any late inning magic, such as they did so often last year and how it may come back to hurt them. Also how the Tigers resiliancy fallowing so many of their late inning losses is something to be noted.
You can hear more of my opinions every Tuesday 2 to 3 pm with Corey and Brad. Also occasionally on Wednesdays 5 to 6 pm with Corey , Brad and Kyle Horner.
For the next week Im going to post a 2 part blog on what weaknesses can hinder the Tigers from making it back to the World Series and what they should do to curve them. I can't be all negative, in the second part of the blog which will come later this week, I will include some thoughts on what has impressed me with this team and why they're in first place and have the capability to stay there.
There isn’t too much to be concerned about at this point, riiiiight? Think about it. Currently tied for the A.L. Central division lead, only a couple games shy of Boston for the best record in all of baseball. Many members of the always fickle sports media declared Magglio Ordonez the first half A.L. mvp. Well how could you complain, hell, we should be begging for this after all the years of the Tigers being 20 games out at this point, shouldn’t be spoiled after last years dream season. Its inappropriate to say that any complaints directed towards this team is complacent or unwarranted because 2006 shouldn’t had been a "dream" season, but a reality and that's why there’s some serious concerns with this team that needs to be addressed soon if we want to see the Tigers repeat as Worl-...uh excuse me American League champions.
First concern is an obvious one that has every sportswriter and fan from Rob Parker to my girlfriend in a panic. The bullpen. It's easy to say we need a reliever to cure the Tigers of their woes that have already cost them 14 games this relatively young season. The real answers lie in two question; In what role and at what expense?
In what role?
From the time he graced Tiger Stadium with his presence to his second run in Comerica Park, Todd Jones has been the whipping boy of Tigers fan. Some criticism deserved but most unrealistic. His inflated era. occasional blown save and really every nail baiting outing (which rarely goes 1-2-3) has left Tigers fans crying that he is the reason for the bullpen trouble and that if the Tigers want to solidify their bullpen, we need him demoted and Eric Gangne in his place.
Reality check, Todd Jones is one of the most consistent closers in the game and his ability to get the ball down and over the plate is something you want to see out of a closer because he'll get ground balls and not give too many free passes. The argument to contest that has been that he’s walking many batters and giving up more homeruns and line drives. That is because Leyland not having a reliable set-up man is having to go to Jones more often when its a fact that Jones era. dramatically climbs and his pitch count exceeds 25. Once Jones, who is 39 and fat to begin with, gets tired he cant get his fastball down or his cutter to break, leaving him with a shotty curve that normally cant find the plate and if it does it will then find the seats.
That’s where the role needs to be filled, not with a closer to replace Jones but a set up man so Jones wont ever have to be used as an option for the 8th or have to go in on consecutive nights fallowing a high pitch count the previous appearance. Also Jones fallowed the heat of Zumaya and Rodney last season. This year its Bobby Seay, Tim Byrdak and occasionally McKay McBride or Cappelean. You weigh the difference...not that Rodney has been anything better this season. I believe Jones capitalized off of hitters making timing adjustments to the contrast of facing Rodney or Zumaya in the 7th who run it up in the high 90's to low 100's, then Jones puts it over 85 to 92 mph. Batters haven’t had to make such drastic adjustments to Jones style of pitching.
From the practical side, Zumaya may not come back 100% by September this year and with his injury I wouldn’t count on him to go every night and save this ball club. Also the Tigers have 6 losses in the 9th inning or later, 4 of those due to Jones hanging fastball but as I mentioned earlier the Tigers middle relief has cost this team an additional 7 games in between the 5th and 9th inning. So which would you rather improve upon, 4 losses or 10?
Everyone wants Eric Gange and I believe the Tigers should be looking at a different Texas Ranger. Set-up man, Akinori Otsuka should be topping our wish list. 2.51 era, 1.07 whip in 34 innings pitched would sound good to me right now. The problem with Otsuka is that he has similar stuff compared to Jones. He delivers an accurate but lower velocity fastball for strikes but offers one of the more late biting sliders in the game. His numbers speak for any concerns though. This would most likely be rented help though. He has a moderate high price at 3 million, also he is 35 and it is a valid question on whether it is worth giving up any youth such as Virgil Vaquez or Dallas Trehan.
A player out of the National League the Tigers may want to try to make a bid for is from the lowly St.Louis Cardinals who have had one diamond in the rough of their nightmare season. That diamond is Ryan Franklin who has a 1.20 era in 39 appearances with 13 holds and only 4 walks. A negative regarding him is a 32 /17 hit to strikeout ratio but he doesn’t give up walks which has been damning trait to this bullpen and a 1.20 era is a 1.20 era.
Those are just a couple pitchers that I hope the Tigers have their eye on as Leyland and Dombrowski have both stated that they need a set-up man. We'll see but I believe the Tigers have to make a move for a set-up man at the deadline but
At what expense?
As I previously mentioned would it be worth giving up any of the Tigers core of minor league talent to possibly rent a reliever that may put this team over the top. Would the teams minor league prospects even be enough? There’s a lot of possibilities to what constitutes trade bait with this ball club and it certainly depends on who they talk with. You have to figure a team like Texas would be looking for a starting pitcher who could come up as soon as next year such as the afore mentioned Vaquez or Trehan, maybe they would want some with a little more experience with versatility on a major league level like Miner or Durbin. Maybe they want a package deal that includes a prospect pitcher and Infante or Monroe. Either way its something to be thought about. The Tigers can afford to give away some young pitcher talent at this point certainly if it improves on their only true weakness. When you have 3 studs under 25 in Verlander, Bonderman and Miller who are all under contract, you can afford to take that risk right now. That’s another reason why I’m hoping the Tigers are in talks with Texas because they would be a team that’s easier to deal with, while most teams would want young gun outfielder Cameron Maybin who many believe is a potential 5 tool player and perennial all-star. I believe Maybin is a deal breaker (even though I love Granderson) and that most teams will be requesting him in trades for reliever.
In my mind Craig Monroe is expendable but I don’t believe you could get more than a bullpen catcher for Monroe at the moment. I’ve heard from so many sources that teams are interested in him but I just don’t buy that the Astros are willing to take him straight up for Brad Lidge. Monroe has the potential that I suppose is still there to be a above average player in this game but this was due to be his break out year and he’s shown nothing but lackadaisical out fielding and horrible mechanics, focus and discipline at the plate. If he goes, he'll be a small piece in a package deal.
Omar Infante is a player whose name is being throw around as the biggest non-prospect trade bait. In my opinion Omar is too valuable. Even for a reliever I would rather hold onto him because I see him as a pretty good insurance policy despite his recent struggles. If anything happens to Inge, Guillen or Polanco, those are 3 vital parts to this Tigers machine and he could fill all three of their roles adequately, at least to the point where their absence wont hurt as bad and we wont be seeing post steroids Neifi Perez in the line-up. There’s a chance that Omar may not get off the bench down the stretch but I’m so paranoid that one of our 3 big infielders might go down again that I wouldn’t feel comfortable taking the risk of not having a backup for them outside of Santiago, Perez or Rayburn.
Marcus Thames is this teams best non-prospect trade option right now. I love Marcus and have defended his hitting talents many times in the past because he’s always seemed to have been an underrated player when I think he’s a stockier more focused Craig Monroe. Right now he’s putting everything into the ball and it hasn’t made for the best average but he is showing his 25 to 30 homerun power potential and showing it better than Monroe. If I were a GM I would be looking at Thames to serve as a strong hitting outfield that could be a piece to building a ball club, he could also provide leadership as this is a man who has perservered in tough situations on and off the field. I would hate to lose him but I think he has some value and he’s more expendable than Infante because there is the sloth, Chris Shelton, who is patiently waiting for a roster spot. The question regarding Thames is, would you trade him and make Monroe you’re once again every day left fielder? Obviously I think you can trade Thames if the deal is right and hope Monroe gets his head on straight, catching fire for the stretch run such as he did last season. If Monroe continues to struggle, you always have the option of putting Sheffield back in the outfield which I don’t think it would be too hard of an adjustment to return out there every day.
Chad Durbin and Zach Miner names have been tossed around a little bit but I doubt that any teams would be that interested in them as starting pitchers. They both were just good enough to get the job done when they've been called upon to fill the fifth starter role but not overly impressive. Not only do I doubt any teams would really be interested in them but coming out of the bullpen they can be great for the Tigers. I think both Durbin and Miner feel more comfortable working long relief than starting and their numbers out of the bullpen show that. Long relief is one of the most under appreciated roles in baseball. A good long reliever can keep a team in the ball game and give them a chance to win. Durbin and Miner can both keep the Tigers in the game, certainly better than Grilli. We need to improve the bullpen and getting rid of either of them would not not resolve the problem just leave a questionable gap.
The Tigers do have some trade options that they should take because this team is in mine and many peoples opinion, just one arm away. The difference in my opinions are that it needs to be a set-up man not a closer, a team isn’t going to want Monroe straight up for anybody and that Maybin, Durbin and Infante are the only players that maybe considered trade bait, that I wouldn’t let go of.
Check back later this week for the second part where I give my thoughts on the Tigers inability to produce any late inning magic, such as they did so often last year and how it may come back to hurt them. Also how the Tigers resiliancy fallowing so many of their late inning losses is something to be noted.
You can hear more of my opinions every Tuesday 2 to 3 pm with Corey and Brad. Also occasionally on Wednesdays 5 to 6 pm with Corey , Brad and Kyle Horner.
posted by Kyle Bauer at 11:33 AM
<< Home